2010-2011 Columbia Application Thread

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does anyone know whens pretty much the last day to hear back from columbia for an interview invite? like end of january? i was complete back in early july, so im hoping for a second shot if i can give them a good update letter.
 
csheng89 said:
does anyone know whens pretty much the last day to hear back from columbia for an interview invite? like end of january? i was complete back in early july, so im hoping for a second shot if i can give them a good update letter.
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has to be more than just good
 
IDreamtIChased said:
:laugh:

4 ivy league interviews vs. 0 ivy league interviews

but I actually have a good "feeling" about Columbia... 🙂 inshallah
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Yea but I would be loll'ing to myself is 4 ivy interviews turns into 4 ivy waitlists or even worse, rejections😛. Regardless, keep the faith. I'm sure we'll all get in somewhere
 
I just got an interview invite! Complete October 5th, for those of you trying to figure out your timelines. So pumped!
 
phltz said:
I just got an interview invite! Complete October 5th, for those of you trying to figure out your timelines. So pumped!
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Was complete on 10/6, so hoping for some good news 🙂 Can you post your stats? No problem if you don't want to
 
Prateek said:
Was complete on 10/6, so hoping for some good news 🙂 Can you post your stats? No problem if you don't want to
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I'm a bit of an oddball applicant, so I dunno how much good it'll do you. I had a ~3.0 when I graduated from a good school in 2001 with a degree in physics, and a 4.0 in a postbac last year for a 3.23 overall average. 42R MCAT. I'm light on clinical experience, but spent several years doing biocomputation research, spent ~2.5 years in the Peace Corps, am currently working in a research lab on an antibiotic development program, am doing some consulting work on the side for a pharma company and also teaching the PS section of the in-house MCAT prep class at my postbacc school. So I have a lot going for me, but my overall GPA is still extraordinarily low for a school like Columbia. Fortunately it looks like they were willing to overlook that.

Maybe you'll hear soon. Good luck!
 
Just a general question- about how long after being complete at a school and not hearing anything back would it be appropriate to send a letter of update/interest in hopes of receiving an invite? Thanks!
 
SS01 said:
Just a general question- about how long after being complete at a school and not hearing anything back would it be appropriate to send a letter of update/interest in hopes of receiving an invite? Thanks!
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In the same line of thought - if not too much is new, is writing a letter of interest (as opposed to an update letter) worth anything?
 
phltz said:
I'm a bit of an oddball applicant, so I dunno how much good it'll do you. I had a ~3.0 when I graduated from a good school in 2001 with a degree in physics, and a 4.0 in a postbac last year for a 3.23 overall average. 42R MCAT.
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WOW WOW WOW 42R congrats!!

SS01 said:
Just a general question- about how long after being complete at a school and not hearing anything back would it be appropriate to send a letter of update/interest in hopes of receiving an invite? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Idk 2 months? Update only if you have something to update them with. Interest letters are always nice to get, especially at Columbia, which is always so warm and fuzzy.
 
GoWiththeFlo said:
4 Ivy Interviews, WOW! You are really the mon.
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It's not like my numbers are crazy or anything. I do have some pretty sweet EC's and and interesting life story and background so I guess that helps.

Still waiting on Columbia also. I've been complete since 10/27 so slightly over a month.
 
well if it means anything to you...it's bloody freezing here in NY now until April.
 
ColeOnTheRoll said:
I can't decide if I'm actually going to go to this interview. Originally I was super excited (I've never been to NYC), but I'm really poor and just don't feel like traveling.

Arggggg.
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NYC is a pretty polarizing city - many people seem to have strong opinions about it, either loving it or hating it. Columbia is a high-ranked school which offers nearly every opportunity a medical school can offer.

I think this combination really has the potential to shake up your list. Let's say you find that you really like NYC and have an interview day experience at Columbia where all the "intangible" interview day vibes match Columbia's "paper" reputation. That would be enough to create a situation where Columbia vs. any other school in the country may be a tough decision to make.

