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

[xrevision]

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Im finally complete as of today

 

[lala2626]

what's the link for checking our application status?

 

[ami1983]

what's the link for checking our application status?

i dont think there is one, i only got an email

 

[Bradstein]

i dont think there is one, i only got an email

That's right

 

[Sangria]

Ok, so I'm asking this here, because when I called the admissions office during the week, noone was picking up.
I expected to submit my Columbia secondary over a month ago, I even sent them my LOR, but for certain reasons I couldn't actually complete it till now. Does anyone know how likely it is that Columbia kept my LOR or do I have to resend them?

In case anyone had the same question: I finally reached them, and they said that the letters were kept

 

[Dr Lyss]

I understand they get a lot of applications, but you think they would be prepared for this... Why does it take over a month just to be marked complete!?

 

[justapremed]

Did Columbia send out an email when they *received* our application in the mail (like JHU)? Or did they only send an email when the application was complete?? I mailed mine in mid-August and I've heard nothing. 😕

 

[ami1983]

Did Columbia send out an email when they *received* our application in the mail (like JHU)? Or did they only send an email when the application was complete?? I mailed mine in mid-August and I've heard nothing. 😕

i got both, one immediately when i submitted online and one later when i was complete

 

[justapremed]

Hm, I meant, do they send you an email when they've received the paper copy of your application? (for instance, JHU sent me an email saying: "We have received your secondary application..." 2 weeks after I mailed in a copy, at which time I received the automated message also). I compare to JHU just b/c they use the same online application system, but I dont know if their notification method is also the same.

I just can't tell if Columbia is in the process of making my file "complete" or if they've not even considered my paper application as "received" (ie. lost perhaps?)

 

[ami1983]

Hm, I meant, do they send you an email when they've received the paper copy of your application? (for instance, JHU sent me an email saying: "We have received your secondary application..." 2 weeks after I mailed in a copy, at which time I received the automated message also). I compare to JHU just b/c they use the same online application system, but I dont know if their notification method is also the same.

I just can't tell if Columbia is in the process of making my file "complete" or if they've not even considered my paper application as "received" (ie. lost perhaps?)

if you're talking about the photo, i would call and ask. i never got anything saying that they had received the photo, but i knew they had because i sent it via fedex

 

[stixx]

I called last week and they said they probably wouldn't get to processing my application until next week (submitted online the first week of September) - I don't think the sending of the photo really figures into the processing time however.

And yes I believe JHU and Columbia are the only schools I applied to that used the applyyourself system, and they're the only two schools I'm left waiting to be complete at. Sigh.

 

[Anatidae]

Just got a snail mail invite postmarked 10/2, complete in mid-August.

 

[ar2388]

congrats!

 

[MDean86]

Just got a snail mail invite postmarked 10/2, complete in mid-August.

Congrats!! 10/2 was when I was notified that I was complete, I guess that means it's going to be at least another month and a half until I hear something. Yikes... 😱

 

[ar2388]

yeah they take their time.. i was complete 8.27 and my letter was postmarked 9/30

 

[Vihsadas]

When I called columbia, the lady didn't give any specifics, but she basically indicated that things are done on a month to month basis. So the next round of invites will probably go out 11/2.

Also, she seemed to indicate that your app is marked "complete" when it's actually been sent to an adcom to read...now what that means I have no idea. The person could have 100 apps to read or 5 apps...

 

[Carlin]

I'm in New York for my interview at Columbia tomorrow! I just got back from a Broadway show (Spring Awakening... It was amazing!).

Anyway, if my interview is scheduled for 9 tomorrow, any ideas on what time I should plan on arriving at the school? The letter didn't give any specific time to show up.

I love NYC... I never want to leave!

 

[chad5871]

I'm in New York for my interview at Columbia tomorrow! I just got back from a Broadway show (Spring Awakening... It was amazing!).

Anyway, if my interview is scheduled for 9 tomorrow, any ideas on what time I should plan on arriving at the school? The letter didn't give any specific time to show up.

I love NYC... I never want to leave!

