2010-2011 Columbia Application Thread

[lncpeter]

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Waitlisted, PA... not personalized at all...

also, my letter was written on March 3, 2011 and I need to reply by March 23, 2011 instead of March 25, 2011...

does that make a difference?...

 

[purpleweasel]

As a waitlisted applicant who interviewed with Dean Nicholas, am I remembering correctly that I may request a second phone interview? Is this overkill if I've already sent in a very sincere letter of intent?

 

[rjsmit2]

Anyone else STILL waiting??

meh... i just want to move on at this point

 

[NeuroE]

As a waitlisted applicant who interviewed with Dean Nicholas, am I remembering correctly that I may request a second phone interview? Is this overkill if I've already sent in a very sincere letter of intent?

I think that you can't get a second interview if you interviewed with him initially.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

nothing again! did i even interview here? is this real life?

 

[KUNRD07]

nothing again! did i even interview here? is this real life?

Wow, this is getting ridiculous.

 

[CTSurg4Life]

nothing again! did i even interview here? is this real life?

Still waiting here too....
At what point do we call admissions to find out what's going on???

 

[lxc]

Still waiting here too....
At what point do we call admissions to find out what's going on???

SAME. HERE.

I figure if I don't get anything by this Monday (a full week from when they sent out the very last batch of letters), I'll call and see what's up.

 

[drugsarefun]

Still waiting here too....
At what point do we call admissions to find out what's going on???

Wow, this is getting ridiculous.

SAME. HERE.

I figure if I don't get anything by this Monday (a full week from when they sent out the very last batch of letters), I'll call and see what's up.

Yes, yes and yes. Still nothing in the midwest. I think if we are empty handed tomorrow, a phone call is fair. This is a standard example of the sort of thing that happens to me regularly. Classic.

 

[mmmcdowe]

As a waitlisted applicant who interviewed with Dean Nicholas, am I remembering correctly that I may request a second phone interview? Is this overkill if I've already sent in a very sincere letter of intent?

You can still correspond with him, just not in an interview format.

 

[mmmcdowe]

My letter was sent to my permanent mailing address where my parents live.
I got waitlisted. mmcD any advice for alternates? I am supposing the good 'ol Letter Of Interest and a new glowing letter of recommendation would help. Any other ideas?

Both good ideas. I'd recommend trying to send something every month or so, especially in late April or early May. Some people call him up if they have something they really want to say. Just show interest, that's the biggest thing.

 

[NeuroE]

nothing again! did i even interview here? is this real life?

Inception!

 

[Dr Gerrard]

got my waitlist letter today

expected it i guess, but still kind of disappointed

 

[AfterThisNap]

Letter received in NYC today, 3/10/2011:












👎 .











Congrats to both the accepted and those still fighting for the chance; I'll see some of you next year.
-L


For posterity:
Secondary submitted 11/25/2010, complete 12/20, interviewed 2/23.

 

[KUNRD07]

.

 

[med8866]

Waitlist here too. Mine is also highly ranked.

 

[OoEeOoAhAh]

Waitlisted. Did anyone get a waitlist letter that didn't say "we find that your application falls in the category of being very highly ranked..." ??? Is the ranked versus highly ranked thing going on this year?

I believe the 'ranked' versus 'highly ranked' split was a misunderstanding last year. I think Mmmcdowe confirmed this earlier in the month.

 

[emeraldcity1]

Waitlisted. Did anyone get a waitlist letter that didn't say "we find that your application falls in the category of being very highly ranked..." ??? Is the ranked versus highly ranked thing going on this year?

Got waitlist letter today--mine also said highly ranked, not personalized, though. I did not interview with Dr. Nicholas...did anyone who also did not interview w him get a personalized letter? Or do the personalized ones go out to those he interviewed himself only?

 

[lxc]

sister called today to tell me i was wait listed. not sure what my letter says but i'll be going home to read it in person soon anyway.

time to get cracking on that update letter...starting to feel like it'll take a lifetime to get into a med shool 🙁

 

[mmmcdowe]

I believe the 'ranked' versus 'highly ranked' split was a misunderstanding last year. I think Mmmcdowe confirmed this earlier in the month.

