How To Get Into Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School Program Overview

How will you take advantage of being at the “very center of business”? Your answer to this question is one of the keys to unlocking a future at Columbia Business School (CBS), where—as in general with New York City—it really is all about location, location, location! The new CBS Manhattanville campus opened in January 2022 and is undoubtedly among the most modern and state-of-the-art business school campuses in the world. By virtue of its reputation and location, CBS can give students unmatched and invaluable access to business leaders and insight. In your application, you need to share where you intend to go with your career and demonstrate why CBS is the best program to help you realize your aspirations.

CBS is uniquely positioned to offer many opportunities thanks to its location, including its proximity to Wall Street. Indeed, CBS is perhaps best known for its strengths in finance education and consistently ranks among the top programs in the field—but writing it off as just a finance powerhouse would be a mistake! CBS is also a decidedly international school whose graduates and professors influence the global marketplace every day. Nearly half of each incoming class typically consists of international students, and members of the 2021 graduating class accepted job offers on five continents.

Although many CBS graduates enter the traditional post-MBA fields of consulting and finance (33.4% and 36.0%, respectively, of the latest graduating class), the school’s influence also extends beyond traditional industries. CBS’s entrepreneurial work, which includes supporting venture capital−backed startups Figure 1 and KeyMe, is creating global impact. In addition, the school’s Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center helps students launch their companies, invest in ventures, and join existing startups. The center offers students grants to work on their startups during the summer, master classes led by second-year students, and the Columbia Build Lab, which connects MBA entrepreneurs with technically skilled Columbia undergraduates.

Students looking to invest have three different fellowship programs available, while those hoping to join existing startups can do so through a summer internship. CBS looks out for its entrepreneurs even after graduation—the Columbia Startup Lab is available solely to recent Columbia alumni and is described on the school’s site as “the symbolic nexus for Columbia’s commitment to entrepreneurship.” Roughly 2.1% (16 students) of the Class of 2021 started their own businesses after graduation, in such fields as design, aerospace, gaming, and fintech.

Having said that, the school’s reputation as a leader in financial studies is warranted. Finance is woven into the CBS curriculum via core and elective courses, preparing students to work in such fields as financial consulting, risk management, asset management, and sales, trading, and research. The school’s Value Investing Program, hosted by the Heilbrunn Center, is world renowned and accepts approximately 40 second-year students annually. In addition to completing seven courses led by some of the leading experts in the field, participants have access to mentors, workshops, and networking events. CBS students are active in finance outside the classroom as well: the FinTech & Blockchain Club, the Equity Research Club, and the Investment Management Association are among the most active clubs on campus.

To ensure that CBS is a good fit for you, ask yourself these questions: is a large class size (the latest incoming class featured 847 students) in a bustling metropolis the best setting for your MBA experience? How will you take advantage of the 100+ student clubs and nearly 20 centers and institutes on campus? CBS students also like to explore the world. Study tours, a pre-MBA world tour, immersion programs, and exchange programs are all popular choices among each class. Are you ready for a global journey?

Columbia Business School Curriculum

Students are placed into clusters (65–70 students) and are then further divided into learning teams of approximately five students from diverse backgrounds who work together throughout the core courses on group assignments, creating a family within the larger class. CBS’s core curriculum uses case-based lessons along with collaborative learning models as students master business functions and disciplines. Students who demonstrate proficiency in a subject area are eligible to replace core classes with electives. Core courses include “Business Analytics,” “Strategy Formulation,” “Marketing,” and “Global Economic Environment.”

Approximately 30% of CBS students are on the J-term schedule, which begins in January. This schedule provides a faster experience through CBS in 16 months total by starting later and eliminating the summer internship to reduce students’ opportunity cost of being out of the workforce. August-entry students can take as few as 12 credits or up to 18 credits per term and can have up to 6 credits combined from other Columbia graduate programs, independent study, and a cross-cultural seminar.

CBS uses its location at the center of business to offer Master Classes that give students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in the real world. The Master Classes are project-based experiential learning opportunities for students in their second year. These classes offer an opportunity to apply the core concepts learned in the prior year to real-world business problems. Master Classes are typically more intensive than regular classes, as they require work both inside and outside the classroom. Teams of four to six second-year MBA students are matched to a project sponsor who provides them guidance and support throughout the semester as well as experienced faculty.

A CBS student and former Stratus client told us, “There are dozens of classes that I loved at CBS. That said, I would say an elective on managerial negotiations stands out. We worked on some of the most exciting and challenging negotiation cases, powered by Columbia CaseWorks’ enormous database, and had a rare opportunity to work and negotiate in teams with the country’s best aspiring lawyers—Columbia Law School students. The course was facilitated by Michael Slepian, one of the world’s leading authorities on secrecy and trust. Some of the insights that Professor Slepian added to the course from his recent research boosted the usefulness of the coursework and students’ engagement.”

