2017-2018 Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

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Does anyone know if Columbia is receptive to "in the area" emails? I'd like to consolidate a trip to New York City if possible.
 
ccsg13579 said:
Does anyone know if Columbia is receptive to "in the area" emails? I'd like to consolidate a trip to New York City if possible.
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it may not hurt as long as you phrase the email politely?🙂
 
For the "Please insert your academic and/or relevant work experience below" section of the application, did you guys list all your experiences or just work experiences? I'm a little confused about the wording of the question.
 
I have a small problem. I over read a question on the secondary. It was asking if I worked for compensation during school. I should have clicked yes but I didn't. On my primary it shows my employment. Do y'all think it's worthwhile emailing them about it or nah.
 
KingHourGlass said:
I have a small problem. I over read a question on the secondary. It was asking if I worked for compensation during school. I should have clicked yes but I didn't. On my primary it shows my employment. Do y'all think it's worthwhile emailing them about it or nah.
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personally I don't think this is a huge deal. it could easily be missed by reviewers who are going to focus on the content of your application a lot more as long as you dont have other major red flags. if it were me, i would not call attention to this minor (in my opinion) error.
 
mr.scienceguythebadman said:
For the "Please insert your academic and/or relevant work experience below" section of the application, did you guys list all your experiences or just work experiences? I'm a little confused about the wording of the question.
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yes, its part of the mstp portion of the application. i put everything relevant to my mstp profile regardless of whether or not there was compensation involved.
 
KingHourGlass said:
I have a small problem. I over read a question on the secondary. It was asking if I worked for compensation during school. I should have clicked yes but I didn't. On my primary it shows my employment. Do y'all think it's worthwhile emailing them about it or nah.
Click to expand...

If asked, you might say you misinterpreted the question, but don't send a letter or email. That said, are they strictly asking about working while you were enrolled in classes or are we expected to include our summers?
 
the application says upload a passport style picture, does that mean it needs to be a white background? or would a professional picture of me near my poster presentation be enough? with the poster cutout of course
 
FionaDoctortoHopefullyBe said:
the application says upload a passport style picture, does that mean it needs to be a white background? or would a professional picture of me near my poster presentation be enough? with the poster cutout of course
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As long as they can clearly see your face you are fine. i Used my graduation picture.
 
Lamegane said:
As long as they can clearly see your face you are fine. i Used my graduation picture.
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Bad advice. Highly recommend a passport style photo. Shirt + tie. solid background. Well lit. Not a selfie. Not a graduation photo. No hats. etc

Something you would see in a residency photo
 
When does Columbia generally start sending out IIs?
 
pramsotingz said:
Anyone else still waiting on a secondary? I was verified 6/28.
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Would also recommend checking with the admissions office. I hadn't gotten mine even though I had been verified for a month. So I called and they said they had sent it, but I never got that email. They sent it again and then I was able to access it. You might have the same issue.
 
Happy Duck said:
Would also recommend checking with the admissions office. I hadn't gotten mine even though I had been verified for a month. So I called and they said they had sent it, but I never got that email. They sent it again and then I was able to access it. You might have the same issue.
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I emailed them and has the same issue. Thanks!
 
Really curious about how y'all handled the urban question. Im done but my SO is not feeling my reply for the first time so I'm beginning to doubt how I went about answering the prompt. Also, any current/admitted student willing to chime in???
 
No need to worry about it. You already submitted.
 
BlackOrthoSurg said:
Really curious about how y'all handled the urban question. Im done but my SO is not feeling my reply for the first time so I'm beginning to doubt how I went about answering the prompt. Also, any current/admitted student willing to chime in???
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I chose to focus on one potential difficulty I'd have in the city (language barriers), structured around a personal story from the last time I visited (did not grow up in a large city lol). Hopefully it worked...
 
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but where do you find the "Technical Standard" requirements?
 