The context is that you are highly ranked in the sense of being highly ranked enough to get on waitlist. To my knowledge there are no "not highly ranked" letters.

 

[emeraldcity1]

Being the anxious waitlisted applicant I am, I did a little digging for info on last year's thread. I noticed that 2nd interviews with the deans were a big topic around April. Almost all people who posted did their 2nd interviews in person, and some were even accepted on the day of their 2nd interview!

mmmcdowe...if I am lucky enough to be offered a 2nd interview, I'm thinking about the fact that I live in CA. Toting myself to NY would be super expensive and would interrupt work. I know phone interviews are an option, but are they more of an exception? Do the deans prefer in-person interviews? Even if they do not express a preference, I can't help but think that one would have an automatic advantage interviewing in person... any thoughts?

Wow, I've been thinking too much about this considering I don't even know whether I'll be offered another interview, ha.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Being the anxious waitlisted applicant I am, I did a little digging for info on last year's thread. I noticed that 2nd interviews with the deans were a big topic around April. Almost all people who posted did their 2nd interviews in person, and some were even accepted on the day of their 2nd interview!

mmmcdowe...if I am lucky enough to be offered a 2nd interview, I'm thinking about the fact that I live in CA. Toting myself to NY would be super expensive and would interrupt work. I know phone interviews are an option, but are they more of an exception? Do the deans prefer in-person interviews? Even if they do not express a preference, I can't help but think that one would have an automatic advantage interviewing in person... any thoughts?

Wow, I've been thinking too much about this considering I don't even know whether I'll be offered another interview, ha.

Overthinking it bud, Dr. Nicholas would never expect or reward someone who did that. The second interview just meant to ensure that he can get as much contact with applicants as possible because he controls the waitlist.

 

[minka]

Waitlisted as well

 

[Chuan19]

Acceptance! Do not lose hope... I sure almost did.

 

[lxc]

Overthinking it bud, Dr. Nicholas would never expect or reward someone who did that. The second interview just meant to ensure that he can get as much contact with applicants as possible because he controls the waitlist.

I'm sorry if you already went over this before, mmmcdowe, but are waitlist people just supposed to email Dr. Nicholas for a second interview? Or should we use the phone number provided on the letters?

Thanks so much!

 

[mmmcdowe]

I'm sorry if you already went over this before, mmmcdowe, but are waitlist people just supposed to email Dr. Nicholas for a second interview? Or should we use the phone number provided on the letters?

Thanks so much!

Write snail mail or email. Some people have called in the past, but I would be conservative with that and try written correspondence first.

 

[UnclePhil]

waitlisted... at least I'm still in the running!

 

[emeraldcity1]

waitlisted... at least I'm still in the running!

I too am thinking of the glass as half full 🙂 from what I've heard, a large chunk of Columbia's class tends to be made of waitlisted applicants...so to all fellow waitlisted peeps...it's not over yet! 🙂

 

[emeraldcity1]

Overthinking it bud, Dr. Nicholas would never expect or reward someone who did that. The second interview just meant to ensure that he can get as much contact with applicants as possible because he controls the waitlist.

hehe, sorry and i know...couldn't help myself!!...am slightly neurotic 😱

 

[lxc]

Write snail mail or email. Some people have called in the past, but I would be conservative with that and try written correspondence first.

Great, thanks! Here's to hoping I'll be able to meet you and PnSLove in the fall!

 

[RogueUnicorn]

apparently my letter got mysteriously returned and resent yesterday. =/

 

[MDub1]

apparently my letter got mysteriously returned and resent yesterday. =/

Hopefully that means great news for you!!!! Good luck!

 

[SolitaireAddikt]

Waitlist here too. Mine is also highly ranked.

🙁

 

[drugsarefun]

finally got the waitlist here in the midwest. man. talk about a wait from hell. really looking forward to electronic decisions coming up. good luck to everyone on the waitlist!

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Hopefully that means great news for you!!!! Good luck!

thanks, although my hopes aren't too high. i'm just relieved to know a decision will be here soon.

