2009-2010 Columbia University Application Thread

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does columbia overaccept? i get the feeling they do it like yale (accept their class size off the bat, then pull lots off the waitlist)
 
pelliper said:
does columbia overaccept? i get the feeling they do it like yale (accept their class size off the bat, then pull lots off the waitlist)
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i think somewhere I read that they accept 250 or something and go from there...but I can't remember and don't have the patience right now to find the source...maybe i'm wrong though
 
Waitlisted in NJ. Does Columbia have a ranked waitlist, or some sort of internal ranking system for their WLed applicants?
 
Hey other waitlisted people... did you have a little hand written note from the dean at the bottom of your letter?
 
jimgard said:
Hey other waitlisted people... did you have a little hand written note from the dean at the bottom of your letter?
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oOoo what does it say?? (no mail for me yet, haha, just very curious)
 
has a revisit weekend been planned? So far, I dont know anything about housing or revisit weekend. The school website has not bee that forthcoming either. Anyone have any ideas?
 
cramlie said:
has a revisit weekend been planned? So far, I dont know anything about housing or revisit weekend. The school website has not bee that forthcoming either. Anyone have any ideas?
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yeah housing info would be nice-I wouldn't mind working in a lab this summer and doing research or something as long as there was a stipend or some kind of payment -do they do anything like that (like a similar thing to WUSTL?)
 
wait listed in nyc via snail mail. that's two waitlists in one day!! zing! that's gotta be some sort of sdn record.

oh well. i loved columbia but not my top choice and will decline spot on waitlist
 
Rajasthan said:
Waitlisted in NJ. Does Columbia have a ranked waitlist, or some sort of internal ranking system for their WLed applicants?
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Has anyone received a straight rejection yet?
 
For waitlisted people. I did SMDEP at Columbia a few summers ago and they told us that people that are waitlisted can request a second interview with the dean of admissions. And I know a few people who did that and got in after their second interview...just saying, it might be worth a shot!
 
ElegantWeapon said:
This is probably most appropriately directed towards mmmcdowe, but anyone who has an idea is welcome to answer...With the new curriculum, how many weeks are they anticipating to give you guys to study for STEP 1? Obviously since its after clinicals, the flexibility of the curriculum makes it seem like you could take a good chunk of time if you wanted
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Six weeks is alotted, but you have some potential wiggle room because you get a lot more freedom to choose what to do (or not do) during the year. This would mostly depend on the schedule of step 1 exams, which I do not now, but theoretically you could take up to 2 months in your fourth year (your "vacation time" alotted) to study if you wanted to. General consensus at schools that have changed their Step 1 is that it is a good thing (Penn and Baylor come to mind). As far as the obscure things in the step 1, you aren't going to remember those anyways from your first year, but honestly from what I have looked at the step 1 is the equivalent to the MCAT. Someone who has actually researched and taken the step 1 could probably comment on the truthfulness of that, but I definitely know that some people study from step 1 books because they are good overviews, but no one uses it as their primary resource. Some things are left out, and a lot of nitty gritty is not tested. I posted a big paragraph about why the change in step 1 scheduling is a good thing a few pages back.

Columbia does overaccept
 
Still no news here in CT. I'm anticipating a waitlist or rejection, as it would make sense that they sent out acceptances first. They must not have been impressed with my flagrant sociopathy. Sad beans.
 
cramlie said:
has a revisit weekend been planned? So far, I dont know anything about housing or revisit weekend. The school website has not bee that forthcoming either. Anyone have any ideas?
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Yes! We are currently in the planning process and it will be held April 15-16. You'll be getting information about it in the mail, but I'll be posting updates on the Columbia P&S Class of 2014 Facebook group, so please join!
 
Hey guys, to me one of the important considerations in choosing a school is its curriculum and grading policy. I loved Columbia's flexibility and 1.5 year preclinical curriculum and the fact that it's P/F for the basic sciences.

