On Thursday, we learned of the online launch of Voices of Columbia Business School, a blog which aims to provide an insider view into the Columbia experience through the eyes of current students.

Written by a mix of MBA and EMBA students and admissions officers, Amanda Carlson, assistant dean of admissions, writes that the goal of this blog is to provide admissions insights, offer any updates about how the process is flowing, and offer reflections on the Columbia Business School student experience.

The blog will also help b-school aspirants learn more about events for prospective students.

In its very first post, Hannah Stern,  Class of 2013 and president of the Hermes Society, shares how her reliance on spreadsheets to analyze which MBA program she should choose faltered when she attempted to quantify “community.”

Flash-forward to her second year at Columbia, and Stern, who calls her classmates brilliant and amazing, says the dynamic at Columbia is unmatched. “You can’t weight the value of community: it is something you feel,” she explains.

If you’re able to visit the campus in person and get a feel for the community yourself, that’s ideal. But for those who cannot, perhaps this blog will be the next best thing. Stern adds, “We hope to give you some insight into the community feeling here at Columbia Business School, because — as I realized when I was in your shoes — this is one decision you should not make with a spreadsheet!”

Voices is definitely a resource you should bookmark if Columbia Business School is on your radar.

The case method approach has come under increased scrutiny of late. Established by Harvard Business School more than a century ago, it is still widely used at top MBA programs worldwide.  Harvard relies on the case method for approximately 80 percent of its instruction, and students at Darden School of Business are exposed to more than 500 cases in a variety of industries and functions during their time at the UVA MBA program.

By definition, case studies are authentic business or management scenarios that present executives with a problem or uncertain outcome. The case lays out the situation in the context of the players, events and issues that influence it, and enables students to identify closely with those involved. The next step is to perform the necessary analysis—examining the causes and considering alternative courses of actions to come to a set of recommendations.

If the case method approach is so useful, why doesn’t every top business school embrace it wholeheartedly?  In an article that created quite a buzz in management education when first published, Harvard Business School professor James Heskett pointed to concerns that the case method is too time-consuming, ill-suited to teaching quantitative techniques, and based on the idea that there’s no right or wrong answer—only some that are better than others.

Columbia Business School uses cases about 40 percent of the time, and in a recent interview with MBA Channel, Vice Dean Amir Ziv explains where he thinks the approach succeeds, and where the criticism is valid. For Ziv, the obvious advantage is that the case represents a real-life situation and forces students to solve it.

“The second big advantage,” he adds, “Is that a case draws on everyone’s experience. If you have 60 students and everyone has four years of work experience that is many more total years than what I have myself. In the case method everyone benefits from the shared experiences of everyone else in the class.”

As for the downsides, Ziv agrees that sometimes the problem is efficiency. “In order to teach two plus two, I don’t need a case—I can teach that in a lecture, which is less time-consuming,” he says.

Another big problem: most cases are already too complete. When handed a 30-page analysis, students already have everything they need to know and don’t need to do any additional research. “That is artificial and doesn’t allow students to think what additional information they might need and how to get it,” Ziv notes.

In order to deliver a good case analysis you need lots of preparation from your students, Ziv adds. “If people are stressed or tired or do not prioritize academics, they don’t prepare, it shows, and all the benefits of the case method are absent.”

Columbia has come up with an alternative method called the decision brief that teach students to handle tough, real-world issues by providing them with incomplete data that forces them to become resourceful, and hence, better decision-makers.

“In one case we hand out two emails and one picture. You have to figure out what the issue is, who on the team should work on what, and what other information you need,” Ziv explains. “That’s how we overcome the weakness of the case method: by giving our students incomplete and unstructured information.”

The case method approach is considered a proven winner because it brings the subject to life, brings business back to reality, and allows you to benefit from the professional experiences of a diverse group of classmates. But judging by the interview with Ziv, and other media stories on the issue, this method may not be for everyone.

Are you applying to school that relies heavily on the case method approach? Or, are you looking for an MBA program with a broader teaching style that combines lecture and experiential learning? We’d love to hear feedback from our readers on the usefulness of this teaching approach, so please leave us a comment with your opinion below.

Earlier this week, Columbia Business School announced the appointment of Amanda Carlson as assistant dean of admissions, where she will oversee the admissions department of the MBA and Executive MBA programs at the school. Carlson follows former assistant dean of admissions Mary Miller, who is now program director for EMBA-Global Asia, a joint program offered by the University of Hong Kong, London Business School, and Columbia Business School.

