2008-2009 Columbia College of P&S Secondary Application Thread

[oneandonlylo]

---

Members do not see this ad.

ok, but brace yourself, it's about the corniest line I put in all of my 29 secondaries... (which makes the whole thing even freakin funnier...)

"It is no secret to me that smiles are infectious and kindness is contagious."


Don't say you weren't warned

 

[Decicco]

"It is no secret to me that smiles are infectious and kindness is contagious."

Just kidding, its not that bad 🙂 I don't think I could pull that off at an interview though.

EDIT: I saw that you are from new york. Have you ever tried this out on the streets of NYC?

 

[mmmcdowe]

ok, but brace yourself, it's about the corniest line I put in all of my 29 secondaries... (which makes the whole thing even freakin funnier...)

"It is no secret to me that smiles are infectious and kindness is contagious."


Don't say you weren't warned

I have an even cornier one in my Secondary to P&S:

Smiles are a wonderful thing and I aspire to cause them!

Lol!

 

[Loon]

Wow. My essay for that prompt sounds cold.

Which is probably why they marked me complete before they even got my picture...

 

[dynezxice]

Good luck, dynezxice 😀 Hopefully you will hear good news soon 😀

Thanks pianola. Good luck to you too. Like the others said, if Columbia is a good fit for you, then what's another $300? Hear's to hoping they'll get back to you sooner. Cheers! 🙂

 

[oneandonlylo]

I saw that you are from new york. Have you ever tried this out on the streets of NYC?

Works on tourists 😀😀

 

[What up doc]

Columbia interview! BOOOOOOOSTED!

 

[Druzie]

EDIT: I saw that you are from new york. Have you ever tried this out on the streets of NYC?

I think one would get more positive reactions than one might expect... As long as it isn't done sketchily. 😉

 

[dynezxice]

Columbia interview! BOOOOOOOSTED!

Congrats! when were you complete?

 

[WaterBird]

Can anyone who had a morning interview let me know how late the day went? I got the invite by snail mail, called to ask for a different day, and then got a one line email saying they had changed the time of my interview to 9:30 on the same day - but no other information. So when should I be there and when should I expect to be done?

Also, for those of you still waiting, I sent in my secondary 7/23, was marked complete 8/27, and got a snail mail letter around 10/20.

 

[pianola]

Also, for those of you still waiting, I sent in my secondary 7/23, was marked complete 8/27, and got a snail mail letter around 10/20.

Ahh. They'll NEVER get to my app at this rate . Heck, you were marked complete before I even sent in my app.

OK, no more panicking. I'm seriously beating myself up about not getting that app in any sooner, though.

Thanks for the heads up, WaterBird.

 

[dynezxice]

no te preocupes nada, pianola (no rhyming intended!). I'm sure your time will come.

 

[MightyChip26]

any word on the new curriculum?

I interviewed in October and they told us about it but never handed us a document to read over. Are they handing those out now? Anybody know of a website listing the changes?

PM me if you have a document and are willing to scan and email it to me.

Thanks!

 

[WaterBird]

Ahh. They'll NEVER get to my app at this rate . Heck, you were marked complete before I even sent in my app.

OK, no more panicking. I'm seriously beating myself up about not getting that app in any sooner, though.

I would go with the "no more panicking part" 😛 I think the main reason that it took me so long to get marked complete was that I hadn't sent my picture in. Going to Walgreens always got bumped off of the bottom of my to do list 🙄

Anyway, no one can tell me how long the day went?

 

[Bradstein]

Anyway, no one can tell me how long the day went?

The day is over ~2 or 2:30? Unless you have an afternoon interview.

 

[Druzie]

any word on the new curriculum?

I interviewed in October and they told us about it but never handed us a document to read over. Are they handing those out now? Anybody know of a website listing the changes?

PM me if you have a document and are willing to scan and email it to me.

Thanks!

Me too. Please share any news.

 

[ar2388]

i have not found anythingon the website, but did find that the chances of acceptance post interview are 28%... which is better than chances of getting an interview which are 20% 🙂

 

[tfa2007]

Columbia is not rolling, correct? Interviewees will find out in March?

 

[ar2388]

Columbia is not rolling, correct? Interviewees will find out in March?

yupp mrch 1 they say

 

[Raryn]

I was marked complete on 9/4 and haven't gotten any news since. *sigh*

All the NYC schools hate me, I swear.

 

[ok4931]

I received an email invite on 11/19 after sending an "in the area" email. SS 9/3, complete 10/10.

 

[MediumDef]

i have not found anythingon the website, but did find that the chances of acceptance post interview are 28%... which is better than chances of getting an interview which are 20% 🙂

I'm pretty sure their admissions FAQ says they interview 7 people for every spot but I could be wrong. (On the plus side it used to be 10:1)

Also they do now have a "New Curriculum" sheet they give to interviewees

Never mind I blatantly ignored the discrepancy between # accepted and # matriculating., The second part of my post is still valid though

 

[oneofthesedays]

ok4931 when did you send that in the area email? How long did it take them to get back to you?

