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

[docontheroc]

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Dear Applicant,

This email is to inform you that your application for admission has been completed and will be evaluated by the Committee on Admissions when they convene in mid-September.

You will be notified promptly if the Committee votes to request an interview with you.

Thank you
Admissions Office

This was received 9/11...haven't heard a thing since then. I also applied MD/PhD...what does this mean?

 

[chad5871]

Dear Applicant,

This email is to inform you that your application for admission has been completed and will be evaluated by the Committee on Admissions when they convene in mid-September.

You will be notified promptly if the Committee votes to request an interview with you.

Thank you
Admissions Office

This was received 9/11...haven't heard a thing since then. I also applied MD/PhD...what does this mean?

This was just an email informing you that your file is complete. If you're invited to interview, they'll let you know. If not, you'll get a rejection letter sometime in March.

 

[lala2626]

has anyone received an interview invite this month? i'm wondering if they r doing batches at a time or sending a few out at a time...

 

[Nishtar]

I did, after I told them that I will be in the area. The invite came through email, not the usual snail mail, so I am pretty sure that my email prompted them to invite me for an interview.

I feel like it is cheating to tell schools you will be in the area thereby forcing them to make a judgment about your application. I feel bad.

 

[chad5871]

I did, after I told them that I will be in the area. The invite came through email, not the usual snail mail, so I am pretty sure that my email prompted them to invite me for an interview.

I feel like it is cheating to tell schools you will be in the area thereby forcing them to make a judgment about your application. I feel bad.

Don't. They wouldn't have invited you unless they were going to anyway. Your email probably just quickened the process.

 

[MightyChip26]

Hey Guys,

For those of you who sent your interviewers and/or Dean Frantz a "thank you" note or a letter of intent, approximately how long after you sent it did it take for the admissions office to acknowledge they received your note/letter? I sent one about a week ago, and I'm wondering if it ever got there.

March is so long away...

 

[chad5871]

Hey Guys,

For those of you who sent your interviewers and/or Dean Frantz a "thank you" note or a letter of intent, approximately how long after you sent it did it take for the admissions office to acknowledge they received your note/letter? I sent one about a week ago, and I'm wondering if it ever got there.

March is so long away...

About a week and a half later. He doesn't acknowledge all of them - he probably only does them if he gets the time (or before the admissions staff puts it in your file). Whether you receive a response or not does not have any indication of what the final decision will be on your file.

 

[ngkats]

Just received an invite today around 10:30am central time. Yippee, I thought they forgot about me. Not in snail mail; interview invite was an email.

 

[ami1983]

Just received an invite today around 10:30am central time. Yippee, I thought they forgot about me. Not in snail mail; interview invite was an email.

did you send them any kind of 'in the area' email or other corresp?

 

[ngkats]

I did not do an 'in the area' phone call or email. They just emailed me.

And by the way, I got a 'complete' email on 9/12 and the interview invite on 11/12.

 

[PagingDrP]

Wait so is Columbia e-mailing invites now? I know before they only snail mailed em

 

[pianola]

Oi, they're not so responsive to 'in the area' requests are they? 🙁

I'm gonna try tomorrow but I'll probably be out of luck :sigh:

 

[jessicag020071]

Hey Columbia post-interview people,

I'm writing a thank you note to my interviewer. I was also going to send one to the admissions staff - do you think I should address a thank you letter specifically to the Dean emphasizing my interest, or wait a few months and send a letter of intent to him?

 

[paradisedoc]

I think you should do all three: letter to your interviewer, letter now to the dean of admissions since he seems to really like to know that an applicant is very interested in the school, and then, send a letter of intent in January or so if you are sure that this is the school for you.

 

[bahhumbug]

Wait so is Columbia e-mailing invites now? I know before they only snail mailed em

i sent an in the neighborhood email and got a snail mail invite a couple of weeks ago. i was complete in july

 

[schnauzr]

Does anyone know how many hours of lecture/PBL per week they have in their preclinical years?

 

[pianola]

i sent an in the neighborhood email and got a snail mail invite a couple of weeks ago. i was complete in july

hmm. I was complete in October. I really hope my 'in the neighborhood' e-mail works.

 

[ar2388]

columbia is a lot more lecture heavy than other schools

 

[oneandonlylo]

columbia is a lot more lecture heavy than other schools

yes, but they said that this would be changing for next year's incoming class, though they didn't specify to what extent

 

[schnauzr]

yes, but they said that this would be changing for next year's incoming class, though they didn't specify to what extent

Oh, right! I remember now.
This is why I should take notes on the interview day.
Thanks guys.

 

[pianola]

bump...for anyone who recently received an interview invitation to Columbia: When were you complete and/or when did you submit?

