2010-2011 Columbia Application Thread

[laxgirl04]

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Anyone have any idea for the schedule of the revisit weekend? My other top choice is having its revisit at the same time, so I might try to split my time between the two...

 

[MVKC7210]

I remember hearing about some people on the waitlist receiving second interviews which determined whether or not someone was ultimately accepted? Do you have to ask for one of these or does the admissions office have to offer it to you first?

 

[Hoody]

I remember last year that the Dean started calling waitlisted people and asking them if they were accepted if they would attend or not. I think he also extended this offer at some of the second interviews.

If you are dead set on Columbia and are waitlisted, I would make is known...

 

[nice1sir]

...i still don't have my decision...

(but to no fault of Columbia...I've been on Spring Break, and I think that the mail came in to my school address before my mail redirect took action...)

 

[PnSLove]

Hey all!

Thought I would let you know that the preliminary schedule for revisit is posted up on the Facebook group! Things will be added and changed, but it should give you a good idea of what will be going on each day. I would recommend begin there for Coffeehouse either way!

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_206743702674113

PS For those on the wait-list, Dr. Nicholas is out of town for about 2 weeks, so you won't be able to get a hold of him until after this time in case you have been trying. Good luck with everything!

 

[sickandtired]

I remember last year that the Dean started calling waitlisted people and asking them if they were accepted if they would attend or not. I think he also extended this offer at some of the second interviews.

If you are dead set on Columbia and are waitlisted, I would make is known...

Not sure about Dean calling people but I do know at least 3 people in the first year class that got in with their 2nd Interviews. They all were asked if they wanted 2nd Interviews by the admissions office.

 

[NeuroE]

So it seems like we probably shouldn't be asking for additional interviews, just expressing out interest in the school and hoping for another interview invite?

 

[nice1sir]

Has anyone else not received their decision yet? I want to call the office, but not sure what they will say. Anyone who has called and maybe received their decision over the phone?

 

[drugsarefun]

So it seems like we probably shouldn't be asking for additional interviews, just expressing out interest in the school and hoping for another interview invite?

That's what I have gathered from everyone last year. Seems a bit inappropriate to come outright and ask, "Can I meet with you for a 2nd interview?". Expressing strong interest usually leads to an invite in applicants that they are very interested in.

 

[NeuroE]

That's what I have gathered from everyone last year. Seems a bit inappropriate to come outright and ask, "Can I meet with you for a 2nd interview?". Expressing strong interest usually leads to an invite in applicants that they are very interested in.

Cool👍

 

[cthulhu]

I wish the office had proofread the waitlist letters before sending them... Getting waitlisted is bad enough without having to read that I should reply by March 20011 and that a form for my reply has have been enclosed.

 

[NeuroE]

I wish the office had proofread the waitlist letters before sending them... Getting waitlisted is bad enough without having to read that I should reply by March 20011 and that a form for my reply has have been enclosed.

+1

 

[RogueUnicorn]

I wish the office had proofread the waitlist letters before sending them... Getting waitlisted is bad enough without having to read that I should reply by March 20011 and that a form for my reply has have been enclosed.

maybe it's a code? does everyone else's have typos? what if you interviewed with the dean?

j/k i'm just going/gone insane waiting for the mail, still nothing..

 

[emeraldcity1]

This Q applies to Columbia as well as any other school...

I noticed that throughout SDN, the advice come up again and again to contact schools repeatedly if waitlisted, to emphasize your continued interest in the school. Problem is, I don't really know what to state in this type of email/phone call...?? If I have no more updates, and have already sent in a letter of interest, what would be an appropriate/eloquent way to say "Pretty plz let me in!!" ?? What exactly do people even say if they contact a school repeatedly, without sounding...well...repetitive...?

 

[SolitaireAddikt]

This Q applies to Columbia as well as any other school...

I noticed that throughout SDN, the advice come up again and again to contact schools repeatedly if waitlisted, to emphasize your continued interest in the school. Problem is, I don't really know what to state in this type of email/phone call...?? If I have no more updates, and have already sent in a letter of interest, what would be an appropriate/eloquent way to say "Pretty plz let me in!!" ?? What exactly do people even say if they contact a school repeatedly, without sounding...well...repetitive...?

