Columbia has changed the essay questions this year, resulting in a leaner set of questions that will require you to think deeply about what you need to communicate and strategize effectively.  The three required questions focus on some of the factors that are important to Columbia.

As mentioned on the website, Columbia is seeking strong candidates with demonstrated academic and professional accomplishments, along with “demonstrated, strong leadership; and the ability to work in teams.”  Columbia’s students are diverse and international, and Columbia seeks students who have the “potential to become successful global leaders.”

Columbia Business School Application Essay Questions:

1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals? (Recommended 750 word limit)

This is similar to the standard career goals essay and the tips we have provided for Wharton and Kellogg will be helpful here too.  Columbia does not ask about the past, so it is important to be future focused on this essay.  Make sure to clearly outline your goals, and talk about the past when you specifically need to discuss what has led you to be passionate about the career path you have chosen.

In addition, it’s very important to spend significant time and effort on the second part of the question about Columbia as a integral part of your goals.  Researching the school, speaking with students and alumni and explaining your fit with Columbia effectively in this essay can make a huge difference to your candidacy.  A great way to learn more about Columbia, the school blog is a great resource.

2. Master Classes are the epitome of bridging the gap between theory and practice at Columbia Business School. (View link below). Please provide an example from your own life in which practical experience taught you more than theory alone. (Recommended 500 word limit)

View with Real Player:
http://merlin.gsb.columbia.edu:8080/ramgen/video1/faculty/MasterClass-promo.rm
View via Google:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4698876883776961370&hl=en

It will definitely be important to be familiar with Columbia’s master classes, which are projects done with second year students who work with a company on a real world problem.  For this essay, it will be important to think about an example of a time when you bridged the gap between theory and reality in a practical, work situation.  Demonstrate your ability to apply theory, and show how you were able to function in a practical, dynamic situation, even if the outcome was not as expected.  Columbia appreciates experience, and this is a great place for you to highlight some of your unique practical experiences.

3. Please provide an example of a team failure of which you’ve been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do differently? (Recommended 500 word limit)

This is similar to the classic mistake essay, yet rather than focusing on your own individual failure, you are asked to think about a team that failed.  This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your skills as both a leader and team member.  The tricky part is to avoid blaming anyone on the team while explaining what went wrong.

The way to approach this question is to analyze what went wrong in the team failure, and what you learned.  Briefly outline the situation, discuss the failure and then discuss how you would apply the lessons learned if you were given a second chance.  Be as specific as possible about where the situation broke down, as well as what you would do differently.  To take the question a bit further, it would be ideal to have a real life example of a time you actually did apply the lesson you learned through this failure.

It would be appropriate to choose either a work or extracurricular example for this question, depending on how you answered the rest of the required questions.

4. (Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to provide to the Admissions Committee? (Please us this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history.)

This essay is meant as an opportunity to explain anything that may be a concern to the admissions committee.  When discussing a low GPA, for example, make sure to offer clear explanations without embellishment or excuses.  The best evidence that you are now an ideal candidate for Columbia is your demonstrated achievements since.  Highlight any classes taken since, quantitative work projects, and any other academically relevant successes.

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Michigan has left their essays largely unchanged since last year. Two key differences are that Essay 1 no longer includes a reference to Ross’ “Action-Based Learning” approach and that Essay 2 asks for one major accomplishment rather than several, which will allow you to be more precise and focused for that question. For Essay 1, it will still be important to understand the Michigan approach to learning and the Action-Based philosophy.

When approaching any set of MBA essays it will be important to refer back to your overall strategy and story. Think about the key strengths you have identified that you want to communicate to the admissions committee, and how you will utilize each question to reach that goal. Ross has two questions (Short Essays 3 & 4) that will allow you to express your personal attributes, and several opportunities to discuss your professional and leadership skills.

Long Essays (500 word max)

1. Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why is an MBA the best choice at this point in your career? What and/or who influenced your decision to apply to Ross?

This is Michigan’s version of the fairly standard career goals essay and similar to the question posed by both the Kellogg and Wharton applications. Make sure to answer all of the questions posed by this essay by describing what your career goals are both in the short- and long-term, why an MBA is a logical next step and why Ross is the right place for you.

In discussing your goals, focus on the future. Craft a concrete plan that will bridge your MBA, your short-term idea for immediately after graduation and your long-term career dream. The story should fit together logically and naturally, and also arise clearly from the career progress to date you will articulate in the next part of the question.

You will need to describe a bit of your career progress thus far to get into why now is the right time for you to attend an MBA program. When discussing past career experiences, think about the important pivot points in your story such as promotions, job changes or high profile projects that also fit in solidly with your career goals and MBA plans. Laser focus on a few vivid examples will help your application stand out from the crowd. There are many valid reasons to apply for MBA programs at this point in your career. Perhaps you have reached a plateau, are ready for a career change, or realize that you need the specialized skills of an MBA to reach the next level on your current path.

In addressing part three of this question, why Ross, make sure to highlight the people and experiences you have had. Specific information gathered from school visits, the website and course curriculum will help you answer the “what” part of the question, while networking (at a Ross Reception for instance) with current students and alumni will help you understand the culture at Ross and give you personal examples to highlight your fit with Ross.

2. Describe your most significant professional accomplishment. Elaborate on the leadership skills you displayed, the actions you took and the impact you had on your organization.

This essay is the perfect opportunity to both address a significant accomplishment and to provide a solid example of your leadership qualities. The example must be from work, and in a departure from last year, Ross is asking for only one significant accomplishment.

