The most important advice I have for applicants when it comes to preparing for the Columbia GSB 2017-2018 MBA essays is to invest in knowing the School before you begin writing your Essay.

Many applicants are aware of the importance of taking the time to really understand a school before tackling their application essay, yet many make the fundamental mistake of ignoring this important step. The result is weak essays that do a poor job to show how you are a fit for the Business School.

Visit Columbia Business School and make sure you can see yourself thriving there. Don’t worry if you are unable to visit. Take the time to attend information sessions hosted in your city if those are available. And take advantage of  information that the school has available through recorded webinars.

Now for more specific feedback on this year’s MBA essays at Columbia GSB.

2017-2018 MBA Essays

Goal: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters)

Fifty characters is not much space. Keep it short, and stick to the word count. Also focus on the word “immediate”! This is professional goal you have once you graduate from business school.

Keep it simple. An example is:

Become an associate at a strategy consulting firm.

Essay #1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3 – 5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

This essay is very specific. The focus is on your career goals. Columbia GSB admissions board cares a great deal about applicants having a keen sense of what they want to do. They want to know that you have thought things through and that you have a realistic picture of the steps you will need to take to get there. Hence, the focus on the short term and long-term dream job.

It is important to have realistic expectations about how you will get to your ultimate dream job and the short-term goal needs to make sense to the adcom. You can be ambitious in your goals but you need to walk a fine line between being aspirational with your dream career and how you will get there. If your goals are too unrealistic given your profile, you make it easy for the adcom to reject your application with little consideration.

An example of this can be seen in an applicant who does not have any background in investing who declares that they want to start a value investing fund in the long term and that they plan to work in banking and/or private equity right after business school. Someone who has worked in investing banking or has exposure to investment management will have a more believable career story than someone who is coming from an unrelated background who wants to compete in one of the most competitive career areas after business school.

Essay #2: The full-time MBA experience includes academics, recruiting and networking. What are your personal priorities and how do you anticipate allocating your time at Columbia Business School? (250 words)

I like this question and think it’s a wonderful opportunity for applicants to share what they are genuinely interested in about the school. Keep the phrase “personal priorities” in mind when tackling this essay. While you may be drawn to a variety of resources and opportunities available at the school, it’ll be important for you to focus on two to three of the most important ones to you.

With only 250 words for this essay, you have little room to build a case that reveals your knowledge of the school’s resources and how they tie in with your interests. Again, less is more.

It is important not to write an essay that is generic. Saying you are drawn to the school’s robust network or supportive recruiting environment are all examples of broad statements. What will set your essay apart is if you are able to show how the network will be meaningful or specifics of what you have observed up close about the recruiting process and opportunities that excites you about the school. Details matter a great deal here for a winning essay!

Essay #3: Please select and answer one of the following essay questions: (250 words)
a: Please tell us what you feel most passionate about in life.
b: If you were given a free day and could spend it anywhere, in any way you choose, what would you do?

The third essay offers two options from which you can select one. This essay provides you with flexibility to select the one where you can showcase your brand and story in the best light. This is a huge benefit for applicants.

Both essays are great.

Option A is an essay for applicants who have a strong example that they can share. Applicants who choose this essay should be sure that they have evidence to back up whatever point they make. They should also consider how what they share in this essay enables them to build their brand message.

Let’s say, for example, that you are most passionate about building close ties/relationships. This should be part of your brand theme and there should be ample examples from your life to back this up. Drawing on some of those examples will be key in writing an interesting and compelling essay.

Option B is also a good option for some applicants. This essay has room for you to write about something you are passionate about but it also offers the opportunity to go beyond that, hence offering greater flexibility. It is an essay that can reveal what you value. There isn’t a right or wrong choice in what you would spend the free day doing. What matters is that you choose something you care about and believe in.

Avoid trying to paint a picture that is fake. For example, if you are not someone who cares a great deal about humanitarian impact, saying you would spend the day at a refugee camp in Syria will not accurately represent your brand. Admissions people can see through the lies.

Be real. Sometimes the best examples for an essay like this will be seen where applicants describe doing something very simple. The most important part of this essay is sharing why you have chosen the example of a perfect day and what that means to you.

Optional Essay: Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? If so, please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 words)

Optional essays can be great when you have actual issues you must address. Low GMAT or GPA can warrant a short essay where you highlight aspects of your profile that reinforces your intellectual rigor and ability to handle the coursework at business school. Gaps in employment can also be a good reason to write an optional essay. I would not write bullet points but would recommend keeping the essay short and to the point.