Columbia Business School looks for intellectually driven, interesting people from diverse educational, economic, social, ethnic and geographic backgrounds who have something special to offer their classmates and communities. Their common denominators are a record of achievement, demonstrated leadership and the ability to work as members of a team.
The Admissions Committee seeks intellectually inquisitive applicants who have superior academic credentials from all areas of undergraduate and graduate study.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Fluency in multiple languages is not required for admission but is increasingly desirable for the study and practice of global business.
Over the past five years, 5,000-6,000 men and women have applied each year for one of a limited number of spaces for full-time MBA students; for example, in 2005 only 15 percent of applicants were admitted. The average GMAT score continues to rise.
While the admissions process is clearly extremely competitive, the School considers the professional promise and personal characteristics of each applicant.
http://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/admissions