The changing of the guard comes on the heels of a recent Bloomberg Businessweek article on last year’s precipitous drop—19%—in applications to Columbia’s full-time MBA program. It’s the biggest one-year drop in recent memory, BusinessWeek reports, and Amir Ziv, vice dean and accounting professor at Columbia, blames troubles on Wall Street for the slump.

Carlson joined the admissions team in 2002 as a coordinator and worked her way up to her previous role as director of admissions.  Prior to joining Columbia, she worked in campus recruitment for McKinsey & Company.  Carlson has also served on the Board of the Forte Foundation and as a member of the Graduate Management Admissions Council’s (GMAC) annual conference advisory committee.

Dean Glenn Hubbard praised the departing Miller’s contributions to the business school, which include the recruitment of a highly qualified student body.

“Mary and Amanda worked closely together on our admissions strategy, and with Amanda’s expertise in admissions, we are confident that she will continue the great work already underway and be a strong leader for our terrific admissions team,” Hubbard said.

Columbia Business School has appointed Surya N. Mohapatra, former chairman and chief executive officer of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, as its newest Executive in Residence.  With more than 30 years of broad experience in the health care industry, including cardiovascular research, diagnostic imaging, and diagnostic testing, Mohapatra will provide students with an additional connection to a healthcare industry expert.

The Executives in Residence Program at Columbia Business School, among the first of its kind when it was founded nearly three decades ago, integrates senior executives into the life of the School.  Executives in Residence teach classes, participate in student-run conferences, and organize informal activities for students with common interests.

“Dr. Mohapatra and his considerable experience in health care will help facilitate and strengthen collaboration among Columbia Business School and other schools in medical science, engineering, and public health,” said Dean Glenn Hubbard.  “We are excited to welcome him as our newest Executive in Residence.”

This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA blog on U.S.News.com

You are articulate and well prepared. The interview portion of the application to your first-choice business school is moving along smoothly, and you have a well-thought-out answer for each question.

Finally, the interviewer states, “You have an impressive résumé, strong work experience, and interesting extracurricular activities. However, your résumé looks like countless others I’ve seen this year. What makes you different from other qualified applicants?”

Your answer may make the difference between acceptance and denial into the MBA program of your choice. Top b-schools accept only a small percentage of applicants drawn from a highly competitive pool. Candidates need more than great test scores and a solid résumé. Success ultimately lies in understanding how to market yourself effectively throughout the application process.

[Learn how to narrow your b-school application list.]

Understand your target market: Like any marketing project, understanding your target market is critical. As a first step in the application process, you must research the schools and get to know them well. You should read the websites and brochures, attend information sessions, speak with students and alumni, and, if possible, visit the school.

The knowledge you acquire will help you determine how best to sell yourself. It will also help you articulate why you have selected a particular school. Citing specific reasons from firsthand experience gives you an advantage over the other applicants.

Positioning is key: Every school has a need. It may be assembling alumni who will donate generously, or changing its reputation as a party school. Understanding a school’s needs and positioning yourself as part of the solution will make a difference.

For example, consider Columbia Business School, which you may want to attend because you plan to pursue a career in finance. Realize that Columbia hears this frequently. If you do your research, you’ll learn that the school embraces entrepreneurship as a major initiative and has just launched the Columbia Business Lab for recently graduated Columbia entrepreneurs. Speaking to this may be a way to align yourself with the school’s objectives.

Differentiate yourself: Even highly qualified applicants worry about finding a way to stand out. Fortunately, the personal essay portion of the application allows you to showcase what makes you unique. Examples that may seem less than extraordinary to you can provide the admissions committee with clear evidence of your talent.

One of my clients worked as a strategy consultant and couldn’t fit traditional volunteer work into his hectic travel schedule. He decided to contact his alma mater’s career center, offering himself as a resource to those interested in a consulting career. He ended up giving back on his own terms, in a very significant way. Excellence comes in many different packages, and sometime small examples can brilliantly illustrate your distinctive contributions.

Remember, a simple example is often the most effective. One b-school applicant needed a good story for a question on leadership. The example he used involved revamping a monthly report. Although this may not seem like an impressive task, once written, it showed initiative, a desire to challenge the status quo, and an ability to execute tasks and influence others. If you want to convey your worth, don’t just state it; prove it with examples.