The CBS curriculum offers career-focused paths that give students an in-depth look at industries and functions in a more holistic way, combining courses from multiple departments. Some examples of these pathways include Entrepreneurship (through the famous Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center), Health and Pharmaceutical Management, and Media and Technology. Other resources include the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise, the Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing, and the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, each of which gives students an established network of faculty, advisors, and students to get an in-depth look at their interests and learn from practitioners who share their experiences in the classroom.

The CBS Chazen Global Study Tours take MBA students abroad to meet with local executives and government officials to learn about the business culture. These student-organized tours are overseen by the Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business. In 2022, a Chazen trip took place in Argentina, while previous years’ destinations have included Egypt, Tunisia, and the Philippines.

Extracurriculars

In addition to all that CBS’s New York City location can offer, there are numerous student clubs and conferences through which MBA students can develop knowledge and relationships. The Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization encourages aspiring and current student entrepreneurs to explore and launch new ventures. The Columbia Student Investment Management Association offers a community for future investors to host pitch practices and participate in case competitions. Current and former members of the armed forces can find ways to leverage capabilities and experiences through the Military in Business Association. Interested in alternative energy? The Columbia Business School Green Business Club prepares students for careers in alternative energy while also encouraging the school to promote environmental responsibility. Looking for LGBTQ allies? Cluster Q seeks to create an inclusive LGBTQ community at CBS with social, educational, and career-related events. One of the popular newer clubs is the Columbia Fintech and Blockchain Club, which aims to centralize and develop education, community, and innovation in the field of financial technology. There is truly a club for everyone! “CBS students are informal (we are in New York!), smart, and determined,” said a CBS student and former Stratus client about the campus culture.

Many student clubs and research centers at CBS host annual conferences. The BRITE Conference—which focuses on innovation, brands, and technology and is hosted by the Center on Global Brand Leadership—is among the most popular. The latest BRITE Conference took place in 2022 and concentrated on such topics as “In Praise of Friction,” “Sustainability Through Market Transformation,” and “Architecting for the Future.”

Notable Professors and Classes at CBS

Joseph E. Stiglitz

Professor Stiglitz received the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001. In addition to teaching economics at CBS and serving as co-president of the Columbia University Initiative for Policy Dialogue, he teaches at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Stiglitz is known as the creator of the “Economics of Information” branch of economics, the main idea of which earned him the Nobel Prize.

Jonathan Knee

Jonathan Knee is the Michael T. Fries Professor of Professional Practice of Media and Technology at CBS, in addition to serving as a co-director of the school’s Media and Technology Program. Knee teaches the “Mergers and Acquisitions in Media and Technology” master class, which is divided into two parts: during the first part, students delve into a different recent media transaction each week. Students then form groups during the second part and present their findings to a board. Professor Knee came to CBS following a long career at such companies as Evercore and Morgan Stanley.

“Analytics in Action”

“Analytics in Action” is one of the most popular electives at CBS. During the course, which is open to both MBA students and engineering students, groups of five to six students work on company-sponsored projects with the course instructors and company representatives. The course is co-led by the managing director of an early-stage venture capital fund and the director of the Columbia Business Analytics Initiative.

“The Luxury Approach”

Another popular CBS elective, “The Luxury Approach” is a marketing course that examines the world of luxury goods. Each academic year, the class features a different real-world company and a business problem that the company has created specifically for the class. Students explore the topic by viewing faculty presentations and meeting with senior executives and industry CEOs. During the 2022–2023 academic year, the company is Fendi, and the business problem is “how to build omnichannel capabilities to meet the needs of luxury clients.”

Statistics

Class Profile (Class of 2023)

Class Size: 847; 233 (January) 614 (August)
Average Work Experience: 5 years
Average GPA: 3.5

Women: 41%
US Minorities: 40%
International Citizenship: 48%
Average GMAT: 729

Middle 80% GMAT Range: 700–760

Career Placement (Industries, Class of 2021)

• Financial Services: 36.0%
• Consulting: 33.4%
• Media/Technology: 17.0%
• Real Estate: 4.5%
• Manufacturing: 4.1%
• Health Care (including Pharmaceuticals): 2.3%
• Education/Government/Nonprofit: 1.4%
• Other: 1.3%

Geographical placement outside the United States (Class of 2021)

• Asia: 41.3%
• Europe: 26.3%
• Central and South America: 15.0%
• Middle East: 11.2%
• Other: 6.2%

How to Nail the CBS 2023−2024 Essay Prompts

Columbia Business School (CBS) has chosen to revisit their essays this year, replacing last year’s third prompt “Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song and why it resonates with you. (250 words).” They’ve brought back a question from the previous year’s application in its place, which is meant to highlight an applicant’s ability to be an ethical and inclusive leader.

