How important are essays for Columbia MBA admission?

Asked by Kritika Oberoi about 2 months ago

Essays carry significant weight in Columbia’s admissions decisions — especially since the school has a rolling admissions process. The essays help them quickly see if an applicant is clear, prepared, and aligned with the CBS community.

The Adcom expects your essays to show:

  • Precise short-term goals (e.g., “join a VC-backed edtech startup as a product lead in NYC”)
  • Real knowledge of CBS — naming programs like the Value Investing Program or Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing
  • Why NYC matters to your journey

Applicants often get filtered early if their essays look copy-pasted or generic. Strong essays that connect real CBS resources to your future plans can balance out a lower GPA or GMAT. They’re not just important — they can make or break the application. 

Discover why Columbia MBA essays are crucial and how they can impact your application. Read more here!


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