2009-2010 Columbia University Application Thread

[SpaceDementia]

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Hmm, when they ask what work I did, I wonder if it's appropriate to also list work that I will be doing this upcoming academic year?

 

[neuromcdoctor]

Does Columbia send a message saying that we are complete? I submitted this secondary ages ago and have heard nothing

 

[AyCaramba]

This is what they say in their instruction booklet thing:

Because no portion of our selection process is "computerized" and because decisions about your application rest with members of the Committee on Admissions, you may find that your application is processed a bit more slowly at P&S than at some other schools.

So we might not hear for a while.

 

[ziggydoc]

This is what they say in their instruction booklet thing:

Because no portion of our selection process is “computerized” and because decisions about your application rest with members of the Committee on Admissions, you may find that your application is processed a bit more slowly at P&S than at some other schools.

So we might not hear for a while.

Oh man, ya I submitted ages ago too, but I'm just worried that they didn't get my pic that had to be send via regular mail 🙄

 

[266202]

Oh man, ya I submitted ages ago too, but I'm just worried that they didn't get my pic that had to be send via regular mail 🙄

I've got the same fear. 👍

 

[JTJ]

The application asks:

Years of coursework you have completed, or will complete before September 2009.

But the PDF confirmation show how many you will have completed before September 2010.

Which one is right?

Thanks.

 

[816AA]

The application asks:

Years of coursework you have completed, or will complete before September 2009.

But the PDF confirmation show how many you will have completed before September 2010.

Which one is right?

i think it's safe (or at least preferable) to assume 2010... it sounds like they just want to make sure you'll be done with their pre-reqs by the time you get there

 

[redrower]

you guys leaving advisor name blank if they are not sending a letter for you?

 

[ohsmurfyea]

is anyone submitting without amcas verification? sent in the primary on 7/10 and am still waiting. would it be bad if you enter your science gpa differently than amcas does? i feel like its not worth waiting for the grade confirmation if everything else is ready to go...

 

[LAman10]

is anyone submitting without amcas verification? sent in the primary on 7/10 and am still waiting. would it be bad if you enter your science gpa differently than amcas does? i feel like its not worth waiting for the grade confirmation if everything else is ready to go...

There's no reason to submit it if your amcas isn't verified. they're not going to look at it anyway...

 

[trueBelief]

is anyone submitting without amcas verification? sent in the primary on 7/10 and am still waiting. would it be bad if you enter your science gpa differently than amcas does? i feel like its not worth waiting for the grade confirmation if everything else is ready to go...

I would wait just to avoid discrepancy.

Btw has anyone received a 'complete' email from them?

 

[wt45]

I would wait just to avoid discrepancy.

Btw has anyone received a 'complete' email from them?

no complete e-mail yet.

 

[ashtangi]

I called the admissions office last week, since I hadn't heard whether my application was complete (I wanted to make sure the picture I sent by USPS also made it in). They said they're still wrapping up 2009 applications, and we should check back with them earliest in August about 2010 applications. Hope that helps.

 

[wt45]

I called the admissions office last week, since I hadn't heard whether my application was complete (I wanted to make sure the picture I sent by USPS also made it in). They said they're still wrapping up 2009 applications, and we should check back with them earliest in August about 2010 applications. Hope that helps.

hey, thanks! this information is really helpful!

 

[FML]

I called the admissions office last week, since I hadn't heard whether my application was complete (I wanted to make sure the picture I sent by USPS also made it in). They said they're still wrapping up 2009 applications, and we should check back with them earliest in August about 2010 applications. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info!

It's weird that they would open up their app system so early when they don't even want to talk to us until August... whatever, I'm glad to have the secondary done and over with

 

[quasar12]

does "Recommendation Letters Sent" mean that the letters need to have actually been received? in other words if my premed committee is sending out my letters in early-mid August do I have to wait to submit the secondary?

 

[redrower]

does "Recommendation Letters Sent" mean that the letters need to have actually been received? in other words if my premed committee is sending out my letters in early-mid August do I have to wait to submit the secondary?

i took it to mean that they are in the process of being sent to columbia (i.e. to AMCAS)

im in the same situation as you are with my committee letter, and i checked the yes box. its ridiculous for every other school to allow submission of the secondary before your letters are received and for columbia to expect letters before the secondary.

i submitted mine, and am hoping the letter will arrive within the month

 

[austinap]

Am I the only one that is finding the 345 character limit on honors / awards, etc ridiculous? Seriously... I can't abbreviate any more, and I'm still over 800 characters.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Am I the only one that is finding the 345 character limit on honors / awards, etc ridiculous? Seriously... I can't abbreviate any more, and I'm still over 800 characters.

Are you listing or are you giving explanations?

 

[austinap]

Are you listing or are you giving explanations?

Listing, now to the point where I'm abbreviating enough things that it's difficult to understand.

 

[LAman10]

Listing, now to the point where I'm abbreviating enough things that it's difficult to understand.

