2011-2012 Columbia Application Thread

[sharona1121]

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Is there a word/character limit on question 2? If not, what is a good word limit to adhere to?

Thanks!

 

[SCL]

Doesn't it say 760char for the "why columbia" question?

 

[PnSLove]

Official word from Admissions:
"You do not need to receive the invite email before filling out the secondary applications. Everyone who applies through AMCAS is invited to fill out the secondary, it just takes a few days to get the invite email sent out since it is not automated. "

BTW, I'm working with admissions this summer so let me know if you have any other questions. mmm is a great resource as well and his answers are spot-on with office information.

PS The office knows that there's repetition with the AMCAS... they're in the process of revamping the secondaries and didn't quite adjust it in time this year. don't worry if you feel like you're repeating yourself or take the opportunity to explain a few more activities you love.

 

[EliteBeat9]

Official word from Admissions:
"You do not need to receive the invite email before filling out the secondary applications. Everyone who applies through AMCAS is invited to fill out the secondary, it just takes a few days to get the invite email sent out since it is not automated. "

BTW, I'm working with admissions this summer so let me know if you have any other questions. mmm is a great resource as well and his answers are spot-on with office information.

PS The office knows that there's repetition with the AMCAS... they're in the process of revamping the secondaries and didn't quite adjust it in time this year. don't worry if you feel like you're repeating yourself or take the opportunity to explain a few more activities you love.

Thank you for this and helping us out this season! Quick question - what would you suggest for the activites box then? Since all of us have realized its impossible to fit everything into 760 chars.

I was thinking of listing my 3 significant activities (ala AMCAS), a quick 1-2 sentence description, then filling in activities in order of importance to me until I run out of space. Is that acceptable?

 

[bunker]

MD/PhD Applicant here.

Can anyone shed some light on whether this question refers to a premedical advisor or a research advisor?

Name of your advisor (ONLY IF THEY ARE SENDING A LETTER ON YOUR BEHALF)

Thanks!

 

[PnSLove]

Thank you for this and helping us out this season! Quick question - what would you suggest for the activites box then? Since all of us have realized its impossible to fit everything into 760 chars.

I was thinking of listing my 3 significant activities (ala AMCAS), a quick 1-2 sentence description, then filling in activities in order of importance to me until I run out of space. Is that acceptable?

Just talk about the 3 you want to talk about (same or different from AMCAS) and give a shorter description than on AMCAS. You don't need to list the rest of your activities.

 

[PnSLove]

MD/PhD Applicant here.

Can anyone shed some light on whether this question refers to a premedical advisor or a research advisor?

Name of your advisor (ONLY IF THEY ARE SENDING A LETTER ON YOUR BEHALF)

Thanks!

The consensus around here is that this applies to the pre-med advisor if they submit a letter on your behalf. The research advisor would fall under a professor/mentor letter like the rest.

 

[ClarkJosephKent]

after completing my secondary, i checked it over by viewing the pdf file and noticed that my "Date of Birth" is not there. i went back through the application and i cannot find where i'm supposed to include this info for life of me! did anyone else have this problem? does anyone know where on the application we put this info?

thanks

 

[Nymphicus]

after completing my secondary, i checked it over by viewing the pdf file and noticed that my "Date of Birth" is not there. i went back through the application and i cannot find where i'm supposed to include this info for life of me! did anyone else have this problem? does anyone know where on the application we put this info?

thanks

Same, checked through the application 4 times and couldn't find it, and then submitted anyways. I figure they can find it on the AMCAS primary.

 

[MelMelisqueen]

same, checked through the application 4 times and couldn't find it, and then submitted anyways. I figure they can find it on the amcas primary.

+1

 

[soundnin]

if we're years removed from college, do you guys think it's ok to list activities that aren't technically "collegiate extracurricular activities" for the first essay? or should i interpret this literally... silly question but i didn't do much during college other than research...

 

[thestrokes14]

If I applied to Columbia last year (but withdrew before my application was complete, therefore they probably never saw it), should I still answer yes to having previously applied?

I know general procedure is yes, but I noticed some schools actually say the reverse is true.

