2013-2014 Columbia University Application Thread

[kevinus]

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I wonder if the waitlist letters were sent in the order of our rankings

 

[wuzman]

yeah same... just got the email for the waitlist... better than a rejection but still felt i really connected with my interviewer

 

[hlancaster]

Did everyone who got in get one of those letters from Dean Nicholas?

I got one of those letters when I interviewed in September and I still haven't heard anything. My guess is the decisions come out in the following order: acceptances, waitlists, and then rejections. I remember when I got the letter after the interview, I was so excited! Then I googled a sentence from it and found past posts of people who got the letter, some of them got in, some got rejected, some got waitlists. I'm convinced that it doesn't mean very much.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Congrats to those who were accepted and good luck to those who are waitlisted. Yes the list is long, but you can improve your chances of being one of the 100 or so offers made to the waitlist by sending updates and emphasizing your continued interest during the coming months. I was a waitlist student, so there is definitely hope!

 

[kyamh]

Waitlist, thought as much 😉

 

[Jcmil32]

Waitlisted

 

[sebastian14]

I got one of those "personalized" form letters from the Dean, and if I didn't have SDN to comb through, I'd have thought that they meant much more than they actually do (aka not that much.) They sound almost like "likely letters" from college admissions, and it felt misleading.

Congrats to the acceptees!

 

[nemo123]

Waitlisted also. 🙁

 

[Dr.Visionary]

WL. Well Columbia it ain't quite over yet

 

[hlancaster]

For historical rigor: I just got waitlisted. I also received a personalized letter from Dean Nicholas after interviewing. I also interviewed in September and never sent in an update because I had gotten in to other schools that I preferred. Do with it what you want future applicants!

My conclusion is that for these non-rolling schools, if you interview early, it's important to let the school know you're still interested when it gets closer to decision time.

Congratulations to everyone who got accepted!

 

[zoomx3]

i was reading on last year's thread that the waitlist is 'tiered'? even though the waitlist letter said unranked waitlist... does anyone have any additional personalizations on their waitlist letter, like some people from last year? or does that only come on the mailed letter?

 

[asebasp]

WL. So if I got the WL email right at 11:00 eastern, is that better than getting it later? Does wording of WL decision matter?

 

[corndogger]

waitlist as well...wonder if anyone got rejected?

 

[wuzman]

if it was unranked then would they select at random?

 

[jfrwu]

waitlist here .... I think all interviewees not accepted are "highly regarded applicant" and on waitlist.

 

[nemo123]

i was reading on last year's thread that the waitlist is 'tiered'? even though the waitlist letter said unranked waitlist... does anyone have any additional personalizations on their waitlist letter, like some people from last year? or does that only come on the mailed letter?

The personalizations come on the hard copy (basically dean Nicholas will put some scribbles on your letter if you're higher ranked tier).

 

[zoomx3]

The personalizations come on the hard copy (basically dean Nicholas will put some scribbles on your letter if you're higher ranked tier).

ok good to know; thanks for being so knowledgeable.

good luck to all on waitlist and congrats to everyone accepted!!!

 

[yankees26]

The personalizations come on the hard copy (basically dean Nicholas will put some scribbles on your letter if you're higher ranked tier).

So are you saying we get stuff snailmailed too if we got wait listed?

 

[nemo123]

So are you saying we get stuff snailmailed too if we got wait listed?

Yes, we get our waitlist letter again in the mail.

 

[plumazul]

that's a huge waitlist... assuming they accept ~200 initially, and interview around 1000, they're basically rejecting very few.....

well this will just make me feel extra sad if i'm rejected which i probably am 🙁

The number of applicants offered a place on the waitlist is probably very different from the number actually accepting it. My guess is that only a fraction do.

 

[termitechips]

Yes, we get our waitlist letter again in the mail.

Do you know if they overnight it like WashU does?

 

[nemo123]

The number of applicants offered a place on the waitlist is probably very different from the number actually accepting it. My guess is that only a fraction do.

I have read that although most schools will waitlist most of their applicants post-interview, a list of 300 can easily shrink to 75 by May (as people get offers elsewhere), so there is still hope!

 

[nemo123]

Do you know if they overnight it like WashU does?

No idea. Don't think so based on last year's thread.

 

[TheKMan1]

Waitlisted, e-mail at 10:23 central...I'll live.

 

[plumazul]

Do you know if they overnight it like WashU does?

No, they send a form letter(that looks like it was printed on a machine that needs ink) 😉 first class mail.

 

[Codynna]

so, was anyone rejected post interview?

 

[kevinus]

So if we were not accepted, we were waitlisted?

 

[Dr.Visionary]

I think the rejection decisions have probably not gone out yet!!? Its seems bizarre that everyone got WL

 

[nemo123]

No, there are some rejections (from previous threads). It might be that rejected applicants don't want to post their rejections when everyone else on here was waitlisted.

 

[strideline]

The number of applicants offered a place on the waitlist is probably very different from the number actually accepting it. My guess is that only a fraction do.

Is there a limit to the number of waitlists you can be on? Wouldn't everyone accept a spot on the waitlist if offered?

 

[Hipocrates]

Is there a limit to the number of waitlists you can be on? Wouldn't everyone accept a spot on the waitlist if offered?

No limit. Yes, that is possible.

 

[jeghaber]

Is there a limit to the number of waitlists you can be on? Wouldn't everyone accept a spot on the waitlist if offered?