BlackOrthoSurg said:
Really curious about how y'all handled the urban question. Im done but my SO is not feeling my reply for the first time so I'm beginning to doubt how I went about answering the prompt. Also, any current/admitted student willing to chime in???
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I feel like as long as its real and true to you, theres no right answer. I think the hidden agenda of that prompt is testing introspective abilities.
 
Did people just list their ECs for the 400 character question? Can't fit everything with a short a description. I apologize in advance if this has already been answered!
 
contigoamigo said:
Did people just list their ECs for the 400 character question? Can't fit everything with a short a description. I apologize in advance if this has already been answered!
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Thankfully I graduated such a long time ago, I couldn't remember half of mine. I still had a hard time putting any descriptions for the two I could remember...
 
I can't remember if I already posted this, but I'm really interested in the Columbia-Bassett program. Are there any current students here who are familiar with it and could talk with me more (through PM or something)?
 
Sorry - second question (I will email as well, but thought someone here might know). I'm doing my own DIY post-baccalaureate course work. Does that count as an official post bac premedical program?
 
DBC03 said:
Sorry - second question (I will email as well, but thought someone here might know). I'm doing my own DIY post-baccalaureate course work. Does that count as an official post bac premedical program?
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I was wondering the same thing. Their questions seem more tailored toward formal programs (my program doesn't really have a name or completion date...it's just me taking classes).

I'm thinking about just listing "Informal postbacc work completed at (name of university)" in that space.
 
Terry Toma said:
I was wondering the same thing. Their questions seem more tailored toward formal programs (my program doesn't really have a name or completion date...it's just me taking classes).

I'm thinking about just listing "Informal postbacc work completed at (name of university)" in that space.
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I emailed them tonight (since I always forget to call the next day). I'll update with what I find out.
 
Has anyone clarified if "collegiate" implies activities related to your university + how it is best to format this section?
 
Saifa said:
Has anyone clarified if "collegiate" implies activities related to your university + how it is best to format this section?
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I called and they were adamant that this is ONLY from college. She specifically said that you can talk about all of your other extracurricular activities outside of college in the post-college essay. It sounds like they're getting this question a lot. I hope that helps!
 
DBC03 said:
I called and they were adamant that this is ONLY from college. She specifically said that you can talk about all of your other extracurricular activities outside of college in the post-college essay. It sounds like they're getting this question a lot. I hope that helps!
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Right, but does that include things I did during college but aren't "college things?"

Fake example: climbed Mt. Everest during sophomore year

Thanks!
 
Saifa said:
Right, but does that include things I did during college but aren't "college things?"

Fake example: climbed Mt. Everest during sophomore year

Thanks!
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Ah, No idea. I say add it. Collegiate could be referring to you (you were a collegiate and you engaged in activities).
 
Terry Toma said:
I was wondering the same thing. Their questions seem more tailored toward formal programs (my program doesn't really have a name or completion date...it's just me taking classes).

I'm thinking about just listing "Informal postbacc work completed at (name of university)" in that space.
Click to expand...

They told me that you should put "NO" as the answer if you are in a DIY or informal post-bac. It must just be for "official" post-bac programs. Hope that helps!
 
DBC03 said:
They told me that you should put "NO" as the answer if you are in a DIY or informal post-bac. It must just be for "official" post-bac programs. Hope that helps!
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Cool. Thanks for passing that along!
 
I had a quick question I was hoping someone might be able to answer! I just recently graduated in May, so my activities during the 2017-18 academic year and what I have done in the interim since graduating college, are exactly the same. Any suggestions on how I should handle this? I tried to think if I could find a way to separate, but they really are going to be identical lol
 
kendall24 said:
I had a quick question I was hoping someone might be able to answer! I just recently graduated in May, so my activities during the 2017-18 academic year and what I have done in the interim since graduating college, are exactly the same. Any suggestions on how I should handle this? I tried to think if I could find a way to separate, but they really are going to be identical lol
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They probably want to be sure you aren't sitting around, so you could explain that you will be continuing x, y, z activities for the year.


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