 

[tbi]

What kind of additional information documents are you uploading (if any) to your secondary application?

Is it cool to submit the secondary prior to getting an invitation to complete it?

 

[LJ1000F]

Could someone just confirm for me what they are expecting from the 1st prompt. Is it:

A) List all your collegiate ecs, basically the work and activities from the primary and then expand on 3 of them, or
B) List only the 3 you will be expanding on and describe them in more detail.

Thanks for the help

 

[zqx]

I am previewing the PDF of my application before submitting, and it appears that Essay #2 still does not show up. I assume I am okay to go ahead and submit? Was anyone who submitted recently able to see his/her essay in the print-out?

Could someone just confirm for me what they are expecting from the 1st prompt. Is it:

A) List all your collegiate ecs, basically the work and activities from the primary and then expand on 3 of them, or
B) List only the 3 you will be expanding on and describe them in more detail.

Thanks for the help

I think most people are just listing the 3 and expanding on them. Otherwise, it would be impossible to fit everything in the 750 characters allotted..

 

[candav]

Just wondering, is there any way to check your application status at Columbia after submitting your secondary? Or do we just wait for a "complete" email?

 

[rxnfiend]

Just wondering, is there any way to check your application status at Columbia after submitting your secondary? Or do we just wait for a "complete" email?

I have checked everywhere and I don't think so. Probably we will get a complete email sometime in early August.

 

[Cooperd0g]

if we're years removed from college, do you guys think it's ok to list activities that aren't technically "collegiate extracurricular activities" for the first essay? or should i interpret this literally... silly question but i didn't do much during college other than research...

I am 13 years out of college. I called and asked admissions. They said to list any three activities that we felt would be worth sharing, either during college or more recent.

 

[soundnin]

I am 13 years out of college. I called and asked admissions. They said to list any three activities that we felt would be worth sharing, either during college or more recent.

thanks 🙂. that's what i thought!

 

[Neurosomething]

For such a great, big-name med school, this is a really problematic secondary. But I guess since they're such a great, big-name med school, they know we'll suck it up and apply anyway.

A few people asked this already but I haven't seen it answered, so just reposting: What, if anything, are people writing for the upload-a-document-to-say-whatever-else-you-want essay?

And by the way, mmmcdowe, you're amazing!

 

[rihdus]

Hey, this might be a stupid question but for we don't have to do the third essay question if we aren't applying to the Bassett program right?

Also, should i submit something extra with the "upload document" option? I wouldn't really know what to write.

Oh, should i aim for three activities? Would it be looked down upon to talk about just one or two?

 

[zqx]

Hey, this might be a stupid question but for we don't have to do the third essay question if we aren't applying to the Bassett program right?

Yes, leave it blank unless you're applying to the Bassett program.

Also, should i submit something extra with the "upload document" option? I wouldn't really know what to write.

I didn't write anything. I assume since it is optional, only upload something if you have something meaningful to add and not just for the sake of having something.

 

[mmmcdowe]

For such a great, big-name med school, this is a really problematic secondary. But I guess since they're such a great, big-name med school, they know we'll suck it up and apply anyway.

A few people asked this already but I haven't seen it answered, so just reposting: What, if anything, are people writing for the upload-a-document-to-say-whatever-else-you-want essay?

And by the way, mmmcdowe, you're amazing!

Hopefully Columbia will start making their own secondary format soon, because frankly this service has been slacking in recent years it seems.

The optional essay is not a dirty trick. It is mainly meant for people who have certain special circumstances that they want to explain, rather than just a place to sell yourself, as zqx corretly assumed.

 

[Neurosomething]

Hopefully Columbia will start making their own secondary format soon, because frankly this service has been slacking in recent years it seems.

The optional essay is not a dirty trick. It is mainly meant for people who have certain special circumstances that they want to explain, rather than just a place to sell yourself, as zqx corretly assumed.

Makes sense, thanks!

 

[mdphdapplicant]

I am previewing the PDF of my application before submitting, and it appears that Essay #2 still does not show up. I assume I am okay to go ahead and submit? Was anyone who submitted recently able to see his/her essay in the print-out?