Don’t be afraid of failure: In addition to highlighting strengths, an essential component of marketing is effectively managing weaknesses. Most applicants dread the “Tell us about a time you failed” question. The best approach is honesty.

One b-school applicant I worked with had been laid off three times during his four-year career—something he initially felt terrified to reveal to the admissions committees. However, by discussing the situation and circumstances with honesty, he demonstrated self-awareness, an ability to learn from mistakes, maturity, resilience, and determination.

Introspection allows the admissions committee to get to know you. Adopting a frank, yet thoughtful, attitude toward failure allows you to capitalize on a weakness and make it work for you.

Although negotiating your acceptance into a top MBA program seems daunting, by showcasing your individuality, you can do so with success. Research each institution and understand how your personal strengths and differences can benefit the programs of your choice.

Take advantage of the application’s essay portion to illustrate your unique qualities, and don’t shy away from discussing your weaknesses, as well as what you’ve learned from moments of failure. Effective marketing can take your application from good to great—and make all the difference in this highly competitive process.

Columbia Business School has posted the essay questions for the class of 2015 application. Columbia has significantly reduced the number of questions asked this year, but continues to seek customized information on your interest in the school. Before you get started with this set of essays it will be helpful to brainstorm your career objectives, strengths and weaknesses, and to make sure you have done as much school research as possible.

Short Answer Question
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (200 characters maximum)

This question simply asks what your immediate post-MBA goal is. You should state your short-term goal briefly in this question and explain your longer term career goals in the next section.

Essay 1:
A. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals? (Maximum 500 words)
B. Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School.
Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community. Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)

Remember that this essay has two purposes: demonstrate that you know why you are interested in Columbia, and showcase why you are an excellent fit for the program. Both goals should be kept in mind as you answer the question.

Columbia has traditionally asked a similar question to determine why you are pursuing an MBA and why Columbia is the right program for you. This year the question asks how you plan to achieve your goals as well as what you want to achieve and why MBA. When you think about your future plans it will add credibility to describe how you tend to approach goals in general. Are you determined despite obstacles? How have you demonstrated your persistence in your career thus far? This essay is not a recitation of your resume and should focus only on relevant examples from your career, but often the best indicator of future performance is the past, and therefore examples can support your position that your goals are achievable with a Columbia MBA.

The second part of this question specifically focuses on culture at Columbia. While many applicants cite the location in NYC as a key attraction to the school, Columbia would like to know what you are seeking on campus that is the right fit for you. Along with viewing the video, conducting personal research by networking with co-workers, friends and family who may know someone at Columbia is a great way to experience the culture first hand. As you comment upon the aspects of Columbia’s culture that most interest you, make sure you provide examples from your own life to support that interest. For example, if you were highly involved in student government in your undergrad program perhaps you can cite a similar opportunity at Columbia you will pursue.

Essay 2:
Describe a personal experience and how it has influenced who you are today. This essay should have a personal rather than a professional focus. (Maximum 500 words)

While the first essay focuses on your professional path and why you want an MBA from Columbia, this essay is specifically seeking more insight into who you are outside of your professional focus.

If you are having trouble brainstorming a formative experience, think about what you have spent time on outside of work. Do you focus on volunteering? Family or friends? Work backwards from what is most important to you outside of your career and evaluate what experience led you to spend your time in this way.

Ideally this topic gets at your core values and what motivates you in your personal and professional life. While this absolutely should be a personal reflection, consider experiences that may be most relevant to an MBA program. For example, you may have spent time caring for a sick family member, which is clearly a personal experience, yet it taught you how to advocate for someone else’s needs and prioritize your time between your responsibilities and the needs of others. Ideally you are able to communicate what you value through this question and also how you approach learning from experience.

Optional Essay
An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

If there are any areas of concern, this is the correct place to address them. Strike an upbeat tone here and avoid excuses. Explain your issue clearly and focus most of the essay on the correction for the issue. For example, if you had a disciplinary issue in college, spend most of the essay demonstrating that you learned from the experience and have been an ideal citizen ever since.
If you do not have a weakness to address here, it’s an ideal opportunity to provide any information that you were unable to work into the other three essays. If you have an unusual background, hobby or extracurricular experience, this may be an opportunity to showcase your unique profile.