2015-2016 Columbia University College of P&S Application Thread

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ugh...just had a heart attack....was thinking columbia would be the first school i heard from!
 
5 in a row for me while I was touring a campus that has its own med school. -____-

Only the first one gave me some hope though lol
 
So sorry to hear about the email issues, everyone. I'm in no way affiliated with admissions, so I won't presume to guess at what's going on over there.

Instead, let me give you a few random, quirky reasons to forgive Columbia.
  • On the first real day of anatomy lab, one of the residents walked us through the procedure for putting in chest tubes (for no other reason than to geek us out - this isn't something any of us need to know how to do yet). So we got to feel the lungs on day one. Kinda cool, right?
  • Okay, not doing it for you? Well what about this: One of the deans made a "make sure you say P&S slowwwly so it doesn't sound like you're saying something else" joke during an orientation ceremony in front of all our families.
  • Oh, you think that's gross and immature? Tough crowd. How about the fact that personalized, engraved stethoscopes are donated to every M1 by P&S alumni?
  • Big deal, you say? Well, try this on for size: I've been to the gym every day this week, because the gym is literally an elevator ride away from my room in Bard Hall. I'd bet most of my classmates have done the same
  • Working out is for meatheads, you exclaim?!? Fine, let me pull out the ace up my sleeve... During our longer lectures, profs give us 10ish minutes to get up, stretch, etc. This often means that they have to work to get our attention back, once break is over. Today, for example, our wise, well-respected, well-published, renowned, brilliant, expert professor decided to call us back to attention by blasting music and dancing all by himself at the podium
In all seriousness, I'm sorry to hear about the email fiascos. Stay strong everyone!
 
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onceawolverine said:
So sorry to hear about the email issues, everyone. I'm in no way affiliated with admissions, so I won't presume to guess at what's going on over there.

Instead, let me give you a few random, quirky reasons to forgive Columbia.
  • On the first real day of anatomy lab, one of the residents walked us through the procedure for putting in chest tubes (for no other reason than to geek us out - this isn't something any of us need to know how to do yet). So we got to feel the lungs on day one. Kinda cool, right? Additionally, a lot of retired surgeons run around anatomy lab helping us out and showing us really cool things and generally are just fantastic to hang out with. Also all the MS2s are extremely supportive and love helping us get adjusted, both to anatomy lab and med school in general.
  • Okay, not doing it for you? Well what about this: One of the deans made a "make sure you say P&S slowwwly so it doesn't sound like you're saying something else" joke during an orientation ceremony in front of all our families. Wasn't just any dean - it was literally the Dean of CUMC and P&S
  • Oh, you think that's gross and immature? Tough crowd. How about the fact that personalized, engraved stethoscopes are donated to every M1 by P&S alumni? This was pretty cool, I do admit.
  • Big deal, you say? Well, try this on for size: I've been to the gym every day this week, because the gym is literally an elevator ride away from my room in Bard Hall. I'd bet most of my classmates have done the same yeah same
  • Working out is for meatheads, you exclaim?!? Fine, let me pull out the ace up my sleeve... During our longer lectures, profs give us 10ish minutes to get up, stretch, etc. This often means that they have to work to get our attention back, once break is over. Today, for example, our wise, well-respected, well-published, renowned, brilliant, expert professor decided to call us back to attention by blasting music and dancing all by himself at the podium Someone actually went up and danced with him too lol - pretty crazy stuff
In all seriousness, I'm sorry to hear about the email fiascos. Stay strong everyone!
Click to expand...

