2010-2011 Columbia Application Thread

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kjb19 said:
for those of you with interview invites...did you get any information about student hosts or do you know if there's even a program? my email didn't say anything about it but maybe i'm missing something...
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You should email and ask for it. For whatever reason, they forget to mention it a lot but we do have such a program.
 
AceXIII said:
mmmcdowe, I was hoping you'd have some input on my recommendation situation. From what I read in the previous post, Columbia only accepts 3 LORs? I had a letter packet consisting of 8 letters (a lot I know but I'm a reapp and had to whittle it down from 12!) sent to AMCAS by my undergrad pre-health committee. Since I sent it in this way, I had no way to indicate which 3 were priority.

From the secondary:

"If your letters are being sent by any of these services [i.e. premedical committee/advisor] DO NOT LIST THE NAMES BELOW. Only if you are having individual letters sent, or are an MD/PhD applicant, should you list the names below."

How do you think they'll handle it? I hope it won't put me at a disadvantage :xf:
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I thought you were able to indicate on AMCAS which ones you wanted, but I don't remember truthfully. Just email them and tell them which three that you want read if you feel that three stand out above the rest. Otherwise, they will pick three or skim through them. It won't be a significant advantage or disadvantage
 
Interview invite MD! I am SO excited.
Will I significantly reduce my chances of acceptance if I request an interview for early October? I just got back from NYC...so I can't go there again until at least October...
 
I don't think Columbia is rolling admissions. So it probably makes no difference when yo interview. But anyways, October is still early even for rolling admissions.
 
.What does this mean:

"Please fill out the attached form concerning your lunch selection for the interview day and return it to me."

How are we supposed to "return" it? (mail, in person on interview day, pdf email)

small font, lol
.
 
trackstar33 said:
.What does this mean:

"Please fill out the attached form concerning your lunch selection for the interview day and return it to me."

How are we supposed to "return" it? (mail, in person on interview day, pdf email)
.
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i just emailed my choice back and that seemed fine
 
med8866 said:
Interview invite MD! I am SO excited.
Will I significantly reduce my chances of acceptance if I request an interview for early October? I just got back from NYC...so I can't go there again until at least October...
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When you interview doesn't matter, only when you apply (because that determines the number of interviews left to offer).




Also, email the food form back.
 
kjb19 said:
for those of you with interview invites...did you get any information about student hosts or do you know if there's even a program? my email didn't say anything about it but maybe i'm missing something...
Click to expand...

The student hosting program hasn't quite gotten fully together yet since we just got here a few weeks ago, but the admissions office *does* have a list of first years who are willing to do it, so if you email them they might be able to hook you up.
 
kjb19 said:
for those of you with interview invites...did you get any information about student hosts or do you know if there's even a program? my email didn't say anything about it but maybe i'm missing something...
Click to expand...

You can email the adcom requesting a host and they will forward the message to all the students who volunteered to be hosts. Anyone who is available will then respond back to you.

You may have some difficulty in finding a host if you're interviewing on the 27th though because that's the day of the first anatomy exam. And I'm not 100% sure but I believe that the second years also have an exam around that time. 🙁
 
FrazzleSnazzle said:
You can email the adcom requesting a host and they will forward the message to all the students who volunteered to be hosts. Anyone who is available will then respond back to you.

You may have some difficulty in finding a host if you're interviewing on the 27th though because that's the day of the first anatomy exam. And I'm not 100% sure but I believe that the second years also have an exam around that time. 🙁
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Nah we have our exam on tuesday. It'll happen.
 
what is the interview format and duration this year?

Thank you
 
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trackstar33 said:
what is the interview format and duration this year? I'm scheduled for a 2PM interview and want to know if I can make it to LGA for a 4:40 PM flight.

Thank you
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Dr. Nicholas may be changing the tour schedule but in the past we did tour and lunch before that and you should be done by 3 with your interview. So you could probably make it but I would suggest that you just email/call and request a morning interview. That way you can leave for the airport by 2.
 
did anyone get an email after submitting the application that says that they got all your stuff? I only got the email saying that the application was successfully submitted
 
reallyconfused1 said:
did anyone get an email after submitting the application that says that they got all your stuff? I only got the email saying that the application was successfully submitted
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Yes, but it's extremely slow. I got a complete e-mail about a month after I was complete by my records.
 
Just received an interview invite!!! I am in lab and kind of squealed when I got the email.
Complete 15 July.
 
does columbia consider "in the area emails" ? im interviewing at nyu on oct 8th and it would be great to hear from columbia before then.

thanks guys

Congrats to those with invites!
 
is columbia one of those schools that more or less sends interviews in order of completion or is it more mixed up?
 