I believe that it's customary to offer up your first born child. If you really want to show your love, you may also consider offering your right/left arm (whichever is your dominant one).

 

[NeuroE]

I believe that it's customary to offer up your first born child. If you really want to show your love, you may also consider offering your right/left arm (whichever is your dominant one).

What about two of someone else's arms?

 

[emeraldcity1]

I believe that it's customary to offer up your first born child. If you really want to show your love, you may also consider offering your right/left arm (whichever is your dominant one).

Ha! Nothing would surprise me at this point...

 

[rhcarolina]

Got my acceptance acknowledgement email today from Dean Nicholas! 😀
Hope to see you guys at the revisit

 

[rhcarolina]

I would recommend begin there for Coffeehouse either way!

What is Coffeehouse exactly?

 

[RB93]

maybe it's a code? does everyone else's have typos? what if you interviewed with the dean?

j/k i'm just going/gone insane waiting for the mail, still nothing..

Mine also had typos and looked slightly different that the one Cole posted. I believe (though I don't have it in front of me) it said March 23, 20011 (not March 25), and the date was not on its own line. Not sure if that means anything, but it appears to be a slightly different letter. Gonna to withdraw from the WL, good luck to everyone!

 

[RogueUnicorn]

incidentally, my mail apparently got returned yet again. they might let me know by email tomorrow.

anyone else still waiting?

edit: waitlist. for those keeping score at home next year, i didn't interview with the dean and since my letter was a word doc it's impossible to know if there was any cole-esque personalization

 

[UnclePhil]

What about two of someone else's arms?

OR my non-dominant arm and dominant foot?

 

[NeuroE]

.

 

[PnSLove]

What is Coffeehouse exactly?

Firstly, I meant "being there for coffeehouse" and just can't type.

Coffeehouse is a talent show/beer and pizza/awesome concert and dance party. Just trust me, it's fun. There are some videos on YouTube of the first year band, dance groups, and the a cappella group that perform at Coffeehouse.

Get excited!!!

 

[rhcarolina]

Coffeehouse is a talent show/beer and pizza/awesome concert and dance party. Just trust me, it's fun. There are some videos on YouTube of the first year band, dance groups, and the a cappella group that perform at Coffeehouse.

Get excited!!!

Thanks, PnSLove! Sounds fun, can't wait! 😀👍

 

[BrainBuff]

incidentally, my mail apparently got returned yet again. they might let me know by email tomorrow.

anyone else still waiting?

edit: waitlist. for those keeping score at home next year, i didn't interview with the dean and since my letter was a word doc it's impossible to know if there was any cole-esque personalization

Sorry to hear that dude. But is not over until the end. Good luck to you.

 

[NickNaylor]

incidentally, my mail apparently got returned yet again. they might let me know by email tomorrow.

anyone else still waiting?

edit: waitlist. for those keeping score at home next year, i didn't interview with the dean and since my letter was a word doc it's impossible to know if there was any cole-esque personalization

Disappointing. More for the lack of personalization than anything.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Sorry to hear that dude. But is not over until the end. Good luck to you.

thanks dudesef, but even if i don't end up getting in i'm happy to have interviewed, and pretty content with my other choice

Disappointing. More for the lack of personalization than anything.

yea i really would like to see the real letter firsthand, but i don't think it's in the cards, as apparently my local post office hates mail from columbia

 

[mmmcdowe]

thanks dudesef, but even if i don't end up getting in i'm happy to have interviewed, and pretty content with my other choice

yea i really would like to see the real letter firsthand, but i don't think it's in the cards, as apparently my local post office hates mail from columbia

Fight bleargh fight.

Hey all, sorry for my silence. Im in Arizona doing family medicine on the apache reservation. No
internetz. Its amazing and one of columbias many tremendous opportunities to study in diverse environments. Its also nice because im taking two weeks to do a mini er rotation within this rotation

 

[UnclePhil]

Fight bleargh fight.

Hey all, sorry for my silence. Im in Arizona doing family medicine on the apache reservation. No
internetz. Its amazing and one of columbias many tremendous opportunities to study in diverse environments. Its also nice because im taking two weeks to do a mini er rotation within this rotation

Stop making Columbia sound so awesome. It's killing me.