Added my own thoughts in bold. Sorry to hear about the email. If there's anything bad about Columbia (read: there's not), it's that technical things seem to get glitchy more than they should.
 
mojanglez said:
hey guys sorry if this was mentioned here previously but im wondering what the consensus is on sending in the area emails if you have an interview in New York. ive read that columbia is receptive to them and that they are to be sent as an update via the application portal but just wanted to double check with anyone who may have had experience with this or knows about it. thanks!
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I sent one. They sent me an email acknowledging that it had been added to my file and that they would try to honor it if necessary. So I definitely would recommend!
 
starlite911 said:
I sent one. They sent me an email acknowledging that it had been added to my file and that they would try to honor it if necessary. So I definitely would recommend!
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Hi. I just want to clarify what this means. Does this mean that you sent Columbia a message saying you have other interviews in the area around a certain date and they have not yet given you an II or that you do have an II and you want to schedule an interview date they have already invited you for around your NY trip schedule?
 
cxra said:
Hi. I just want to clarify what this means. Does this mean that you sent Columbia a message saying you have other interviews in the area around a certain date and they have not yet given you an II or that you do have an II and you want to schedule an interview date they have already invited you for around your NY trip schedule?
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I do not yet have an II from Columbia. I uploaded a pdf to the portal saying basically "hey, I'm going to be interviewing in NYC x date, if I'm fortunate enough to be under consideration from y'all at that time, it would save me a lot of trouble to interview earlier that week and kill 2 birdz with one stone" (loosely paraphrased).
 
starlite911 said:
I do not yet have an II from Columbia. I uploaded a pdf to the portal saying basically "hey, I'm going to be interviewing in NYC x date, if I'm fortunate enough to be under consideration from y'all at that time, it would save me a lot of trouble to interview earlier that week and kill 2 birdz with one stone" (loosely paraphrased).
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Haha. Cool. I think I may do this as well... Spending the week basically in NY/NJ for interviews and it would really suck to take more time off of work and buy another ticket if Columbia graced me with an II. Congrats on your other interviews!
 
cxra said:
Haha. Cool. I think I may do this as well... Spending the week basically in NY/NJ for interviews and it would really suck to take more time off of work and buy another ticket if Columbia graced me with an II. Congrats on your other interviews!
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congrats to you too!
 
When Columbia asks for a CV, do they really want a CV with EVERYTHING I have done, or do they just want a one-page resume in which I can try to squeeze on my research and some clinical experiences? I have a lot, so I can't fit everything on one page.
 
Jody+Tinkles said:
When Columbia asks for a CV, do they really want a CV with EVERYTHING I have done, or do they just want a one-page resume in which I can try to squeeze on my research and some clinical experiences? I have a lot, so I can't fit everything on one page.
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Usually in the academic context a CV means the former, including everything.
 
Jody+Tinkles said:
When Columbia asks for a CV, do they really want a CV with EVERYTHING I have done, or do they just want a one-page resume in which I can try to squeeze on my research and some clinical experiences? I have a lot, so I can't fit everything on one page.
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Note: last year, CV's were not required, and several admitted students (including yours truly) did not submit one, as it would have essentially been a recapitulation of the AMCAS primary. So if you just happen to have one lying around and you think it contributes something "extra" to your story, feel free to upload it. Otherwise, I wouldn't sweat it.

*Note: In the medical universe, CVs are usually a repository of publications, presentations, and posters. CVs would, therefore, be useful to submit if you just graduated a PhD program with a dozen pubs under your belt. But if you're like me, and your research output is pretty much a paragraph long, then it might not be as useful to your interviewer.
 
onceawolverine said:
Note: last year, CV's were not required, and several admitted students (including yours truly) did not submit one, as it would have essentially been a recapitulation of the AMCAS primary. So if you just happen to have one lying around and you think it contributes something "extra" to your story, feel free to upload it. Otherwise, I wouldn't sweat it.

*Note: In the medical universe, CVs are usually a repository of publications, presentations, and posters. CVs would, therefore, be useful to submit if you just graduated a PhD program with a dozen pubs under your belt. But if you're like me, and your research output is pretty much a paragraph long, then it might not be as useful to your interviewer.
Click to expand...

Dude get off SDN and study geez

(jk) ( 😛 😀 )

I also didn't submit a CV (I didn't even know we could submit CVs). Generally, the less of a "traditional" applicant you are, the more your CV will contain, and therefore the more useful it will be. Either way, I wouldn't sweat it too much.
 
