2014-2015 Columbia University College of P&S Application Thread

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godawg300 said:
I just received my secondary but it says my login is incorrect even though I double checked. Even tried copying/pasting. Anyone have a problem with this?
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same problem, don't know what's going on
 
My Basic Information section is telling me this junk:

This page has been saved. However, it's not complete.

  • * You have to have at least one parent name for #3.

  • * You have to have at least one parent info for #4.

  • * You have to have at least one sibling name for #5.

  • * You have to have at least one parent info for #6.

  • * You have to have at least one record for #7.

#3 & 4 are about name pronunciation? What the heck


Edit: wow okay I have to click "Yes" for the parent/sibling that attended Columbia P&S, then select No for all the options then select No for the main question. Then it lets me save the page as complete.
 
lebo2231 said:
when considering the secondary question that asks if you took time off during your undergraduate studies, to summarize your reasons... would applicants that went on a gap year program between high school and college be expected to answer this question or is it only for applicants that took a break between starting and finishing college?
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I took a gap year between high school and college, and I am not answering this question. I believe it only means if your undergraduate studies were interrupted for some reason or another - and I consider undergraduate to mean college. My four years at college/my undergraduate institution are continuous, so hopefully they understand that.
 
HissingFauna said:
Can any current students speak to the merits of the Columbia-Bassett program vs. the regular MD program?
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I too would be interested in hearing the perspective of a current student on the Columbia-Basset program.
 
Is there any downside of applying to the Bassett track instead of just MD?
 
Luckily this is one of the few that came out on schedule from last year and I had prewritten, got it in same day. Emory surprised the crap out of me and I hadn't even started on it when I got it
 
Did you all list the extracurricular activities or write full sentences? Not a lot of characters..
 
virginiayankee said:
Did you all list the extracurricular activities or write full sentences? Not a lot of characters..
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When I did it a couple years ago, I bullet-pointed my activities. I figured it was best to do whatever presented them most clearly.
 
For the question "Did you work for compensation during college during the year or the summer? 300 words"
Do they want use to simple say what we did or do they want to expand on it saying the skills we learned from it and how it will make us a good doctor?
 
Anyone else having issues with saving the did you have a parent or sibling attend Columbia question? Mine seems to not save whenever I go back to review the page.
 
english said:
Anyone else having issues with saving the did you have a parent or sibling attend Columbia question? Mine seems to not save whenever I go back to review the page.
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I'm having the same problem. The "no" box won't remain checked, and I think this is why I can't submit my application.
 
Bovary said:
I'm having the same problem. The "no" box won't remain checked, and I think this is why I can't submit my application.
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Two things:

Did you click "yes" in that box and then answer "no" to all the resulting pop-up questions, and then put "no" back as the answer to the original question?
Have you left any of the optional essays empty? I had to put something (ie. "N/A") in the essays I didn't want to answer.

I did both of these and it let me submit.
 
toostressful said:
Two things:

Did you click "yes" in that box and then answer "no" to all the resulting pop-up questions, and then put "no" back as the answer to the original question?
Have you left any of the optional essays empty? I had to put something (ie. "N/A") in the essays I didn't want to answer.

I did both of these and it let me submit.
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I had issues submitting if I clicked "yes" or "no" (both resulted in issues). I'll try putting "N/A" in the blank essay fields and then try again.

update: Filling all the essay fields is required. Checking "yes" or "no" for the question at the end about parents wasn't the limiting factor.

All submitted. Columba is my top choice! I have the stats for it, but my ECs are pretty average. Hoping everything turns out well!
 
Just submitted. Columbia is my absolute dream school! Please love me, Columbia.
 
arcticNE said:
For those of you like me who have lived/worked in a "complex urban environment" nearly your entire lives, how are you approaching this secondary question? I obviously don't want to leave it to blank, but is it acceptable to say that we don't anticipate it being a challenge and leave it very brief?

Also, for the "anything else you would like us to know," would it be perceived as sucking up to include a quick "why Columbia"-type response since they don't have a question like that already? Thought it could make sense...
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I grew up in a city much smaller than NYC so I can't help you there.

But, for what it's worth, I used the "anything else" prompt for a "why columbia" essay, and I think that's definitely appropriate.
 
anyone else getting an error message when trying to upload your CV? I keep getting the message "Error: String or binary data would be truncated. The statement has been terminated."
 
Bovary said:
I grew up in a city much smaller than NYC so I can't help you there.

But, for what it's worth, I used the "anything else" prompt for a "why columbia" essay, and I think that's definitely appropriate.
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Ditto to that. At least, that's what I did for the "anything else" prompt.
 
gettheleadout said:
Secondary received as well! Still have to finish up my "complex urban environment" essay...
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I had so much fun with this question. As a NYC resident for almost 10 years, as someone who worked in CUMC for 3 years and someone who live right by the dorm of the med school, it's a little hard to answer this question without making a fool out of myself. "I'm constantly challenged by the disgusting 1 train elevators at 168th st and I will meet this challenge by trying to take the A train as much as possible". Keep calm and carry on trying...
 
