2013-2014 Columbia University Application Thread

[Can'tShakeThis]

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any interviewees or current students have any advice for interview day here? mine is coming up next week and im getting kind of anxious because p&s seems so amazing!! any advice would be much appreciated 🙂

Best advice: don't stress! Most low key interview I've ever been on. Just a 30-40 minute chat, nothing challenging or competitive about it. The day starts off with the dean introducing everyone to each other and talking about one thing he likes from everyone's application. You may be asked for a "fun fact."

 

[scarlett14]

Best advice: don't stress! Most low key interview I've ever been on. Just a 30-40 minute chat, nothing challenging or competitive about it. The day starts off with the dean introducing everyone to each other and talking about one thing he likes from everyone's application. You may be asked for a "fun fact."

awesome, thanks so much! super excited for it 🙂

 

[Innocuous]

any interviewees or current students have any advice for interview day here? mine is coming up next week and im getting kind of anxious because p&s seems so amazing!! any advice would be much appreciated 🙂

Yeah, everyone in our group talked about how comfortable the interview was. They try really hard to make it that way. I would recommend bringing comfortable shoes for the tour if you were planning on high heels or something (I'm a guy, so not sure about the lingo)- it may just be me, but I felt like this tour was longer than any other I had been on (in a good way!!!).

 

[scarlett14]

Yeah, everyone in our group talked about how comfortable the interview was. They try really hard to make it that way. I would recommend bringing comfortable shoes for the tour if you were planning on high heels or something (I'm a guy, so not sure about the lingo)- it may just be me, but I felt like this tour was longer than any other I had been on (in a good way!!!).

cool! thanks so much for the heads up!!

 

[DoctorStrange0101]

Hey guys! Can anyone tell me the remaining available interview dates? I am interviewing in NY in December and wanted to see if, in the totally off chance that I receive an II, it could potentially fall around the time I'll already be in the area. Please let me know! This is my dream school and sadly it doesn't look like I'm going to get an interview, but one can dream 🙂

 

[SN12357]

Also curious - and does anybody know if stats for how many people they interview (just Bassett) are floating out there anywhere?

I think remember reading that they interview approximately 100, extend offers to about <20, because most people offered to accept.

I can't remember where I read that, though. Might have been in a news article about the program.

 

[SN12357]

accidental repost

 

[Island28]

Best advice: don't stress! Most low key interview I've ever been on. Just a 30-40 minute chat, nothing challenging or competitive about it. The day starts off with the dean introducing everyone to each other and talking about one thing he likes from everyone's application. You may be asked for a "fun fact."

Great. But what kind of fun fact?

 

[nemo123]

Great. But what kind of fun fact?

Basically Dean Nicholas reads everyone's app again and makes notes for all the interviewees on a given day. He'll go down the list alphabetically and ask you to introduce yourself. He'll then bring up one of your experiences (a unique one) and ask you to talk about it.

Definitely something different from the way other schools have their opening session with the dean. It really showed how much Columbia cares about its applicants.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Great to hear that you guys had a good time, we really do care about the applicants and Dr. Nicholas specifically has mentioned on numerous occasions that he wants the interview day to show that respect and interest goes both ways. That's partially why we've been averse to ethical dilemma/MMI type interviews.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I think remember reading that they interview approximately 100, extend offers to about <20, because most people offered to accept.

I can't remember where I read that, though. Might have been in a news article about the program.

Yeah this is the quoted statistic.

 

[Innocuous]

Yeah this is the quoted statistic.

Thanks mmmcdowe! Any idea when they start/end?

 

[bethasu]

Sorry if this has been answered, but what is generally considered "in the area?" Does a 5-hour bus ride count? What about 3 hours? Have people been lucky with ITA requests here? Although I imagine since there are ~5 NY medical schools they must get kinda annoyed.

 

[ynot89125]

Sorry if this has been answered, but what is generally considered "in the area?" Does a 5-hour bus ride count? What about 3 hours? Have people been lucky with ITA requests here? Although I imagine since there are ~5 NY medical schools they must get kinda annoyed.

Some have been lucky some haven't been. It doesn't really matter how long the ride will be; there are people that say they are "in the area" on a range of dates and then only buy a plane ticket if they get an interview. Someone said that (and I agree) unless you are very confident in your application and believe that you would get an ii at some point, you should not send a ITA. But its all up to you.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Thanks mmmcdowe! Any idea when they start/end?

They have already started I believe.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Sorry if this has been answered, but what is generally considered "in the area?" Does a 5-hour bus ride count? What about 3 hours? Have people been lucky with ITA requests here? Although I imagine since there are ~5 NY medical schools they must get kinda annoyed.

I'd say in the area qualifies as anywhere you can drive in a day/night. Coming from Arizona, any east coast program was essentially "in the area" for me, since it saved me a flight.

 

[bethasu]

Some have been lucky some haven't been. It doesn't really matter how long the ride will be; there are people that say they are "in the area" on a range of dates and then only buy a plane ticket if they get an interview. Someone said that (and I agree) unless you are very confident in your application and believe that you would get an ii at some point, you should not send a ITA. But its all up to you.

