2009-2010 Columbia University Application Thread

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mmmcdowe, do you know if it is a bad sign that I haven't heard about an interview invitation yet? I was complete wayyyy back in August 🙁
 
premed2014 said:
mmmcdowe, do you know if it is a bad sign that I haven't heard about an interview invitation yet? I was complete wayyyy back in August 🙁
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me too, dude. let's just be patient and recognize that not every school is going to show us love.
 
Just wanted to say I interviewed here last week and really enjoyed it. My interviewer literally asked me two basic questions, a very quick, why do you want to go to columbia? and a brief discussion about my study abroad experience. Maybe lasting 10 minutes, total. He then went over the admissions process with me, basically that Columbia receives about 6000 applications, interviews 1100, 800 of which are great candidates, 300 of which are duds. He had looked over my file and (apparently assessing that I wasn't completely socially awkward) said that I fall into the '800' student category so he was instead just going to spend the next 30-45 minutes trying to sell Columbia to me...literally giving me a 200 year history of the school and why it rocked, stopping to let me ask questions along the way. Definitely one of the cooler interviews I've been on.

As for the rest, the Children's Hospital is beautiful, Washington Heights was nicer than I was expecting (and really only 20 minutes to "downtown" Manhattan on the express train). Otherwise, new and updated classroom areas as well as older sections. The dorms were definitely old and many students remarked how it was an initial turn-off in choosing Columbia but once being there ended up being fun places to live. Bard did have an awesome roofdeck view of the river though. Good luck for anyone waiting for an interview or interviewing soon.
 
mdeast said:
Just wanted to say I interviewed here last week and really enjoyed it. My interviewer literally asked me two basic questions, a very quick, why do you want to go to columbia? and a brief discussion about my study abroad experience. Maybe lasting 10 minutes, total. He then went over the admissions process with me, basically that Columbia receives about 6000 applications, interviews 1100, 800 of which are great candidates, 300 of which are duds. He had looked over my file and (apparently assessing that I wasn't completely socially awkward) said that I fall into the '800' student category so he was instead just going to spend the next 30-45 minutes trying to sell Columbia to me...literally giving me a 200 year history of the school and why it rocked, stopping to let me ask questions along the way. Definitely one of the cooler interviews I've been on.

As for the rest, the Children's Hospital is beautiful, Washington Heights was nicer than I was expecting (and really only 20 minutes to "downtown" Manhattan on the express train). Otherwise, new and updated classroom areas as well as older sections. The dorms were definitely old and many students remarked how it was an initial turn-off in choosing Columbia but once being there ended up being fun places to live. Bard did have an awesome roofdeck view of the river though. Good luck for anyone waiting for an interview or interviewing soon.
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Why, oh why, would they give false hope to those 300 "duds" with an interview invite?

😕
 
mdeast said:
Just wanted to say I interviewed here last week and really enjoyed it. My interviewer literally asked me two basic questions, a very quick, why do you want to go to columbia? and a brief discussion about my study abroad experience. Maybe lasting 10 minutes, total. He then went over the admissions process with me, basically that Columbia receives about 6000 applications, interviews 1100, 800 of which are great candidates, 300 of which are duds. He had looked over my file and (apparently assessing that I wasn't completely socially awkward) said that I fall into the '800' student category so he was instead just going to spend the next 30-45 minutes trying to sell Columbia to me...literally giving me a 200 year history of the school and why it rocked, stopping to let me ask questions along the way. Definitely one of the cooler interviews I've been on.

As for the rest, the Children's Hospital is beautiful, Washington Heights was nicer than I was expecting (and really only 20 minutes to "downtown" Manhattan on the express train). Otherwise, new and updated classroom areas as well as older sections. The dorms were definitely old and many students remarked how it was an initial turn-off in choosing Columbia but once being there ended up being fun places to live. Bard did have an awesome roofdeck view of the river though. Good luck for anyone waiting for an interview or interviewing soon.
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Uff, the interview is only good for putting you into a pool of 800 other people? After that it's back to who's pretty on paper?
 
FutureScaresMe said:
Where should I send update emails to? [email protected] or directly to the dean of admissions? Should it be an email or a letter sent in the mail?
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I'd rock the paper trail and just send it to Dean Frantz or the admissions office (he will read it either way), but emailing the admissions office is fine too. What are you updating exactly? If you've already interviewed you might want to wait til December grades and such. Everything that I've just written is entirely my opinion based on my experiences before and after I came to Columbia, I can't promise anything.

premed2014 said:
mmmcdowe, do you know if it is a bad sign that I haven't heard about an interview invitation yet? I was complete wayyyy back in August 🙁
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I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that either. I assume that you and others are still in the running and shouldn't panic yet. You might just be caught up in the works or you might be on hold until later. There is no way to tell, but Columbia interviews past December if this year is anything like last year.

pky463 said:
Uff, the interview is only good for putting you into a pool of 800 other people? After that it's back to who's pretty on paper?
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I wouldn't take it that way. It is very likely that there is still up and down movement based on your interview in that 800. What the interviewer probably meant is that all 800 are qualified to attend Columbia, but some just don't fit period upon interview. Interviews are more important than just getting you over the socially awkward hump. Only some of those people are going to be accepted off the bat, and its not just a paper thing. There are certain personalities that Columbia clearly drives at, and they don't necessarily need to be asking questions to find it. I wouldn't read into that too much though. Length of interview has not been indicative of acceptance/rejectance/waitlistance. Nor has the amount of selling that your interviewer does. That's just how they do their thing here.
 
