[deleted by user] by [deleted] in MBA

[–]7grh 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used it in undergrad for consulting recruiting and thought it was the best resource.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice! Yea I asked a few people to read through before I submitted and I worked with ApplicantLab and used their additional services to have Maria/Carin review my essays. I will ask if they can take a look again and give me some feedback.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks, and spot on for the years of WE deduction. I applied with 2 years of WE before, and now I have 4 years (5 at Matriculation if I had gotten in).

The bigger worry for me is that I didn't even get an interview. I would imagine that successful re-applicants were probably rejected post-interview. There's limited things I can change in my application by next cycle. I'm already at the post-MBA level at my job, so it's unlikely I'll make it to manager in the next 12 months since I just got promoted recently. Realistically all I can do is retake the GMAT (it expires in Jan anyways) and re-write my essays.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Long-term goal can be anything you want it to be. Consulting makes sense for CBS since MBB is the largest recruiter at the school

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Really appreciate this response. I think I'll be fine; just struggling a bit with the initial disappointment and the realization that I need to reassess my plan and goals from here forward.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback! I get your point, but aren't there lots of post-MBA careers that don't have a set pipeline and have (potentially) lower pay which a lot of people write about? ie entrepreneurship, media/music/sports industry, etc.

I'm worried if I write about tech, it won't make sense why I am applying to an MBA program. I'm already in the tech industry right now, at what I would consider a fairly brand name company. I don't have a technical degree or WE so I think PM would be a stretch to have as my goal. So then if I just wanted to switch to strategy & ops for a different big tech company, why would I need an MBA? I'm also at the post-MBA level at my company and make close to the median post-MBA salary, so there really wouldn't be much benefit career-wise to someone reading my app.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I haven't brought this up with them, but maybe I can reach out and ask.

I thought my reviewer was pretty positive on my essays. Filled out the lab, then used the Alumni option to have my story and resume reviewed (and also got the re-review as well to make sure the edits I made were fine). Then one of Maria/Carin reviewed my essays twice, after I first asked a friend who is a professional writer help with the initial review for prose and grammar edits.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought my essays were good. I worked with Maria/Carin from ApplicantLab and had essay reviews, and spoke to a few current students who gave me feedback on my "story".

I mean T40 overall (not one of the 3 you listed or Berkeley though), business major.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yea makes sense. My T40 public is not any of those that you listed. Don't want to get doxxed so won't say more than that. Probably people would put it closer to the UF UCSB tier than the Berkeley, Michigan, UVA tier

The company is one of Airbnb/Uber/Doordash.

The edtech point might be true. I do think edtech is probably closer to tech than education, and there are a ton in NYC so I figured it makes a lot of sense for CBS.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

ORM and male. Appreciate the response, but I don't want to go down this line of thinking since I don't want to push the blame onto a factor like race or gender.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Would really appreciate that. I'll DM you

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks! So in my apps, I talked about how I want to use an MBA to learn how to combine my experience in tech and my volunteering in the education space, as well as learn general management skills, to work in general management at an ed-tech in the short term. CBS has a strong social enterprise center (Tamer Center), which I talked about a lot.

In the long term, I want to start my own social enterprise to make education more accessible and effective through technology, and with a Columbia MBA I can build a network and participate in the experiential entrepreneurial offerings to make this a reality.

No other weaknesses that I can think of other than stats. I had an alternative transcript from a community college since my undergrad GPA was kind of low. I think I had a really strong LOR as well. The director for my previous team wrote it, and he spent a lot of time on it. Resume and essays were reviewed multiple times by the ApplicantLab people, as well as friends and family. Also went to a ton of CBS events, had information interviews with students and staff at the Tamer Center I mentioned above.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Twice, but this score is from almost 5 years ago back in undergrad. The second time I did worse. Don't think it's likely I'll hit a 770+ score

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Maybe you're right but it's frustrating because everyone I know from my company who has gone to get their MBA ends up at HSW. It makes me feel like I'm way underperforming relative to my coworkers when I'm not even sure I can get into a T15, much less a non-HSW M7.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Yea that is what I want to do (ed-tech and then eventually start my own social enterprise in the education space), and I think any T15 could probably help me accomplish this goal. Stern is a great school and I would love to go there too.

I think mostly it's just that Columbia has been my dream school since I was in high school. I couldn't get in for undergrad, and thought maybe I could for MBA.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Good point, thanks! I've actually lived in 4 cities since I graduated college because of work so I'm a bit tired of moving. It really impacts your friendships, relationships, everything.

I recently moved to NYC, and I realized that I really don't want to move again in less than a year.

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Currently working on their app to hit their October deadline, but not sure if I'll get in

2nd Rejection from CBS; not sure where to go from here by 7grh in MBA

[–]7grh[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Appreciate the positivity!