How did I get accepted by Columbia business school at age 25 without corporate working experience?
It all started when I received an email from Columbia Business School announcing an extension of the application deadline for the Fall term of 2020.
This decision was made in recognition of the challenges faced by international students with regards to travel, compounded by the uncertainties brought about by the global pandemic. As a result, many applicants opted to defer their enrollment to a later term.
Then I did the following steps
· Prepare and submit an application as an international student.
· Face rejection, persist, and reapply for J term.
· Network with CBS student and emulate their strategy.
· Reach out to admission officers to share my experiences.
· Only one officer agrees to chat.
· Share the story of starting a brokerage and restaurant after thyroid cancer.
· Speak uninterrupted for nearly 2 hours.
· Receive interview email, paired with international alumni.
· Share stories
and inspire alumni.
· Receive the offer promptly.
· Send thank you emails to everyone who helped me in this journey!
What I learned from this:
Luck matters: COVID-19 increased acceptance chances as other students couldn't physically attend NYC.
Courage matters: I took the leap and never looked back.
Never give up: Despite rejection, I persisted and honed my storytelling skills.
Be prepared and presentable: I meticulously crafted and practiced my story until it flowed naturally.
Enjoy the process: MBA was a goal, but cancer accelerated my journey, reminding me to savor each step.