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Don't fret Premed. Since it's not rolling you could interview on the LAST day and still get in. Fortunately the secondary deadlines are creeping up so after that there won't be any new applicants and maybe they'll start reviewing older ones again.

If you get the chance just let them know you really want to be there. Lots of students I met on my interview day got in off the waitlist. Columbia seems to want people who really want to be there.
 
is there student hosting available at columbia? thanks in advance!!
 
msgrizzly said:
is there student hosting available at columbia? thanks in advance!!
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yep. Just email the person who sent you the interview invite and they'll send you a list of students.
 
Wow. Finally got the complete email. It took long enough!

Anyone know how long until they review your file once you're complete?
 
skeptic29 said:
Wow. Finally got the complete email. It took long enough!

Anyone know how long until they review your file once you're complete?
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Can't personally answer this since I have been complete since mid September and have heard nothing, but I applied for Bassett and it seems as if they are on a later timetable.

However, read the thread and you will see that some people hear back within 2 weeks or so...
 
I also recently got a complete email, despite having everything submitted back in September, and being told over the phone that I was complete early October.

It is a mystery. 😕

Seeing the email from them made my heart rate skyrocket over nothing. Blah.
 
Expect more and more lag at this point guys, they've reached the crunch time and things are backing up (the 500 of you that are going to submit secondaries on the last day aren't going to help either).

A few tidbits for the Bassett folk. You will still have the 4th year project to do whatever you wish, and your admissions decisions will be sent out with the rest.
 
Postal Blowfish said:
Hey guys!

I got an invite yesterday. I submitted the secondary in mid-July.

So, yeah, keep up hope!
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Hahaha, god damn, that is a long lag time. But congratulations! Mind if I ask when your interview date is? Even just the general month...
 
Sexcellent, Blowfish! Congrats again, and good luck!
 
Does anyone know if Columbia accepts (and acts on) "in the area" emails?
 
herestohoping said:
Does anyone know if Columbia accepts (and acts on) "in the area" emails?
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They did for me. I contacted them about a month before the week that I was going to be "in the area." They got back to me within 2 weeks and essentially let me choose the day to interview that would best fit my schedule.
 
Hey everyone!

For those of you who have yet to hear about interviews, I have word that they are actually a bit behind screening applications. They also said that they tend to get >600 secondaries in right at the deadline (hint hint: get them in sooner!! It will be to your advantage). Columbia interviews until mid-February, so there is still lots of time!
 
FutureScaresMe said:
Where should I send update emails to? [email protected] or directly to the dean of admissions? Should it be an email or a letter sent in the mail?
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I would send updates to the admissions office at this point. Email is probably fine, but I think mailing updates would seem more professional (especially because the Columbia Admissions office is a bit old-school). After your interview, I would send handwritten letter updates to the dean of admissions.
 
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Jujubee1984 said:
Hey everyone!

For those of you who have yet to hear about interviews, I have word that they are actually a bit behind screening applications. They also said that they tend to get >600 secondaries in right at the deadline (hint hint: get them in sooner!! It will be to your advantage). Columbia interviews until mid-February, so there is still lots of time!
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unfortunately that is no consolation to those of us that have been complete for quite some time with no word. le sigh.
 
dw2158 said:
unfortunately that is no consolation to those of us that have been complete for quite some time with no word. le sigh.
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Just because you submitted earlier, it doesn't mean that your fate is sealed earlier. You've got a tremendous application; just give Columbia some time to go through your app and realize that. 🙂
-Dr. P.
 
Complete: 10/08
Interview Invite: 11/04

🙂🙂🙂

"thrilled" does not even begin to describe it...
 
mmmcdowe,

Just wanted to say that you are the man. I don't where you're finding the time to take on all of these questions, and hang out with the applicants a ton in the admissions office. If I'm correct in your being who I think you are; you hung out in the admissions office all day and chatted when I visited (10/19), and had left only after my interview (which was the last of the day). Dean Frantz should really give you a medal, because you are quite the ambassador for the school. It's much appreciated!
 
