Columbia Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis
The Columbia Deferred MBA Program is open to those in their senior year of college or in their final year of a subsequent graduate program.
Through CBS’s Deferred MBA program, applicants will then defer admission for two to five years, allowing them to gain pre-MBA work experience.
Columbia’s latest Deferred Enrollment Program class profile reports 216 admits with a GMAT range of 540-790 and a GPA range from 3.11 to 4.0.
Are you interested in applying? Below, Personal MBA Coach shares eligibility information and our analysis of the Columbia Deferred Enrollment Program essay questions. Do not miss these insider tips from Personal MBA Coach’s Nicole Shay – former Columbia Business School Admissions Director.
This year, the CBS Deferred MBA deadline is April 15. Looking for help with your deferred MBA applications? Find out more about Personal MBA Coach’s Deferred MBA Comprehensive Packages here.
Columbia MBA Deferred Admission Eligibility
The Columbia Deferred MBA program is available to students graduating during the current academic year from a bachelor’s degree program, as well as those completing a graduate degree program. Graduate degree applicants must have started their program directly after graduating from their undergraduate school to be eligible. Students who are enrolled in law school, medical school or Ph.D. programs are not eligible.
Columbia Deferred MBA Essay Questions
Essay 1: Why are you interested in obtaining a Columbia MBA in the future? (300 words maximum)
This is your chance to tell CBS both WHAT you will do with an MBA and WHY Columbia is the right place for you. Briefly mention what you plan to do before beginning your MBA. Then, discuss both your short-term goals (what job you hope to have immediately after graduating from the MBA) and your long-term plans.
These goals should demonstrate what you are hoping to do professionally post-MBA and show knowledge of your future industry. It also would be appropriate, if there is space, to include a sentence on the skills you will gain in the short term to prepare you for the long term.
Then, discuss specifically what skills you will gain at CBS. For each item, be specific about what you will learn and how you will apply this knowledge.
Finally, include at least one sentence on fit and culture. This is the chance to get a bit more personal and explain why you are interested in the school from a personal standpoint.
Essay 2: Who is a leader you admire, and why? (300 words maximum)
This short essay is a loaded one, prompting candidates to think about both their personal stories and leadership style. To achieve this balance, select a leader you hope to emulate. While providing some context on this leader is important, remember that this essay is about you. This is your chance to show the admissions committee the type of leader you are and will continue to be AND how your experiences and passions have shaped your leadership.
This leader does not have to be famous. Good examples include someone who had similar life circumstances. A leader with a shared passion or a common goal could also work well here.
To get more insider essay advice for the top deferred MBA programs, download our latest eBook for tips on how to tackle the MBA Application Essays for all deferred MBA programs today!
Remember that, as with full-time MBA programs, deferred MBA applications also require a number of additional elements including letters of recommendation, an MBA resume, short answer questions, and possible video essays.
Make sure that you set aside sufficient time for these application extras!
If you are ready to begin working on your Deferred MBA applications, Personal MBA Coach is here to guide you through our Deferred MBA Packages!
About Personal MBA Coach:
Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 15 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2 by leading sources including Poets&Quants.
We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing, and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7 admissions interviewers.
Last cycle, our clients earned more than $6.5M in scholarships!