We posed questions to admissions officials at Columbia University Business School regarding the application process, what they look for in applicants and what sets their school apart. These are their responses:
1. What can applicants do to set themselves apart from their peers? Columbia Business School looks for intellectually driven people from diverse educational, economic, social, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. Our students share a proven record of achievement; demonstrated, strong leadership; and the ability to work in teams. The Admissions Committee looks for applicants who are well rounded, and interesting, and who have exhibited the will and ability to actively contribute to the well-being of their community. 2. What do you look for in the application essays? What do the essays tell you about a candidate? The Admissions Committee looks to application essays to understand an applicant's professional promise as well as learn more about his or her personal characteristics. The essays allow applicants to describe in their own words, their experiences to date in addition to their vision for the future. There is no "right answer" for an essay; we are interested in knowing where the applicant is coming from and where he or she wants to go after business school. Through learning about the applicant's experiences and desired career path, the Admissions Committee is also able to discover more about the applicant as a person and gain insight into their individuality. | 