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I think I met this guy mcdowell as well during my interview. The dude was pretty bad ass, nice guy.
 
spyderracing32 said:
mmmcdowe,

Just wanted to say that you are the man. I don't where you're finding the time to take on all of these questions, and hang out with the applicants a ton in the admissions office. If I'm correct in your being who I think you are; you hung out in the admissions office all day and chatted when I visited (10/16), and had left only after my interview (which was the last of the day). Dean Frantz should really give you a medal, because you are quite the ambassador for the school. It's much appreciated!
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I also interviewed that day. I wonder who you were, hmmm......
 
MDiggity said:
I also interviewed that day. I wonder who you were, hmmm......
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Err, I interviewed on the 19th. I know you've probably been tortured about who I was for some time now, but you can put your mind to rest :laugh:.
 
CrimsonMirage said:
For those of you who got invites for the Bassett program, how long did it take from the date you were complete?

I submitted Aug 12...was complete Sept 9....still waiting to hear back 😕
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Same here. Complete 9/1 for the Bassett program and still haven't heard anything. ><
 
mmmcdowe said:
Thanks for the appreciation guys. I try to come by as many days as I can. I hope that you will take it as a sign of how much I love it here!
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Can you do some sleuthing on Bassett? Like how many peeps they will interview, how many applicants did the Bassett essay, etc?

I think I have seen only one SDNer report getting an interview, but obviously there have to have been others...maybe Bassett is underrepresented on SDN?
 
flip26 said:
Can you do some sleuthing on Bassett? Like how many peeps they will interview, how many applicants did the Bassett essay, etc?

I think I have seen only one SDNer report getting an interview, but obviously there have to have been others...maybe Bassett is underrepresented on SDN?
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I believe that they are interviewing about 100 people for 10-15 spots (I think that someone else mentioned this earlier in the thread, and it was correct when I talked to the admissions office about this). There have been at least two days of Bassett interviews that I have seem. I'm afraid that I don't know how many applicants. Unless we have passed the secondary submission date for Bassett there will probably be more before the end anyways.
 
How competitive is the columbia-basset program to get into, compared to regular columbia admissions. I'm really interested in rural medicine, and I would have to give up my seat at another school to apply for the program. My advisor says that I should go for it. This would be entering class fall 2011.

Thoughts?
 
Hi Everyone,

Where is the best place to stay during interviews? I didn't have any luck with a student host, and I think I'm a little to late to try calling others now.

Thanks.
 
I asked how many applicants have applied to Bassett so far. Over 600 at the moment.

I have also been under the impression that the Bassett program is around the same competitiveness as the normal undergrad, seeing as applicants rejected from Bassett are still considered for a normal program spot. There have been two Bassett days so far. I'd guess maybe 10-15 applicants each day, but don't quote me.
 
any new invites at this school?

o wait, its friday. le sigh🙁
 
mmmcdowe said:
There are certain personalities that Columbia clearly drives at, and they don't necessarily need to be asking questions to find it.
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That's interesting. What kind of personalities are they looking for?
 
Awesome school, which I already knew, but more importantly awesome people. I had heard people at this school were a bit uptight and competitive, but the people I met were anything but. They seemed like some of the most relaxed med students I've met thus far.

Columbia now a top choice for me. Fingers are crossed.
 
SpaceDementia said:
That's interesting. What kind of personalities are they looking for?
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Ones that will integrate well with the other members of the class. All schools work very hard to make sure that the class fits well together, and Columbia is no different. I'm afraid I can't be any more descriptive on exactly what kind of personalities are best for Columbia, it would only be guessing on my part and I would hate for someone to try and fake an attitude hoping that it would improve their chances based on my guess. I'm sure that its all pretty subjective anyways, and also probably based just on your application's "personality" as well. I'd be pretty amused if I found out that the interviewer's rubric included a request to scale a student's "columbianess" from one to ten. I can't say though, never looked.
 
SpaceDementia said:
That's interesting. What kind of personalities are they looking for?
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To add on to mmm, I would say that if Columbia looks for a personality, it's for someone that is into extracurriculars outside of med school. That was what stood out to me the most about Columbia-- they really emphasize students having interests and a life outside of class; hence the P&S Club. I think they tend to attract people that are well-rounded and have diverse interests outside of MCAT scores and GPAs. Which is why I am happy here!
 
Is it too late to fill out the secondary here, especially with only a 34?
 
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Does anyone have an idea as to which submission dates P&S might be reviewing atm? I was complete October 20th, I'm wondering if I should stop dreaming about an interview at this school.
 
jip said:
Does anyone have an idea as to which submission dates P&S might be reviewing atm? I was complete October 20th, I'm wondering if I should stop dreaming about an interview at this school.
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I don't know, but even if you were passed (which I don't know one way or another), that doesn't mean that you should give up hope. Send in an update letter when you have some substantial news to report (grades, etc).

Quicky said:
Is it too late to fill out the secondary here, especially with only a 34?
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It's pretty late in general, even for those with high MCAT scores, but if you really want to come to Columbia there are still interviews to be had.
 
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