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

[avgn]

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Aaaaaaand it's past Friday COB, Columbia finishes interviews in 2 weeks so it's safe for me to say bye bye now. Pretty dumb they don't send rejections out when interviews are over but instead waits for the day after acceptances (?????????? why) Good luck to everybody who's interviewed!

 

[bearintraining]

Aaaaaaand it's past Friday COB, Columbia finishes interviews in 2 weeks so it's safe for me to say bye bye now. Pretty dumb they don't send rejections out when interviews are over but instead waits for the day after acceptances (?????????? why) Good luck to everybody who's interviewed!

I guess that means me too.. oh well... what's one more rejection this week :/

 

[AlphaBeta<3]

Aw 🙁 @avgn isn't it possible for you to get in without an interview?

 

[WedgeDawg]

Aw 🙁 @avgn isn't it possible for you to get in without an interview?

Unfortunately, you need an interview in order to be accepted to a medical school. Same goes for residency. I think @avgn is going to do just fine though 😉

 

[ImmunoLove]

When is the last interview day?

 

[avgn]

Aw 🙁 @avgn isn't it possible for you to get in without an interview?

At first I thought this was a sarcastic joke and was about to lol but then I remembered you're only like a freshman or something 😛

Yeah no this anything like college alum interviews that meant nothing. Only a fraction of applicants at any school are interviewed and then only a portion of interviewees are admitted. Welcome to the med admissions world! Please stay, we have cookies, milk, and heartbreak.

 

[meme12]

Aaaaaaand it's past Friday COB, Columbia finishes interviews in 2 weeks so it's safe for me to say bye bye now. Pretty dumb they don't send rejections out when interviews are over but instead waits for the day after acceptances (?????????? why) Good luck to everybody who's interviewed!

We still have a chance. Don't give up!!

I would say give it until next Friday at least

 

[ImmunoLove]

yup and yup. Available dates: umm I think it was only M,Th, and F of the last week in January. Nothing in February, not posted anyway. BUT I made an immediate ITA phone call and they fit me in the day after another one in mid-Jan so hellll yeah 2-for-1. Sorry can I say that on here? Stats range 3.9/522/5'8"

Aaaaaaand it's past Friday COB, Columbia finishes interviews in 2 weeks so it's safe for me to say bye bye now. Pretty dumb they don't send rejections out when interviews are over but instead waits for the day after acceptances (?????????? why) Good luck to everybody who's interviewed!

It appears they actually interview through the last week of January (3 weeks from now), so it's possible to hear something, though less and less probable.

 

[sunshine93]

I think Columbia has finished all of their interviews. I heard that yesterday was the last day.

 

[shoopshoop]

I think Columbia has finished all of their interviews. I heard that yesterday was the last day.

Someone please tell me this isn't true - I still have the tiniest bit of hope for Columbia!

 

[meme12]

Someone please tell me this isn't true - I still have the tiniest bit of hope for Columbia!

Same haha

 

[WedgeDawg]

There are interviews going on next week at the very least but idk if more interviews are going out. Sorry 🙁

 

[RudyRude]

I think Columbia has finished all of their interviews. I heard that yesterday was the last day.

Who did you hear this from? Admissions office? A student? Just curious..

 

[deleted393595]

I think Columbia has finished all of their interviews. I heard that yesterday was the last day.

Interviews extend till the end of Jan based on the dates I saw on the calendar when I got my II

 

[shoopshoop]

There are interviews going on next week at the very least but idk if more interviews are going out. Sorry 🙁

Aah this week has been heartbreaking silence - first Penn now Columbia 🙁

 

[sunshine93]

Who did you hear this from? Admissions office? A student? Just curious..

A friend interviewed at Columbia last Friday and was told that it was the last day.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I just checked and can confirm there are interviews through the 29th.

 

[NaijaBoy0912]

Anyone have any idea as to what day decisions come out next month?

 

[shoopshoop]

I just checked and can confirm there are interviews through the 29th.

Thanks for checking! Any idea if these slots are all booked, or if some are being sent out still?

 

[avgn]

Thanks for checking! Any idea if these slots are all booked, or if some are being sent out still?

Regardless of the school, it is extremely rare to receive an II with only two week's notice. I'm sure some are still being sent out but at this point it is not enough of a chance to keep hopes up.

