Books can be a soothing distraction against the tragic realities of life. The fictitious applicant chose the disastrous second wave of COVID-19 in Delhi as the backdrop for the narrative.

Who is a leader you admire, and why? (250 words)

Based on the 9 leadership qualities we have highlighted, you can find the one person who had the most impact in your life, someone who has inspired you or changed the trajectory of your life.

 “What, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job?”

The long-term post-MBA goal is phrased interestingly. See how the admission team has used the word ‘imagination’. They would like to see what you have anticipated for your future.
 “What, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job?”

Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Columbia MBA Essay 1 Tips: The Essay is a rephrased short-term and long-term goal essay. Unlike last year, the admission team has reduced the word count from 750 to 500. You have to be judicious with the use of phrases. Dive straight into the core of the narrative.

The Sample Essay is of a fictitious profile - a Marketing lead working for an e-commerce start-up that tried to disrupt Amazon's model of low-cost delivery.

Columbia MBA Essay #3: Please provide an example of a team failure of which you have been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do differently? (250 words)

This is another way of asking what you are passionate about or how you would spend your valuable time. Mentioning a leisure activity is not what is expected here. Impact is hinted with the phrase “if you were given a free day.”

Your passion for a goal or activity might have already come out with an extracurricular or your short-term goal, but if you have not covered them, this is the space for you to show that you are complete person. Bring your unique hobby to the picture. We had an applicant with a passion for music - not as a musician but as an organizer. It was so unique and apparent in his Instagram feed that any one from the admission team would recognize that he did not create the narrative for the essay.

Essay 3: CBS Matters, a key element of the School’s culture, allows the people in your Cluster to learn more about you on a personal level. What will your Clustermates be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (100-250 words)

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Essay 2: Columbia Business School’s students participate in industry focused New York immersion seminars; in project based Master Classes; and in school year internships. Most importantly, our students are taught by a combination of distinguished research faculty and accomplished practitioners. How will you take advantage of being “at the very center of business”? (100-500 words)

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