In May 2026, Columbia Business School (CBS) has 5 MBA admissions events scheduled including 2 virtual events, 1 international event, and no US events (off-campus). Two on-campus sessions in Manhattanville complete the schedule.
Contents
Overview
The May 2026 schedule splits across formats: two on-campus sessions in Manhattanville (May 18 and May 29), one international event in Tel Aviv (May 27), and two virtual sessions (May 15 and May 27) [1] . No U.S. off-campus events are scheduled in May 2026; the next U.S. regional swing begins in June with Top Business Schools panels in Philadelphia, Denver, and Salt Lake City.
May falls in a post-application window for the 2025-2026 cycle.
Round 3 closed on March 26, 2026, and the Deferred Enrollment Program final deadline was April 15, 2026 [2] .
The May events therefore serve primarily as reconnaissance for the 2026-2027 cycle: prospective applicants for the August 2027 entry class, college seniors considering DEP, and Consortium candidates evaluating member-school fit.
In-Person Events
On-Campus: Two on-campus sessions take place at the Manhattanville campus in upper Manhattan. The May 18 MBA Admissions Overview and Student Chat at Henry R. Kravis Hall (5:45 PM to 7:45 PM ET) is currently full, with a waitlist open. The May 29 MBA Campus Visit at David Geffen Hall (9:15 AM to 12:45 PM ET) is the longer-format option, combining an admissions presentation with a classroom experience and a campus tour [1] .
International: One international event is scheduled. On May 27, Columbia attends the Top MBA Fair in Israel at the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv hotel (5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Israel Time). The format is a multi-school exhibition with local alumni representatives on site [1] . This is the only in-person Columbia engagement outside the United States in May.
Class Visit Program: Columbia runs a separate Class Visit Program outside the events page where prospective applicants can sit in on an actual MBA class. Sessions are scheduled through a dedicated portal and operate independently of the May admissions events [3]
Download F1GMAT's Columbia MBA Essay Guide
Short Answer Question 1: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)
Short Answer Question 2: How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (50 characters maximum)
Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendation, 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 2: Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (250 words)
Essay 3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership--academically, culturally, and professionally.
How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)
Related Download: F1GMAT's Columbia MBA Essay Guide
Related Read
Virtual Events
Two virtual sessions are scheduled in May 2026 [1] .
Top Business Schools Trailblazing Panel: On May 15 at 12:00 PM ET, Top Business Schools Present: Trailblazing the Path to Business School (hosted by Chicago Booth) brings Columbia together with admissions representatives from other leading programs for a one-hour panel covering the MBA experience and post-MBA pathways [1] .
Consortium Member School Webinar: On May 27 at 7:30 PM ET, Columbia hosts a one-hour virtual session with admissions representatives from the University of Rochester Simon Business School and UCLA Anderson, focused on applying through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. The Consortium supports candidates from underrepresented backgrounds (Black, Hispanic, and Native American applicants) with a single application accepted by multiple member schools [1] . This is the second of two Consortium webinars in the spring series.
Columbia MBA Admission Events - May 2026 Schedule (Table Summary)
| Date | Event | Description | Type | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-May-26 | Top Business Schools Present: Trailblazing the Path to Business School Online | Virtual panel with Columbia Business School and other top programs on the MBA experience and post-MBA pathways. 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM ET. Hosted by Chicago Booth. [1] | Virtual | Register |
| 18-May-26 | MBA Admissions Overview and Student Chat Henry R. Kravis Hall, Manhattanville, NY | On-campus session with the Admissions team and current students, including a tour of the Manhattanville campus. 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM ET. Currently full; waitlist open. [1] | On-Campus | Register |
| 27-May-26 | Top MBA Fair in Israel Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel | Multi-school MBA fair featuring Columbia and other leading programs, with on-site alumni representatives. 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Israel Time. [1] | International | Register |
| 27-May-26 | Consortium Member School Webinar 2 (Simon/UCLA/CBS) Online | Virtual session for prospective applicants exploring MBA programs through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. Admissions representatives from Columbia, Rochester Simon, and UCLA Anderson share insights into their programs. 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM ET. [1] | Virtual | Register |
| 29-May-26 | MBA Campus Visit David Geffen Hall, Manhattanville, NY | On-campus visit with the Admissions team and current students, including a classroom experience and a tour of Manhattanville. 9:15 AM to 12:45 PM ET. [1] | On-Campus | Register |
Note: Times are local to each event venue. The May 18 on-campus session is currently full; the Register link opens the waitlist. Registration links open the official Columbia Business School registration portal.
Notes on the May 2026 Admissions Cycle
- The 2025-2026 application cycle is closed. Round 3 deadline was March 26, 2026, and Deferred Enrollment Program final deadline was April 15, 2026 [2] .
- January 2026 entry concluded with the August 13, 2025 Round 2 deadline; that cohort is currently in its first semester at CBS [2] .
- May events therefore target prospective applicants for the August 2027 entry class (deadlines TBD) and college seniors considering DEP for the future cycle [2] .
- The May 18 on-campus session at Kravis Hall is currently full; the registration link routes to a waitlist [1] .
- All 5 May 2026 events listed in this document require advance registration. Each event has its own registration link in the schedule table above [1] .
How to Register and Visit
Event registration: each event has its own registration link in the schedule table.
All five events register through the Columbia Business School admissions portal at admissions.business.columbia.edu, including partner-hosted sessions like the Trailblazing panel (organized by Chicago Booth) and the Consortium Member School Webinar (jointly with Simon and UCLA Anderson) [1] .
Class Visit Program: a separate program lets prospective applicants sit in on actual MBA classes. Registration is handled through a dedicated visit portal, not the events page [3] .
Consortium applicants: candidates planning to apply through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management should register for the May 27 webinar to hear from CBS, Simon, and UCLA Anderson representatives in one session [1] .
Campus location: Columbia Business School, Manhattanville campus, 645 W 130th Street and 665 W 130th Street, New York, NY 10027.
On-campus session participants receive arrival instructions via the registration confirmation [1] .
Related F1GMAT Reads
Continue your Columbia MBA research with these related F1GMAT resources:
- Columbia MBA Essay Tips, Analysis, and Strategies essay-by-essay analysis of Columbia's three application prompts
- Columbia MBA Interview Tips and Questions alumni-led interview format, common questions, and preparation strategy
- Columbia MBA Curriculum Analysis core, electives, and the January-Entry vs August-Entry curriculum differences
- Columbia MBA Cost Breakdown and Funding Tips tuition, NYC living costs, fellowships, and Columbia-specific funding options
- Columbia MBA Salary 2025: By Industry industry-by-industry post-MBA compensation for the most recent graduating class
- Columbia MBA Salary 2025: By Function function-by-function compensation including investment banking, consulting, tech, and PE/VC
- M7 MBA - Complete Guide cost, salary, acceptance rate, and salary increase across HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Columbia, Kellogg, and MIT Sloan
References
Event listings, dates, times, locations, and descriptions were taken from the official Columbia Business School MBA Admissions Events page on May 14, 2026. Two supporting citations cover application cycle deadlines and the Class Visit Program.