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Friendly_female_house said:
I had so much fun with this question. As a NYC resident for almost 10 years, as someone who worked in CUMC for 3 years and someone who live right by the dorm of the med school, it's a little hard to answer this question without making a fool out of myself. "I'm constantly challenged by the disgusting 1 train elevators and I will meet this challenge by trying to take the A train as much as possible". Keep calm and carry on trying...
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"I'm constantly dodging dancers on the Q train who come within inches of kicking me in the face. I'm your man"
 
Hey guys I have two questions:

1. How did you list all your collegiate extracurriculars in 400 char? Also does it only include school-based activities or do research/work/volunteer experiences count toward that category as well?
2. By CV do they truly mean a CV or is resume acceptable as well? Since I don't have any publications my CV would honestly seem ridiculous and a resume would be more fitting in my case...
 
Hi all,

My school was on the quarter system and our Spring Quarter grades were not made available until ~June 20th so I submitted my AMCAS application without those grades. However, I ended up with a 4.0 for the quarter including a 4.0 in a particularly difficult class while taking a heavy course load. For Columbia and other schools that have an "anything else?" section on the secondary, would it be reasonable to include a grade update here? If so, should I list the individual classes? The credits? I'm not sure how to go about it and I would prefer not to take up any more space than is necessary.
 
@Temerit I think it is perfectly fine to list the grades in the secondary for each class, along with the semester GPA - especially if your GPA is on the lower side and this helps to increase it.
 
timeturner said:
Hey guys I have two questions:

1. How did you list all your collegiate extracurriculars in 400 char? Also does it only include school-based activities or do research/work/volunteer experiences count toward that category as well?
2. By CV do they truly mean a CV or is resume acceptable as well? Since I don't have any publications my CV would honestly seem ridiculous and a resume would be more fitting in my case...
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1.If you refer to last year's application thread, they say it's simply a list that consolidates your achievements. Think of it as a blurb of your AMCAS app.
2.If there's something distinct in your resume that wasn't addressed in your AMCAS, then it wouldn't be a terrible idea to upload a resume. Again, refer to last year's thead for a better answer.
 
Finally submitted to Columbia. Feel really good about this secondary and I hope I get some love from them.
 
Has anyone gotten the application complete e-mail yet? My primary app is verified, all of my LOR's have been submitted to AMCAS, and I submitted my secondary on Thursday, but the Status page is still showing the red exclamation point by my LOR status. Not sure if they just haven't associated the letters with my file yet or if they haven't received them yet for some reason.
 
BioEngMD said:
Has anyone gotten the application complete e-mail yet? My primary app is verified, all of my LOR's have been submitted to AMCAS, and I submitted my secondary on Thursday, but the Status page is still showing the red exclamation point by my LOR status. Not sure if they just haven't associated the letters with my file yet or if they haven't received them yet for some reason.
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Wait until next week because this weekend is a national holiday.
 
Anyone put anything for the "Is there anything else you would like us to know?" prompt? Was gonna use it as a diversity essay, but I'm not too sure
 
Copernicium said:
Anyone put anything for the "Is there anything else you would like us to know?" prompt? Was gonna use it as a diversity essay, but I'm not too sure
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If you can make it into something that relates specifically to Columbia, I'd put it; if you're just forcing a diversity essay, I'd probably leave it blank.

I personally did a very specific "Why Columbia" type essay for that, but even then I was a bit wary because I didn't want to come off as annoying/rambling.
 
FWIW everyone @mmmcdowe straight up said in last year's thread that the "anything else" prompt isn't intended for use for a "why Columbia" essay, so I left it blank. I'm sure it can't hurt but P&S surely knows how awesome they are and if you haven't yet written one I wouldn't say it's worth the time.


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gettheleadout said:
FWIW everyone @mmmcdowe straight up said in last year's thread that the "anything else" prompt isn't intended for use for a "why Columbia" essay, so I left it blank. I'm sure it can't hurt but P&S surely knows how awesome they are and if you haven't yet written one I wouldn't say it's worth the time.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile
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crap i wrote one anyway....you think they'd mind. I just said I liked their clinical research and mentioned some clubs i liked (free weight club, rugby club, etc)
 
gettheleadout said:
FWIW everyone @mmmcdowe straight up said in last year's thread that the "anything else" prompt isn't intended for use for a "why Columbia" essay, so I left it blank. I'm sure it can't hurt but P&S surely knows how awesome they are and if you haven't yet written one I wouldn't say it's worth the time.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

I honestly suspected the same but wrote one anyway. I suppose it won't hurt, but I doubt it will substantially help either. So yeah I echo this sentiment, if you're strapped for time and don't have anything substantial to say, just skip it.
 
Just submitted earlier today! Pretty excited!
 
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Yeah that optionall one will be ignored unless you have something of note like explaining your leave of absence etc

Bassett program only is fine, you will still be considered for md only at the same pace. Bassett is great in that you get a more longitudinaal learning experience. You also get some sweet health care improvement related courses. You spend most of the clinical year in cooperstown but are otherwise fairly integrated in the course
 
mmmcdowe said:
Yeah that optionall one will be ignored unless you have something of note like explaining your leave of absence etc

Bassett program only is fine, you will still be considered for md only at the same pace. Bassett is great in that you get a more longitudinaal learning experience. You also get some sweet health care improvement related courses. You spend most of the clinical year in cooperstown but are otherwise fairly integrated in the course
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Thank you for taking the time to answer questions here.

I would love to do the Bassett program, but how selective the program is?
 
demystifie said:
anyone else getting an error message when trying to upload your CV? I keep getting the message "Error: String or binary data would be truncated. The statement has been terminated."
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I am also getting that same message. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
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