Application Instructions
Online Application System
The PhD Office asks all applicants to utilize our online application. Our web-based application will allow you to submit an application via the Internet. You must submit all parts of the application online other than those required to be sent separately, such as:
- Letters of recommendation, which may either be sent by postal service or through the online application
- Official transcripts, which are required to be sent separately through a postal service.
Software Requirements
This application has been tested for compatibility on Netscape Navigator versions 3.0 and higher and on Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.02 and higher. Parts of this application may not function properly on other browsers. In addition to a compatible browser, you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to access certain documents.
Online Application Components
The Doctoral Online Application contains the following nine parts. Please carefully complete all sections and submit the entire application. All components of the application may be completed online, with the exception of the submission of official transcripts.
General Information I
General Information II
Transcripts — Required to be sent separately through a postal service.
GPA
Recommendations — Online or postal service optional.
Essay
Test Scores
Educational History
The Honor Pledge
Application Fee
General Information I
Please fill out the entire template including your name, social security number, contact information, present mailing address and permanent home address. The Doctoral Program may use any and all information submitted should it be necessary to reach you during the review process.
General Information II
Please fill out the entire template. Optional information is not obligatory.
Transcripts
The Doctoral Program requires an official transcript from each of the colleges and universities you have attended as a registered student (regardless of the number of courses taken), including summer school, night school, etc. Ask the registrar to enclose an official transcript in a sealed envelope, stamped or signed across the back flap. All official transcripts must be received through a postal service. When sending transcripts that belong to your online application, be sure to clearly print your user login and indicate that you are an online applicant on the outside of the envelope.
International Students: If you were educated in a country where original transcripts are not in English, you must send both an official transcript in the original language and a certified English translation along with proof of graduation. Columbia Business School does not endorse or recommend any individual provider of translation services.
GPA
Please use this table to calculate your GPA on a 4.0 scale:
4.0 Scale |
A-F |
100-0 |
1-5 |
Four Passing Grades |
Three Passing Grades |
4.0 |
A+ |
90-100 |
1 |
highest passing grade |
highest passing grade |
4.0 |
A |
||||
3.7 |
A- |
||||
3.3 |
B+ |
80-89 |
2 |
second highest passing grade |
middle passing grade |
3.0 |
B |
||||
2.7 |
B- |
||||
2.3 |
C+ |
70-79 |
3 |
third highest passing grade |
lowest passing grade |
2.0 |
C |
||||
1.7 |
C- |
||||
1.3 |
D+ |
60-69 |
4 |
lowest passing grade |
--- |
1.0 |
D |
||||
0.7 |
D- |
||||
0.0 |
F |
below 60 |
5 |
failing grade |
failing grade |
The grade-point average (GPA) incorporates the grades for all terms of academic work completed. The GPA includes all courses for which you received credit or that were recognized for credit by your degree-granting institution.
If your undergraduate institution provides you with a cumulative grade-point average on the 4.0 scale, enter your grade-point average (rounded to the nearest tenth) in the appropriate box. Round scores to two significant digits, with hundredths values of five and above rounding up. A grade-point average of 3.25, for example, would be rounded to 3.3, while a score of 3.24 would be rounded to 3.2.
If your school does not use the 4.0 scale as shown in column 1 of the grading system conversion table on this page, you will need to convert your school?s grading system to the 4.0 scale. Use the table to calculate your grade-point average from each school you attended. For example, if your institution grades on an HH, H, P, LP, F scale (four passing grades), HH=4.0, H=3.3, P=2.3, LP=1.3, F=0. If your school does not use any of the scales listed above, please make a reasonable and conservative approximation of what your GPA would be on a 4.0 scale.
Recommendations
The Doctoral Program requires two letters of recommendation, preferably academic. These letters should be written by professors (preferably senior professors) who are in the department in which you did the major part of your study and who are well acquainted with your work. If you have had a year or more of full-time experience in research since graduation, one of the two letters may be a recommendation from a supervisor. When applying through the Online Application, the letters of recommendations may either be sent by postal service or submitted online.
Download PhD Application Recommendation Request
Postal Service Letters of Recommendation
If you use the postal service to deliver your recommendation letters that belong to your online application, send them to:
Columbia Business School
Doctoral Program
311 Uris Hall
3022 Broadway, MC 9133
New York, NY 10027-6902
Be sure to clearly print your user login and indicate that you are an online applicant on the outside of the envelope.
Online Letters of Recommendation
Applicants who choose to submit their recommendations online should do as follows: Your recommenders should provide your recommendations electronically. If you choose this option, please confirm your recommender's willingness to complete a web-based recommendation form. Then fill out all information in the form provided. When you check the box to send a recommendation request electronically and submit this form, an e-mail will be sent to the specified recommender(s) with instructions for completing your recommendation. If you wish to waive your right to examine a recommendation, check the appropriate box before submitting the request. Once recommenders have been sent this e-mail, you will not be able to modify their information. After your recommender has submitted their comments electronically you will receive an e-mail notification.
Essay
The Doctoral Program is interested in your reasons for pursuing doctoral studies. Please describe them in an essay of about 500 words. Include the major field area to which you are applying (Accounting; Finance and Economics; Management; Decision, Risk and Operations; or Marketing).
Test Scores
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. Please self-report your score when completing this application. In addition, you must submit an official score report from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). We will consider only your highest score when reviewing your application. We will not, however, combine sub-scores from multiple exams into a composite score. GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years.
NOTE: For applicants to the Finance and Economics Division, the GMAT is no longer be accepted. Only the GRE will be accepted.
Thorough English competency is required of all applicants. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a degree from an English language university are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. Be sure to self-report your TOEFL score when completing your application. In addition, you must submit an official score report. We will consider only your highest score when reviewing your application. We will not, however, combine sub-scores from multiple exams into a composite score. TOEFL scores are valid for two years. The institution code of all tests for the Columbia Business School Doctoral Program is 2141. For more information, contact the Doctoral Program.
Application Fee
The online application fee for the Columbia Business School Doctoral Program is $75 USD. This fee applies to both applicants who were educated in the United States and applicants who were educated in other countries. Checks may be sent through a postal service, made payable to Columbia University, or you may pay online by credit card. You will be prompted to enter your credit card information when you are ready to submit your completed application.
Application Status Check
Once you have submitted your application, you can track the status of your application by returning to this site, logging in using your username and password, and following the "Application Status" link. Three weeks after submission, you may access your application status online.