Be there by 8:45 am. You will have your interview first thing, and then you'll have free time to wander the campus or hang out in the interviewee waiting area. Don't stress about the interview - from what I hear they're typically very relaxed and basic (mine was as well).

Enjoy your day - the students there are amazing and Columbia is my new dream school! 😍

 

[rachettes85]

My app was completed on Aug 4. (Got the email). Its now, October 10, and I haven't heard any word. Should I be concerned? Should I call? What would I say, being that they already communicated to me that its complete?

 

[ar2388]

My app was completed on Aug 4. (Got the email). Its now, October 10, and I haven't heard any word. Should I be concerned? Should I call? What would I say, being that they already communicated to me that its complete?

wow you applied to really few schools...
maybe call and ask about the status?

 

[SDN2013]

yeah they take their time.. i was complete 8.27 and my letter was postmarked 9/30

awww, i was complete 8/27, no words yet though. and props on the double interview 1 day stunt 🙂

 

[ar2388]

thanks 🙂 im pretty much done interviewing. chances are likely that i will not hear anything from cornell and the others shcools dont hold much interest for me at all, esp yale and NYMC

 

[sflo]

yo AR are u kidding me. You are a fine applicant, and tis only OCTOBER! the interview season runs all the way through may kid. i kno the big name schools stop interviewing early on and start notifying in march but take a chill pill. I felt the same way, as I have heard from about 5 schools, and there is still schools I really am looking forward to hearing from that have shown no love yet. IT is so arbtirary and remember every school is different. diff schedules, diff things they look for in apps, diff time frames to get things done, etc. Just sit back sip on some wine with your man and just enjoy the wait. I kno it is tough i bitch to my gf everyday. best o luck

 

[SDN2013]

yo AR are u kidding me. You are a fine applicant, and tis only OCTOBER! the interview season runs all the way through may kid. i kno the big name schools stop interviewing early on and start notifying in march but take a chill pill. I felt the same way, as I have heard from about 5 schools, and there is still schools I really am looking forward to hearing from that have shown no love yet. IT is so arbtirary and remember every school is different. diff schedules, diff things they look for in apps, diff time frames to get things done, etc. Just sit back sip on some wine with your man and just enjoy the wait. I kno it is tough i bitch to my gf everyday. best o luck

almost reads like a rap at the end 🙂

 

[ami1983]

thanks 🙂 im pretty much done interviewing. chances are likely that i will not hear anything from cornell and the others shcools dont hold much interest for me at all, esp yale and NYMC

yeah, its early! don't write them off yet

 

[ar2388]

haha i hear you guys. i was only giving up hope bc i have heard from two premed advisors and a chem prof whose daughter graduated columbia med that cornell has not accepted a barnard or columbia student to cornell med in over 10 years and same with acepting columbia med students to residency at cornell..

 

[dienekes88]

haha i hear you guys. i was only giving up hope bc i have heard from two premed advisors and a chem prof whose daughter graduated columbia med that cornell has not accepted a barnard or columbia student to cornell med in over 10 years and same with acepting columbia med students to residency at cornell..

Don't believe everything you hear. A guy with whom I interviewed at Mt. Sinai graduated from Columbia and is now attending Cornell.

Maybe the second part was true before the Columbia-Presbyterian/New York Hospital merger (I have my doubts), but last year something like 9 people from Columbia matched at Cornell-affiliated hospitals (Weill, MSK, and HSS).

Don't worry so much. 🙂

 

[sflo]

btw for those who interviewed already how was it. I know columbia well i grew up int he nieghborhood, and been there many a time due when family was sick. Just wanted to hear impressions and thought from people because I got my interview there coming up.

Any tips or things to look for too? thanks

 

[ar2388]

my interviewer was the nicest psychiatrist ever... such a sweet sweet guy! totally chill and relaxed, nothing to sweat

 

[sflo]

really? yea it seems the big schools try to make it laid back as possible so i am hopin for the best, although i felt like ony of my cornell interviews made me feel really uncomfortable. We will see. lol a phsych? funy

 

[chad5871]

really? yea it seems the big schools try to make it laid back as possible so i am hopin for the best, although i felt like ony of my cornell interviews made me feel really uncomfortable. We will see. lol a phsych? funy

Why is that funny? Columbia is huge on psych so it makes sense...

