Columbia Business School MBA Essay Questions & Analysis 2025 - 2026

The Columbia Business School MBA application questions have changed for the 2025 - 2026 application cycle.

Let’s explore each in turn. Here are the Columbia Business School MBA application essays for 2025 - 2026.

Columbia MBA Short Answer Question 1

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

This question is unchanged from last year. This is a straightforward one-line answer discussing your immediate plan upon graduation. Think of it as the subject line to the 500 words elaborate career goals essay that follows.

Within the scope of the 50 characters limit, provide a short yet descriptive answer to give them a summary of your target role, industry, type of firm, domain of work, or interests.

The Columbia Business School admissions committee has offered a few example responses to this answer, such as:

“Work in business development for a media company”

“Join a strategy consulting firm”

“Launch a data-management start-up”

Columbia MBA Short Answer Question 2

How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (50 characters)

This is a new question for this year's admissions season. Again, answer this in a one-line, direct sentence about the industry/function you plan to intern in, or if you're an entrepreneurship candidate, the focus of your business.

For applicants choosing an internship, this will be linked directly to your short-term goal. Make sure you choose a role that aligns with this goal. With this question, CBS likely wants to understand how feasible your recruitment plans are, so make sure you research the Career Management Center for suitable roles.

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Columbia MBA Essay Question 1 

Through your résumé 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 prompt asks for a concrete, forward-looking career plan. While your path may change in the future, you need to show the school a clear outline of your professional goals. Use this space to show the school why you have chosen these goals by using a powerful story that links to your professional purpose, and the specific short-term and long-term milestones you need to achieve it.

Elaborate on the role, sector, location, and interests briefly mentioned in your 50-character goals statement. What skills do you currently lack, and what steps have you taken/do you want to take to get them?

You may choose to briefly align your goals with specific resources at Columbia Business School, but this is, at its core, a goals essay.

Columbia MBA Essay Question 2

Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (250 words)

Last year, Columbia Business School based its Essay 2 around the PPIL leadership program which enables MBA graduates to build key diversity, equity and inclusion skills. With the changing political climate, CBS is moving away from the "DEI" phrasing, but continues to focus on collaboration and community in its new Essay 2. Their goal remains the same; the schools wants candidates who can be inclusive and collaborative leaders.

To answer this question, delve into your past experiences to find a teamwork story where you helped create a sentiment of community for a team member or your larger team/organization. This could be a story about:

• Helping an overlooked team member take up more space.

• Overcoming conflict or communication breakdowns in the team.

• Standing up for a team member or going against the grain for the team's well-being.

• Demonstrating allyship towards a minority group at work.

• Creating/growing opportunities for team building and upskilling.

Structure your answer using the SCAR Analysis format (Situation, Challenge, Action, Result) to describe the situation, a challenge you faced, how you overcame the challenge, and the (positive) result of the story, preferably quantified. Then, analyze how the story was meaningful to you. A well-written story and analysis will demonstrate how the experience helped you grow as a leader, and how you'll manage teams in the future.

If you come from an under-represented minority, you may have plenty of these stories. However, if you come from an over-represented majority you’ll want to focus on a time when you demonstrated allyship towards a minority group, in your workplace or extracurricular activities.

Columbia MBA Essay Question 3

We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership–academically, culturally, and professionally.

How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)

It’s no secret that most MBA applicants submit applications to several programs. It would be unwise not to! Still, Columbia Business School is particularly interested in identifying those who are genuinely committed to their institution.

This emphasis stems from Columbia's strong focus on "yield", which is the proportion of admitted applicants who ultimately enroll. One of our clients on the waitlist was explicitly told by the AdCom, "We can offer you a spot if you promise to accept it". As such, it’s crucial to clearly convey why Columbia is your top choice and how it fits into your vision for an ideal MBA experience.

Structure your response with a logical, sequential approach. Highlight specific aspects of the curriculum and areas of academic focus, extracurricular opportunities such as clubs and organizations, and the school’s core values. Discuss how these resonate with you and support your professional aspirations. Detail how you plan to get involved, what contributions you intend to make, and the skills, perspectives, and connections you hope to gain. Show that you’ve thought critically about how CBS can accelerate your development and where you can add value in return.

Given the strict 250-word cap, you’ll need to use every word strategically. Continuously refine your draft to cut anything that overlaps with other essays or doesn’t directly support your narrative. Aim for clarity and brevity; short, purposeful sentences are your allies here.

Columbia MBA Optional Essay

Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? If so, use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words)

Nearly every MBA application includes an optional essay. Its purpose is simple: to provide a factual, straightforward explanation for any potential red flags in your profile, such as academic underperformance, overlapping roles, employment gaps, or similar issues.

Your response should be brief, direct, and focused solely on the concern. Reassure the committee that the issue won’t affect your ability to succeed in the program. Unlike other essays where storytelling and creativity are encouraged, this one calls for clarity and restraint. Aim to stay within 100 words if possible.

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You might also want to check out our Columbia MBA Interview Guide for in-depth insights into Columbia's interview process, what they're looking for in prospective candidates, interview schedule and questions for 2024, and tips to ace your interview.

For the full Columbia Business School MBA application course with example essays based on real essays by previous applicants, check out the Columbia Business School application program on MBAconsultant.com. 

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