Hi, The Columbia Business School essay topics for the 2011-2012 admissions season have recently been announced, following up on last weeks release of CBSs 2011-2012 deadlines. Applicants should note that the prompts for required essays 1 …
Hi,
The Columbia Business School essay topics for the 2011-2012 admissions season have recently been announced, following up on last weeks release of CBSs 2011-2012 deadlines. Applicants should note that the prompts for required essays 1 and 2 are different from last years prompts, while the addition of a third required essay marks a significant change in Columbias application. The essay topics are below:
Essay 1
Considering your post-MBA and long term professional goals, why you are pursuing an MBA at this point in your career? Additionally, why is Columbia Business School a good fit for you? (Maximum 750 words)
Essay 2
Describe a life experience that has shaped you. The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (Maximum 500 words)
Essay 3
(Select and answer one of the below questions)
Option A:
The annual A. Lorne Weil Outrageous Business Plan Competition is a student initiative managed and run by the Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO). The competition encourages Columbia MBA students to explore creative entrepreneurial ideas that are sufficiently ambitious in scope and scale to be considered outrageous. Students explore these ideas while learning firsthand what goes into the development and presentation of a solid business proposal.
Develop your own outrageous business idea. In essay form, compose your elevator pitch. (Maximum 250 words)
Option B:
Columbia deeply values its vibrant student community, the building of which begins at orientation when admitted students are assigned to clusters of 65 to 70 fellow students who take most of the first-year core classes together. During the first weeks of school, each cluster selects a Cluster Chair. Further strengthening the student community are the nearly 100 active student organizations at Columbia Business School, ranging from cultural to professional to community service-oriented. Leadership positions within the cluster and/or clubs offer hands-on management and networking opportunities for students as they interact with fellow students, administrators, faculty members, alumni, and practitioners.
You are running for either Cluster Chair or a club leadership position of your choosing. Compose your campaign speech. (Maximum 250 words)
Option C:
Founded nearly three decades ago, the Executives in Residence Program at Columbia Business School integrates senior executives into the life of the School. Current executives in residence include more than a dozen experts in areas ranging from media and investment banking to private equity and management. A hallmark of the program is one-on-one counseling sessions in which executives advise students about their prospective career choices.
Select one of the current executives in residence with whom you would like to meet during your time at Columbia. Explain your selection and tell us how you would best utilize your half hour one-on-one session. (Maximum 250 words)
Optional Essay
Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. (Maximum 500 words)
Reapplication Essay
How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied, reiterate your post-MBA and long-term professional goals, and address why Columbia Business School is a good fit for you. (Maximum 750 words).
To begin an application or to learn more about the admissions process, visit CBSs admissions website.
May 16, 2011 (yesterday)
Admissions Tip: Approaching the Career Goals Essay
by Clear Admit
With essay topics for the coming year already starting to be released by some schools, there are applicants who are eager to get started on their written applications. Though essay questions tend to vary year to year, the two things that nearly every prospective student can count on being asked are What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? and How will Business School X help you achieve these goals?
These are the fundamental questions of the entire application process; identifying clear answers will help in everything from creating a list of target schools to communicating effectively with recommenders and interviewers down the line. As such, its a great idea to begin drafting answers to the Career Goals essay early and often! To help you get started, here are some general pointers:
Whether the essay is 1,000 or 500 words long, the adcom looks for applicants who offer fully defined long- and short-term career goals, sound reasons for pursuing an MBA at this point in their careers, well-informed interest in School X and specific plans to contribute to the campus community if they are admitted.
The key to successfully tackling each of these components is specificity. In presenting future goals and explaining ones motivation for seeking an MBA, it is crucial to present well-defined and feasible objectives. Unlike the undergraduate experience at many American colleges and universities, MBA adcoms believe that students need a fair amount of direction at the time they enter the program in order to take the right classes, join the appropriate clubs and seek the best internship. Everything is oriented towards preparing for the post-MBA job, so specifying a specific industry and function for the short-term is of the utmost importance. In addition to identifying goals for the adcom, it is also important that applicants explain their interest in their particular plans. Along the same lines, applicants should comment on what they hope to accomplish in their target positions.
Admissions officers understand that successful students are focused in their ambitions, and one of the best measures of this is what they have done so far. Not every school asks for this explicitly, however in most situations a Career Goals essay is more compelling when it includes a brief but coherent career history summarizing the applicants work history to date. This should reveal the continuity between ones previous professional experiences and goals for the future. A great essay manages to thoroughly and efficiently address each of these elements, with a nice balance between the career progression section, the career goals/why MBA section and the why School X section.
Another critical part of this essay is the explanation of ones interest in a given program, as the adcom is sensitive to whether or not applicants are serious about attending if admitted. Individuals who name specific classes that are relevant to their goals, recount their impressions of the campus culture based on a class visit, or share what theyve learned from discussions with alumni and students will be in good shape. The aim is to convey the fact that the applicant has conducted extensive research and is making an informed decision in applying.
Beyond convincing the adcom of their genuine interest in the program, it is also important for applicants to keep the following concept in mind: any fair trade necessitates mutual benefit. In other words, in addition to showing that School X is the best MBA program for ones needs, the applicant should demonstrate to School X that he or she will enrich its community. A strong candidate describes insights he or she could contribute in class, and offers detailed intentions for getting involved in campus activities.
These general pointers should set applicants on the path toward crafting a great Career Goals essay, the centerpiece of any compelling candidacy. Happy writing! For a free assessment of your candidacy, feel free to send us your CV or resume.
Thanks a lot for the information.
I was searching quite a lot for new post this yr, couldn't find many.
Thanks.