 

[NeuroE]

stop making columbia sound so awesome. It's killing me.

+1

 

[PnSLove]

Match list and summary is up on the Facebook group! Amazing matches for everyone in the graduating class!

 

[NeuroE]

Match list and summary is up on the Facebook group! Amazing matches for everyone in the graduating class!

Since the facebook group is closed, can you post the list?

 

[drugsarefun]

Match list and summary is up on the Facebook group! Amazing matches for everyone in the graduating class!

any way that can get posted here (waitlisted, but i would still love to see it)? thanks!

 

[BrentSp44]

Since the facebook group is closed, can you post the list?

Hopefully this works.

 

[NeuroE]

Hopefully this works.

Thanks!

 

[mmmcdowe]

Hopefully this works.

You should really delete peoples names out and repost that.

 

[PnSLove]

You should really delete peoples names out and repost that.

done.

 

[thebillsfan]

I was wondering how strongly to indicate your likelihood to attend a school that you are writing a LOI to. I'm waitlisted at my top choice, which I have already committed to if I should be accepted there. However, Id probably go to columbia over the schools I'm accepted at right now...so I'm not sure what to say in the LOI. I could say that "I'd gladly attend if accepted"--which is true, but I dont want that to be a commitment in case I get into my top choice. What do most people do in this situation?

 

[Beta Cell]

Columbia only had two neurosurgery matches this year? Impressive for most schools, but Columbia is normally top neurosurgeon-producing school.

 

[Severus]

Columbia only had two neurosurgery matches this year? Impressive for most schools, but Columbia is normally top neurosurgeon-producing school.

my class is a little strange like that. numbers should be back up next year.

 

[UrsusHorribilis]

Hey folks,
I asked Mmmcdowe a bunch of questions re: Columbia that he was kind enough to give incredibly detailed and helpful answers to. This definitely gave me a lot of great information that I didn't have before, so other people might find it useful, too. Reposting with his permission. For what it's worth, the school sounds amazing and I am totally sold

1. First question is mainly about time during first year. On one hand, it sounds like there's a lot going on extracurricularly, but on the other hand, it seems like the curricular requirements take up a ton of time. When I check the schedule for first years, it seems like people are in class 9-5 most days. What portions of the curriculum are mandatory versus optional? How do people manage this? Do they have some down time? What kind of routines do people usually put together for studying? Can you get by spending a few hours every evening and then a few hours each weekend day? Is it possible, with good time management, to take a weekend day or so a week mainly off?

During the pre-clinicals you get either 2 or 3 afternoons off a week. During the first semester, anatomy takes up two afternoons and you spend one afternoon shadowing/learning to do interviews. During second semester you start off doing three afternoons and then wean yourself down to two. During third semester you have usually 1-2 afternoons of work, but classes last til 1PM rather than 12PM so it is essentially the same. So you are always guarunteed two afternoons off, Friday is always off unless you choose to pick that as your day for shadowing/interviewing. There is definitely a significant amount of freetime built into the curriculum. I did research, theater, signing, and volunteering during my pre-clinicals. One of the strengths of the columbia curriculum is essnetially everything is nonmandatory that doesn't involve patients or the occasional quiz. This allows you to pick what works best for you and discard anything that doesn't. For example, I went to some small group/PBL sessions and some I did not. Not because they were/were not well taught. I just felt that I got out of certain topics in PBl than others due to my own learning styles. All lectures are online, which is nice since you can watch at home or rewatch them. You can also speed them up. Being an unranked pass/fail pre-clinical curriculum, this also helps manage your free time. It doesn't give you more per se, it just gives you the confidence to take advantage of it when you have it. It lets you be confident with your feelings that you have mastered a subject rather than having a little voice in your head worrying about it. Our grades haven't changed since p/f was instituted, because let's face it medical students are all type A. We are just happier, more confident type As. It is definitely possible to have your weekends almost always off. I have a friend who would study nonstop monday through friday so that she could spend weekends with her boyfriend. She definitely is on top of her material even with this system. A few hours a day is generally enough. I basically would just spend an hour per lecture and that was enough for most classes. Anatomy required a bit more, other classes required a bit less. I would just then review all of my stuff 2 days before the exam and that was adequate as well.

