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($) “If all my other Rd 1 apps are crap shouldn’t I go ahead with Columbia ED anyway?”

September 24, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Columbia Leave a Comment

We know you know what we think about using Columbia Early Decision as an insurance policy.

If Columbia is not your first choice school, then don’t apply Early Decision. If you’re also applying to schools like Harvard and Stanford and Wharton, then it’s borderline unethical to also try for Columbia ED since you’re clearly focused on “better” schools than them. What if you get in to both?

But at this point in the season you may be saying, “Gee, EssaySnark said all my other essays are not going to be good enough. It sounds like EssaySnark doesn’t think I have a chance at H/S/W. I was gonna do Columbia in Regular Decision, to, you know, play by the rules and be ethical and all. But if EssaySnark doesn’t think I’m gonna make it anywhere else, why shouldn’t I go for Columbia ED?”

We can see the perceived logic in that. But we don’t really see it working out for you at Columbia either.

If all of our feedback on your prior apps to date has been, “Nope, not good enough,” then what makes you think that your work on Columbia is any better?

The REAL answer is to actually force yourself to do the hard work of figuring out how to write your essays.

We know that every single person who comes across this blahg is capable of doing it.

If you choose not to, then we understand. It is not easy work!! In fact, it may be one of the hardest things you’ve attempted to date, depending upon your background and prior experience.

But it’s totally possible.

Frequently, the BSers who start off with the most gawdawful drafts in the world are the ones who end up with the best essays of all, when they apply themselves to the task of figuring out what we’re talking about with these essay-writing concepts and techniques, and going through all the effort and sweat of actually learning how to do it.

So the right answer to the question at the top of this page is not, yes, throw one more opportunity away because heck, all the other ones are sh!t and none are going to turn out, so may as well try for that “advantage” of Early Decision.

No.

The right answer is step back from the essays and decide to DO IT RIGHT.

Columbia has Regular Decision. If you apply early enough in the Regular Decision cycle, you have just as much of a chance as if you apply now a WAY BETTER CHANCE if you do it with better essays.

Filed Under: Early Action/Decision Bschools: Columbia

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So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

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From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

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What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: ($) Coronavirus and the MBA: Which MBA programs are more likely to (possibly) resume oncampus instruction?
  • 2019: The secret to how to get into HBS
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  • 2013: Success Story! From an oversubscribed pool, a no-name school and below average GPA!
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