As far as my interview, it was super chill. The interviewer basically asked me 3 questions and then tried to sell the school to me. I really think that it's a great fit for me and I'm hoping they see that too! I 😍 Columbia!

Good luck at your interview - let us know how it turns out!

 

[shemarty]

Does anybody know what the earliest available interview dates still available are? I'll call myself next week, but maybe somebody talked to the office recently?

Thanks!

 

[ar2388]

Does anybody know what the earliest available interview dates still available are? I'll call myself next week, but maybe somebody talked to the office recently?

Thanks!

they send you a letter with an interview date already scheduled...

 

[chad5871]

they send you a letter with an interview date already scheduled...

Not always... I received an email to call and schedule an interview date. I didn't get the snail mail invitation until after I had scheduled the date. I think it's because I sent them an email letting them know I'd be in the area (granted I sent the email about a month before I received the invite, but still...) Shemarty, did you send one of those emails?

 

[shemarty]

Sorry I should have clarified. They did send me a letter with a date, but that date conflicted with a different interview, so I had to call them to cancel that date. I said that I would call back to reschedule it. Meanwhile, I've been waiting to hear back from a few other east coast schools, so I can visit multiple schools in one trip. Since Columbia isn't rolling admissions, I assumed that I could push my interview all the way into February, for example, without any consequences? So I was just wondering if anybody knew how far in advance they were already booked.

Actually, what'd you guys think about this plan? I'm waiting on Harvard, Penn, and Duke. All of those schools are non-rolling, so I was hoping I could wait to hear *something* from all of them before buying any plane tickets. Either a post-secondary rejection, an invite, or at least wait until Feb if they've silently left me on hold.

 

[SDN2013]

If you are short on money, then I guess you don't have a choice. But if you have the money, you might as well fly out and do columbia and get it over with. But I'm also curious what you are planning on doing with, say, 12 acceptances. Hold Stanford hostage so that they have to give you full ride? Or do the likewise at UCSF?


You could also send columbia an email with the the secondary/interview threads on SDN linked, tell them you are shemarty, and that they should pay for your tickets 🙂

 

[TupacalipseT96]

Yo Shemarty, we have UCSF together!
hah, I was waiting for our paths to cross.

Also, if you fly out to the east coast JUST to do Columbia, it may feel a bit disappointing because their interview days lasts like 2-3hrs only. Really really short, I hear. I wouldn't necessarily wait for all those schools to respond though before making your trip.

 

[Bradstein]

ar and Chad, were you two there on Friday?

 

[xrevision]

So, do they send an email for interview invites? Or is it kind of random? And the snail mail... is it sent to your permanent address or preferred?

 

[Bradstein]

So, do they send an email for interview invites? Or is it kind of random? And the snail mail... is it sent to your permanent address or preferred?

They sent me an email and I got the letter a week or two later in the mail. My perm and pref address were the same so I don't know.

 

[xrevision]

Thanks for the timely response!

 

[ar2388]

ar and Chad, were you two there on Friday?

no, tues, 10/7

 

[pianola]

So I finally got my complete e-mail a few days ago...I'm in for quite a wait, aren't I?

 

[sflo]

Why is that funny? Columbia is huge on psych so it makes sense...

As far as my interview, it was super chill. The interviewer basically asked me 3 questions and then tried to sell the school to me. I really think that it's a great fit for me and I'm hoping they see that too! I 😍 Columbia!

Good luck at your interview - let us know how it turns out!

well funny because a pysch, and the potential of analyzing you, i just gota kick out of that. but yes columbia is nice we will see. thanks for the love

 

[Anatidae]

Yo Shemarty, we have UCSF together!
hah, I was waiting for our paths to cross.

Also, if you fly out to the east coast JUST to do Columbia, it may feel a bit disappointing because their interview days lasts like 2-3hrs only. Really really short, I hear. I wouldn't necessarily wait for all those schools to respond though before making your trip.