Thanks! Wonder if people have sent ITAs to Harvard then... 😛

 

[SixStringPsych]

Has anyone on here had an interview with the Dean himself? I know at some schools the Dean does conduct interviews as well. Just wondering

 

[embarko]

When did your interviews end? I know it's scheduled for 4:30. Have an interview scheduled the next day at UVA and am trying to figure out air-travel.

 

[RocDiva4040]

My interview was at 2:45 pm. The latest interview in our group started at 3:30 pm. They last about 45 minutes.

 

[bethasu]

Any recent IIs?

 

[mmmcdowe]

Has anyone on here had an interview with the Dean himself? I know at some schools the Dean does conduct interviews as well. Just wondering

Yeah he definitely does.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Has anyone on here had an interview with the Dean himself? I know at some schools the Dean does conduct interviews as well. Just wondering

Yeah he definitely does.

 

[SixStringPsych]

.

 

[starlight15]

When do you expect them to stop giving out II?

I have this question too and also when do they stop interviewing? Late February?

 

[bethasu]

Anyone know how often the committee meets to decide on IIs? Seems like no IIs have been given out in a while. I just sent a ITA email to them last week and was wondering how long I should wait before booking tickets

 

[WorfoSAUR]

Anyone know how often the committee meets to decide on IIs? Seems like no IIs have been given out in a while. I just sent a ITA email to them last week and was wondering how long I should wait before booking tickets

Uhm, you should wait until you actually recieve an interview invitation. Don't intend to be rude, but there's no guarantee.

 

[Amygdarya]

Uhm, you should wait until you actually recieve an interview invitation. Don't intend to be rude, but there's no guarantee.

I think what bethasu meant was, (s)he'd like to know whether (s)he should book the tickets based on the interview (s)he already has in NY or whether (s)he should wait for a potential II from Columbia.

 

[bethasu]

I think what bethasu meant was, (s)he'd like to know whether (s)he should book the tickets based on the interview (s)he already has in NY or whether (s)he should wait for a potential II from Columbia.

Yes Amygdarya is right. Bethasu has a NY interview in 2.5 weeks and is wondering how long she should wait on the ITA request before ticket prices go up.

 

[Innocuous]

Anyone know how often the committee meets to decide on IIs? Seems like no IIs have been given out in a while. I just sent a ITA email to them last week and was wondering how long I should wait before booking tickets

I would fly Southwest into LGA. While it isn't perfect (flight prices may go up) at least they don't charge change fees, and you can change them as much as you want should your interview schedule change. This happened to me a few months ago, and I was far from upset about a $40 price increase after receiving another interview invite!!

Hopefully it is a cheap option from your home airport!

 

[mmmcdowe]

Southwest is a good idea. They meet from weekly to every few weeks based on the time of the year. If its been a week and they haven't gotten back to you I'd probably make the flight given the short period you have remaining, but that's just my opinion. It isn't based on any facts.

 

[RegularKID]

Do you guys generally send thank you notes after your interviews? How necessary do you think this is?

 

[DrCharlemagne]

Do you guys generally send thank you notes after your interviews? How necessary do you think this is?

Mandatory. This is adulthood, get used to writing letters of gratitude for every interview and reference you get.

 

[neilpryde21]

Do you guys generally send thank you notes after your interviews? How necessary do you think this is?

Majority of people won't send a thank you letter but I believe it is a nice and courteous gesture that you should always do. But don't sent a thank you letter thinking it will win you any points with the school or your interviewers because it most likely won't. Send one because you are actually thankful for them taking the time to meet with you.

 

[Member000]

Do you guys generally send thank you notes after your interviews? How necessary do you think this is?

Mandatory. This is adulthood, get used to writing letters of gratitude for every interview and reference you get.

Stop trolling. You don't have to send thank you notes. Its not necessary at all. If you want to sure (it won't help or hurt you in any way). I haven't sent thank you notes until after my acceptance.

 

[DrCharlemagne]

Stop trolling. You don't have to send thank you notes. Its not necessary at all. If you want to sure (it won't help or hurt you in any way). I haven't sent thank you notes until after my acceptance.

Not trolling, thank you notes bespeak professionalism.

 

[yesbutno]

Not trolling, thank you notes bespeak professionalism.

They also bespeak applicants that only send them because they think they're supposed to. Send them if you want, or don't.

 

[DrCharlemagne]

They also bespeak applicants that only send them because they think they're supposed to. Send them if you want, or don't.

Nope, this...

Majority of people won't send a thank you letter but I believe it is a nice and courteous gesture that you should always do. But don't sent a thank you letter thinking it will win you any points with the school or your interviewers because it most likely won't. Send one because you are actually thankful for them taking the time to meet with you.

You don't have to, but given that professionalism is what medical school wants to see, it looks off not to and is a bad habit to develop early in your career. What skin is it off your knuckles to thank another adult for taking up to an hour of their time to listen to you wax philosophical about how great you/medicine/this school is?

 

[ynot89125]

Nope, this...