I'm praying and hoping that they'll get to my file before December 15th. Submitted in September, complete in October. I'm going to be 'in the area' towards the end of December and it would be really nice to have a decision one way or the other re: an interview.

😕😕😕

 

[nkhan]

Interview Invite !!!!!!! 🙂

 

[pianola]

Interview Invite !!!!!!! 🙂

That is absolutely fantastic...when were you complete/when did you submit?????

 

[Bradstein]

yes, but they said that this would be changing for next year's incoming class, though they didn't specify to what extent

six months less class

 

[nkhan]

That is absolutely fantastic...when were you complete/when did you submit?????

Thanks Pianola!

I looked it up on my email just now:

I was complete 10/6 after submitting back in August...they emailed me in late September saying I needed to snail mail my photo which took a long time 🙂

 

[blurryLines]

I just got an interview invitation today too!

Secondary Completed: 8/11
File Complete Email: 10/1
Interview Invite Email: 11/14

Hope that helps if you're waiting.

 

[dienekes88]

bump...for anyone who recently received an interview invitation to Columbia: When were you complete and/or when did you submit?

I'm praying and hoping that they'll get to my file before December 15th. Submitted in September, complete in October. I'm going to be 'in the area' towards the end of December and it would be really nice to have a decision one way or the other re: an interview.

😕😕😕

I was complete 10/15 and interviewed on 1/08.

You may be able to get a December interview.

 

[pianola]

I just got an interview invitation today too!

Secondary Completed: 8/11
File Complete Email: 10/1
Interview Invite Email: 11/14

Hope that helps if you're waiting.

YES. Thank all of you who responded: nkhan, blurrylines, and dienekes88. I was complete 10/9. So hopefully it won't take more than 5 weeks to process my application...

Although I submitted 9/8, though 😳😳😳.

Well, anyway, thanks 😀 I have some hope now!

 

[blurryLines]

YES. Thank all of you who responded: nkhan, blurrylines, and dienekes88. I was complete 10/9. So hopefully it won't take more than 5 weeks to process my application...

Although I submitted 9/8, though 😳😳😳.

Well, anyway, thanks 😀 I have some hope now!

Hang in there! It sounds like they probably haven't reviewed your file yet, but they might be getting to it some time soon since they are looking at people who were complete in early October now. Good luck!

I think all this waiting is the worst part of the process ...

 

[justapremed]

Jeez. It took them exactly 3 months to mark my file complete. I mailed everything by 8/14 and JUST got the complete email today...

 

[Loon]

Thanks Pianola!

I looked it up on my email just now:

I was complete 10/6 after submitting back in August...they emailed me in late September saying I needed to snail mail my photo which took a long time 🙂

That's not encouraging. They marked me complete before they got my photo.

 

[pianola]

I think all this waiting is the worst part of the process ...

Absolutely. But at least we have SDN where we can both vent and seek advice 😀. I'm really glad that you guys were kind enough to help in coming up with a timeline for when I might hear from Columbia 🙂

Best of luck to everyone who is waiting: be it for an acceptance or for an interview.

 

[dynezxice]

Complete here since 9/25 and haven't heard squat from them yet, so relax pianola! I should be the one freaking out here. hahah

 

[pianola]

I should be the one freaking out here. hahah

Oh, I'm not exactly freaking out but I did already buy a ticket to NYC (I'll be staying with my sister's who's a student in the city). --> I was invited to Cornell and I'm kind of concerned about having the $$ to return for a second interview at Columbia. So not exactly freaking out...just hoping that I made the right decision flight-wise and that I won't have to spend an extra ($300+?) to fly back/get meals/subway expenses, etc.

It would be super-helpful, to the tune of $300+, to know if I made the right decision.

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

 

[ar2388]

wait pianola, did you email columbia telling them youll be in the area for another interview?'

 

[pianola]

wait pianola, did you email columbia telling them youll be in the area for another interview?'

yeah I did. Hopefully they'll have made a decision by the time I get there...😳

 

[funkydrmonkey]

yeah I did. Hopefully they'll have made a decision by the time I get there...😳

I did this, but I got a prompt reply from Dean Frantz saying:

In answer to your e-mail letter of October 2nd , I am writing to advise that we are unable to invite you for an interview at the time you suggest. If the Committee decides to invite you for an interview we will let you know.

But in their defense, I did send the "in the area" letter before I was complete, and I got this message after I was complete, which was on 11/5. Good luck pianola!

 

[pianola]

Yeah, thanks, we'll see what happens. I have no idea how this is going to turn out. I haven't received a response of any kind. I did, however, double check to make sure I sent the e-mail to the correct address.