To write successful essays for CBS, you will need to convey that you have clear goals, especially well-thought-out reasons for wanting to attend the school and live in New York City (NYC), and strong values. Moreover, you should do your homework on CBS so you can really prove that it is the best place for you. CBS doesn’t want to be a commuter school filled with people coming to Manhattan for a two-year vacation; it wants to know that you recognize and appreciate it for the world-class business school it is and that you plan to be a leader in its community. So, demonstrating “fit” is critical. Let’s delve deeper into each CBS application essay question.

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTION: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters)

Essay One: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay Two: The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to ensure that every CBS student develops the skills to become an ethical and inclusive leader. Through PPIL, students attend programming focused on five essential diversity, equity, and inclusion skills: Creating an Inclusive Environment, Mitigating Bias and Prejudice, Managing Intercultural Dialogue, Addressing Systemic Inequity, and Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking.

Tell us about a time when you were challenged around one of these five skills. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome. (250 words)

Essay Three: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place. CBS proudly fosters a collaborative learning environment through curricular experiences like our clusters and learning teams, an extremely active co-curricular and student life environment, and career mentorship opportunities like our Executives-in-Residence program.

Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you academically, culturally, and professionally? Please be specific. (250 words)

Application Requirements for Columbia Business School

Bachelor’s degree and transcripts

Columbia Business School requires all applicants to have completed an undergraduate degree (or its equivalent if the applicant graduated outside of the United States) and to provide unofficial academic transcripts with their application. If the applicant is granted admission to CBS, they will need to provide official transcripts.

Resume

All CBS applicants must submit a resume with their application. The school recommends a one-page length but notes that a two-page resume is also acceptable if necessary.

Recommendations

CBS requires one recommendation letter from all applicants, including re-applicants. In business school applications, obtaining a recommendation from a direct supervisor or a manager is usually the best option. CBS states on its website that if an applicant has worked full time for more than six months, they should provide a recommendation from a supervisor.

If you do not have a current direct supervisor or manager, consider past supervisors, colleagues, or clients, based on your work situation. Family members, friends, and professors are typically not suitable recommenders.

Test scores

CBS accepts the GMAT, the GRE, and the EA to fulfill the test score requirement. The school accepts self-reported scores for the application but asks for official reports if a candidate is admitted. For the Class of 2024, the average GMAT score was 729, and the middle 80% range was 700–760.

Anything else?

An interview, one short-answer question, and three essays are also required of CBS applicants. Interviews are conducted on an invitation-only basis by alumni who have reviewed the application beforehand. During the pandemic, CBS interviews have largely been conducted virtually, but they are usually conducted in the applicant’s geographical area. These are some of the questions that are commonly asked during CBS interviews:

• Tell me about yourself/walk me through your resume.
• How did you pick your undergraduate school?
• How did you choose your career path?
• What are your short- and long-term goals?
• Why MBA, why Columbia and why New York?

Columbia Business School FAQ

What is Columbia Business School best known for?

CBS is perhaps best known for its strengths in the finance area. The school’s central location in Manhattan and its proximity to Wall Street allow students to be in the center of the finance world, and finance is woven into the CBS curriculum through such core courses as “Corporate Finance” and “Financial Accounting” and electives in such areas as investment banking, investment management, private equity, and venture capital. The CBS website describes such centers as the Heilbrunn Center for Graham and Dodd Investing and the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate as being “central to [CBS’s] finance training.”

How much does tuition cost?

Tuition for the CBS full-time MBA program is $122,460 for the 2022–2023 academic year. This includes program charges for three semesters, room and board, health insurance, and such additional fees as a computer purchase and books and supplies.

How difficult is it to get accepted into Columbia Business School?

As is the case with all top-ranked business schools, CBS has a competitive acceptance rate—in 2021, the school received 6,535 applications and admitted 948 applicants. This means that approximately 15.7% of applicants received an invitation to join the program. Out of the 948 applicants who were admitted, 614 decided to enroll.

Columbia Business School may be best known for its strengths in finance, but do not let a school’s reputation steer you elsewhere if it doesn’t seem like a perfect match right away! CBS graduates also accept positions in such fields as financial services, consulting, and technology. The school’s central location in New York City exposes students to a plethora of opportunities and sets them steadily on their chosen career paths.