The Columbia MBA Program is carefully designed to instill both the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the fast-moving, competitive world of business. Many top managers credit the skills they acquired at Columbia Business School as the springboard to their successful careers.

We look for intellectually driven people from diverse educational, economic, social, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. Our students share a record of achievement, demonstrated, strong leadership, and the ability to work in teams.

The Admissions Committee seeks intellectually inquisitive applicants with superior academic credentials from their undergraduate and graduate programs. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. Fluency in multiple languages is not required for admission but is increasingly desirable for the study and practice of global business.

Over the past five years, competition for admission to Columbia Business School has continued to rise steadily. We typically receive and review 5, 500 to 7, 000 full-time MBA applications each year, and in recent cycles only 15 percent of applicants were admitted.

View a class profile of the most recently admitted MBA students.

We accept applications from candidates with a three-year undergraduate degree. Those applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Self-reported GMAT, GRE, and/or TOEFL scores must be submitted with the application by the deadline. Scores will be verified after admission to the program.

Interviews are conducted by invitation only; they cannot be requested by applicants. Invitations may be extended at any point in the application review process. The Admissions Office will contact you if you are selected for an interview.

In a given application season, the Admissions Office will begin reviewing January-entry applications and August-entry Early Decision applications once all required materials have been received.

Our goal is either to invite for an interview or deny admission within six weeks of a completed application being received. Our goal for interviewed applicants is to render a final decision within two weeks of the interview report being completed.

Please note that the Admissions Committee will first review all of the Early Decision and January intake applications before we review Regular Decision applications. Regular Decision applications will be held and read in the order they are received. We will begin reviewing these applications in November.

As a matter of policy, Columbia Business School does not defer admitted students to a future term.

We understand the enormous commitment of time and energy that goes into applying to business school, but unfortunately we're not able to offer individual feedback on denied applications.

We're well aware of the significant investment applicants make while participating in our selection process, and we appreciate the effort of all our applicants. Accordingly, the Admissions Committee reviews each candidacy with great care and thoughtful consideration. The review process is extremely thorough, and all decisions are final. There is no process for appeal.

• Significant change in your responsibilities at work
• Improved standardized test scores
• Refinement of your career goals
• New recommendations
• New interests pursued outside of work

Fee waivers are available to full-time students, active duty military personnel, and members of the Peace Corps, Teach for America, Teach for China, or Teach for India who are currently in service. Proof of current service is required. Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver should email a fee waiver request, as well as proof of service, to apply@gsb.columbia.edu and explain their need for a fee waiver in the optional essay. Please allow up to one week for an update to your online status confirming that your fee waiver has been approved.

Columbia Business School does not accept transfer credits for MBA programs. Before each semester, exemption exams are offered, allowing students already well-versed in a particular subject area the opportunity to replace core courses with electives. Passing an exemption exam does not reduce the requirement that all students must complete 60 credits at Columbia Business School in order to graduate — it merely allows students to take additional elective courses.

Students must complete a total of 60 credits in order to graduate with an MBA from Columbia Business School. Students typically enroll in 15 credits of coursework each semester for four semesters of study, though this distribution may vary. Full-term courses are worth 3 credits; half-term courses are worth 1.5 credits.

Source: www8.gsb.columbia.edu