LOL, well then you shouldn't have been such an overachiever in college

 

[creativekat]

LOL, well then you shouldn't have been such an overachiever in college

👍

 

[mmmcdowe]

Yeah, I would just cut any ones that are low priority for you rather than start chopping letters.

Things that I wouldn't include:

GPA awards like Deans list, unless you were like valedictorian or something.
National Merit Scholarship or any scholarship/award that you got on your way in to college but not during it.

 

[austinap]

LOL, well then you shouldn't have been such an overachiever in college

Well, I got a series of relatively small research scholarships that can't really be grouped together, so that makes the list longer. I've also received some awards in grad school, so that's given me ~3 years longer than most premeds to pad my resume. I think I've sliced and diced enough to make it work, but I still think that 345 characters is kind of ridiculous (and completely arbitrary?? WTF not 350?).

 

[Mashizhao]

Does Columbia not ask for money for the secondary? Nowhere can I find a payment link.

 

[Anotherface]

Does Columbia send a message saying that we are complete? I submitted this secondary ages ago and have heard nothing

This is what they say in their instruction booklet thing:

Because no portion of our selection process is “computerized” and because decisions about your application rest with members of the Committee on Admissions, you may find that your application is processed a bit more slowly at P&S than at some other schools.

So we might not hear for a while.

I submitted in September and it was about 2 months before my application was completed

 

[johncalvin]

For the question:

"In what collegiate extracurricular activities did you engage? (list format, limit 760 character)"

What if you really didn't do anything via college? A lot of my volunteer work, etc. was not through college. I was part of one club, no leadership. Mostly I am bothered by the word "collegiate"--does it mean through college or while in college...?

 

[LOSAR]

For the question:

"In what collegiate extracurricular activities did you engage? (list format, limit 760 character)"

What if you really didn't do anything via college? A lot of my volunteer work, etc. was not through college. I was part of one club, no leadership. Mostly I am bothered by the word "collegiate"--does it mean through college or while in college...?

same boat as you. I just listed what little bit I did do through college.

 

[johncalvin]

same boat as you. I just listed what little bit I did do through college.

You think its risky to list stuff that's not through college, basically pretending that you never read "collegiate..."?

 

[LAman10]

To allay the neurotic fears of those who are NOT applying to Columbia-Bassett, yet still wonder about answering that essay question:

If you go to the essay question page on the application and click the MD only radio button (signifying that you're NOT applying to Columbia-Bassett), and then click "Save" at the bottom of the page, all the fields that you have not completed and are necessary for the application will be highlighted. The Columbia-Bassett question will NOT be highlighted (and then if you select the Columbia-Bassett radio button at the top of the application, then that essay question will be highlighted) 👍

 

[LOSAR]

You think its risky to list stuff that's not through college, basically pretending that you never read "collegiate..."?

lol, i was going to do that but decided against it. They have a list of all your activities from school from the primary so it shouldn't be a problem

 

[LAman10]

lol, i was going to do that but decided against it. They have a list of all your activities from school from the primary so it shouldn't be a problem

so you think we should just list activities that we participated in through our university?



Also, for the extra info section (where you can upload a document) would it be appropriate to put our summer plans there?

 

[dw2158]

so you think we should just list activities that we participated in through our university?



Also, for the extra info section (where you can upload a document) would it be appropriate to put our summer plans there?

not through the university, just while you were in college.

unless your summer plans are exceptionally exciting (and i bet they aren't, really) don't include them. IMO, anyway. you could send them an update letter during the fall describing your summer if you feel the need.

 

[StayingSteady]

Ok, I'm filling out the columbia app and I have the following questions:

1. Would you consider a publication as an honor (same goes for poster presentation)?

2. for the work experiences portion, should we predict our work for the upcoming year? I know I will be paid for 2 jobs starting in september, so should I still include those?

3. Is there ANYTHING we need to do for the MD/PhD portion if we're MD-only candidates? I remember someone mentioning something about the awards section, but it seems kinda awkward to fill out only that portion and nothing else on the MD/PhD section.

 

[LAman10]

not through the university, just while you were in college.

unless your summer plans are exceptionally exciting (and i bet they aren't, really) don't include them. IMO, anyway. you could send them an update letter during the fall describing your summer if you feel the need.

haha ok so like hospital volunteering would fall under these activities? and shadowing?

 

[LOSAR]

so you think we should just list activities that we participated in through our university?



Also, for the extra info section (where you can upload a document) would it be appropriate to put our summer plans there?

yes, thats what I did.

 

[ianshaun]

What aspect of the Columbia-Bassett Program has the most appeal for you?


What if it doesn't? haha

 

[275779]

I don't know how they look at this but I am sure I ruined mine by writing stuff along the same lines as my statement just in a sorta confusing manner =(

It seemed creative at first and on re-reading after submission, I don't think I'll get an interview here.

Why wouldn't you proofread your secondary before submitting it?

 

[CUBR]

Is there a significant disadvantage to submitting a secondary application after long than two weeks or so?

 

[jtink]

so i called columbia's admissions office today (very nice people, but they def. seemed very busy) to ask the questions that have been asked here:

- Science GPA, use what's listed as BCPM (bio chem physics math) GPA in your verified AMCAS.