 

[ok4931]

They got back to me the day after I sent it, I think. I also sent an email to Cornell and NYU. Cornell told me I was still under review and NYU didn't reply.

 

[WaterBird]

The day is over ~2 or 2:30? Unless you have an afternoon interview.

thanks 🙂 This was precisely correct.

 

[WaterBird]

any word on the new curriculum?

I interviewed in October and they told us about it but never handed us a document to read over. Are they handing those out now? Anybody know of a website listing the changes?

PM me if you have a document and are willing to scan and email it to me.

Thanks!

So apparently they are still finalizing the differences and will send out an update to everyone who applied, but they did give us a handout with a comparison of the new and old. I don't have a scanner but here's most of the info.

Goals of new curriculum:
More collaboration, teamwork and innovation
Scholarly project in area of interest
increased flexibility

Main Changes:
The preclinical years are condensed from 2 yrs to 18 mos
Basic science will focus more on "hypothesis based learning" where students will work through problems with a small group of peers + a faculty member
Principles of basic sciences and physiology will be supplemented with the pathology of these organ systems, how to assess disease states, and treatment approaches.
The Major Clinical Year will begin in January of what formerly coincided with the 2nd year.
Rotations will be in 12 week blocks, rather than 5 week blocks. Rotations will be paired to provide a more comprehensive perspective of the continuum of care. (ob/gyn & peds, neuro &psych etc)
USMLE Step 1 is taken after the Major Clinical Year
"4th yr" is expanded to 14 months and will include a "scholarly project"

So the new schedule is:
Preclinical (3 semesters, August-December) including basic science, anatomy clinical medicine, organ based path, pharm, psych, physical diag.
Summer btwn 1st and 2nd yr is still free.
Major Clinical Year (Jan-Dec) 12-week blocks of core clerkships, step 1
"4th Yr" (14 months spread over Jan-May): "Scholarly project", clerkship, subIs, travel, residency app

 

[blurryLines]

So apparently they are still finalizing the differences and will send out an update to everyone who applied, but they did give us a handout with a comparison of the new and old. I don't have a scanner but here's most of the info.

Goals of new curriculum:
More collaboration, teamwork and innovation
Scholarly project in area of interest
increased flexibility

Main Changes:
The preclinical years are condensed from 2 yrs to 18 mos
Basic science will focus more on "hypothesis based learning" where students will work through problems with a small group of peers + a faculty member
Principles of basic sciences and physiology will be supplemented with the pathology of these organ systems, how to assess disease states, and treatment approaches.
The Major Clinical Year will begin in January of what formerly coincided with the 2nd year.
Rotations will be in 12 week blocks, rather than 5 week blocks. Rotations will be paired to provide a more comprehensive perspective of the continuum of care. (ob/gyn & peds, neuro &psych etc)
USMLE Step 1 is taken after the Major Clinical Year
"4th yr" is expanded to 14 months and will include a "scholarly project"

So the new schedule is:
Preclinical (3 semesters, August-December) including basic science, anatomy clinical medicine, organ based path, pharm, psych, physical diag.
Summer btwn 1st and 2nd yr is still free.
Major Clinical Year (Jan-Dec) 12-week blocks of core clerkships, step 1
"4th Yr" (14 months spread over Jan-May): "Scholarly project", clerkship, subIs, travel, residency app

This sounds awesome. 👍 I really like the idea of expanding the clinical years and condensing pre-clinical coursework. Now I'm even more excited about my interview in a couple weeks! I guess the only thing I'm concerned about is if being the first class to go through the new curriculum (like guinea pigs) will lead to any problems while they work out the kinks ...

 

[Decicco]

Does anyone know what time the interview day starts?? I have my actual interview at 2pm on monday, but am unsure when that means I need to be there... Also, do I just go to the admissions office? Any help is appreciated!!

 

[oneandonlylo]

pretty sure you just have to show up in time for tour and lunch, around 11 I think? Showing up earlier could be helpful though, as it gives you a chance to talk with a number of 3rd and 4th year students who stop by to say hi.

 

[Decicco]

pretty sure you just have to show up in time for tour and lunch, around 11 I think? Showing up earlier could be helpful though, as it gives you a chance to talk with a number of 3rd and 4th year students who stop by to say hi.

I think the starting time might be 11:45, but I'm not sure. And, do I just go to the admissions office at this time?

 

[pianola]

When did you submit/were you complete Decicco? (if you don't mind my asking)

 

[Decicco]

When did you submit/were you complete Decicco? (if you don't mind my asking)

I was complete 8-29. I don't remember when I submitted, except that it took a really long time to be complete. I was offered an interview on 10-28.