If it's not a true financial hardship (as in you'd have to make unacceptable sacrifices to go, not as in "money's a bit tight after all these interviews") to go to this interview, do it for sure, and try to leave a little extra time to see some of the city and get a better feel for the place.
 
ColeOnTheRoll said:
I can't decide if I'm actually going to go to this interview. Originally I was super excited (I've never been to NYC), but I'm really poor and just don't feel like traveling.

Arggggg.
Click to expand...

as someone who thinks NYC is the best place on earth, go!

people love it for a reason, you should go see it for yourself.
 
Prateek said:
Was complete on 10/6, so hoping for some good news 🙂 Can you post your stats? No problem if you don't want to
Click to expand...

I received my interview invite last week, though my stats might be a little more relevant to you than the poster you were addressing (who, btw, seems to have a baller app. Undergrad in physics...awesome)

3.7/38
Average ECs, from a relatively unknown state school. Little bit of research, little bit of volunteering, above average amount of time standing in the OR playing DJ. Completed Sept30.

Hope it helps, and best of luck.
 
ColeOnTheRoll said:
I can't decide if I'm actually going to go to this interview. Originally I was super excited (I've never been to NYC), but I'm really poor and just don't feel like traveling.

Arggggg.
Click to expand...

I know how you feel, Cole. I'm excited about the invite, and interviewing there would mean I get to be in NYC for my friend's birthday....but it sure ain't cheap to get out there and I'm so, so tired of flying (after counting I realized I've been on 15 flights this year...interviews, study abroad, summer traveling).

I think I'll just suck it up and go....the interview day tends to be a pretty big factor in my opinion about a school.
 
rhesuspieces said:
I know how you feel, Cole. I'm excited about the invite, and interviewing there would mean I get to be in NYC for my friend's birthday....but it sure ain't cheap to get out there and I'm so, so tired of flying (after counting I realized I've been on 15 flights this year...interviews, study abroad, summer traveling).

I think I'll just suck it up and go....the interview day tends to be a pretty big factor in my opinion about a school.
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For those of you deciding whether or not to attend the interview, I know flying around the country can get tiring. I did it a lot last year and it gets old, and NYC is not the easiest city to fly into since the airports are basically in the middle of nowhere.

However, if you are interested at all in Columbia you should come. I came to this interview excited because the school is highly ranked, blah, blah, blah, but when I left I was determined that I was going to come here. And a year later, almost exactly at this point, I'm here and it is the BEST PLACE ON EARTH! I'm not even joking...I have never been happier in my life.

Every med school is going to give you a good education, some perhaps a little better than others, but basically you're going to get a lot of the same wherever you go. Every school has a curriculum that takes four years, every school has pre-clinical years and major clinical year, every school has good professors and bad professors, etc. These are things med schools have in common. The differences come in what the school has to offer in other aspects such as what kind of students go there, LOCATION (are you going to be able to enjoy your life outside of school?), what the social atmosphere is like, what kinds of opportunities do students have to pursue their personal interests outside of school and in the clinical setting, etc.

At the end of my interview day, I knew Columbia was perfect for me. I immediately got along with the students I met, NYC (duh!...amazing!), the student body seemed to be extremely close-knit, there are a TON of opportunities to pursue extracurricular interests (music for me), and also the students continually talked about the MANY opportunities for exposure to different specialities, opportunities for research (only if you decide you want to do it), and the cool clinical experiences that they started having from day 1. All of these things told me that this was the school for me. Had I not come to the interview, I would have never known how different this school is. This year has proved to be a million times better than I ever expected. So anyway, this is my monologue on why you should come to your interview. You may love it, and you may not. Either way, it's worth the trip.
 
BrentSp44 said:
For those of you deciding whether or not to attend the interview, I know flying around the country can get tiring. I did it a lot last year and it gets old, and NYC is not the easiest city to fly into since the airports are basically in the middle of nowhere.

However, if you are interested at all in Columbia you should come. I came to this interview excited because the school is highly ranked, blah, blah, blah, but when I left I was determined that I was going to come here. And a year later, almost exactly at this point, I'm here and it is the BEST PLACE ON EARTH! I'm not even joking...I have never been happier in my life.