Short Essays (300 word max)

3. If you were not pursuing the career goals you described in Question 1, what profession would you pursue instead? (For example, teacher, musician athlete, architect, etc.) How will this alternate interest contribute to your effectiveness in solving multidisciplinary problems?

This question suggests an interest by Ross in admitting students with passion. This essay is an opportunity for you to discuss some of your extracurricular activities and hobbies, while illuminating the influence they have had on your life. Think about the activities you most enjoy outside of work, preferably an activity you have been involved in over time, and reflect on the ways this activity has affected your approach and thinking over your life.

While explaining your alternate career path, think about the professional applications of your passion. You may have once dreamed of being a rock star, and can you take that influence and creativity and apply it to your work in marketing?

Challenges contribute greatly to developing maturity, and this essay asks you to describe a key point in your life that may have created wisdom and a mature approach to life and work. This is a great opportunity to highlight your resilience and ability to learn from even the most difficult circumstances.

The question allows the flexibility to pick a self-created challenge (a mistake or misstep) or to address an external challenge like an illness, being laid off, or family issues. In describing the situation, focus primarily on your response to it and how it has changed your approach and attitude since the event.

Our tips on the HBS mistake essay may help with your approach to this one as well.

Optional Question: Is there anything else you think the Admissions Committee should know about you to evaluate your candidacy?

Use the optional essay if you have an issue that needs to be addressed through a short essay, such as low GPA, gap in work history or unconventional recommenders. Explain the situation clearly and succinctly, and provide explanations rather than excuses.

As you tackle this set of questions, virtual support from the many MBA applicant bloggers may help you tap your creativity!

For a concise, thoughtful guide that will help you navigate the MBA admissions process with greater success, order our NEW book, The MBA Application Roadmap.

Berkeley’s short answer essays are both an opportunity and a challenge.  At 250 words, they make it challenging to communicate the range of your personal qualities and skills, yet the questions provide the opportunity for variety in what you communicate.  Because of the brevity, you will want to be extremely specific and concise with your examples.

The last two essays, on leadership and career goals, offer more space to express yourself while demonstrating the emphasis the program places on well articulated career goals and leadership qualities.

The numerous essays required for the Berkeley MBA application allow you to be strategic in the topics you choose.  Because your career goals essay is last, you will introduce your values and personal qualities first.  Choose your examples carefully to show your breadth of experience and interests, both professionally and outside of work. 

Short Answer:

1. If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be, and how would you do it differently? (250 word maximum)

This question has elements of the standard “mistake” essay, which requires the applicant to describe and reflect on a misstep.  As in a mistake essay, you will want to describe the event you would like to change, and reflect on why and how you would change it.  This question also invites further introspection, and allows you to discuss a turning point in your life.  There is an opportunity here to show a moment when you matured, changed your perspective, or decided to take a specific path in life.  

2. Tell us about your most significant accomplishment. (250 word maximum)

This is a great opportunity to showcase an impressive accomplishment in your life, preferably one with a team or leadership component.  You have very little space to describe the accomplishment, and will still want to describe your thought process and results, which will require discipline.  The question does not limit you to professional accomplishments, and you have the opportunity to choose a significant accomplishment from an outside activity that is meaningful to you.

3.   At Haas, we value innovation and creativity. Describe an innovative solution you have created to address a specific challenge. (250 word maximum)

This question both addresses your “fit” with Haas (do you value innovation and creativity?) and allows the adcom to see how you work and think.  Describe the challenge you needed to address very briefly, and then discuss the innovative solution.  Your thought process throughout should be illustrated, and you may need to explain why your solution was considered innovative by yourself and/or others.  If an innovative or creative idea doesn’t come immediately to mind, think about a time when you have approached a challenge differently from others, even if the situation itself does not immediately seem innovative.

4.  What steps have you taken to learn about the Berkeley MBA program, and what factors have influenced your decision to apply? (250 word maximum)

This is a straightforward inquiry into your interest in and fit with the Haas program.  Because some applicants use Haas as a backup to Stanford or other programs, you will want to be thorough and specific in demonstrating your knowledge of the program.   Going beyond basic research by visiting campus, speaking with students and alumni or even reading informal blogs can show your level of interest in the program.  It is also important to describe the impact of your encounters with the Haas community on your decision to apply.

Required Essays:

1. Give us an example of a situation in which you displayed leadership. (500 word maximum)

Leadership is an important quality to all MBA programs, and the length of this essay compared to the short answers highlights its importance to Haas.  When choosing an example, a professional situation is ideal, although you will want to consider whether you have made a greater leadership impact in a volunteer situation.  Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways, and you did not have to be the official leaders in the situation.  Think of a time when you influenced a group of people, when others followed your lead, and when you made a solid impact.  Describe the details of the situation, along with your thoughts and actions.  Focus on the lessons learned as well, to show that leadership is an ongoing part of your life.

2. What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How do your professional experiences relate to these goals? Why do you want an MBA from Berkeley at this point in your career? (1000 word maximum)

This is a standard career goals essay that most MBA programs require.  In this essay, it will be important to describe your short-term and long-term goals, and also provide professional context for the goals in your past experience.  Your MBA from Berkeley should fit in as a natural bridge between your past and future in this essay.  Your short-term goals should be specific and realistic as a new MBA graduate.  Your long-term goals will lead from the short-term goals and MBA, and will reveal what you value in life and your career.  The long-term goals can be a bit more visionary, but should still be specific and considered.

As you research the Haas community, some of the insights gained from alumni and applicants could help get the creative juices flowing!