For early bird applicants who are trying to get a sense of next year’s application timeline and happen to have Columbia on their list, the school has already released its deadlines for the 2007-2008 admissions season:
January 2008 Accelerated Program
Application Review Began: April 25, 2007
Decision Period: Within 8 weeks of submission
Application Deadline: October 10, 2007
September 2008 Early Decision
Application Review Begins: August 15, 2007
Decision Period: Within 10 weeks of submission
Application Deadline: October 10, 2007
September 2008 Regular Decision
Application Review Begins: January 9, 2008
Decision Period: Within 12 weeks of submission
Application Deadline: March 3 (international applicants) or April 16 (US-based applicants)
While the rolling nature of the school’s process gives applicants a fair amount of leeway and makes this school an easy one to fit in among programs with more rigid application deadlines, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s always best to apply as early as possible in one’s target round, both to show the school that you are making it a priority and to get your application in the hands of the adcom before they’ve given away too many seats in the incoming class.
For those targeting the J-term, it is likely that the essays will be very similar to those from last season, including an essay asking why the applicant has elected to apply for the accelerated program. The key to this response is to convince the adcom that a summer internship would not be necessary to achieve one’s career goals (this particular option tends to work better for those who are seeking to move more quickly along their current career path than for those aiming to switch industry and/or function), and to explain why the accelerated timeframe makes the most sense.
Early birds should keep in mind one cautionary note from last year, when Columbia revised its essay questions in the middle of the summer, causing some confusion in the process. Applicants may want to keep a close eye on Columbia’s website for upcoming changes of this nature.