However I just looked up that Columbia does participate in AOA. Could a current student please comment on how the AOA information is released to residency directors. For example at Hopkins, I know they have AOA, but they don't release anything until after everyone has already matched (so essentially everyone fills out their residency apps and puts "N/A" for AOA status.)

I'm really keen on going to a school where the class body is supportive and collegial, and not thinking about AOA rankings in the back of their mind. And yes, I do realize that for some super competitive specialties AOA can be a huge help; I'd just rather not go down that road in the first place.

Here's a link to the AOA Chapters across the country:
http://www.alphaomegaalpha.org/chapters.html
 
woodwkr2 said:
Hey guys, to me one of the important considerations in choosing a school is its curriculum and grading policy. I loved Columbia's flexibility and 1.5 year preclinical curriculum and the fact that it's P/F for the basic sciences.

However I just looked up that Columbia does participate in AOA. Could a current student please comment on how the AOA information is released to residency directors. For example at Hopkins, I know they have AOA, but they don't release anything until after everyone has already matched (so essentially everyone fills out their residency apps and puts "N/A" for AOA status.)

I'm really keen on going to a school where the class body is supportive and collegial, and not thinking about AOA rankings in the back of their mind. And yes, I do realize that for some super competitive specialties AOA can be a huge help; I'd just rather not go down that road in the first place.

Here's a link to the AOA Chapters across the country:
http://www.alphaomegaalpha.org/chapters.html
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I'm curious about the same thing, as well as out AOA is decided with unranked preclinical grades? Or is that an internal ranking system that they just don't really talk about?

Also, woodwkr2, it looks like we're making similar decisions.
 
I'm sure someone at Columbia will answer this in a bit, but someone asked mmmcdowe about AOA on my interview day. As I recall, he said they use the clinical grades only. No pre-clinical grades go into the calculation.
 
woodwkr2 said:
Hey guys, to me one of the important considerations in choosing a school is its curriculum and grading policy. I loved Columbia's flexibility and 1.5 year preclinical curriculum and the fact that it's P/F for the basic sciences.

However I just looked up that Columbia does participate in AOA. Could a current student please comment on how the AOA information is released to residency directors. For example at Hopkins, I know they have AOA, but they don't release anything until after everyone has already matched (so essentially everyone fills out their residency apps and puts "N/A" for AOA status.)

I'm really keen on going to a school where the class body is supportive and collegial, and not thinking about AOA rankings in the back of their mind. And yes, I do realize that for some super competitive specialties AOA can be a huge help; I'd just rather not go down that road in the first place.

Here's a link to the AOA Chapters across the country:
http://www.alphaomegaalpha.org/chapters.html
Click to expand...

Yes, only clinical grades go into AOA, which is released to residency directors in time to be a factor in the match. I believe we have both junior and senior AOA but I'm not 100% on that because of the fact. All I know about it is the fact that Columbia's reputation also allows us to place kids in competitive specialties even if they aren't AOA. Essentially anyone from Columbia who has applied Neurosurgery gets into a program because of this reputation for clinical year strength, though naturally AOA applicants tend to be at the more competitive programs on average. This is something that a lot schools can't claim.
 
mmmcdowe said:
Yes, only clinical grades go into AOA, which is released to residency directors in time to be a factor in the match. I believe we have both junior and senior AOA but I'm not 100% on that because of the fact. All I know about it is the fact that Columbia's reputation also allows us to place kids in competitive specialties even if they aren't AOA. Essentially anyone from Columbia who has applied Neurosurgery gets into a program because of this reputation for clinical year strength, though naturally AOA applicants tend to be at the more competitive programs on average. This is something that a lot schools can't claim.
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Awesome.
 
So I got put on the list of alternates today. In the letter it said I was "very highly ranked," do they tell this to everyone or do I actually still have a shot?
 
Does anyone have a 2009 or other recent match list for P&S that they'd be willing to link to or post?