MB333999 said:
does columbia consider "in the area emails" ? im interviewing at nyu on oct 8th and it would be great to hear from columbia before then.

thanks guys

Congrats to those with invites!
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Yes.

QuesoAndFromage said:
is columbia one of those schools that more or less sends interviews in order of completion or is it more mixed up?
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Columbia evaluates the first wave in order of completion, but that doesn't mean that if you applied early and don't get one early that you were excluded.
 
Just had our major clinical year conference, very excited to start in January. Something that came up that I think is worth emphasizing again is the fact that Columbia is a true pass/fail system for the pre-clinical years (straight from the Dean's mouth for the doubters out there). There is no ranking system at Columbia during that time. During the clinical years, you are evaluated by your performance on the wards and on the shelf exams that you take.

Not having pre-clinical grades is not about slacking off, it's about having confidence to do the many other things available to you at P&S, be it research, volunteering, relaxing, exploring NYC, or just figuring what you want to do with your life. It also ensures that AOA is based on performances that actually represent your performance as a clinician/future resident.
 
Hey guys,

is anyone having trouble paying the fees using a credit card? I get an error message saying "CVV2 check cannot be performed as no data was supplied in the authorization request"

I double, triple checked my credit card number and everything.. and every time this message pops up. I tried using a different web browser, turned off the PC since last Thursday and it keeps happening...

I called Columbia and they just referred to the company who created the website. So I called this company and the line was busy ALL DAY today...

Thanks guys
 
yale MD said:
Hey guys,

is anyone having trouble paying the fees using a credit card? I get an error message saying "CVV2 check cannot be performed as no data was supplied in the authorization request"

I double, triple checked my credit card number and everything.. and every time this message pops up. I tried using a different web browser, turned off the PC since last Thursday and it keeps happening...

I called Columbia and they just referred to the company who created the website. So I called this company and the line was busy ALL DAY today...

Thanks guys
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Well, CVV2 is the little 3 or 4 digit security code on the back (or sometimes front) of your credit card. If that's the error message you get then that's what I would pay closer attention to. Other than that, I don't know what else to say. Hope that helps.
 
Good first day of interviews, I hope that you all enjoyed your time. Sorry for so few visitors, it was exam day for the first years! Now I just got to get used to this new tour path... 😀
 
This may sound like a redundent question but here goes:
I'm applying MD/PhD and aside from all the silly types in the app (before 2009 etc), I'm trying to figure out letter stuff.
I'm having a letter packet sent from my premed advisory group. In that packet are the letters from my research advisors etc.
When it says I had to specify people who are writing letters on my behalf, I don't have any new people. SHould I just include those that have written letters for the letter packet?
 
so, i was complete august 9th, sent an interview coordination notice thing september 10th, haven't heard back. am i done?
 
mmmcdowe said:
Not giving you a coordinated interview does not mean that you are done, no.
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really? i mean i have done relatively well with other schools so I wouldn't be bummed, but would they seriously have me in limbo like that for so long?

honestly, i dont think id be able to afford two trips up to nyc.. should i try to contact them again?

EDIT: don't get me wrong, i would absolutely LOVE to be given the chance to interview there, but I understand the system is a crapshoot sometimes, and I guess I was just curious for an answer.
 
Dr Gerrard said:
really? i mean i have done relatively well with other schools so I wouldn't be bummed, but would they seriously have me in limbo like that for so long?

honestly, i dont think id be able to afford two trips up to nyc.. should i try to contact them again?

EDIT: don't get me wrong, i would absolutely LOVE to be given the chance to interview there, but I understand the system is a crapshoot sometimes, and I guess I was just curious for an answer.
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There are a number of reasons why you could have not been given an interview besides them having no intention of doing it, the most likely is that they have not finished reviewing and processing you and they are not able to do so yet. The fact of the matter is a lot of kids try to "force the hand" by saying they will be in the area in hopes of getting an interview now rather than waiting a long time to get reviewed. The adcom tries to accommodate, but only to a reasonable level. If you weren't near the top of the review pile (or had not already been processed and were going to be offered an interview later once the earlier offers had all been scheduled or if the days that you cited were already at maximum capacity), they may not have been able to do anything for you.

You can try again, it won't likely hurt you just because this is more administrative than admissions committee business, but unless you think they just didn't get your message I would just accept it as a causality of war 😉. If you just want an answer "did you get my request" then go ahead and call. Just be polite, they understand where you are coming from.
 
