2009-2010 Columbia University Application Thread

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Is columbia med on the columbia med school? My friend was telling me how columbia was surrounded by Ghetto neighborhoods.
 
As a graduate of columbia college, I can tell you that the med school is not on the main campus, but instead is farther north. the main campus is in morningside heights, centered around 116th and broadway. The med school I think is more like 167th.

I personally thought the neighborhood of morningside heights was great, but I do not know as much about 167th. I have been up there once and it did not seem nearly as nice, but I would not worry about safety. Manhattan is one of the safest places on earth because there is always someone in the street. The creepy places are where no one is around at night.
 
mrmilad said:
Is columbia med on the columbia med school?
Click to expand...

yes. :lame:


trueBelief said:
I believe it is very close to Harlem.
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it's in washington heights. main entrance at 165th and broadway.

i'm not going to get dragged into the conversation about whether this neighborhood is "nice" or "safe." suffice it to say that i really like it up there. :shrug:
 
dw2158 said:
yes. :lame:




it's in washington heights. main entrance at 165th and broadway.

i'm not going to get dragged into the conversation about whether this neighborhood is "nice" or "safe." suffice it to say that i really like it up there. :shrug:
Click to expand...

Way to be helpful.... 👍
 
mrmilad said:
Way to be helpful.... 👍
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someone asked where the campus was. i gave that information. i also specified the neighborhood for you. i'm sure you can make the safety/niceness decision on your own, but in case you need help:

here.
 
dw2158 said:
someone asked where the campus was. i gave that information. i also specified the neighborhood for you. i'm sure you can make the safety/niceness decision on your own, but in case you need help:

here.
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whoa..how did you do that?
 
dw2158 said:
someone asked where the campus was. i gave that information. i also specified the neighborhood for you. i'm sure you can make the safety/niceness decision on your own, but in case you need help:

here.
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WHAT IS THIS MAGICRY!?!

google < local's perspective
 
mrmilad said:
Is columbia med on the columbia med school? My friend was telling me how columbia was surrounded by Ghetto neighborhoods.
Click to expand...

I am embarrased both for you and everyone else that has read this and not been insulted no matter what their race or background.

What exactly is a "ghetto" neighborhood...poor? minority? And if it is, what does that mean? How does that information change your opinion of the school or the people that live around it (who will most likely be your patients upon acceptance)?

I apologize if this seems like an over reaction, or if this post makes people uncomfortable (which perhaps it should). By no means do I believe you are in any way a willfully discriminatory person. But I do think that these kind of seemingly innocent statements (and the general lack of response to them) represent something often ignored and unfortunate about our culture that needs to be addressed more directly if it is ever going to be stopped.
 
sewcurious said:
i am embarrased both for you and everyone else that has read this and not been insulted no matter what their race or background.

What exactly is a "ghetto" neighborhood...poor? Minority? And if it is, what does that mean? How does that information change your opinion of the school or the people that live around it (who will most likely be your patients upon acceptance)?

I apologize if this seems like an over reaction, or if this post makes people uncomfortable (which perhaps it should). By no means do i believe you are in any way a willfully discriminatory person. But i do think that these kind of seemingly innocent statements (and the general lack of response to them) represent something often ignored and unfortunate about our culture that needs to be addressed more directly if it is ever going to be stopped.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Columbia University Medical Center is located at 168th and Broadway. It is in the Washington Heights. The surrounding neighborhood is a primarily Dominican area. The area close to the Medical Center is primarily owned by Columbia or is residential housing (mainly Columbia staff, students and faculty). There is a homeless shelter directly across the street from the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The area is extremely safe and well populated. Everything you could possibly want is either a subway ride or five block walk away. I call the area directly around CUMC the Columbia bubble.
 
sewcurious said:
I am embarrased both for you and everyone else that has read this and not been insulted no matter what their race or background.

What exactly is a "ghetto" neighborhood...poor? minority? And if it is, what does that mean? How does that information change your opinion of the school or the people that live around it (who will most likely be your patients upon acceptance)?

I apologize if this seems like an over reaction, or if this post makes people uncomfortable (which perhaps it should). By no means do I believe you are in any way a willfully discriminatory person. But I do think that these kind of seemingly innocent statements (and the general lack of response to them) represent something often ignored and unfortunate about our culture that needs to be addressed more directly if it is ever going to be stopped.
Click to expand...

Let me respond by overreacting to your overreaction.... I'm not sure if you are a minority or you're just a bit insecure or you just love to gloat sitting on your moral high horse but by NO way shape or form was that supposed to be be harmful or had any sort of discriminatory intent. I don't know why you were so offended to make such an outburst, but let me say that most people living in today's world, familiar with popular culture, realize what I mean by a ghetto... It's a reference to pop culture not an attack on minorities....