Every med school is going to give you a good education, some perhaps a little better than others, but basically you're going to get a lot of the same wherever you go. Every school has a curriculum that takes four years, every school has pre-clinical years and major clinical year, every school has good professors and bad professors, etc. These are things med schools have in common. The differences come in what the school has to offer in other aspects such as what kind of students go there, LOCATION (are you going to be able to enjoy your life outside of school?), what the social atmosphere is like, what kinds of opportunities do students have to pursue their personal interests outside of school and in the clinical setting, etc.

At the end of my interview day, I knew Columbia was perfect for me. I immediately got along with the students I met, NYC (duh!...amazing!), the student body seemed to be extremely close-knit, there are a TON of opportunities to pursue extracurricular interests (music for me), and also the students continually talked about the MANY opportunities for exposure to different specialities, opportunities for research (only if you decide you want to do it), and the cool clinical experiences that they started having from day 1. All of these things told me that this was the school for me. Had I not come to the interview, I would have never known how different this school is. This year has proved to be a million times better than I ever expected. So anyway, this is my monologue on why you should come to your interview. You may love it, and you may not. Either way, it's worth the trip.
Click to expand...

Brent, I have kind of an off-the-wall question. I just realized today that my excel spreadsheet had Columbia checked off as the secondary being submitted/fees paid, but in reality it was for a school that I ended up crossing off my list. Long story short, I went to check my status on the Columbia P&S website and realized that my secondary wasn't submitted AND that the deadline was November 15th. Do you think there is ANY possible way that the Admissions office would let me submit tomorrow? Who should I speak to?

I really appreciate it; Columbia was certainly one of my top 3 choices when I began the process. I also feel slightly dumb, haha.
 
nerdtastic said:
as someone who thinks NYC is the best place on earth, go!

people love it for a reason, you should go see it for yourself.
Click to expand...

The best and only way to choose the next for years of your life.

Beta Cell said:
Brent, I have kind of an off-the-wall question. I just realized today that my excel spreadsheet had Columbia checked off as the secondary being submitted/fees paid, but in reality it was for a school that I ended up crossing off my list. Long story short, I went to check my status on the Columbia P&S website and realized that my secondary wasn't submitted AND that the deadline was November 15th. Do you think there is ANY possible way that the Admissions office would let me submit tomorrow? Who should I speak to?

I really appreciate it; Columbia was certainly one of my top 3 choices when I began the process. I also feel slightly dumb, haha.
Click to expand...


Wow full circle, I remember you from like 2 years ago. Anywho, you should definitely call and talk the the admissions office. They will get you to the right people.

Also, just to add onto what Brent said, Columbia wasn't even one of my top choices before I interviewed. I only applied because I had a LOR from a former faculty member. Best coincidence of my life. I have also never been happier.
 
mmmcdowe said:
The best and only way to choose the next for years of your life.




Wow full circle, I remember you from like 2 years ago. Anywho, you should definitely call and talk the the admissions office. They will get you to the right people.

Also, just to add onto what Brent said, Columbia wasn't even one of my top choices before I interviewed. I only applied because I had a LOR from a former faculty member. Best coincidence of my life. I have also never been happier.
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Honestly, the two things that turn me off of Columbia are (1) the area that it's located in and (2) the cost of housing. Do you think you could weigh in on these things?
 
rhesuspieces said:
Honestly, the two things that turn me off of Columbia are (1) the area that it's located in and (2) the cost of housing. Do you think you could weigh in on these things?
Click to expand...

The cost of the housing is definitely higher in Manhattan than in most parts of the country. I pay $821 for my apartment room, which was the cost of my 2 bedroom apartment in Arizona. Ultimately though, the cost of living at Columbia is still reasonable relative to most of Manhattan. A few people do live in New Jersey, as there is a bus available that takes you right north of the school. As far as the location, nothing is stopping you from living or spending your time elsewhere. Most of the 1st years are downtown in the west village or midtown celebrating their exam end, for example. The great thing about P&S's location is, while it is more residential than most of Manhattan, it is on the express A and on the 1. You can be in Times square in about 20 and on the east side in 40. Lots of people live in the west side, and a few people even live in the east side. I personally love the location, but then again I studied latin dance in undergrad 😉
 
Complete 9/22, interview invite 12/1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really excited about this one, I was in NYC over the summer and walked around the campus and the hospital area and loved it
 
LivingTD said:
Complete 9/22, interview invite 12/1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really excited about this one, I was in NYC over the summer and walked around the campus and the hospital area and loved it
Click to expand...