 

[datongnoodles]

I emailed the financial aid office and was told not to fill out financial aid application forms (except for the FAFSA) until after getting an acceptance. I'm on the WL. Does anyone know how fast the turnaround is for financial aid packages if you're accepted off the waitlist? And also how much time they give you to make up your mind?

 

[drugsarefun]

i would also just like to lay claim to the King of NYC Waitlists title. 4/4 baby.

 

[NeuroE]

i would also just like to lay claim to the King of NYC Waitlists title. 4/4 baby.

Which schools? Did you take down your MDApps link?

 

[drugsarefun]

Which schools? Did you take down your MDApps link?

Huh. I don't think I did that...my NYC waitlist trophies are NYU, Cornell, Mount Sinai, and Columbia. Talk about a strikeout plus one. Guess I'm not a closer haha.

 

[NeuroE]

Huh. I don't think I did that...my NYC waitlist trophies are NYU, Cornell, Mount Sinai, and Columbia. Talk about a strikeout plus one. Guess I'm not a closer haha.

That's rough. I hate waitlists. There needs to be a match type system for med school too 😀

 

[OoEeOoAhAh]

That's rough. I hate waitlists. 😀

Me too. They force people to miss second look weekends, to have to make essentially split-second decisions about where they'll be for four years of their lives, and I can't imagine they're good for class cohesion. Plus, some (most?) of them force you to grovel which is just really unsavory.

Sorry to hear, drugsarefun. I feel your pain.

 

[drugsarefun]

That's rough. I hate waitlists. There needs to be a match type system for med school too 😀

Totally. To be honest, I just really want to be in NYC for med school. I thought I would have a decent chance with 4 interviews, but alas, here I am. Maybe something good will happen in May, who knows. Are you gonna stick it out on the waitlist at columbia?

 

[NeuroE]

Me too. They force people to miss second look weekends, to have to make essentially split-second decisions about where they'll be for four years of their lives, and I can't imagine they're good for class cohesion. Plus, some (most?) of them force you to grovel which is just really unsavory.

Mmmmhm. I agree all around.

 

[NeuroE]

Totally. To be honest, I just really want to be in NYC for med school. I thought I would have a decent chance with 4 interviews, but alas, here I am. Maybe something good will happen in May, who knows. Are you gonna stick it out on the waitlist at columbia?

For now, definitely. It was and is my #1. But if I manage to get straight up accepted at Yale, I wouldn't be able to stay on for very long after the first round from the waitlist since I would have to start planning on moving (I don't have the flexibility of living on campus because of my girlfriend and cat).

 

[Dr Gerrard]

hey fellow waitlistees, my letter got sent to my home address and i was unable to read it properly. english is my parents second language, so while they knew it enough to convey to me that it was a waitlist position, i was unable to gauge exactly what i need to do to accept this position. any help on this would be great. thanks 🙂

 

[NeuroE]

hey fellow waitlistees, my letter got sent to my home address and i was unable to read it properly. english is my parents second language, so while they knew it enough to convey to me that it was a waitlist position, i was unable to gauge exactly what i need to do to accept this position. any help on this would be great. thanks 🙂

There was a form to fill out and send back where you checked it you accept or not, then fill out address, phone number, email... again.

 

[drugsarefun]

For now, definitely. It was and is my #1. But if I manage to get straight up accepted at Yale, I wouldn't be able to stay on for very long after the first round from the waitlist since I would have to start planning on moving (I don't have the flexibility of living on campus because of my girlfriend and cat).

So weird - I have the exact same situation. I really really want Columbia, but Yale or Penn (yeah right) straight up acceptances would make the waitlist marathon way less likely and challenging for me. blah.

 

[KUNRD07]

Me too. They force people to miss second look weekends, to have to make essentially split-second decisions about where they'll be for four years of their lives, and I can't imagine they're good for class cohesion. Plus, some (most?) of them force you to grovel which is just really unsavory.

Sorry to hear, drugsarefun. I feel your pain.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[emeraldcity1]

I couldn't agree more.

+1 on that!

 

[takk]

Alas, finally got the waitlist letter. Going to go ahead and withdraw, though. Good luck to everyone else!!!