As for why I caRE?! I'm not sure about you but I tend to care about the surroundings I live in, and the life style and surrounding areas DO effect my opinion and choice towards attending that school. As a matter of fact I think its critical to know what surroundings you are going to live in for the next 4 years, and to see if its compatible with your personality and attributes. So yes, it is important to me.

This is by no means an attack on you, just an attack on your outburst which was probably unintentional...
 
mmmcdowe said:
Columbia University Medical Center is located at 168th and Broadway. It is in the Washington Heights. The surrounding neighborhood is a primarily Dominican area. The area close to the Medical Center is primarily owned by Columbia or is residential housing (mainly Columbia staff, students and faculty). There is a homeless shelter directly across the street from the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The area is extremely safe and well populated. Everything you could possibly want is either a subway ride or five block walk away. I call the area directly around CUMC the Columbia bubble.
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Thank you!
 
mrmilad said:
I'm not sure if you are a minority or you're just a bit insecure or you just love to gloat sitting on your moral high horse but by NO way shape or form was that supposed to be be harmful or had any sort of discriminatory intent. I don't know why you were so offended to make such an outburst, but let me say that most people living in today's world, familiar with popular culture, realize what I mean by a ghetto... It's a reference to pop culture not an attack on minorities....
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You hit the nail on the head. I am an insecure minority. My high-horse is in the shop, but my soap-box is standing in for now. Actually I am just a person with an opinion, which I felt compelled to express because I feel strongly about it. I believe that is allowed no matter my background or the fact that you doubt my self-confidence.

I do not believe you are qualified to say that most people (esp. since most people" in America are minorities, and I doubt you could testify on the opinions of different cultures around the globe any better than I) would agree with you. It would be fair to say that most people that you know would not say anything to you about it, but I believe that is the biggest assumption you could make. I agree that it was a reference to pop culture...in which the word ghetto is used to portray largely African American/Hispanic, low-income communities as under educated, violent, and irresponsible.

mrmilad said:
As for why I caRE?! I'm not sure about you but I tend to care about the surroundings I live in, and the life style and surrounding areas DO effect my opinion and choice towards attending that school. As a matter of fact I think its critical to know what surroundings you are going to live in for the next 4 years, and to see if its compatible with your personality and attributes. So yes, it is important to me.
Click to expand...

I completely agree, it was not your intent I was questioning but your wording. Why not ask if the neighborhood had a lot of crime?

mrmilad said:
This is by no means an attack on you, just an attack on your outburst which was probably unintentional...
Click to expand...

I appreciate that, but I believe you can tell from my wording that my "outburst" was very intentionally written.

Is it so hard to understand why a person would get upset at the use of that word, which has incredibly derogatory connotations, so freely when there were so many other ways to express what you wanted? Attempting to look at it from the perspective of someone from that neighborhood, or one you would consider "ghetto" (a population whom you clearly assume would not be posting on a Columbia medical school discussion board), I would never ask someone that lived there that question. If you couldn't either, as I suspect you could not for a variety of reasons, then I think that may be a bit of an insight into how charged the term is.

I realize that it was just a sentence, posted quickly and probably without much intense thought. That makes it even more telling; many of our automatic assumptions and actions should be analyzed a bit deeper.

Sorry to side track the convo. Good luck to everyone.
 
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annnnnnd this is why i didn't want to start a conversation about washington heights. so i turn my nose up at the person who flamed me for not being "helpful" enough 😛

but seriously, guys, let's keep this thread on track. columbia is an amazing school in a vibrant neighborhood. gazillions of people have survived, and many of them have loved it. if you're lucky enough to get an interview you can go experience the 'hood for yourself and ask alllll the students you want how they feel about WaHi. otherwise, be quiet and keep your fingers crossed 😀
 
dw2158 said:
annnnnnd this is why i didn't want to start a conversation about washington heights. so i turn my nose up at the person who flamed me for not being "helpful" enough 😛

but seriously, guys, let's keep this thread on track. columbia is an amazing school in a vibrant neighborhood. gazillions of people have survived, and many of them have loved it. if you're lucky enough to get an interview you can go experience the 'hood for yourself and ask alllll the students you want how they feel about WaHi. otherwise, be quiet and keep your fingers crossed 😀
Click to expand...
+1

I apologize to offend you Sew, lets get back to the main show.:xf:
 
dw2158 said:
annnnnnd this is why i didn't want to start a conversation about washington heights. so i turn my nose up at the person who flamed me for not being "helpful" enough 😛

but seriously, guys, let's keep this thread on track. columbia is an amazing school in a vibrant neighborhood. gazillions of people have survived, and many of them have loved it. if you're lucky enough to get an interview you can go experience the 'hood for yourself and ask alllll the students you want how they feel about WaHi. otherwise, be quiet and keep your fingers crossed 😀
Click to expand...

