Columbia Business School has kicked off the 2025-26 MBA admissions season by releasing their deadlines (https://academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions/mba/options-deadlines) and essays (https://academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions/mba/application-requirements).
If you're looking to apply to Columbia Business School in 2025-26, you'll notice that essays #1 and #3 remain unchanged from last year; however, a key change has been made to essay #2. Specifically, Columbia has replaced its previous inclusion-focused prompt with a broader question about collaboration, inclusion, and community building. So what happened and what should applicants take from this?
Previously, Columbia MBA Essay 2 asked candidates to reflect on a skill from the Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL), a program focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Applicants were invited to discuss topics like systemic inequity, bias, and intercultural dialogue, concepts that, while important, can be viewed as politically charged.
For the 2024–2025 MBA admissions cycle, Columbia has simplified the essay:
“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.”
The new Columbia MBA essay prompt avoids DEI jargon but still aims to surface the same key qualities: emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to build effective, inclusive teams. Columbia is still looking for future business leaders who can work across differences and foster trust in diverse, global environments.
What does this mean for you? Focus your essay on how you’ve made a team stronger, whether by improving collaboration, championing unheard voices, or building community in the face of conflict. Use clear, specific examples, and demonstrate your leadership potential.
If you want more insight into the CBS MBA application process or would like to discuss your candidacy with an experienced MBA admissions consultant and coach, please set up an initial free consultation at https://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contact or reach out to me directly at dhoff@amerasiaconsulting.com