One MBA, Two Paths
Columbia Business School students may enroll in either August or January. The two paths, each comprising four terms, merge in the fall of the second year to complete electives as a single class.
The paths are identical in terms of competitiveness of admissions, academic rigor, and student resources; but only students who enter in August will be able to complete a summer internship. January (J-Term) students, having completed their first-term courses in the spring, will instead complete their second-term course work over the summer.
January 2024 Entry Application Deadline
September 13, 2023
Applications cannot be reviewed until they are complete. For the January-entry applications, missing required materials, such as your recommendation letter, must be received by the Admissions Office within one week of your application submission.
August 2024 Entry Application Deadlines
The August 2024 application will be available in mid-July.
| Round | Application Deadline | Interview Decisions Released | Final Decisions Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 13, 2023 | Mid-October | Mid-December |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2024 | Early-to-mid February | Late March |
| Round 3 | April 3, 2024 | Mid-to-late April | Early May |
On Monday, October 16, 2023 we will begin releasing invitations to interview for Round 1 consideration. Interviews are by invitation only and will be conducted virtually by a current CBS 2nd year student, alumnus, or admissions team member. While we plan to release the vast majority of interview invitations in October, you could receive an interview invitation at any time until Monday, November 20, 2023.
If you are not invited to interview by November 20, 2023 you will be notified of one of two outcomes: further evaluation or release. Selection for further evaluation is a good thing as this indicates the admissions committee has identified key strengths in your application and requires additional time to review your candidacy. Those who receive this notification will receive additional instructions at that time. Applicants that are invited to interview will receive a final outcome within the final decision release in mid-December.
To be considered for a particular August round, your application must be completed by 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date for the round in which you apply. Your letter of recommendation and application fee must be submitted by the deadline for your application to be considered complete.
If your application is not completed by the deadline for the current round, it will be rolled into the next available application round in the current cycle for consideration.
Please note that if you would like to be included in priority consideration for institutional funding your application must be completed by the Round 1 or Round 2 deadline.
August Entry
About 70 percent of our full-time MBA students begin their studies in the fall term. After mandatory orientation in the second half of August, regular classes begin in September. Most August-entry students complete a summer internship between their second and third terms.
The August-entry applications are reviewed in three rounds. While applications will not be reviewed until after each deadline, it is always helpful to apply well before the deadline to ensure all components are received on time. Deposit amounts vary by round. Please review the Deposits page for more information.
If you and your partner are both applying in the same year, we strongly encourage you to apply in the same round so that you will know if your partner has been admitted by the time you have to accept or decline your offer of admission.
January Entry
Students who do not want or need a summer internship may consider beginning their MBA studies in January and completing their second semester of classes during the summer. A January start may be ideal for students who wish to remain in the same industry after graduation or pursue entrepreneurial interests. About 30 percent of our students enter in January.