IMPORTANT: THIS POST WAS WRITTEN FOR 2013. The 2014 Columbia short-answer prompt is identical except that now they only allow for 75 characters. Adjust accordingly!
Otherwise known as,
The REALLY BIG change with Columbia’s 2013 essays
On Friday we did a brief review of how the Columbia MBA essays have changed for 2013.
What we failed to sufficiently discuss was the short-answer question.
The good news is, the completely overhauled, new-and-improved, massively updated 2013 SnarkStrategies MBA Application Guide for Columbia is now available – and it includes a complete discussion of the short-answer question and all the other essays, too.
The even better news is, we’re going to give you a freebie here on the blahg today, and talk about an important part of Columbia’s new short-answer question that we didn’t mention on Friday.
For several years now, Columbia has been asking its applicants to give a straightforward response to a very simple query: What do you want to do when you graduate?
Columbia always focuses on career goals even more directly than other schools. Most other schools care about the goals too, but few have such a specific emphasis as CBS.
And rightly so. After all, why do you need an MBA if you don’t know what you’re going to do with it?
We’ve always liked Columbia’s priorities in this regard.
In fact, we rejoiced when they first introduced this short-answer response in the 2011 application season – at the time, it was simply “What is your post-MBA professional goal.” Why did we “rejoice”? Well, because this question mapped exactly to the career goals exercises that we’d devised for our clients to complete when applying to Columbia.
We also chuckled when that first crop of candidates drafted up 200-word responses to the question and sent them over to us for evaluation. Sorry Charlie. This appropriately-named “short-answer question” had a 200-character limit.
Last year (2012 apps), the Columbia adcom added the word “immediate” to the prompt. The answers they got from the inaugural crop of BSers dealing with this question had clearly not been quite specific enough as to timeframe. This indicated that Columbia wanted to know what you actually want to do the minute you graduate with the MBA.
This year’s version of the question is identical to last year’s … but for one MAJOR change.
Now they’re allowing only 100 characters to answer.
Yup, you read that right. They’ve cut the length in half.
In case you weren’t convinced that they wanted you to directly, specifically, and also concisely answer this question, you have some evidence in front of your eyes.
Now, many of you reading this post have never written an MBA admissions essay before in your life. You may not realize how drastic a change this is.
BSers struggled mightily when this question was introduced with a 200-character limit. It’s gonna be fun seeing people deal with half that much.
Of course <shameless self-promotion> if you go through the EssaySnark Career Goals App Accelerator, we will coach you on what needs to go into a good response to this short-answer question, and what needs to be presented in their Essay 1 as backup to that.</shameless self-promotion>
Ash says
Hi guys,
I am thinking of purchasing the complete essay package which I think is about a 100 bucks. I don’t have a gmat score at hand yet. Will be taking mine in a month’s time
Would you guys reocmmend that I purchase your service after I have a test score in hand. Its just that Im thinking of applying to 4 schools.
Insead
University of chicago
Columbia and
Nyu stern
In october. I am not sure if its too late to purchase your product at that point. Please can you let me know?
essaysnark says
Hey Ash – great question! Typically we do recommend having a GMAT score in hand before doing the Comprehensive Profile Review, which is generally recommended as the first step of the Complete Essay Package. HOWEVER: There are big advantages to starting early (especially in starting now, before the month is out – see this post), and we must also note the prices may rise at any time. We’re still technically in early season though that will be changing within a matter of days. We can develop your Comprehensive Profile Review using a practice test score, or you could potentially start working on your career goals first, before you submit your questionnaire for the profile review, and then wait for the profile review until your GMAT is done. Remember that all steps in the Complete Essay Package must be finished within its subscription term (60 days from purchase). Most people need at least 4 full weeks for essay development so no matter what, you’ll want to get going pretty soon if you are planning for a Columbia Early Decision app (best to submit in early August if possible).
Hopefully that helps! Let us know if you have other questions on this. We are encouraging people to move ahead as soon as possible since this stuff always takes longer than expected (you’ll want to have your first app done at least 4 weeks before the next ones are due, to make sure you have time to rework tactics and tackle questions that the different schools ask in different ways).
EssaySnark
Ash says
Sorry I meant to say I would like to purchase The complette essay pakage which is about a 1000 bucks! Haha wish it was 100 though.
I dont know if I should purchase it now/later. Thanks and please let me know what you guys think.