2012-2013 Columbia University Application Thread

[PharmdTooMD]

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I was just wondering since this is a long shot school for me and I received a secondary application...trying to see if I should save the money or go for it. Thanks in advance guys and gals! Goodluck to everyone!

 

[smile8888]

I was just wondering since this is a long shot school for me and I received a secondary application...trying to see if I should save the money or go for it. Thanks in advance guys and gals! Goodluck to everyone!

Yes. all 8000+ applicants receive secondaries.

 

[skais595]

it wasn't really an LOI, more like in-the-area email due to my interview at einstein on 11/5 plus telling them that i'm taking a science class during my year off to demonstrate continued dedication. this was 3 weeks ago. they said thanks for the update and i haven't heard from them since

For in the area emails, did you email the office, or post it to the updates page on the secondary? I'm a little confused on which is right, given their response to my emailed ITA letter.

"If you are a current applicant, please note that all questions and updates should be submitted using the Application Update option under the Status menu in the P&S online application system."

 

[mmmcdowe]

For in the area emails, did you email the office, or post it to the updates page on the secondary? I'm a little confused on which is right, given their response to my emailed ITA letter.

"If you are a current applicant, please note that all questions and updates should be submitted using the Application Update option under the Status menu in the P&S online application system."

Email them apparently is not the right choice, if that was their response.

 

[twentythousand]

are the interviews one-on-one and open file? thanks

 

[Sophocles]

are the interviews one-on-one and open file? thanks

Yes. One interview, open file, one-on-one, and extremely conversational. The best interview I've had this season. Columbia's a great place!

 

[AOK123]

can anyone confirm that they are cutting the number of interview invites this year to about 600?

 

[yellowfish]

can anyone confirm that they are cutting the number of interview invites this year to about 600?

No, but I think mmmcdowe confirmed that they are not cutting the number of interviews this year on the previous page.

 

[mmmcdowe]

can anyone confirm that they are cutting the number of interview invites this year to about 600?

They are not.

 

[carramrod06]

Any disadvantage for interviewing later here? I know for some schools with non-rolling admissions, they still meet regularly throughout the cycle to decide on acceptances and there are some advantages to interviewing early. At other schools this isn't a factor.

 

[twentythousand]

when does columbia let you know whether you've been assigned a student host? is it a few days before the interview?

 

[mmmcdowe]

Any disadvantage for interviewing later here? I know for some schools with non-rolling admissions, they still meet regularly throughout the cycle to decide on acceptances and there are some advantages to interviewing early. At other schools this isn't a factor.

No disadvantage, they don't meet until the end of february.

 

[mmmcdowe]

when does columbia let you know whether you've been assigned a student host? is it a few days before the interview?

I don't know, but I'd hope fairly early. I seem to hear a couple weeks prior if I am hosting. If you are a guy or a girl who doesn't mind staying with guys you are welcome to stay with us if hosting doesn't work out.

 

[twentythousand]

Yes. One interview, open file, one-on-one, and extremely conversational. The best interview I've had this season. Columbia's a great place!

there's only one interview? with a faculty member or adcom?

 

[mmmcdowe]

there's only one interview? with a faculty member or adcom?

All adcom members are faculty here. Yep, one interview.

 

[Trisphorin]

If the committee doesn't meet until febutary, does that mean no decision making on the part of committee or adcom member is made until then?

 

[Sophocles]

If the committee doesn't meet until febutary, does that mean no decision making on the part of committee or adcom member is made until then?

Exactly👍o

 

[mmmcdowe]

If the committee doesn't meet until febutary, does that mean no decision making on the part of committee or adcom member is made until then?

No admissions decisions, but I'm sure the adcom member will have made a decision after your interview. They act as your advocates.

 

[Sophocles]

No admissions decisions, but I'm sure the adcom member will have made a decision after your interview. They act as your advocates.

?? What does this mean? How does Columbia go about choosing their students? For instance, just because the adcom member that interviewed you wants to advocate for you, does that mean that you will be in, or is there a more tedious process?

I hear that Harvard has all of these committees that get together every so often and then if selected it goes to another committee and then you have like a final one. I'm sure I explained this wrong, but I'm hoping you understand what I mean: it's a long process. Is it more direct in Columbia? Less committees and less votes?

 

[Trisphorin]

No admissions decisions, but I'm sure the adcom member will have made a decision after your interview. They act as your advocates.

if the adcom member already made their decision soon after your interview then sending a LOI or a update letter wouldn't be that helpful right?

 

[mmmcdowe]

if the adcom member already made their decision soon after your interview then sending a LOI or a update letter wouldn't be that helpful right?

No in fact I think it is very helpful. Just because they are your advocate doesn't mean that their opinion can't change, nor does it mean that other member's opinion doesn't matter.

?? What does this mean? How does Columbia go about choosing their students? For instance, just because the adcom member that interviewed you wants to advocate for you, does that mean that you will be in, or is there a more tedious process?