CougarMD said:
Have there been any other Bassett invites? If you're afraid to speak up you can feel free to PM me🙂
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There definitely have been. No Bassett days have interviewed yet though, they are usually on Fridays if this year is anything like last.
 
mmmcdowe said:
There definitely have been. No Bassett days have interviewed yet though, they are usually on Fridays if this year is anything like last.
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Thanks mmmcdowe. I am SUPER interested in the Bassett program and sad I've gotten no love...I think I am going to have to move it into the "likely rejected pile"....oh well!
 
For current Columbia students, any general advice regarding the interview?
I know certain schools look for particular assets in applicants...is there anything specifically to watch out for and/ or to emphasize at the interview?

I'd really appreciate your input! 🙂
 
CougarMD said:
Thanks mmmcdowe. I am SUPER interested in the Bassett program and sad I've gotten no love...I think I am going to have to move it into the "likely rejected pile"....oh well!
Click to expand...

It's actually really early in the Bassett process.. I know it seems surprising, since other programs and schools have been interviewing for awhile, but the process is a little different here and takes more time. Several of the current Bassett students got some of the last few Bassett interview dates, actually, so I wouldn't write anything off for awhile. 🙂
 
med8866 said:
For current Columbia students, any general advice regarding the interview?
I know certain schools look for particular assets in applicants...is there anything specifically to watch out for and/ or to emphasize at the interview?

I'd really appreciate your input! 🙂
Click to expand...

I'm sure Columbia has something specific for what kind of class they want but they obviously don't blatantly say it (although they hint at it on their website and the secondary instructions). However, a lot of the student body are talented in the arts (e.g. music, drama, singing). In addition, the school's rugby team is really strong from what I hear. You may also hear that they prefer Ivy league undergrads. Don't let the rumors that they're recruiting these kinds of people worry you. I do not fit any of these descriptions and managed to get in. A couple of general things I've noticed in my class is that the diversity is really unreal. The age ranges from 20 to mid 30's. We got people who were in the military, sang opera, ran marathons, can speak more than 5 languages, etc. For the most part, everybody is hard working and very accomplished. Just try to capitalize on what makes you unique and sell it during your interview.
 
smartalleck2 said:
I'm sure Columbia has something specific for what kind of class they want but they obviously don't blatantly say it (although they hint at it on their website and the secondary instructions). However, a lot of the student body are talented in the arts (e.g. music, drama, singing). In addition, the school's rugby team is really strong from what I hear. You may also hear that they prefer Ivy league undergrads. Don't let the rumors that they're recruiting these kinds of people worry you. I do not fit any of these descriptions and managed to get in. A couple of general things I've noticed in my class is that the diversity is really unreal. The age ranges from 20 to mid 30's. We got people who were in the military, sang opera, ran marathons, can speak more than 5 languages, etc. For the most part, everybody is hard working and very accomplished. Just try to capitalize on what makes you unique and sell it during your interview.
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smartalleck is correct. Columbia is interested in selecting students that are going to love and thrive here, but also they look for students who will make up a group of scholars who have passions and accomplishments outside of medicine proper. Interviews are conversational, so it isn't in your best interest to try to force the conversation in a specific direction. However, you should be prepared to talk about your college experience (Columbia views medical education as something that should still have a "college experience" around it, so they often like to see what you value in a university) and anything outside of normal volunteering and research. I'm not saying that they don't talk about that stuff here, but you will tend to see the conversation drift elsewhere. Dr. Frantz is no longer the Dean here, but when i interviewed with him we talked mostly about medical history, music, and dance. These are three areas that I had explored during college not just random topics so don't sweat it 😉
 
Also, I'd just like to emphasize that you all should relax. We just finished the FIRST WEEK of interviews. Now is not the time to think that your chances are over just because you haven't gotten an interview yet. Even if Columbia likes you, they don't offer all the interviews at once. They put you in a pile and, a few weeks to a month before the approximate interview date they send the invite (if you can't make it they will reschedule you to a later date no problem). I vaguely remember Columbia interviewing well into the Spring semester and I believe interviews were being offered until at least January...
 
Thanks for your comments.

I am interviewing on Monday - just hoping for the best now.
 
marele86 said:
It's actually really early in the Bassett process.. I know it seems surprising, since other programs and schools have been interviewing for awhile, but the process is a little different here and takes more time. Several of the current Bassett students got some of the last few Bassett interview dates, actually, so I wouldn't write anything off for awhile. 🙂
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Awww, thanks marele!! I must have been confused; somehow I thought that Bassett was DONE by December? Not sure where I got that impression. I will try to keep the hope alive!!🙂
 
may we all be this excited when the interview e-mails roll in:

tumblr_l8pjlb7Sp81qdfuiwo1_500.jpg
 
how long does Columbia's interview season last?
 
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