But it's a great opportunity to catch a show on Broadway, go to a Rangers game, or screw around in the museums. I'm using my trip out there as a mini-vacation...unfortunately, I'm only able to stay two days and I have two interviews so it's not much of a vacation 🙁.

 

[xrevision]

Hopefully I get an interview, so I can make it into a nice date with my girlfriend in nyny

 

[shemarty]

Yo Shemarty, we have UCSF together!
hah, I was waiting for our paths to cross.

Sweet!! Are you staying w/ a student host? I'm debating staying with a friend or driving up the morning of the interview, since its so close. You're at Stanford on 10/20, right? Hmm, maybe we can carpool up to the city or something 🙂

Also, if you fly out to the east coast JUST to do Columbia, it may feel a bit disappointing because their interview days lasts like 2-3hrs only. Really really short, I hear. I wouldn't necessarily wait for all those schools to respond though before making your trip.

If you are short on money, then I guess you don't have a choice. But if you have the money, you might as well fly out and do columbia and get it over with.

Yea, I really really really didn't want to fly out to the east coast JUST to do Columbia. I'm not "short on money", but I want to minimize the amount I spend, within reason. I have no reason to interview at Columbia just to "get it over with", because it's non-rolling anyway, right? It makes no difference if I interview now or in February.

Ideally I'd be able to put the four remaining east coast schools into one trip. It doesn't seem like a totally crazy idea because I was able to do it with 4 other schools last week. Also, I did turn in everything early so theoretically I should be reviewed earlier and hear back about an interview invite, hold, or pre-interview rejection earlier.

So I felt like it was reasonable to hold out for all 3 remaining east coast schools before making a trip out there. Does Harvard/Penn/Duke do silent pre-interview rejections? That would suck, because I'd just be waiting and waiting and waiting. I was hoping that once they review me, they'd let me know something one way or the other.

But I'm also curious what you are planning on doing with, say, 12 acceptances. Hold Stanford hostage so that they have to give you full ride? Or do the likewise at UCSF?

Haha, I wish. Stanford doesn't give merit-based (come-to-our-school/recruitment) scholarships, I think. 🙁 But they do have great TA-ing and research opportunities to earn $$$ back.

You could also send columbia an email with the the secondary/interview threads on SDN linked, tell them you are shemarty, and that they should pay for your tickets 🙂

But it's a great opportunity to catch a show on Broadway, go to a Rangers game, or screw around in the museums. I'm using my trip out there as a mini-vacation...unfortunately, I'm only able to stay two days and I have two interviews so it's not much of a vacation 🙁.

Good idea - I *would* like to hang around NYC for a couple days when I interview, but I still don't want to fly out there for just one school when I could theoretically link more schools into the same trip. I don't have a lot of constraints on my schedule, in terms of school and work, so I could take another 10 day trip if I need to. Every extra leg of flying ends up costing $100-200 more... 🙁

 

[chad5871]

ar and Chad, were you two there on Friday?

Nope. Wednesday 10/8.

 

[talbo]

i dont really understand when school says they're non-rolling, i guess i kind of do, but to me it seems like everything is rolling.

for schools that says they're non-rolling, do they like interview all the applicants n then put them in a separate pile and then when like a month before announcement day in march they get together n pick the hundred something. if they did do this then they need to spend a decent amount of time on it right before march xx and doesnt seem like they meet all that much or would meet all that much making the decisions even hasty if they interview up to 1000 people.

i dont know but to me that seems unlikely. it's hard to make a case for the applicant you interviewed if it was like 4 months ago and even if u did type up notes for it, the image is not as vivid as someone u interviewed a week ago. since everyone on the adcom votes or something. to me it seems like they review apps and prolly have a quota each time for how many to accept or something and the decision come out all at once is their definition of non-rolling? i m not sure just dont realli understand how they can put an app aside for as long as 4 months or more and make a good case about it and hard to believe that if they had adcom mtgs once a week that they dont talk about the applicants. just a thought, prolly wrong thou

 

[ar2388]

i kinda thought that even though a school is non rolling that their still make decisions amongst themselves. say they interviewed someone in november that they loved, i would think they would put them into an accepted file and when march came around, they would take all those from the accepted pile, type up letters forthem and mail them out...