So, yeah, a shot in the dark.

 

[ami1983]

I did this, but I got a prompt reply from Dean Frantz saying:

In answer to your e-mail letter of October 2nd , I am writing to advise that we are unable to invite you for an interview at the time you suggest. If the Committee decides to invite you for an interview we will let you know.

But in their defense, I did send the "in the area" letter before I was complete, and I got this message after I was complete, which was on 11/5. Good luck pianola!

i got the same reply, and i had been complete for over a month.

 

[pianola]

How long does it take to get a response to the 'in the area' e-mail?

I kind of assumed I'd have some sort of automated response right after sending it like: "Thank you for your letter. We hope to get back to you shortly." or something.

Hmm...I've been complete for 5 weeks. Well, we'll see what they say.

 

[dienekes88]

Don't give up. In the grand scheme of things, forking over another $300 is not that much (considering your other debt).

If you can increase the probability that you'll be at a school that is a good fit (and perhaps in medical school at all next year), then $300 is a small price to pay.

 

[pianola]

Don't give up. In the grand scheme of things, forking over another $300 is not that much (considering your other debt).

I guess that's true. And at least I have a place to stay in the city if they invite me.

I think of all the errors I've made this cycle, submitting my application to Columbia 'late' was probably my biggest error. I just took forever writing that 'satisfactions' essay because I didn't want it to sound trite and/or unknowledgeable about the profession.

Speaking of which, did any interviewed candidates get asked about their satisfactions? 😕

 

[ami1983]

How long does it take to get a response to the 'in the area' e-mail?

I kind of assumed I'd have some sort of automated response right after sending it like: "Thank you for your letter. We hope to get back to you shortly." or something.

Hmm...I've been complete for 5 weeks. Well, we'll see what they say.

i got mine a couple of days after i sent the email

 

[pianola]

i got mine a couple of days after i sent the email

OK, I'll give it a full week. I'm sure they're totally swamped with applicants who applied approximately the same time as I did.

Thanks, ami. You've been incredibly helpful. Let me know if there's anything I can do to be of help to you (which there probably isn't, but still, let me know if there is).

 

[oneandonlylo]

Speaking of which, did any interviewed candidates get asked about their satisfactions?

So funny story...

Interviewer: (Quotes a line from my satisfactions essay)... Where is this from?
Me: My secondary, I think? (Very confused at this point)
Interviewer: It's not a quote from someone?
Me: No.
Interviewer: You wrote that?
Me: Yes. (Getting very nervous)
Interviewer: It's brilliant!
Me: Um, thanks.
Interviewer: Can I quote you on it?
Me: Um, sure?
Interviewer: I'm serious. Don't worry, I'll give you credit.
Me: Thanks.
Interviewer: In your fourth career, you should really be a writer. Have you ever considered being a writer? (proceeds to list a number of physician who have also written novels, etc.)
Me: I'll think about it.

about a half hour later, as the interview is wrapping up...

Interviewer: So you're sure I can quote you on that line? (He reads it again)
Me: Yup.

The irony was, it was perhaps the cheesiest line I'd put in the whole thing. So, pianola, did I get asked about that essay? You bet 🙂

 

[pianola]

Hahaha 😀 Good story. They had better not ask me the same question 😉

 

[rcd]

anyone try submitting a secondary application after the deadline? It was due 10 minutes ago, but do they really care?

 

[chad5871]

anyone try submitting a secondary application after the deadline? It was due 10 minutes ago, but do they really care?

I have a feeling they're probably not going to take it but it doesn't mean you can't try.

 

[ar2388]

wow.. weve gotten to the point where deadlines are approaching and passing? my how this semester flew by!

 

[ngkats]

So, can you tell us the line?

So funny story...

Interviewer: (Quotes a line from my satisfactions essay)... Where is this from?
Me: My secondary, I think? (Very confused at this point)
Interviewer: It's not a quote from someone?
Me: No.
Interviewer: You wrote that?
Me: Yes. (Getting very nervous)
Interviewer: It's brilliant!
Me: Um, thanks.
Interviewer: Can I quote you on it?
Me: Um, sure?
Interviewer: I'm serious. Don't worry, I'll give you credit.
Me: Thanks.
Interviewer: In your fourth career, you should really be a writer. Have you ever considered being a writer? (proceeds to list a number of physician who have also written novels, etc.)
Me: I'll think about it.

about a half hour later, as the interview is wrapping up...

Interviewer: So you're sure I can quote you on that line? (He reads it again)
Me: Yup.

The irony was, it was perhaps the cheesiest line I'd put in the whole thing. So, pianola, did I get asked about that essay? You bet 🙂