Does anyone else have an idea what time the interview day starts for those of us with afternoon interviews? Also, do we just go to the Admissions office?

 

[MightyChip26]

I was complete 8-29. I don't remember when I submitted, except that it took a really long time to be complete. I was offered an interview on 10-28.

Does anyone else have an idea what time the interview day starts for those of us with afternoon interviews? Also, do we just go to the Admissions office?

i am pretty sure it's 11:45 am. and you report to the interview suite, which is literally right across the hall from the admissions office. but if you go to the admissions office instead, they'll just direct you across the hall.

 

[ar2388]

why not give them a call? 🙂

 

[Decicco]

why not give them a call? 🙂

I should have thought of that last week, my interview is on Monday 😀 I could call them monday morning I guess, since it looks like I'm not supposed to be there until 11ish. This whole problem started because I changed from a morning interview on one date to an afternoon interview on another date. On the phone, they told me what time my interview was at but didnt mention what time I should arrive in the morning for everything else...

 

[Druzie]

I think 11 is safe. You can probably sit in on the first-year lecture that way too.

 

[shemarty]

Anybody interviewing tomorrow? If so, I'll see you at lunch!

 

[What up doc]

so wen i was at columbia, i was in the admission office and saw 3 big fat piles of REJECTION letters. 🙁 and i felt so bad for the kids anxiously waiting, who do not know of their impending doom.🙁

seriously, y cant they jus send those out after they make their decison?

 

[mmmcdowe]

so wen i was at columbia, i was in the admission office and saw 3 big fat piles of REJECTION letters. 🙁 and i felt so bad for the kids anxiously waiting, who do not know of their impending doom.🙁

seriously, y cant they jus send those out after they make their decison?

Didja see a pile of acceptance letters anywhere? 😛

 

[ami1983]

so wen i was at columbia, i was in the admission office and saw 3 big fat piles of REJECTION letters. 🙁 and i felt so bad for the kids anxiously waiting, who do not know of their impending doom.🙁

seriously, y cant they jus send those out after they make their decison?

how do you know they were rejection letters? and how did you get so close to them?? lol. hope one for me isn't in there

 

[What up doc]

well i was the first 2 check in, so i dint kno where 2 go. i walked into admissions office and i met with an interview coordinator at the desk. after she went back 2 get my lil blue information book and multi color pen, i looked down on the counter and their were all these letters. i didnt wanna look like i was staring at them so i only caught a fleeting glance at a few words. and they were "we regret to inform you that" and then she came back so i looked away...

yea, sux, hopefully not u

 

[schnauzr]

Maybe the letter actually went like,

"We regret to inform you that... you'll soon have to leave your friends and family behind in California because.... WE ARE.... INVITING YOU.... to study medicine at COLUMBIA in NEW YORK CITY on a FULL SCHOLARSHIP!!!"

But yeah, gawd, I really hope my name wasn't on any of those letters.

 

[linguini]

When I checked in for my interview day, I saw an interview invitation to someone from CORNELL on the desk. Read what you will into that one.

 

[Nikhil72]

Maybe the letter actually went like,

"We regret to inform you that... you'll soon have to leave your friends and family behind in California because.... WE ARE.... INVITING YOU.... to study medicine at COLUMBIA in NEW YORK CITY on a FULL SCHOLARSHIP!!!"

But yeah, gawd, I really hope my name wasn't on any of those letters.

I literally read this with Oprah's voice going through my head. Now *that* would be awesome.

 

[SDN2013]

When I checked in for my interview day, I saw an interview invitation to someone from CORNELL on the desk. Read what you will into that one.

is their a rivalry between columbia med and cornell undergrad or something?

 

[mmmcdowe]

I think there's a columbia-cornell rivalry in general. As far as between the two med schools, I haven't heard anything, but there has to be something. I mean, two elite medical schools within a stone's throw of eachother on the same island. It's like medical Survivor or something!

 

[chad5871]

I think there's a columbia-cornell rivalry in general. As far as between the two med schools, I haven't heard anything, but there has to be something. I mean, two elite medical schools within a stone's throw of eachother on the same island. It's like medical Survivor or something!

Don't they share the Presbyterian hospital system? I could be wrong on that one, but I thought they did...

 

[mmmcdowe]

Don't they share the Presbyterian hospital system? I could be wrong on that one, but I thought they did...

Yeah they share the system, but they have different main hospitals. I remember vaguely them mentioning that they see a Cornell student ocassionally doing rotations, but the direct contact in the hospital is limited.

 

[ar2388]

i have heard from a few professors and deans that there is a ... tension between columbia and cornell

 

[mmmcdowe]

i have heard from a few professors and deans that there is a ... tension between columbia and cornell

Does it involve much wailing and gnashing of teeth? That's always the best kind.