I also am not able to view this. Has anyone had this show up on their secondary?

 

[candav]

I also am not able to view this. Has anyone had this show up on their secondary?

Mine is definitely there on the PDF, but it's in small type at the very bottom of the page.

 

[BlockM]

Just got the "Application Complete" email! I'm so nervous right now

 

[rxnfiend]

Just got the "Application Complete" email! I'm so nervous right now

Same!

 

[Pennilane]

just got the "application complete" email! I'm so nervous right now

+1

 

[BlockM]

do you think there's any advantage to be complete this early? i guess it shows interest right?

 

[backsideatk]

Has anyone here also not been given a secondary invite email yet? If it matters I'm an MD/PhD application (verified late June)

 

[sharmi]

Got the complete email today.

 

[mmmcdowe]

do you think there's any advantage to be complete this early? i guess it shows interest right?

I don't think interest really is factored in, it just maximizes your chances of getting an interview.

 

[SoulNote]

I submitted the secondary before it was released but still haven't received the complete email. Anyone else in the same situation?

 

[ywlke]

I submitted the secondary before it was released but still haven't received the complete email. Anyone else in the same situation?

Yes, but I did get an e-mail today saying that they were ready to review my file but my letters hadn't been received yet (my pre-med office hasn't sent them out yet).

 

[SoulNote]

Yes, but I did get an e-mail today saying that they were ready to review my file but my letters hadn't been received yet (my pre-med office hasn't sent them out yet).

My letters were uploaded a long time ago... I haven't received any emails 🙁

 

[joy14]

would it be pointless to apply here with a 29 mcat?

 

[gt3rs]

Really noob question but on secondary essay, ".What aspects of P and S are most interesting to you?" - is it just asking why columbia?..
.

 

[zqx]

Really noob question but on secondary essay, ".What aspects of P and S are most interesting to you?" - is it just asking why columbia?..
.

Yes, pretty much.

 

[gt3rs]

Yes, pretty much.

Thank you!! I was afraid to ask this because some people on this forum just need an excuse to flame.

 

[the humming sea]

I submitted the secondary before it was released but still haven't received the complete email. Anyone else in the same situation?

I submitted before it was released on June 24th (and mailed my picture by snail mail the same day) and got the "complete" July 18th.

 

[rxnfiend]

Does anyone know when we should start hearing from them about interviews? Hoping they start in August!

 

[RogueUnicorn]

would it be pointless to apply here with a 29 mcat?

only one way to find out

Does anyone know when we should start hearing from them about interviews? Hoping they start in August!

i think if there's one thing i learned last year about applying in general, and specifically columbia, is that you must be patient. for what it's worth, i interviewed here last year in october and the dean called that 'very early' - FYI, from last year's thread

Just got word that the interview season will begin on Monday, September 27th.

 

[Jimmer]

I submitted my secondary on July 1st and just received a "complete" status email today.

 

[joy14]

only one way to find out

thanks for the reply 🙂

 

[Topo]

For the P and S question, are they asking what aspects of being a physician/surgeon we find interesting? Because if it's about the school itself, isn't that the same as question 3?

*Edit: Never mind, realized my mistake.

 

[deleted392924]

Question - Are you guys just emailing an actual photo file to them? Or the photo document itself with your picture on it? And do we need our First Name/Last Name/SSN on the file we send them or just filled out in the secondary?

 

[zqx]

Question - Are you guys just emailing an actual photo file to them? Or the photo document itself with your picture on it? And do we need our First Name/Last Name/SSN on the file we send them or just filled out in the secondary?

I emailed them the actual photo file along with a PDF document with the photo and the first name/last name/ssn information right below it. They haven't asked me for to resend it in a different way, so I assume what I sent was fine.

 

[MayoorBust]

First Name/Last Name/SSN

You couldnt pay me to send this information via email .

 

[ywlke]

First Name/Last Name/SSN

You couldnt pay me to send this information via email .

Agreed. Well, first and last name are okay for me 😉

I just sent my AMCAS ID with a JPEG file...as far as I can tell that's good enough of a unique identifier when combined with your name.