Congrats! Let us know how it goes.
 
hey guys! i'm interviewing this week, and scanned through the thread but didn't see too much about the actual interview day.

is it an intense interview? or more conversational/relaxed?

any advice or comments on the interview day would be more than appreciated! i'm terribly excited to see this school- after passing by it every day for seven years, i want to see the inside!
 
yeah- its a long cab ride, i recommend the subway unless you dont mind paying a lot more!
 
Interviews are for the most part relaxed and non-stress similar to most other medical schools. The interview day structure may seem less organized than other places, but that is not reflective of the school as a whole. They're not to out to grill you but rather to know you more in depth. In terms of transportation... airport wise Newark and LaGuardia are the most feasible.

Newark airport has an amtrak to penn station for 10 bucks.
Penn Station is very accessible to Columbia via subway by either taking the 1 directly to 168th st from 34th-Penn station (slow b/c it's local). Instead go from Penn station subway stop to 42nd street via the 1, switch to the A and go to 168th st.

LGA - Take the M60 bus, get off at 125th and st. nicholas ave and get the A train to 168th st.

JFK - Take the airtrain to jamaica center subway station. Take the E which takes you across queens into manhattan, get off at 42nd street, take the A to 168th st.

If you must use cabs, look for yellow ones but consider the subway as it is cheaper but takes much longer (especially JFK).
 
Basically this is how the day goes:

Show up in the morning if you have an interview (only one). If not, show up around 11.
11:30: Chat with the Dean (or adcom member if he is not available)
12:00-1:00: Lunch with two students on the top of Bard Hall (A dorm for health science students). See a Bard Hall room.
1:00-2:00: Tour of the medical center.
2:00: Either head out if you had your interview in the morning (or explore on your own) or wait for your interview.
 
mmmcdowe said:
Basically this is how the day goes:

Show up in the morning if you have an interview (only one). If not, show up around 11.
11:30: Chat with the Dean (or adcom member if he is not available)
12:00-1:00: Lunch with two students on the top of Bard Hall (A dorm for health science students). See a Bard Hall room.
1:00-2:00: Tour of the medical center.
2:00: Either head out if you had your interview in the morning (or explore on your own) or wait for your interview.
Click to expand...

What time do you suggest I show up for an 11 AM interview? Also...only 30 min for the interview? Seems short!
 
smartalleck2 said:
Interviews are for the most part relaxed and non-stress similar to most other medical schools. The interview day structure may seem less organized than other places, but that is not reflective of the school as a whole. They're not to out to grill you but rather to know you more in depth. In terms of transportation... airport wise Newark and LaGuardia are the most feasible.

Newark airport has an amtrak to penn station for 10 bucks.
Penn Station is very accessible to Columbia via subway by either taking the 1 directly to 168th st from 34th-Penn station (slow b/c it's local). Instead go from Penn station subway stop to 42nd street via the 1, switch to the A and go to 168th st.

LGA - Take the M60 bus, get off at 125th and st. nicholas ave and get the A train to 168th st.

JFK - Take the airtrain to jamaica center subway station. Take the E which takes you across queens into manhattan, get off at 42nd street, take the A to 168th st.

If you must use cabs, look for yellow ones but consider the subway as it is cheaper but takes much longer (especially JFK).
Click to expand...

