|
Admission & Application Survey |
| Full-time MBA program |
As a member of the Hermes Society at CBS (Hermes members are student
"ambassadors" who assist the Admissions Office with hosting information
sessions, meeting with prospective students, and conducting prospective
student interviews), I have a true insider's take on the admissions
process.
Almost every prospective student I meet with asks me about the GMAT. Is
a score of 650 good enough? Should they retake it? The only thing I can
tell you about the GMAT is that you should study hard and do your best.
If you're not happy with your score and are convinced you can do better,
then retake the test. But while CBS has a range of scores into which the
majority of admitted students fall (something like 580 - 780), contrary
to popular belief there is NO minimum score for admission. The
Admissions Committee looks at your ENTIRE application before they make a
determination. I am not kidding you when I tell you that they really do
read every single application they receive. So, if you got a 620 on the
GMAT and you believe the rest of your application is extremely strong,
there is no reason you should not apply.
However, regardless of the round for which you apply for CBS admission
(i.e. early, regular, or January-term), I encourage you to submit your
application as early as possible. Your application needs to form a
complete picture of you. What do I mean by this, you ask? You need to
show the Admissions Committee who you are, what makes you unique, why you
believe you need an MBA to further your career goals (and, no, it's not
just to meet men/women!), and -- and this is crucial -- why you want to
get your MBA from CBS vs. some other school.
After submitting your application, one of three things will happen: (1)
You'll be accepted straight-away without an interview; (2) You'll be
invited to interview; or (3) You'll be rejected. If it's #1,
congratulations! You're one of the lucky few. If it's #3, better luck
next time. If it's #2, congratulations...you've made it to the next
step. The interview is the Admission Committee's way of screening out
those candidates who look good on paper but don't present themselves well
in person, or whose poor english skills will put them at a serious
disadvantage in the classroom.
During the 45-minute interview, your interviewer may ask you to fill in
any gaps in your resume, explain to them what you did at your last job,
or convince them that CBS is your number one choice. Anything you
included in your application and/or resume is fair game. They will also
look for evidence of leadership skills, so it's a good idea to have a few
concrete examples prepared. But the two most important tips I can give
you are to dress well and RELAX! The interview is not meant to trick you
or make you flustered. The alumni and students who volunteer their time
to interview you have done so because they want to help the Admissions
Committee select bright, motivated individuals with a lot of potential to
go to their alma mater and do them proud! The interview is simply the
best way to get to know you better and uncover your genuine motivation
and potential for business school.
After the interview, you should hear a final decision from the Admissions
Office in a few weeks. If all goes well, you'll find yourself walking
the halls of CBS in no time! But, if for some reason it doesn't work
out, you should consider trying again. I know people who were rejected
the first time they applied but were accepted when they re-applied.
|
|
Columbia Business School Admission & Application Surveys
