2011-2012 Columbia Application Thread

[Emilyyyy]

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I know from reading the last 8 pages that the EC question has been removed...but it still is on the application for me. Not just the pdf, but the actual application itself. Should I just submit without answering it?

 

[capn jazz]

wahhhhh, my complete email was a mistake. as expected, my committee letter isn't even into amcas yet. >_<

 

[mmmcdowe]

I know from reading the last 8 pages that the EC question has been removed...but it still is on the application for me. Not just the pdf, but the actual application itself. Should I just submit without answering it?

Yes, submit without answering it. If you want to answer it, you aren't going to be punished. If you don't answer it, you will save yourself 5 minutes and not be punished either.

 

[MilkIsGood]

wahhhhh, my complete email was a mistake. as expected, my committee letter isn't even into amcas yet. >_<

you called and asked?

 

[killrforehand]

you called and asked?

I just called Columbia admissions and they said that question was supposed to be deleted and they are baffled as to why it re-appeared. So they told me to ignore it.

 

[xadmin]

Wouldn't your background already be expressed in your personal statement/activities/recommendations? I don't see how emailing admissions would add anything. In any case, Columbia seems pretty friendly towards non trads so I'm sure they will consider your application in the appropriate context.

Really? Columbia is friendly to nontraditional?

 

[percy]

Really? Columbia is friendly to nontraditional?

They practically have a nontrad fetish.

 

[centraldogma]

They practically have a nontrad fetish.

don't know why but I couldn't help but laugh

 

[ialwayslose]

Are we only allowed to send in the LORs that we listed on our supplemental application or can we send in more? If more, is there a limit?

 

[Slev]

Are we only allowed to send in the LORs that we listed on our supplemental application or can we send in more? If more, is there a limit?

When I called and talked to the admissions office they said they accept more than the 3 required letters but did not give me a maximum. I sent 5 letters

 

[xadmin]

Guys, I am a bit paranoid, but on the MD/PHD tab, we can leave the whole page blank if we are not applying MD/PHD?

 

[ialwayslose]

Guys, I am a bit paranoid, but on the MD/PHD tab, we can leave the whole page blank if we are not applying MD/PHD?

called and asked, they told me yes.

 

[raltima07]

This is sparta

 

[MelMelisqueen]

One does not simply walk into Columbia.

 

[raltima07]

One does not simply walk into Columbia.

Ain't that the truth

 

[DrRower]

One does not simply walk into Columbia.

I'd fly in on a broomstick if that's what it takes.

 

[NR3A]

To MD/PhD applicants:

Are we required to send in three letters of recommendation in addition to the committee letter? I checked "Yes" for that box asking if we have requested a letter from our committee, but it gives me an error message asking me to put names of recommenders in the boxes when I try to save. I don't see anywhere if it says you are required to submit three extra letters, but I just wanted to see because I'll have to get another person to upload a letter to AMCAS ASAP if we do.

 

[MWB]

To MD/PhD applicants:

Are we required to send in three letters of recommendation in addition to the committee letter? I checked "Yes" for that box asking if we have requested a letter from our committee, but it gives me an error message asking me to put names of recommenders in the boxes when I try to save. I don't see anywhere if it says you are required to submit three extra letters, but I just wanted to see because I'll have to get another person to upload a letter to AMCAS ASAP if we do.

Not an MD/PhD applicant, but I think I saw something about that in the Application Instruction Booklet. There's a link somewhere there.

 

[killrforehand]

I submitted my secondary 8/4 and just got the complete e-mail today!

 

[luckyducky87]

Hah wow. I submitted Aug 9 and was wondering when this complete email was gonna show up... 🙂

 

[startoverat40]

probably way overreaching, but my dream school, so I just submitted. if they like nontrads then maybe they'll give me a chance

 

[intj]

I submitted 8/14 and still haven't received my complete email... guess I don't need to be worried yet.

 

[citrusguy2010]

submitted august 4th and got the complete email yesterday 8/24

 

[Metallica1936]

Hi everybody! This may be a dumb question, but what is the difference between Columbia P & S and the Columbia Basset Program? I am confused, and any clarity on the issue would be most appreciated.

 

[Slev]

Did anyone else get an e-mail this morning that said:

If you have not started to fill out our secondary application, you can access the
secondary application at:

(secondary link here)

If you have already begun to fill out the secondary application, please disregard this e-mail. Thank you for your interest in P&S.

I was a little confused since I submitted my secondary a few weeks ago. If not many people received it, I might call just to make sure my secondary actually was received.

 

[nuitsansetoiles]

Did anyone else get an e-mail this morning that said:

If you have not started to fill out our secondary application, you can access the
secondary application at:

(secondary link here)

If you have already begun to fill out the secondary application, please disregard this e-mail. Thank you for your interest in P&S.

I was a little confused since I submitted my secondary a few weeks ago. If not many people received it, I might call just to make sure my secondary actually was received.

I received it too. Maybe it was just a glitch in their system?