Really? I thought it would be at least $25 even if you book ahead of time. Amtrak is usually way more expensive than NJ Transit (unless there is a special deal that I'm not aware of...). NJ Transit from Newark Airport to NY Penn Station is around $13.
 
bookfreak89 said:
Really? I thought it would be at least $25 even if you book ahead of time. Amtrak is usually way more expensive than NJ Transit (unless there is a special deal that I'm not aware of...). NJ Transit from Newark Airport to NY Penn Station is around $13.
Click to expand...

sorry i apologize for that... it is nj transit
 
Complete since 10/27 and got nothing yet. Come on Columbia.
 
has anyone heard back mstp? Ive been complete since late september and havent heard anything
 
how effective are in the area emails for columbia? i have an interview in ny and am thinking about sending one w/a brief update on my work. thoughts?
 
Invite today for the Columbia-Bassett Program!! Interviews (Bassett on Thursday and Columbia on Friday) in January; I am sooo excited!!! 🙂

Anyone have a Columbia-Bassett Track interview yet?
 
megrs said:
Invite today for the Columbia-Bassett Program!! Interviews (Bassett on Thursday and Columbia on Friday) in January; I am sooo excited!!! 🙂

Anyone have a Columbia-Bassett Track interview yet?
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Congrats. When were you complete? I applied to Columbia & Columbia Bassett and Im hoping for an interview from one.
 
megrs said:
Invite today for the Columbia-Bassett Program!! Interviews (Bassett on Thursday and Columbia on Friday) in January; I am sooo excited!!! 🙂

Anyone have a Columbia-Bassett Track interview yet?
Click to expand...

yeah... congrats!! I applied to the columbia bassett too - sounded like an amazing program.
 
edozie007 said:
Congrats. When were you complete? I applied to Columbia & Columbia Bassett and Im hoping for an interview from one.
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Thanks! Complete e-mail received 10/26. Good luck, I hope you get an interview too because so far I'm the only one confirmed for that day. Interviewing alone would be weird... 🙂

IDreamtIChased said:
yeah... congrats!! I applied to the columbia bassett too - sounded like an amazing program.
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Thanks! And I hope you get an interview too, I wouldn't want to freeze up there alone! 🙂
 
MDApplicant3 said:
has anyone heard back mstp? Ive been complete since late september and havent heard anything
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Hello,

I interviewed w/ the MSTP on November 5th. That was the first interview weekend, and the administrators told me I should hear about a decision in mid-February. I don't quite recall whether there are other decision notifications after February or not.

When I go to my apartment, I will double check my notes to see if I have any other information to share with you.

I hope the interview season is going well for you. Good luck to you!
 
ddalgi said:
how effective are in the area emails for columbia? i have an interview in ny and am thinking about sending one w/a brief update on my work. thoughts?
Click to expand...

From talking with several friends who've tried some variant on an In the Area email, it only seems to work if you're coming from clear 'round the world, like China. Even London doesn't seem to be enough.
 
If you are going to be in the area and it is convenient there is no HARM in sending an in the area interview. If they can accommodate you, they will do so. However, not getting an in the area interview does not mean that you won't get one period. This point of the season is very crowded for the admissions office, so it can be hard to add more students to a given day.
 
mmmcdowe said:
If you are going to be in the area and it is convenient there is no HARM in sending an in the area interview. If they can accommodate you, they will do so. However, not getting an in the area interview does not mean that you won't get one period. This point of the season is very crowded for the admissions office, so it can be hard to add more students to a given day.
Click to expand...

I sent an email to them about 9 days ago informing them that I'll be there in early January to interview at 3 other schools in NYC. I received an automatically generated reply, but nothing else.

Would you suggest following up with them at some point through another email or phone call? Perhaps in another week?

I am coming from California and it may be difficult for me to make another trip out to NYC if they offer me an interview later, so I was really hoping to take care of all of my NYC interviews in one trip if possible.

Thank you!
 
surfingphd said:
I sent an email to them about 9 days ago informing them that I'll be there in early January to interview at 3 other schools in NYC. I received an automatically generated reply, but nothing else.

Would you suggest following up with them at some point through another email or phone call? Perhaps in another week?

I am coming from California and it may be difficult for me to make another trip out to NYC if they offer me an interview later, so I was really hoping to take care of all of my NYC interviews in one trip if possible.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Give them a call to confirm they got the letter.
 
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