CBS Class of 2028 Essay Analysis

The questions are similar to last year, but slightly different framing for the 2nd main essay question.

2025/26 essay questions

Short answer questions:

1. What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters)

2. How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (50 characters)
   

Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay 2: Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (250 words)

Essay 3

We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership--academically, culturally, and professionally.

How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)

2025/26 essay question analysis

Essay 1

Similar to prior years, Columbia is asking for both your short-term and long-term plans. Offer context for your motivations (what is the first time you realized this was your goal? How did you feel when you first realized you could fix the “problem” your goal is centered around?), as well as what from your background makes you the best person to pursue this goal.

Also, make sure you’re connecting how your short-term plans relate to your long-term objectives. For example, if you want to start a business, and then become a public servant, explain how starting the business will help you be a better public servant. Otherwise, it risks sounding unrealistic.

While it is fine to include some quick references to how Columbia would help you on the path to achieving your dream job, avoid spending too many words on this (should be less than 15% of the words used in your essay). Instead, save those examples for Essay 3.

Finally, every year, people are tempted to recount their past career as part of this question. Avoid doing this. Talking about your professional path eats up A LOT of words, typically without answering the question directly. Remember, the Admissions Committee will already have your resume.

Essay 2

Similar to last year's prompt, Columbia removed some of the preamble to this question, but the intent of the question is largely the same.

As with last year, this essay touches on themes that other schools ask for in their essays (i.e. Stanford impact essays, last year's Kellogg essay 2). While the tone of the question implies heavy emphasis on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, the types of examples that could be compelling in answering this prompt are numerous. Think of a time when you engaged an individual or group that was different than you, and drove yourself and others towards a positive result. Chances are that example would great to include in this section! Also keep in mind that inclusivity can mean more dimensions than just race/ethnicity, gender, gender orientation/identity, and other dimensions currently hot topics in the news. It can also mean being inclusive based on age, socioeconomic, background, disability (visible or hidden), mental health status, faith, technical skills, and many other dimensions.

Essay 3

Similar to last year, this essay continues to essentially mimic a more traditional “Why [our school]” that other schools ask as well. The admissions committee continues to expect that applicants will use Columbia as a platform to drive their own success, rather than expect the school to "create" success for them. As in prior years, it will help to weave in an example drawn from the larger NYC community to differentiate yourself; an example could be discussing organizations in the city that you will reach out to and build relationships with.

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