 

[texasvandy]

A friend interviewed at Columbia last Friday and was told that it was the last day.

I know people interviewing in the last week of January but the IIs were received Mid December.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Anyone have any idea as to what day decisions come out next month?

Last year they came out the 11th I believe.

Thanks for checking! Any idea if these slots are all booked, or if some are being sent out still?

No idea, sorry 🙁

 

[justadream]

@WedgeDawg

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Columbia's preclinical curriculum is "1.5 years" but since I believe there is a summer break, doesn't that make the preclinical curriculum closer to 1.1-1.2 years (so basically almost Duke/Vandy level of compression)?

 

[WedgeDawg]

@WedgeDawg

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Columbia's preclinical curriculum is "1.5 years" but since I believe there is a summer break, doesn't that make the preclinical curriculum closer to 1.1-1.2 years (so basically almost Duke/Vandy level of compression)?

Our first semester is Aug-December, second semester is Jan-June, and our third semester is Aug (barely)-Dec. So that makes it around 15 months total. Summer is June to the end of August (~10 weeks).

I don't know how that compares to Duke/Vandy/etc.

 

[CCR1968]

Complete in late August and no rejection or II yet. Have been sending regular updates as well, including that I will be in the NYC area for an interview in the last week of January. I live OOS and was waiting to get an answer from Columbia regarding an II or a rejection before I booked airfare. Is this something worth calling their admissions office over? I just want to know when I can be okay to reserve a flight. The last thing I want is to have to book two flights/cancel a preexisting one

 

[ImmunoLove]

Complete in late August and no rejection or II yet. Have been sending regular updates as well, including that I will be in the NYC area for an interview in the last week of January. I live OOS and was waiting to get an answer from Columbia regarding an II or a rejection before I booked airfare. Is this something worth calling their admissions office over? I just want to know when I can be okay to reserve a flight. The last thing I want is to have to book two flights/cancel a preexisting one

Rejections are sent after the interview season is over (non-rolling admissions process). It sounds like you've sent an ITA, so I'm not sure what additional help a phone call will be to you. In either case, I'd suggest you book southwest; there are no change fees and flights can be cancelled for credits.

 

[avgn]

The last thing I want is to have to book two flights/cancel a preexisting one

Yeah no at this point, this is not something you should be worrying about. Most of us without IIs now are done. Kapoot. Finido. Fertig.

 

[meme12]

Complete in late August and no rejection or II yet. Have been sending regular updates as well, including that I will be in the NYC area for an interview in the last week of January. I live OOS and was waiting to get an answer from Columbia regarding an II or a rejection before I booked airfare. Is this something worth calling their admissions office over? I just want to know when I can be okay to reserve a flight. The last thing I want is to have to book two flights/cancel a preexisting one

I am in the SAME BOAT!!

 

[Dr. Retractor]

Why does Columbia not give rejections until after they give acceptances? There is probably a reason but I can't help but think it unfair and unnecessary to keep some applicants waiting in suspense the entire cycle.

 

[ImmunoLove]

Why does Columbia not give rejections until after they give acceptances? There is probably a reason but I can't help but think it unfair and unnecessary to keep some applicants waiting in suspense the entire cycle.

Probably to circumvent appeals...

 

[onceawolverine]

Why does Columbia not give rejections until after they give acceptances? There is probably a reason but I can't help but think it unfair and unnecessary to keep some applicants waiting in suspense the entire cycle.

Perhaps they think that all decisions should come out at that same time - that they have "phases" of the application cycle, and "decisions" happen after "interviews" across the board for all applicants.

I'm not actually sure why, but I feel your frustration - this happened to me last year, and I was kinda bitter about it too. I just try to remember that in the grand scheme of things, this is a small thing to let under your skin*.

*Sry we're in immunology/infectious diseases right now, and I wrote out a long sentence full of anaologies and metaphors relating the two to this situation only to realize that literally no one else in the world would be amused so I had to save face and delete it.

 

[Keepsmiling7]

So is Columbia officially done giving out II?

 

[pchandr4]

Can any current students at Columbia (or anyone else!) comment on the letters from Dean Nicholas in response to Thank You Letters?
I know that mine was pretty generic, and it probably doesn't indicate anything about my chances of getting in...and I've heard of people in past forums saying they don't mean much...
But do you guys know if there is any relevance to these letters? Does everyone get them?

