What are the key requirements for the Columbia MBA?

To apply for the Columbia MBA program, you need to meet several key requirements:

1. Educational Background: You must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. This ensures a solid academic foundation for advanced business studies.
2. Transcripts: Submit PDF versions of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. If admitted, encrypted digital copies will be required for verification.
3. GPA: Your GPA must be reported as it appears on your transcript. A strong academic record is crucial.
4. Standardized Test Scores: You need a valid GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment score, which must be less than five years old. The average GMAT score for admitted students is around 729, while competitive GRE scores are 162 or higher for verbal and 164 or higher for quantitative sections.
5. Professional Experience: On average, admitted students have about five years of professional experience. Columbia values significant work experience, especially in fields like consulting, finance, and marketing. Leadership potential and achievements in your professional career are highly regarded.
6. Resume: A current professional resume or CV, ideally one page long, should be included in your application.
7. Essays: You must complete several essays. These essays assess your career goals, leadership potential, and fit with Columbia Business School. One short answer question requires you to articulate your immediate post-MBA professional goal in just 50 characters.
8. Recommendation: One recommendation letter is required, preferably from a current or former supervisor. If that’s not possible, you can provide an explanation and choose another professional associate.
9. Interview: Interviews are conducted by invitation only and are a crucial part of the evaluation process.
10. Application Fee: A nonrefundable application fee of $250 is required. Fee waivers are available for eligible applicants.
11. Deadlines: Columbia has a rolling admissions process for January-entry applications and round-based admissions for August-entry applications. Early application is advantageous.

Columbia places high importance on academic performance, professional experience, personal characteristics, and your fit with the program. Demonstrating a strong interest in Columbia and New York City, along with showcasing your leadership and community engagement, can significantly strengthen your application.