What Columbia Business School Looks For In Applicants

Columbia Business School ranked number seven in our Top Business Schools rankings.

With first-year pay package coming in around $166,790, it makes sense why the B-school is in high demand for MBAs. But with an acceptance rate of roughly 16%, getting into Columbia Business School (CBS) is no easy feat.

Ally, an MBA admissions consultant at Stacy Blackman Consulting and former assistant director of admission for the full-time MBA program at CBS, recently offered some insider advice on why applicants should apply to CBS and how applicants can make the most of their application to the B-school.

WHY COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL?

Located in New York City, Columbia Business School (CBS) offers students unparalleled access to a variety of industries.

Ally says a key aspect of the MBA program is the connections that students make during their time at CBS.

“Something that applicants may not know is how well CBS connects students with the surrounding city (and the world),” Ally says. “There are various immersion programs students can take as electives that allow them to spend time in class with their classmates and professors, and also spend time off-site doing corporate visits around the city (and globally).”

WHAT DOES CBS LOOK FOR?

CBS tends to seek out highly qualified applicants who can show leadership potential and community engagement. Experts say community is central to the CBS fabric.

“A key aspect of the program is becoming involved on campus and immersing yourself in the CBS community,” Ally says. “The students work wonderfully together; it’s not the cutthroat place that some imagine when they think of an NYC school.”

As an applicant, you’ll want to highlight the number of ways that you’ve made connections, even during the application process itself.

“By the time I was applying to CBS, I’d gone to a number of events, met with admissions officers, [and] spoken to current students and alums, so I knew how to map my career-to-date and interests onto what I wanted to get from and contribute to CBS across academics, career, and community,” Stephanie McCalmon, Class of 2019 at CBS, tells Business Insider.

Above all, however, CBS seeks out students who are authentic.

“My best advice is just to be yourself,” Ally says. “The CBS Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU, not someone you think the AdCom wants to see. Be as specific as possible in your application and show that you’ve taken time to get to know the program.”

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, P&Q, Business Insider

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