You don't have to, but given that professionalism is what medical school wants to see, it looks off not to and is a bad habit to develop early in your career. What skin is it off your knuckles to thank another adult for taking up to an hour of their time to listen to you wax philosophical about how great you/medicine/this school is?

If we want to be completely logical about this then an argument can be made that most interviewer wanted to interview people so its not like they are forced to listen to anyone. Anyways I believe that thank-you notes are nice and should be optional (what if you had a horrible interviewer?) but I also believe that some people expect thank you notes so there is some pressure to send them regardless of how you felt.

 

[SixStringPsych]

If we want to be completely logical about this then an argument can be made that most interviewer wanted to interview people so its not like they are forced to listen to anyone. Anyways I believe that thank-you notes are nice and should be optional (what if you had a horrible interviewer?) but I also believe that some people expect thank you notes so there is some pressure to send them regardless of how you felt.

I was about to say the same thing, people volunteer to interview so clearly they want to be there. But of course thank you notes are just the professional thing to do and I don't see why you wouldn't send them.

That being said I saw a few girls on my interview day at Columbia were literally writing thank you notes in the waiting room immediately after interviewing. I think this is a bit over zealous and unnecessary.

 

[neilpryde21]

I was about to say the same thing, people volunteer to interview so clearly they want to be there. But of course thank you notes are just the professional thing to do and I don't see why you wouldn't send them.

That being said I saw a few girls on my interview day at Columbia were literally writing thank you notes in the waiting room immediately after interviewing. I think this is a bit over zealous and unnecessary.

You mean you don't pre-write a thank you letter with a fill in the blank spot for the interviewer's name that you hand out immediately after your interview is over??!?

 

[nemo123]

You mean you don't pre-write a thank you letter with a fill in the blank spot for the interviewer's name that you hand out immediately after your interview is over??!?

I've seen that before too. Personally, I like to take my time and write a well thought out email than just scribble my name into a card that probably just says thank you.

 

[Evidence Based]

II today! Complete way back in August, thought I'd never get any love from Columbia. Happy to be proven wrong though.

 

[nemo123]

II today! Complete way back in August, thought I'd never get any love from Columbia. Happy to be proven wrong though.

Congrats!

 

[gorun]

Hi all,

I know this will seem a little late in the cycle to be asking this, but does anyone know, officially, if Columbia will accept a semester of philosophy instead of a semester of English? I'm interviewing at Columbia and had left my last semester of English pre-req to do after Christmas but now there's a juicy class in Existentialism being offered at my school and I kind of want to take that instead.....🙂

Just wondering if anyone knows if Columbia is open to other "writing intensive courses" as other schools often are?

Thanks! Good luck with all your interviews!

 

[nemo123]

Hi all,

I know this will seem a little late in the cycle to be asking this, but does anyone know, officially, if Columbia will accept a semester of philosophy instead of a semester of English? I'm interviewing at Columbia and had left my last semester of English pre-req to do after Christmas but now there's a juicy class in Existentialism being offered at my school and I kind of want to take that instead.....🙂

Just wondering if anyone knows if Columbia is open to other "writing intensive courses" as other schools often are?

Thanks! Good luck with all your interviews!

It would be better to call the admissions office to get an official answer than to ask us...

 

[gorun]

It would be better to call the admissions office to get an official answer than to ask us...

You're probably right. I was just trying to avoid bothering them when they have bigger fish to fry than my personal pre-reqs... Thanks, anyway. 🙂

 

[Wonderpig]

You're probably right. I was just trying to avoid bothering them when they have bigger fish to fry than my personal pre-reqs... Thanks, anyway. 🙂

Have you looked on their website? Sometimes they do specify whether or not English Req=writing intensive. (In case you haven't and wanted another reason to avoid bothering😉)

 

[gorun]

Have you looked on their website? Sometimes they do specify whether or not English Req=writing intensive. (In case you haven't and wanted another reason to avoid bothering😉)

I did check the website, and it doesn't mention specifically whether they do, or do not, accept English substitutes. It just says "Two semesters of English." I suspect that this means that if they did accept writing intensive substitutions, they would have said so and, as a result, I should suck it up, dust off my complete works of Shakespeare anthology, and leave the Sartre behind. I was just kind of hoping that the SDN collective might have some good news to the contrary, or some personal experience with this point floating around out there.

At least I can find solace in the fact that, whether I take existentialism or not, it really won't ultimately matter anyway. 😉 Har har...

Thanks for your input, though!

 

[Wonderpig]

I did check the website, and it doesn't mention specifically whether they do, or do not, accept English substitutes. It just says "Two semesters of English." I suspect that this means that if they did accept writing intensive substitutions, they would have said so and, as a result, I should suck it up, dust off my complete works of Shakespeare anthology, and leave the Sartre behind. I was just kind of hoping that the SDN collective might have some good news to the contrary, or some personal experience with this point floating around out there.

At least I can find solace in the fact that, whether I take existentialism or not, it really won't ultimately matter anyway. 😉 Har har...

Thanks for your input, though!

Ah, yea, you're probs right then. But it wouldn't hurt to ask--like Nemo123 suggested. 🙂

And who knows, maybe you'll end up liking a review of Shakespeare!