There isn't a limit, but if you have offers from other schools at which you'd rather matriculate, it'd be silly to accept a spot on the wait list. It's also the more polite thing to do if you essentially know you won't be matriculating since it gives other applicants a better shot.

I think some people hold onto multiple acceptances to bargain for more financial aid, but in the case of wait list acceptances 1) financial aid offers are likely more limited at most schools (there are, of course, exceptions) and 2) if the waitlist-to-acceptance offer comes after May 15, it would have been for naught anyways.

 

[kevinus]

I got a question in general. What happens if one is accepted off a waiting list after May 15? Does s/he have to drop either the acceptance that he was holding or the new acceptance?

 

[nemo123]

I got a question in general. What happens if one is accepted off a waiting list after May 15? Does s/he have to drop either the acceptance that he was holding or the new acceptance?

The school that accepted you off the waitlist will give you about a week to decide. After a week, you'll have to tell them whether you're taking their offer or not. If you take up their offer, you will have to withdraw from the one school you are holding an acceptance at.

 

[Newguy92]

Okay so it looks like a lot of people are being waitlisted so I have a few questions. How big is the incoming class? How many people typically get off the waitlist? Is there ever any movement before May?

 

[pyrrion89]

Not surprised about the W/L I got today. I remember at interview day how one of the students got waitlisted too, and she graduated from Harvard, then Julliard, then played on Broadway musicals as a pianist. Didn't expect to be in the <20% who get accepted outright---on SDN the %accepted looks much higher because SDN posters are a more competitive bunch than the overall population, and because there is a reporting bias in that bad news is harder to admit publicly. Anyway, good luck to everyone.

 

[Hipocrates]

Okay so it looks like a lot of people are being waitlisted so I have a few questions. How big is the incoming class? How many people typically get off the waitlist? Is there ever any movement before May?

Not certain about waitlist movement but here are the most recent available overall admission stats:

Applied: 7466
Interviewed: 1042
Accepted: 309
Enrolled: 167

 

[TheKMan1]

Is there a limit to the number of waitlists you can be on? Wouldn't everyone accept a spot on the waitlist if offered?

Nope, you can be on as many waitlists and hold as many acceptances as you'd like. If you're at all interested in the school, accept the waitlist invitation.

 

[Dr.Visionary]

Nope, you can be on as many waitlists and hold as many acceptances as you'd like. If you're at all interested in the school, accept the waitlist invitation.

But just to add to that I think we all should be considerate to other applicants. If you are really certain about you acceptances at other schools I think it would be silly to hold up spots that another applicant can use. Plus after May 15th schools are free to do as they wish with student holding multiple acceptances(not WL).

 

[TheKMan1]

Of course, but I wouldn't deny the WL offer if I had even a twinkle of interest remaining. You worked hard to earn the WL offer, do as you please with it, and give it up as soon as you know you're no longer interested.

 

[yankees26]

Nope, you can be on as many waitlists and hold as many acceptances as you'd like. If you're at all interested in the school, accept the waitlist invitation.

I agree with Dr.Visionary, holding on to a waitlist when you are certain about acceptances otherwhere is bad etiquette. I withdraw as soon as possible because I know the feeling all too well...

 

[TheKMan1]

Ughh..what if you'd prefer to go to the WL school? You'd give it up because you're accepted elsewhere? That'd be a little odd...

 

[yankees26]

Ughh..what if you'd prefer to go to the WL school? You'd give it up because you're accepted elsewhere? That'd be a little odd...

Thats different. Some people stay on the WL for all sorts of wrong reasons ie. leverage financial aid offers, impress parents/friends, or to just see if they get in for curiosity. If you know that you would go to another school over the WL school, decline it. GL

 

[Ambitionista]

Thats different. Some people stay on the WL for all sorts of wrong reasons ie. leverage financial aid offers, impress parents/friends, or to just see if they get in for curiosity. If you know that you would go to another school over the WL school, decline it. GL

I don't think many people would consider this a 'wrong' reason.

 

[termitechips]

I realize this is premature in some ways, but when would Columbia let applicants know about potential merit awards?

 

[Jcmil32]

I realize this is premature in some ways, but when would Columbia let applicants know about potential merit awards?

I'm pretty positive that Columbia doesn't give out merit aid. The only aid that they have is need-based.

 

[termitechips]

I'm pretty positive that Columbia doesn't give out merit aid. The only aid that they have is need-based.

Thanks. I didn't know that or expect it.

 

[SixStringPsych]

Waitlisted today. Interviewed in October, received a letter from Dean Nicholas in response to my thank you notes, sent an update/LOI (intent) in January.

It's not over till it's over, I'll wait for Columbia until the first day of classes.

 

[Stabley17]

Waitlisted today. Interviewed in October, received a letter from Dean Nicholas in response to my thank you notes, sent an update/LOI (intent) in January.

It's not over till it's over, I'll wait for Columbia until the first day of classes.

Do you mind if I ask whether you think you'll send another letter of some sort sometime in the next couple months, even though you already sent one? My impression is that continuing to show interest in a school through the W/L period isn't a bad thing, unless the school asks applicants not to or it becomes excessive.

 

[SixStringPsych]

Do you mind if I ask whether you think you'll send another letter of some sort sometime in the next couple months, even though you already sent one? My impression is that continuing to show interest in a school through the W/L period isn't a bad thing, unless the school asks applicants not to or it becomes excessive.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to do it even though I really have nothing new to say since I sent in an awesome update/LOI letter already. But Columbia is my absolute number 1 choice so ill do anything I can.