2. It seems like almost everyone lives in Bard first year. Are there any commuters from other parts of Manhattan? Would that be that manageable for most people? Is it still possible to make some friends? Are there days when one can just set up shop with lectures videos/notes at a cafe and work remotely instead of going to campus, or do you need to be there every day during the preclinical curriculum?


80% live in Bard first year, about 50-60% live on campus after that. Many live in the upper west side but I know people in NJ, the east side, and the financial district as well. Definitely manageable if it is a priority. Definitely can still socialize. Lots of people come down to the villages during the weekend, so in some ways you are well situated for socialization. I'm a big cafe guy myself. I did all of my studying at them and a large chunk of my lecture watching as well. Totally maneagble with discipline. I would recommend watching the lectures though, just to make sure you are hitting the important points that may or may not be stressed elsewhere. Exams are lecture based. I never rewatched lectures and didn't even return to the slides after my first run through. I focused entirely on what I had written down and what I had in books. You only need to be at school for things like mandatory small groups (no more than once a week except for when you are in psych block- occasionally two during then), for shadowing/physical exam training (also once a week, often overlaps with other required days).

3. For lack of a more specific opening question, what is life like during core clerkships?
A. How does call work? Long call? Short call? Post-call days?
B. Do you tend to get a weekend day off a week? Any days off a week? etc.
C. It seems like many of the cores can be done at affiliates. Do students get any say in that? I for one would much rather do OB and a few others at St. Luke's because of proximity-can I request that or is it totally random? What's the quality difference in terms of students' experiences? Is the affiliate thing only this year because of the curriculum switch over?
D. How does rotation schedule work? Do you lottery for picking preference and then choose from a few general schedules?
E. What's your life/day/week like in general during your crappy/easy rotations? When do you usually get in/out etc. How much didactics vs. patient care?


A and B. Varies based on block. Most blocks you have no weekend work except for one weekend at most (family medicine, much of surgery, psych, etc). Others you will be on many weekends (internal medicine). If you are on regular call (internal medicine is the only one I know, but that's due to ignorance on my part not the fact that other rotations don't have it), you tend to be on call no more than once every four days. As I mentioned, in other blocks you may only be on call once during a weekend. You don't spend the night on call except for like one weekend in OB. Otherwise your call tends to end at 10PM or whenever you finish before that. For internal medicine, you got weekends off unless you were on call or post call. If you are short call you don't stay late, you just pick up patients. If you are pre-call you don't pick up patients. All of this varies with rotation and also with hospitals (away medicine we picked up patients almost daily M-F but we got out earlier every day because of less true call and had less weekend calls). Post call you leave early or right after rounds, depending on what you are on.
C. You are able to request one specefic location for one of your rotations, except for family medicine. For family medicine everyone gets to pick their location. (St. Luke's rocks btw). After you get your schedule, you can switch up to two of your location sites with another student. So, not counting family med, you could essentially be gaurunteed three months at St. Luke's if you so desired. You can then pick a family med site as well from the wide list of locations. I'm in AZ right now doing mine on a reservation.
D. It is lottery based followed by you choosing one of the present patterns (med first then x then y), but 80% in my year got their top choice and 100% got one of their top 2. This lottery basis does not involve specific locations for a given rotation, that's what the other process of picking a site for a given rotation and switchign up to 2 with a friend is for. Noone is given more than two non-CUMC sites randomly, though you can get more based on the process of switching.
E. I've only done medicine and now I'm on family. I worked an average of about 6 days a week for medicine, 5 weeks at CUMC and 5 weeks at an away site (St. Lukes for me). I got off on average at 4 at CUMC and at 2-3 at St Lukes. I got there at about 8 for both sites. Weekends I would be allowed to leave after rounds and any pressing needs for my patients. I say I averaged 6 days because for 6 of the 10 I was on one weekend day. For 2 of the 10 I was on both days. For 2 of the 10 I was on no weekend days.

For family I work 8 to 4 or 5 M-F. I'm only required to take one weekend day of emergency medicine, but you get a weekday off in exchange. I'm actually working more than one weekend day because I want a really long weekend instead so that I can travel (ie I'm working sat and sun so that the next weekend I'm off Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon) There is no call that does not fall within 8-5. You work one week in patient, two weeks out patient, one week ER, and an elective week here at Whiteriver.

