VP Weekly Three: The Three Best MBA Questions We Heard This Week (…With Answers)

Every week we speak with MBA applicants trying to figure out how the MBA application process works and how they stack up to the competition. So, in this series we will track the best questions we’ve received. We will periodically send out a summary of the answers (think FAQ style). This will help fast track the process for all of you.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

1) If I apply to Columbia Early Decision and am accepted, then I find out that I got into another school that I’d rather go to, can I renege? No. Could you physically do this? Yes, but you’re giving your word to Columbia. You will sign a statement affirming that if accepted, you will decline all other offers and withdraw other applications. This commits you to attend. It’s your honor on the line. Apply Early Decision ONLY if you know Columbia is your top choice. You must be willing to go there despite outcomes at other schools. Check out a summary of Columbia’s Application Options, including a description of the Early Decision parameters; and it’s also helpful to know that Columbia does look favorably upon ED applicants.

2) Can one of my recommenders be my mentor? It depends. Can your mentor speak to what you’re like daily? Will they compare your performance to peers? Do they know your strengths and weaknesses? Normally, when people ask us this question, they refer to someone they’ve never worked with. This person has been a strong influence personally or professionally.
In this case, we generally guide people to continue leveraging this relationship. Ask your mentor to review your application and/or essays and provide feedback. However, we don’t generally advise asking this person to be a recommender. Why not? Schools look at recommender feedback to understand how you operate on a team. They want to know what kind of person and leader you are. Importantly, they want to see your professional trajectory. If you’re not working with or interacting with someone daily like you would in a work setting, answering those questions with credibility becomes hard. Having two recommenders from the same company is ok, especially if you’ve only worked for one company.

3) If my significant other is currently a student at the school I’m applying to, should I tell admissions? Yes. Every school evaluates you based on your experience and profile competitiveness. However, they also consider your genuine interest in the school and cultural fit. If you have a significant other at a school already, then it’s pretty clear that you’d be interested AND know a lot about the program already (hence your decision to apply).

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