 

[Emilyyyy]

I got it, too. I think (for me, at least) its because I haven't been marked as complete yet so maybe they sent it to everyone who isn't marked complete?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Hi everybody! This may be a dumb question, but what is the difference between Columbia P & S and the Columbia Basset Program? I am confused, and any clarity on the issue would be most appreciated.

The Bassett program is a rural/primary care track within P&S. You spend your preclinical years in NYC with the rest of your classmates and your clinical year at Cooperstown. I believe there is a scholarship component as well

 

[Metallica1936]

The Bassett program is a rural/primary care track within P&S. You spend your preclinical years in NYC with the rest of your classmates and your clinical year at Cooperstown. I believe there is a scholarship component as well

Thanks! Also, I was wondering if you had any general advice for what to put in the optional extra document we can include in the secondary? Did you do this? Do you know people who got accepted that did NOT do it? Your input is greatly appreciated!

 

[pherms]

I included a pdf of unofficial transcripts from my Master's degree. Official transcripts were not available (international school)

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Thanks! Also, I was wondering if you had any general advice for what to put in the optional extra document we can include in the secondary? Did you do this? Do you know people who got accepted that did NOT do it? Your input is greatly appreciated!

It's impossible to say who did or didn't do this; believe it or not med students don't go around comparing each other's applications. Use it if you think you have relatively unique/special circumstances that warrant further clarification. I wouldn't lose sleep over not having anything to put in there.

 

[lochness612]

I am just curious, did anyone else have this question in the secondary? There seems to be no mention of it on this thread....."Please describe your goals as a Physician/Scientist. Who are your role models?"

 

[Slev]

edit: nevermind 🙂

 

[Emilyyyy]

I am just curious, did anyone else have this question in the secondary? There seems to be no mention of it on this thread....."Please describe your goals as a Physician/Scientist. Who are your role models?"

I only applied for MD, so that wasn't necessary for me

 

[ajc28]

Interview Invite!! (By phone)

 

[pache]

Congrats ajc!! When were you complete?

 

[ajc28]

Congrats ajc!! When were you complete?

Thanks Pache! I was complete on July 27th.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Interviews starting in a few weeks!

 

[sibitrum]

Anyone else not complete after submitting about 2.5 weeks ago?

 

[Slev]

Anyone else not complete after submitting about 2.5 weeks ago?

Columbia is just one of those schools that takes a while to complete an application. I submitted on Aug 11 and not complete. I don't expect to be complete until later this month.

 

[doctorSOX]

Thanks Pache! I was complete on July 27th.

Congrats!!! 👍👍👍

 

[rxnfiend]

Just got an interview by phone call!!!!!!!!! 😀 EXTREMELY excited to go!

 

[percy]

Just got an interview by phone call!!!!!!!!! 😀 EXTREMELY excited to go!

👍👍👍

was it the dean? that's mad cool... 😎

 

[rxnfiend]

👍👍👍

was it the dean? that's mad cool... 😎

It was an assistant in the office but I literally was lost for words when he called. What an awesome surprise! 👍

 

[Algid]

Not an MD/PhD applicant, but I think I saw something about that in the Application Instruction Booklet. There's a link somewhere there.

I'm having trouble with this too, they say to list names if you're MD/PhD, but I have only 2 research mentors and so have nothing to put in the third field; it marks my page incomplete.

What did you all write for the Academic/Work experience? Isn't it just whatever is on the AMCAS?

What is the consensus on sending in a picture? The secondary seems to say that you should send a physical copy to Columbia, my AMCAS was just processed yesterday so I never received any other emails from Columbia before.

 

[OldMan707]

It was an assistant in the office but I literally was lost for words when he called. What an awesome surprise! 👍

Dude, congrats!! Just looked at your MDapps, your killing it this cycle! Best of luck on all the interviews, you've earned it.

 

[Bali]

QUICK SECONDARY QUESTION:

if we took classes at a university in high school, should we include that in the 'previous education' page as 'other undergraduate institution attended?'

 

[SBR249]

QUICK SECONDARY QUESTION:

if we took classes at a university in high school, should we include that in the 'previous education' page as 'other undergraduate institution attended?'

I would. Since AMCAS makes you list those, send in transcripts, and counts them in their GPA calculations, leaving it out of the secondary would look weird.

What is the consensus on sending in a picture? The secondary seems to say that you should send a physical copy to Columbia, my AMCAS was just processed yesterday so I never received any other emails from Columbia before.

Emailing a picture is fine.

 

[deleted348955]

Thanks! Also, I was wondering if you had any general advice for what to put in the optional extra document we can include in the secondary? Did you do this? Do you know people who got accepted that did NOT do it? Your input is greatly appreciated!

completely unnecessary. the application itself is not as important as the interview. they offer a lot of interviews (around 1100) because they want to know what kind of person you are and realize that a written application can't relay that kind of information.

 

[catiness]

Anyone else not complete after submitting about 2.5 weeks ago?

I submitted on 8/9 and haven't heard anything yet....