What Students Say
Likes
- Columbia University opens a lot of doors, if you focus on networking with the alumni you will have a lot of benefits. There are plenty of mixers that happen throughout the semester and it is a good place to start.
- There is a lot of flexibility in the courses you can pick within the program, this will help in navigating what your interests are.
- If you are interested. in working in finance or consulting, being in New York city adds a ton of benefits with potential employers
Dislikes
- The assistantship do not sponsor tuition, which is usually different from most public universities in the country
- Since it is only a 16 month long degree, the course work will feel very heavy. You will have to be mentally prepared to grind to maximize the experience
- On-campus housing is very limited and very hard to get, it is also expensive
Course Curriculum
- The courses range from undergraduate to phd Level and entirely depend on your choices. There is a lot of flexibility in the classes you can take. Usually you will have 3 hrs of class per week per course.
- Some professors prefer 1.5 hours of class twice a week and some have a single 3-hour class. Classes start as early as 8 am and end as late as 10pm based on how you pick your schedule. The average number of students per class will be between 100 and 200. Around 30-40% of the class will be of Indian origin.
Admission Experience
- I applied to UCLA and I was rejected – I think my profile and grades were not competitive enough. I got accepted into UT Austin – I chose to not go here because the duration of the programme here is only 1 year, which felt too stressful for me. I did not apply to any other university for MSBA as this degree heavily relies on brand value and going to a tier-2 university might not have been a good choice for me. There are maybe 30 universities which have good coursework and opportunities for internships.
- I chose this university for the structure of the semesters and the wide range of courses offered by the business school. The location is also perfect to experience the American life. I had conversations with a lot of current students to understand the day-to-day of the university and see if I have a cultural fit. This will also help in crafting your Statement of Purpose which is the most important part of the application
- 2022 intake. GRE and TOEFL In aug 2021. Followed by getting references and SOP to submit the application by October. The results were out in late feb to early march. You are required to pay a deposit of around $4000 to secure your seat and start the visa process. There are admission events that happen from September to November every fall to guide potential students on the process and a platform to ask doubts.
Faculty
- The average number of students per class will be between 100 and 200; there will be one professor and 2-3 teaching assistants. The courses are very varied and most are tailored towards the practical job market with varied intensity.
- The faculty is very helpful and will help you towards finding a job or an internship. The dean of my course was very supportive.
Campus Life
- There is the main campus and the business school campus, which are on 116th and 130th streets, respectively. There are other law and medical campuses but it won't be necessary to go there.
- There are libraries and gyms available on all campuses. There is a track, badminton, swimming pool, and rock climbing as well for students to use. The facilities are smaller but accessible.
Part Time Jobs
- There are TA/RA/DA , proctoring and jobs at the cafe. There are also temp jobs for event management. You are typically allowed to work 20 hrs a week. The University sends emails about open part-time positions; it is also a good idea to connect to seniors to be aware of what jobs are available on the campus. Each job has a different application process based on the requirements. Some jobs will have interviews and some may not guarantee a fixed amount of hours. You are also allowed to have multiple on-campus jobs as long as it is in adherence to your visa.
- The University sends emails about open part-time positions; it is also a good idea to connect to seniors to be aware of what jobs are available on the campus. Each job has a different application process based on the requirements. Some jobs will have interviews and some may not guarantee a fixed amount of hours. You are also allowed to have multiple on-campus jobs as long as it is in adherence to your visa.
Placement
- I cannot comment on these numbers, as the volatility is high in the job market. There are many opportunities available and it really depends on what you are looking for.
- I would recommend reaching out to current students and recent alumni to get a better understanding of what may or may not work for you as an individual. Networking is the most effective way to navigate the job market.
Accommodation
- I lived off campus initially and found the housing through a broker. Connect with current students and group chats for support. Try to stay as close to the campus as possible to maximise your experience.
- Most Indian students stay close by as it is convenient. Try to stay under 125th st for a safer experience, especially for girls. The university offers shared cab services for late night upto 3 am so its not a problem.
Exams
- An English proficiency exam is the only compulsory exam. You can write one or more of the given options and submit the scores to the university. Other than that, the GRE is optional.
- I recommend it if you think it is essential to show your logical abilities. The other required documents will be the Statement of Purpose, At least three Letters of recommendation from relevant people in your life and a CV. You can also submit an optional essay to talk about your background and cultural fit.
Fees
- The fee is charged per credit, and on average you are required to do 36 credits. Usually people pick up 12 per semester. The fee is charged semester-wise. Along with this, you will have to pay for insurance.
- As for living expenses, The average rent for a private room close to campus will be $1200 on the lower end. You will have some grocery and phone expenses and you can have a good comfortable time at university for around $2000. Public Transportation in nyc is affordable and you can walk around quite a bit.
Scholarship
- There are a few scholarships available for international students. None of them are course-specific; I would not rely on them, as they are very competitive and mostly partial.
- I would recommend getting in touch with the finance department for assistance, as they keep these records up to date and guide on the application process. All scholarships that I am aware of are merit based.