 

[padfootmd]

Can any current students at Columbia (or anyone else!) comment on the letters from Dean Nicholas in response to Thank You Letters?
I know that mine was pretty generic, and it probably doesn't indicate anything about my chances of getting in...and I've heard of people in past forums saying they don't mean much...
But do you guys know if there is any relevance to these letters? Does everyone get them?

I think most people get something, though there's been past discussion over the exact wording of the letter being indicative of the final decision. Some seem to sound really personal, but it's so hard to tell, we shouldn't drive ourselves crazy trying to figure it out!

 

[Ochemphd]

Can any current students at Columbia (or anyone else!) comment on the letters from Dean Nicholas in response to Thank You Letters?
I know that mine was pretty generic, and it probably doesn't indicate anything about my chances of getting in...and I've heard of people in past forums saying they don't mean much...
But do you guys know if there is any relevance to these letters? Does everyone get them?

I think it's a test to weed out the crazies that spend time trying to pick apart the words of a generic email. Really now, calm down.

 

[pchandr4]

Can any current students at Columbia (or anyone else!) comment on the letters from Dean Nicholas in response to Thank You Letters?
I know that mine was pretty generic, and it probably doesn't indicate anything about my chances of getting in...and I've heard of people in past forums saying they don't mean much...
But do you guys know if there is any relevance to these letters? Does everyone get them?

I think it's a test to weed out the crazies that spend time trying to pick apart the words of a generic email. Really now, calm down.

LOL I was just curious...This is my first time applying, and I'm Canadian so we do things VERY differently so I wasn't sure of the relevance (if any). Thanks for the reply though!

 

[WedgeDawg]

Don't read into the letter

 

[JMULZ]

I've heard tell of him reciting lines straight from your secondary back to you while you're in fourth year. For what it's worth.

 

[ImmunoLove]

.

 

[meme12]

Looks like now is time to give up hope 🙁((((((

 

[padfootmd]

Just realized we'll be hearing back in just a couple weeks!

 

[WedgeDawg]

Good luck everyone! @onceawolverine and I are happy to answer any questions (as I'm sure are the other P&S students and alumni that hang around here sometimes).

 

[onceawolverine]

Good luck everyone! @onceawolverine and I are happy to answer any questions (as I'm sure are the other P&S students and alumni that hang around here sometimes).

 

[FD_TH]

1

 

[p0gono]

But to answer the question, I don't know about Columbia, but there have been similar odd interviews recounted in the Worst Interview Answers thread - with successful results.

 

[Cerebral_Policy]

I don't think there is a set formula for how an interview is supposed to go. As far as I'm concerned, they're just trying to get to know you as a person and get a feel for you, and that can be accomplished in many different ways. Perhaps the interviewer is most comfortable getting to know people by talking to them about stuff that have nothing to do with medicine. They don't have to sit there and play 20 Premed Questions with you or ask you the ever so trite "Why Medicine?"

 

[medicalCPA]

As a former listener of TWiV (This Week in Virology), I would be all tongue-tied and star-struck if Dickson Despommier were my interviewer. Not that that is likely to happen anymore, since Columbia did not invite me for an interview.

 

[rainieday]

Lolz you kind of just outed your friend / his opinion of his interviewer.

But to answer the question, I don't know about Columbia, but there have been similar odd interviews recounted in the Worst Interview Answers thread - with successful results.

I had a different interviewer but the same thing - talked very little about me, but spent a lot of time talking about art, music and other science facts/trivia. I think they're just trying to get a feel for you and see if you can hold a conversation. Caught me off guard though - might've taken one art class my entire life

 

[JMULZ]

Same here, but different interviewer. We talked about political philosophy and music. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind, but he did most of the talking and it left me feeling like I couldn't have made much of an impression.

 

[p0gono]

Same here, but different interviewer. We talked about political philosophy and music. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind, but he did most of the talking and it left me feeling like I couldn't have made much of an impression.

I'm sorry to hear that. My interview at Columbia was probably the most interesting, personal, and honest one that I had. My interviewer was so cool and easy to talk to.