I asked about this on my interview day and was told to just ask in the admissions office for one, but they didn't have any copies handy when I dropped by.
 
lol, I really need to get back to school to check my mailbox. This is my last chance at a non-state school acceptance.
 
alf9911 said:
So I got put on the list of alternates today. In the letter it said I was "very highly ranked," do they tell this to everyone or do I actually still have a shot?
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i am also very highly ranked, maybe tell this to everyone?
 
pretty rattled by this waitlist. i consider myself a super-strong applicant on paper (ivy, 3.95, non-science major, 40+, diverse ECs, personal statement/LOR love from interviewers) and i felt i really hit it off with my interviewer.

i dont know. i would have loved to attend columbia.

how many realistically get off the waitlist? any confirmation on requesting a second interview?
 
WLed in NY and withdrew. Did not send a letter of interest originally and am not interested in sending handwritten notes to the dean. Way too many current students emphasized doing this, and it all sounds disingenuous to me.
 
They probably do tell it to everyone, since I'm also have "very highly ranked"
 
For anyone who has received WL letters today, where are you? Getting nervous...
 
NNukibw77 said:
pretty rattled by this waitlist. i consider myself a super-strong applicant on paper (ivy, 3.95, non-science major, 40+, diverse ECs, personal statement/LOR love from interviewers) and i felt i really hit it off with my interviewer.

i dont know. i would have loved to attend columbia.

how many realistically get off the waitlist? any confirmation on requesting a second interview?
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It may depend on the year, but my friend who is a MS1 at Columbia said about 1/3 of her class comprised of 'waitlistees', but you can wait for mmmcdowe to dis/prove my response.
 
Still nothing in Chicago... I'm ready to write them a letter of intent rightaway if they waitlist me..
 
So apparently they DON'T rank their waitlist. I thought for some reason they did.

And in the hand written note to me, the Dean said they'll "very much" keep my application in mind.
 
jimgard said:
So apparently they DON'T rank their waitlist. I thought for some reason they did.

And in the hand written note to me, the Dean said they'll "very much" keep my application in mind.
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apparently you're ranked though, cause only yours has a note from the dean :laugh:
 
jimgard said:
So apparently they DON'T rank their waitlist. I thought for some reason they did.

And in the hand written note to me, the Dean said they'll "very much" keep my application in mind.
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Well that's a slight comfort at least to get something personal in your waitlist letter. Congrats, and good luck if Columbia is still at the top of your list.

I'll check at home in a bit when I head out to see if mine arrived today too. Philly isn't too far away.
 
WL in philadelphia, "very highly ranked" - seems everyone has this but I creepily checked out last year's thread and unless something has changed, they give "highly ranked" and "very highly ranked" WL letters...not that it means much...just throwing it out there...
 
WL in NYC, same "very highly ranked" though I highly doubt they alter the wording based on position..maybe someone just got bored this year and through in "very" for the fun...
 
I wish the rejections would come already. PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY!!!

:diebanana:
 
Question123 said:
WL in NYC, same "very highly ranked" though I highly doubt they alter the wording based on position..maybe someone just got bored this year and through in "very" for the fun...
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no...I mean last year they had both so it would make sense if they did this year too...again not that it means anything, and if it did I would not have any idea what, just saying there were 2 kinds sent previously
 
1/3 or more of the class tends to come off waitlist. Also, letters don't have to be handwritten. The waitlist to recommends that you continue to update and announce your continued interest in remaining on waitlist. Second interviews do indeed get offered.

Something else that people might be interested in, Columbia's Step 1 average this year is 235 according to my 4th year adviser. No way for me to prove the accuracy of this, but this is from a class that took the Step 1 at the traditional time. All schools that I know that use our new system report increases.

Here's some good advice from a student last year, with a few additions of my own in bold:

So what's the deal here, and how should you plan your extra couple of months?

1. If you don't really want to go to P&S, and you're happy/satisfied where you are, don't sweat it, save yourself the extra stress and withdraw.

2. Show interest! Dean Frantz (now Dean Nicholas as well) is exclusively responsible for picking people from the waitlist; make sure you research P&S and provide thoughtful and enthusiastic LOIs that highlight how artistic you are, well-rounded, how this relates to medicine, why you'll be a good fit blah blah blah. It's no secret that he loves rugby, shakespeare, classical music and history but if you do not boast of the achievements mentioned above do not fake it. Just make sure you proffer a compelling argument about why/how you would contribute to the class of 2013.