You are never, ever allowed to say that again. I will hunt you down if you do 😛. Sorry, for those who don't know Washington heights (or The Heights, which is the other acceptable reference to it!) has recently had an influx of hipsters due to the housing shifts in Manhattan. They are trying to popularize the use of that four letter word (Wah Hi is how you would pronounce it).

I'm a big lover of latin america, so I absolutely love being in this area and being a part of this culture. It's also a great way to brush up (or learn, there are classes and summer programs) spanish. Food is amazing and very inexpensive. I think the absolute best thing about living here in this part of Manhattan is that you receive an enormously important lesson every day on what it means to be a doctor to patients. What do you owe them? Should you speak there language, or they yours? Should you understand their culture well enough so that you can talk about the latest Bachata group as well as the Mets game last night? Not everyone agrees here on the answer to that, but you can't help but think about it.
 
would you two please read a book? "Ghetto" is a real word. it refers to a low socioeconomic, densely populated community that is occupied by a minority ethnic group. This does characterize the area around Columbia. It doesn't mean that the area is dangerous, but it IS a ghetto. you guys need to seriously calm down. just because you're gonna be doctors doesn't mean you have the knowledge to go around calling out everyone else's politically incorrect statements. you immediately jump on the word "ghetto" and act like whoever used it is ignorant, when in fact YOU are the ignorant one for not understanding what the word even means. have some humility; you were still a science major in college; don't act like that makes you knowledgeable about everything.

and honestly, if you're gonna get offended when someone refers to a community as a ghetto, then :wtf: seriously there are worse derogatory remarks that exist. grow up.
 
StayingSteady said:
would you two please read a book? "Ghetto" is a real word. it refers to a low socioeconomic, densely populated community that is occupied by a minority ethnic group. This does characterize the area around Columbia. It doesn't mean that the area is dangerous, but it IS a ghetto. you guys need to seriously calm down. just because you're gonna be doctors doesn't mean you have the knowledge to go around calling out everyone else's politically incorrect statements. you immediately jump on the word "ghetto" and act like whoever used it is ignorant, when in fact YOU are the ignorant one for not understanding what the word even means. have some humility; you were still a science major in college; don't act like that makes you knowledgeable about everything.

and honestly, if you're gonna get offended when someone refers to a community as a ghetto, then :wtf: seriously there are worse derogatory remarks that exist. grow up.
Click to expand...

While I agree that not every mentioning of ghetto is derogatory, many times it does have a negative connotation attached to it. For example, we often talk about those who have "risen out of the ghettos". Clearly the assumption is that the ghetto is not where successful people want to be. I personally wouldn't want my struggling community to be labeled a ghetto for this reason.

Technically, much of Washington Heights would be better referred to as a Dominican barrio, not a ghetto (but then again, most barrios are composed of recent immigrants and there are many 2nd/3rd/4th/more? generation folks here now).
 
StayingSteady said:
would you two please read a book? "Ghetto" is a real word. it refers to a low socioeconomic, densely populated community that is occupied by a minority ethnic group. This does characterize the area around Columbia. It doesn't mean that the area is dangerous, but it IS a ghetto. you guys need to seriously calm down. just because you're gonna be doctors doesn't mean you have the knowledge to go around calling out everyone else's politically incorrect statements. you immediately jump on the word "ghetto" and act like whoever used it is ignorant, when in fact YOU are the ignorant one for not understanding what the word even means. have some humility; you were still a science major in college; don't act like that makes you knowledgeable about everything.

and honestly, if you're gonna get offended when someone refers to a community as a ghetto, then :wtf: seriously there are worse derogatory remarks that exist. grow up.
Click to expand...

Okay then, let us conclude this: my opinion is worth nothing (despite you having no idea of my history or interactions with the topic, none of which could possibly be relevant if it isn't reflected in my MD Apps profile). What a simple answer to a slightly more complex topic. I'm fine with that.

So is any one else (incredibly prematurely) concerned about the cost of living in NY during Med School?
 
sewcurious said:
So is any one else (incredibly prematurely) concerned about the cost of living in NY during Med School?
Click to expand...

thanks for bringing up a somewhat on-topic... well.. topic!

i've been in NYC for more than 5 years now with very little income. it's TOTALLY doable. i promise. you can even find housing for un-outrageous prices if you look--plus, columbia and some other nyc schools have student housing for way cheap, like $500/month. as far as food/entertainment/etc... it really is SO doable on a budget. don't worry 🙂
 
sewcurious said:
So is any one else (incredibly prematurely) concerned about the cost of living in NY during Med School?
Click to expand...

Not really.

Most if not all of the NYC med schools have some form of subsidized housing that lowers the cost of attendance.

Plus, there is a hidden cost savings in attending a med school in NYC - no need for a car - so when you do a spreadsheet comparing your various offers, be sure to account for that cost avoidance.