I hear that Harvard has all of these committees that get together every so often and then if selected it goes to another committee and then you have like a final one. I'm sure I explained this wrong, but I'm hoping you understand what I mean: it's a long process. Is it more direct in Columbia? Less committees and less votes?

No, there is a tedious discussion involved, but the purpose of interviews if to obtain a first hand opinion of you. That obviously is going to be heavily weighed in the decision, and thus can play a significant role. As far as I know it is just one large committee that goes student by student in the very end, but honestly I stay out of the admissions decisions and thus don't have any first hand experience.

 

[Sophocles]

No in fact I think it is very helpful. Just because they are your advocate doesn't mean that their opinion can't change, nor does it mean that other member's opinion doesn't matter.



No, there is a tedious discussion involved, but the purpose of interviews if to obtain a first hand opinion of you. That obviously is going to be heavily weighed in the decision, and thus can play a significant role. As far as I know it is just one large committee that goes student by student in the very end, but honestly I stay out of the admissions decisions and thus don't have any first hand experience.

LOI addressed to who and when would be an optimal time to send one?

 

[mmmcdowe]

LOI addressed to who and when would be an optimal time to send one?

Doesn't matter. You can send it to the general Adcom or Dr. Nicholas. It will get where it needs to go either way. For post-interview LOIs just send them prior to decisions are made, so maybe in January. It doesn't hurt to interview at your other options first so that you can truly be certain of your desire to come here.

 

[Sophocles]

Doesn't matter. You can send it to the general Adcom or Dr. Nicholas. It will get where it needs to go either way. For post-interview LOIs just send them prior to decisions are made, so maybe in January. It doesn't hurt to interview at your other options first so that you can truly be certain of your desire to come here.

Come March time frame, when I'm accepted, I'm buying you a drink!

 

[writergirl333]

any point in sending an loi pre interview? complete since mid august - no interview yet..

 

[mmmcdowe]

any point in sending an loi pre interview? complete since mid august - no interview yet..

Applications are always open to updates and messages.

 

[wangers5270]

.

 

[Ichiban88]

Anyone interviewing here this Tuesday? I am scheduled to land right before Sandy hits. The flight is probably going to be postponed but was wondering if anyone else was in the same boat...

 

[Ichiban88]

Nvm. Looks like Sandy got there before me.

 

[BrotherBear23]

Did anyone have an interview today? The admissions office didn't send any emails out.

I was suppose to have my interview today, but after emailing admissions they said it was canceled. They didn't give any indication as to when they would contact us about rescheduling. My flight home was even canceled as well, so it looks like I'm going to be riding out the storm. I'm hoping I don't have to make another trip out here.

 

[AllDay24]

Will there be interviews on Wednesday?

My flight was canceled so I won't be able to make it in time for my interview. Unfortunately this will be my second time rescheduling my Columbia interview...

 

[Sophocles]

The university as a whole has been shut down for today and tomorrow, but I highly doubt it will continue until Wednesday.

 

[Ichiban88]

United Airways cancelled my flight for monday and tuesday. The UA lady also said that wednesday has a travel advisory warning as well and that wednesday flights may be cancelled too. I had to reschedule both tuesday and wednesday interviews... im hoping to fly in on wednesday but the hurricane is moving slow.

 

[tonguetalker]

Did anyone have an interview today? The admissions office didn't send any emails out.

I was suppose to have my interview today, but after emailing admissions they said it was canceled. They didn't give any indication as to when they would contact us about rescheduling. My flight home was even canceled as well, so it looks like I'm going to be riding out the storm. I'm hoping I don't have to make another trip out here.

My interview was supposed to be today. They emailed me yesterday saying that they would re-open tomorrow but thats looking less likely... Those of you who flew in and are now stuck, what are you doing to ride out the storm?

 

[Sophocles]

My interview was supposed to be today. They emailed me yesterday saying that they would re-open tomorrow but thats looking less likely... Those of you who flew in and are now stuck, what are you doing to ride out the storm?

Remember that the University is closed tomorrow as well, so I wouldn't count on anyone interviewing tomorrow.

 

[BrotherBear23]

I hunkered down in Brooklyn. I checked Columbia's main page and it looks like they are assessing whether or not to stay closed through tomorrow too. Coming from California, I really hope I don't have to make another trip out here.

I'm going to email admissions and ask if they think they will be able to get us this week, especially the people who are already in New York. If they say probably not, I'm going to have to come back another time.

 

[Sophocles]

I hunkered down in Brooklyn. I checked Columbia's main page and it looks like they are assessing whether or not to stay closed through tomorrow too. Coming from California, I really hope I don't have to make another trip out here.

I'm going to email admissions and ask if they think they will be able to get us this week, especially the people who are already in New York. If they say probably not, I'm going to have to come back another time.