WedgeDawg said:
Dude get off SDN and study geez

(jk) ( 😛 😀 )

I also didn't submit a CV (I didn't even know we could submit CVs). Generally, the less of a "traditional" applicant you are, the more your CV will contain, and therefore the more useful it will be. Either way, I wouldn't sweat it too much.
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Help I just spent 3.5 hours on lysosomal storage diseases and totally forgot to review the posterior shoulder anatomy for tomorrow so looks like i wont be watching scrubs tonight 🙁
 
I am assuming you have all done more that 15 things with your life but chose the best for your AMCAS. Asking for a CV is asking for things you may not have put on your AMCAS application that played a role in your life but you might have omitted. Submit a CV that tells them everything you have done professionally, etc. This can only allow them to see that you're more than just a pre-med robot who only did things that would look good on your AMCAS application.
 
MissKitty2868 said:
I am assuming you have all done more that 15 things with your life but chose the best for your AMCAS. Asking for a CV is asking for things you may not have put on your AMCAS application that played a role in your life but you might have omitted. Submit a CV that tells them everything you have done professionally, etc. This can only allow them to see that you're more than just a pre-med robot who only did things that would look good on your AMCAS application.
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Good point. Also, I think the key word here is "professionally". A CV does not include general interest hobbies but can include teaching experiences (lectures, TA, tutoring) and volunteer positions that are of professional nature. For the volunteer, I wouldn't include to much detail, just position, organization and dates.
 
Has anyone else had issues getting into the Columbia Secondary/Interview Login? I know on Aug 22 the website was down, but I've been trying to login and just keep getting error messages...
 
Lisha said:
Has anyone else had issues getting into the Columbia Secondary/Interview Login? I know on Aug 22 the website was down, but I've been trying to login and just keep getting error messages...
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I just tried and yes, same situation here. System must be temporarily down
 
Hey, so I'm from the Midwest and have been offered an interview at NYU and Columbia, but Columbia only has interviews in Sept and NYU only has them in Oct...thoughts on asking admissions for a different interview time for the sake of saving an extra trip and a couple hundred dollars?
 
Lisha said:
Hey, so I'm from the Midwest and have been offered an interview at NYU and Columbia, but Columbia only has interviews in Sept and NYU only has them in Oct...thoughts on asking admissions for a different interview time for the sake of saving an extra trip and a couple hundred dollars?
Click to expand...
Congratulations on both interviews! You are a rockstar! In regards to your question, your best bet is to email Columbia and ask for an October interview date. Let them know that you are interviewing at another NYC and will be in town from ___ to ____. I doubt NYU will accommodate you since their Sept schedule is likely all booked already, so try Columbia first.
 
phuynh94 said:
Congratulations on both interviews! You are a rockstar! In regards to your question, your best bet is to email Columbia and ask for an October interview date. Let them know that you are interviewing at another NYC and will be in town from ___ to ____. I doubt NYU will accommodate you since their Sept schedule is likely all booked already, so try Columbia first.
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This might be a dumb question, but would requesting this reflect negatively on my application? It is bad to show schools that you have interest in other schools?
 
Lisha said:
This might be a dumb question, but would requesting this reflect negatively on my application? It is bad to show schools that you have interest in other schools?
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If I remember correctly, Columbia is non-rolling, so it would be foolish for them to think that you're only going to apply/interview at their school until their decision in March. Even if the school is rolling, I'm pretty sure they'll be understanding.
 
phuynh94 said:
If I remember correctly, Columbia is non-rolling, so it would be foolish for them to think that you're only going to apply/interview at their school until their decision in March. Even if the school is rolling, I'm pretty sure they'll be understanding.
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Alright, thanks for your advice!
 
Lisha said:
This might be a dumb question, but would requesting this reflect negatively on my application? It is bad to show schools that you have interest in other schools?
Click to expand...

No school thinks you are applying JUST to their school. If anything, they now know, for sure, their reasoning for inviting you for an interview is justified 😉

Best Wishes!
 
Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but does Columbia screen before sending secondaries?

(Edit: Just saw onceawolverine's post saying there was no screen last year, I'm assuming this holds true this year?)
 
^^ Congrats
Just e-mailed the admissions office an area letter... Hopefully it helps
 
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