What should matter to you is the "total" cost of attendance and how it compares to other schools. For instance, housing costs in DC, SF, and Boston are MUCH higher for med students than in NYC because you have to rent in the free market, so it is important to compare apples to apples when comparing the total cost of attendance.
 
sewcurious said:
Okay then, let us conclude this: my opinion is worth nothing (despite you having no idea of my history or interactions with the topic, none of which could possibly be relevant if it isn't reflected in my MD Apps profile). What a simple answer to a slightly more complex topic. I'm fine with that.

So is any one else (incredibly prematurely) concerned about the cost of living in NY during Med School?
Click to expand...

Yes, definitely. I live in Philly...which I'll put it out there, is a great place to be a student because of the relatively low living costs compared to DC, NYC, and Boston, but still with great restaurants, bars, and things to do.

I live in a 2500 sq ft, 4 year old, $800,000 townhouse (with housemates) in a great area, and I pay less than $900/month in rent including utilities. That sort of price...even in NYC subsidized housing, will get me a dorm room or studio apartment as opposed to a bedroom encompassing an entire floor with my own jacuzzi tub... which I can afford even on my meager research assistant salary. It'll be definitely tough transitioning back to academic life in a city where I can't afford very much should I be lucky enough to get into any of NYC's great med schools.
 
anyone having trouble logging into Columbia's secondary app website?
 
COLUMBIA WILL YOU MARRY ME?!

Invite this morning - promptly squealed in delight. multiple times.
 
Any Barrett interviews yet?
 
dw2158 said:
no. probably because there's no school named barrett. 😉
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So clever.

You know what I meant - if you have any information, please give it, otherwise...

Anybody hear back for interviews at the Bassett program?
 
still not complete... I got all my LORs and stuff in around mid-august, so I'm assuming they just haven't gotten to me yet. unless everyone else is complete...
 
flip26 said:
So clever.

You know what I meant - if you have any information, please give it, otherwise...
Click to expand...

oh right, i forgot, you've never made a post poking fun at someone in your entire time on SDN.
 
I just got a complete email today and submitted my secondary on 8/12. They're getting there...slowly but surely...
 
Should I e-mail asking whether I am complete?
 
I sent my secondary/picture 07/25 ..haven't heard anything from them other than that they've received my secondaries...Should I call them and ask if I'm complete/under review?
 
i turned in everything mid-august too and still haven't heard anything yet.. i emailed and called about my status but both times they refused to tell me anything. is it so hard to let me know that at least all my required materials are in? this is the only school i'm not complete at yet. sigh..🙁
 
exeunt said:
i turned in everything mid-august too and still haven't heard anything yet.. i emailed and called about my status but both times they refused to tell me anything. is it so hard to let me know that at least all my required materials are in? this is the only school i'm not complete at yet. sigh..🙁
Click to expand...

I am sure that they are just super busy. If it is any consolation, I submitted in June and wasn't notified about being complete until last week.
 
sewcurious said:
I am embarrased both for you and everyone else that has read this and not been insulted no matter what their race or background.

What exactly is a "ghetto" neighborhood...poor? minority? And if it is, what does that mean? How does that information change your opinion of the school or the people that live around it (who will most likely be your patients upon acceptance)?

I apologize if this seems like an over reaction, or if this post makes people uncomfortable (which perhaps it should). By no means do I believe you are in any way a willfully discriminatory person. But I do think that these kind of seemingly innocent statements (and the general lack of response to them) represent something often ignored and unfortunate about our culture that needs to be addressed more directly if it is ever going to be stopped.
Click to expand...

:laugh:. Awesome.
 
dw2158 said:
thanks for bringing up a somewhat on-topic... well.. topic!

i've been in NYC for more than 5 years now with very little income. it's TOTALLY doable. i promise. you can even find housing for un-outrageous prices if you look--plus, columbia and some other nyc schools have student housing for way cheap, like $500/month. as far as food/entertainment/etc... it really is SO doable on a budget. don't worry 🙂
Click to expand...

Hiya all. My this has been a busy thread! So, I currently live in the med center housing, and I would definitely say that it's not as competitively priced as housing some other NY med schools (e.g. Cornell). But, living off campus around Columbia med will be much more affordable, so that's a nice compensating factor.

To add my two cents in about the imitable WaHi (of course, it can only be called this on message boards, or in jest when pronouncing it WaaaayHi), it really is a cool neighborhood and community to engage with. Also, the aforementioned homeless shelter is in the same building as the National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Police Athletic League, so the neighborhood (as much of NYC) is a study in contrasts. Good luck to all who are, like my self, still waiting on the Columbia love. :luck:
 
Anyone hear any from the Basset program? I've been complete for a while now, haven't heard nothing.
 
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