I think Bloomberg has announced that the transit system might be down for a few days. I think that might impact a lot of the decisions.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I hunkered down in Brooklyn. I checked Columbia's main page and it looks like they are assessing whether or not to stay closed through tomorrow too. Coming from California, I really hope I don't have to make another trip out here.

I'm going to email admissions and ask if they think they will be able to get us this week, especially the people who are already in New York. If they say probably not, I'm going to have to come back another time.

They may or may not. I believe they weren't interviewing anyone at the end of this week, so they potentially have the place to put you, but at the same time they may have had an inflexible reason why they couldn't interview those days.

 

[thrilled]

I honestly don't know how they are going to make decisions come March. had my interview recently, and it was a very nice experience, the interviewer knew my application well so did not ask any questions at all, very conversational...so i guess decisions are going to be based more or less solely on the application

 

[somethingdeep]

I honestly don't know how they are going to make decisions come March. had my interview recently, and it was a very nice experience, the interviewer knew my application well so did not ask any questions at all, very conversational...so i guess decisions are going to be based more or less solely on the application

Yeah I've been wondering/thinking the same thing. My interview was also very conversational (or, more accurately, consisted mostly of my interviewer telling me all about the school and how awesome it is and me basically agreeing and throwing in the occasional question). I did hear that schools that do non rolling admissions tend to place less weight on the interview.

 

[accmd]

Yeah I've been wondering/thinking the same thing. My interview was also very conversational (or, more accurately, consisted mostly of my interviewer telling me all about the school and how awesome it is and me basically agreeing and throwing in the occasional question). I did hear that schools that do non rolling admissions tend to place less weight on the interview.

If these schools place less emphasis on the interview, why do they interview so many more people per spot than other schools? My state school interviews half the amount that Columbia does for the same number of seats.

 

[2017Cycle]

If these schools place less emphasis on the interview, why do they interview so many more people per spot than other schools? My state school interviews half the amount that Columbia does for the same number of seats.

My understanding is that it happens for several reasons. 1) Top tier schools with high stats paper applicants want to make sure that applicants have personality and good social skills 2) Top tier schools know that that top applicants are likely to get multiple acceptances, they want to A) sell you on their school and B) determine how likely you are to actually attend 3) Top tier schools tend to have real issues with yield and want to make sure they have enough applicants to wait list etc.

Disclaimer this is only in my understanding from various friends in medical school and my experiences

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Disclaimer this is only in my understanding from various friends in medical school and my experiences

Yeah, interviewing 1000+ applicants is a little unnecessary for yield reasons, though. I'm sure they have better reasons, and as the student said, they put more weight on the interview at Columbia.

 

[deleted127837]

Yeah, interviewing 1000+ applicants is a little unnecessary for yield reasons, though. I'm sure they have better reasons, and as the student said, they put more weight on the interview at Columbia.

Brown somehow manages to pull it off, and they only interview 250~300 people. Mayo's interview number is pretty low too. Is Columbia just in that sweet crunch spot of rankings?

 

[yellowfish]

Brown somehow manages to pull it off, and they only interview 250~300 people. Mayo's interview number is pretty low too. Is Columbia just in that sweet crunch spot of rankings?

Brown takes a lot of students from its undergrad feeder program while Mayo has a very small class size. Columbia has a relatively large class size as well.

 

[Ichiban88]

I think it is cool that they are trying to give as many of us a shot.

 

[deleted127837]

I think it is cool that they are trying to give as many of us a shot.

Double-edged sword. Getting to NYC is expensive if I'm in that 2nd group of 500 people 😛

 

[mmmcdowe]

Yeah, interviewing 1000+ applicants is a little unnecessary for yield reasons, though. I'm sure they have better reasons, and as the student said, they put more weight on the interview at Columbia.

We do have a good reason:

I think it is cool that they are trying to give as many of us a shot.

This is the reason. Columbia prides itself on looking beyond numbers and trying to give students that normally would be screened out at peer institutions a chance to demonstrate excellence in other arenas. Interviews serve to confirm truthfulness of one's EC's, passions within and without of medicine, social skills, etc, etc. You'd be shocked how well a relaxed conversation can tease out these things. I understand why applicants may feel frustrated at the large number of interviews, but ultimately it is done with good intentions.

Besides, the grass is always greener. If we did interview 600 people would wish we interviewed more 😀.

 

[deleted127837]

Completely unrelated question, how does the subway in NYC work? I've been to Tokyo and Seoul before, with their IC cards you flash over readers when you get on the trains, but...

Just buy a ticket for each subway ride?

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Completely unrelated question, how does the subway in NYC work? I've been to Tokyo and Seoul before, with their IC cards you flash over readers when you get on the trains, but...

Just buy a ticket for each subway ride?

you buy a metro card you keep and you can load money on it. You swipe the card to enter the turnstiles in the subway


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