4. Do you know anything about the shuttle between Columbia and Cornell or Columbia and the east side Columbia docs? Can students use it?


I think students can use it, but I don't know 🙁

5. How's the summer research situation for first years? Is funding reasonably accessible to stay at Columbia and work on a project? Is it possible to have a nice, relaxing summer and still do research (I.E. work M-F 9-5 and have weekends and evenings to shadow, enjoy life etc.)?


Everyone gets funding who applies for the NIH/Columbia grant for on campus research. They had more people than ever apply in my year and everyone got it. You really pick your schedule, 40 hours a week is the rule of thumb. They are tremendously chill about it though. I would often just work more hours in fewer days so that I could travel. It is variable depending on the lab's schedule but no one is going to tax you if you don't want to be taxed. Lots of non-columbia based grants available for NYC students as well. Sloane Kettering, New York Academy of Med, etc.

 

[paca1028]

Quick question:

Does anyone know if Columbia accepts AP credit for physics to meet the entrance requirements?

The website is pretty vague about this; they only mention AP credit with bio and chem. I'm still waiting on a reply to my email to admissions. I haven't been able to find the answer anywhere else so I'm hoping one of you might know for sure.

 

[premedstudent89]

My parents just got a letter in the mail inviting them to a prospective student parent event but I'm currently waitlisted. This was sent to my permanent address at home (not my school address where my letter was sent to). Does anyone know if this was sent to all accepted and waitlisted students or what this is at all? Thank you!

 

[Lady Mix a Lot]

Hey all, first post! I'm on the waitlist and considering writing a letter of intent but before I do, I want to know more about Columbia's new curriculum. When are the current M2s (who are the first class with the new curriculum) taking Step 1? I searched the forums and saw one source that said it's 12 months into rotations (in the middle of third year). Do students get time off to study?

How integrated into the curriculum are opportunities to study medical Spanish and public/global health?

 

[UnclePhil]

So I'm wondering what us waitlisters should do re: financial aid. Do we still fill out that need access application and send our fafsa to Columbia or what?

 

[NeuroE]

So I'm wondering what us waitlisters should do re: financial aid. Do we still fill out that need access application and send our fafsa to Columbia or what?

I think so. At another school they told us to turn everything in so that, if we were offered a spot, they could have award info ready to give you in the small time frame you have to make a decision.

 

[BrentSp44]

I think so. At another school they told us to turn everything in so that, if we were offered a spot, they could have award info ready to give you in the small time frame you have to make a decision.

I seem to remember that last year I didn't send my info to Columbia until I was accepted, but I would give the financial aid office a call...212.305.4100.

 

[BrentSp44]

Hey all, first post! I'm on the waitlist and considering writing a letter of intent but before I do, I want to know more about Columbia's new curriculum. When are the current M2s (who are the first class with the new curriculum) taking Step 1? I searched the forums and saw one source that said it's 12 months into rotations (in the middle of third year). Do students get time off to study?

How integrated into the curriculum are opportunities to study medical Spanish and public/global health?

You read correctly...M2s are taking Step 1 after they finish major clinical year (at which point they will be M3s). You do get time off to study. Rotations go from January of 2nd year to December of 3rd year and you take Step 1 in February sometime after that...not 100% sure the exact number of weeks in between.

Medical Spanish classes are offered during 1st semester each year and many students choose to spend the summer after first year abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. Additionally, for public/global health there are many summer options as well as the MPH dual degree program. Our student-run free clinics also give students an opportunity to practice their Spanish and/or physical exam/history taking skills while helping provide health care in Harlem (CHHMP) or the surrounding Dominican community (CoSMO).

Hopefully this answers some of your questions. I apologize if anything I said doesn't make sense. The 1st years have a cardiology exam in the morning and often at this point nothing I say makes any sense.

Good luck to everyone waiting!

 

[mmmcdowe]

So I'm wondering what us waitlisters should do re: financial aid. Do we still fill out that need access application and send our fafsa to Columbia or what?

You should if you are able just to speed things along.