-Collegiate activities are JUST the activities that were done through your university. I asked if things like volunteer work at a hospital that wasn't done through my university should be included, and the woman I spoke with said no.

- Sort of work done -- refers to the paid work done DURING your undergrad time, so not things that you're doing now since you've graduated.

- Interruptions in your education means things like a leave of absence during your undergrad time. If you're not going to school right after finishing ugrad, that doesn't count as an 'interruption'

hope this helps! (based on these responses that I got from the admissions people, I was definitely writing excessive amounts of things) I guess if you have post-graduation stuff you'd like to tell them about (that you might not have already mentioned in like your PS, or extracurricular work that you did that wasn't through the university) you could always upload the info as an additional document 🙂

good luck everyone!

 

[LAman10]

so i called columbia's admissions office today (very nice people, but they def. seemed very busy) to ask the questions that have been asked here:

- Science GPA, use what's listed as BCPM (bio chem physics math) GPA in your verified AMCAS.

-Collegiate activities are JUST the activities that were done through your university. I asked if things like volunteer work at a hospital that wasn't done through my university should be included, and the woman I spoke with said no.

- Sort of work done -- refers to the paid work done DURING your undergrad time, so not things that you're doing now since you've graduated.

- Interruptions in your education means things like a leave of absence during your undergrad time. If you're not going to school right after finishing ugrad, that doesn't count as an 'interruption'

hope this helps! (based on these responses that I got from the admissions people, I was definitely writing excessive amounts of things) I guess if you have post-graduation stuff you'd like to tell them about (that you might not have already mentioned in like your PS, or extracurricular work that you did that wasn't through the university) you could always upload the info as an additional document 🙂

good luck everyone!

👍

 

[MDplease123]

so i called columbia's admissions office today (very nice people, but they def. seemed very busy) to ask the questions that have been asked here:

- Science GPA, use what's listed as BCPM (bio chem physics math) GPA in your verified AMCAS.

-Collegiate activities are JUST the activities that were done through your university. I asked if things like volunteer work at a hospital that wasn't done through my university should be included, and the woman I spoke with said no.

- Sort of work done -- refers to the paid work done DURING your undergrad time, so not things that you're doing now since you've graduated.

- Interruptions in your education means things like a leave of absence during your undergrad time. If you're not going to school right after finishing ugrad, that doesn't count as an 'interruption'


good luck everyone!

thanks! When they ask for hours per week "during the college year" that means to exclude summer right? cause...school isnt in session??

 

[jtink]

thanks! When they ask for hours per week "during the college year" that means to exclude summer right? cause...school isnt in session??

yeah i worked during the summers (while taking classes) and asked if I should include that as "during the college year" since I was taking classes, and they said no.. which is confusing as heck since the "what sort of work did you do?" question says that summer employment should be included. So i guess dont include summer stuff for 'work you were recompensed for during the college year' but DO include it in 'what sort of work did you do?'

 

[astr1x]

For " About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year?", if we didn't work during the school year we don't write anything? I think that's kinda dumb especially if you worked tons in the summer...
Can someone please confirm? Thanks.

 

[johncalvin]

so i called columbia's admissions office today (very nice people, but they def. seemed very busy) to ask the questions that have been asked here:

...

-Collegiate activities are JUST the activities that were done through your university. I asked if things like volunteer work at a hospital that wasn't done through my university should be included, and the woman I spoke with said no.

...

good luck everyone!

So for my collegiate activities directly through the University, I was member of one club. Ha. Nice going Columbia...way to blatantly ask a question about my only major weakness!

 

[jtink]

For " About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year?", if we didn't work during the school year we don't write anything? I think that's kinda dumb especially if you worked tons in the summer...
Can someone please confirm? Thanks.

Yeah i know... i thought the same thing -- so, if you worked during the summer, but not during the college year, then say you didnt work during the college year for this Q. "About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year?"

But the question "what sort of work did you do" also refers to paid employment -- and this question says to include summer. so simply write about your paid work in the "what sort of work did you do" question.

 

[MedMe]

.

 

[Postal Blowfish]

I'm so confused. I'm seeing an extra prompt about the Columbia-Bassett Program (7. What aspect of the Columbia-Bassett Program has the most appeal for you?) even though I clicked that I was only interested in Columbia. Is everyone else seeing this prompt, too? It doesn't sound like it's optional, but I'm not sure how to answer it. Is it just asking in general what you like about it??

Hellpp! 😱

Yeah, it happened to me too.

You can see there isn't an asterisk next to the prompt, thus it isn't mandatory. Don't worry about it.

 

[erotangos]

Hi fellow applicants! I received the Columbia secondary on 7/6, but I just submitted this morning... is this nearly-three-week-long gap going to be interpreted in a bad light by admissions? I figured that since AMCAS hasn't verified receipt of my LORs, I should be okay?

Thanks!

 

[caveat87]

I did the same thing erotangos. I don't think it will be a problem because an earlier post said they won't be looking reading applications until august, and submitting in late July is not late by any means 🙂