3. Do not show TOO much interest. To be fair, there is a girl in our class who was apparently told that she sent the most letters Frantz had ever seen, but I suspect that too much of a good thing is not always awesome. Space your letters out at least a few weeks and try to make up random reasons or calling/writing. For instance, if you sent one immediately after you got a WL letter (I think this is a good idea because it shows you really want to be here), wait until the beginning of April at least to send another one in, preferably with some new letters of reference, updates, etcetera. Within a couple days of sending it, you could possibly call to "make sure they got there."

4. Speaking of which, make sure you call him. Give him every opportunity to give you an interview if you have not interviewed with him before. People who have--I'm sorry, it's not likely he'll interview you again. This CERTAINLY doesn't mean that your chances are less than your colleagues (you should still consider a phone call, especially right before the May 15th deadline. I interviewed with Dean Frantz and this was how I got accepted), but that there are less things you can do within these coupe months. DO NOT request an interview. Use common sense. Give him opportunities, but do not push him or you'll likely just rub him the wrong way. (a passive aggressive hint about loving an opportunity to further discussing your interest in Columbia perhaps)

5. Try to be patient. It's hard, especially when the timeline is soo variable. This is what I had gathered last year and my own experiences:

A. Whoever posted earlier that you have movement of 35-60, I would guess that is in the ballpark. I don't know if it was as high as 60 last year, but it may have well been (Definitely higher than 35, possibly even 60). Nice thing about Columbia is (for those on the waitlist) that because it is a top 10 (or 11) school, it seeks all the same students that the top 1-5 schools do. Those students may have gotten acceptances from Columbia, and then get into hopkins, penn and harvard (Interesting fact, Harvard loses the most students to us and Johns Hopkins. We also have the 3rd highest yield for accepted students after Harvard and Penn). Give them a chance to get into other schools (next week?) and withdraw their acceptances. (1-3 weeks later)

B. I think I was able to score an interview in mid-late april. I lied and said that I was going to be in New York anyway. (Not a bad strategy) If you're from California, do not do this. He may very well just interview you on the phone. If it's possible/easy for you to get to New York, mentioning that you'll be in the area is another way to give him an opportunity to see you.

C. I really wanted to be accepted at my interview. I was not, and was kinda bummed. Sometimes he will give outright acceptances, but I believe those do not happen until later in May.

D. I called up a week or two later (early May) to ask if he had gotten my 'thank you note.' It was then that I was accepted (Similar for me except I had just mailed a letter and had a new tidbit that was too exciting to not share). He'll ask you if it's your first choice and that you would go there rather than anywhere else (obviously say yes. obviously mean it.)

E. This is on the EARLY side. Most movement will happen in the middle of or late May. You do not need to visit him. You do not need to call him necessarily. I know a lot of people who got calls from him to interview, and were much less proactive (Nothing you do will affect your financial aid in this regard). However, then you have to wait longer, and subsequently you risk being overlooked.

F. From talking with people in my class and the threads from last year, I think that early-mid June is when this process starts winding down. So if May is done, don't lose hope, but your chances become considerably diminished. I believe he goes on vacation sometime in June too. If you ask him what your chances are in late May, June, he'll give you an honest answer. Do not ask him in April what your chances are. He'll give you some standard spiel about needing to have a better idea of how many openings he'll have. If you interview with him, he'll give you honest feedback, so you have a better idea of where you stand.

I hope that this is thorough and helpful for you guys--just wanted to give back a little bit because I found this information very useful when I went through the process myself. Good luck and I will look forward to meeting some of you next year! Credit for this advice goes to miso, but I agree 100%
 
benny345 said:
no...I mean last year they had both so it would make sense if they did this year too...again not that it means anything, and if it did I would not have any idea what, just saying there were 2 kinds sent previously
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Hmmm. Nothing in Philly today for me. Rejection? Lol.
 
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