2023-2024 Columbia (Vagelos)

[chilly_md]

2023-2024 Columbia (Vagelos) Secondary Essay Prompts:

1. Have you previously applied to Medical School? Comments: (200 characters)

2. If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)

3. Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)

4. If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)

5. Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)

6. Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)

7. Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)

For MSTP Applicants:

What academic honors have you received (e.g., prizes, scholarships, fellowships, honor societies)? (1000 words)
What are your major research interests? (20 words)
PhD Goals (1000 words)
Additional Information (1000 words)
Upload CV
There's also an "Experiences" section similar in format to the Work/Activities section of the AMCAS (no word limit)

Good luck to everyone applying!

Interview feedback:

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[notanorthobro]

Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)
Is a covid essay here fine?

 

[doc_doc_goose]

Please post prompts if you have them!

 

[Tic_Tac Lover]

Got the secondary yesterday, but it doesn't show the option to select or see secondary prompts, just an area to submit prereq coursework. Anyone else figure out how to navigate to the prompts?

 

[pablo213]

Got the secondary yesterday, but it doesn't show the option to select or see secondary prompts, just an area to submit prereq coursework. Anyone else figure out how to navigate to the prompts?

Still waiting to get secondary tbh

 

[pleasantpeanut4]

Got the secondary yesterday, but it doesn't show the option to select or see secondary prompts, just an area to submit prereq coursework. Anyone else figure out how to navigate to the prompts?

Random question but are prereqs broken up into lab and course? Also do any other secondaries ask you to fill out coursework? I’m tired of filling out classes lol

 

[longstoryshorty]

Secondary received! Here are the prompts: @chilly_md

Have you previously applied to Medical School? Comments: (200 characters)

If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)

Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)

If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)

Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)

Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)

Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)

 

[potatoe79]

I got a secondary invite, despite my application not yet being verified. How is this even possible?

 

[limoncito]

I got a secondary invite, despite my application not yet being verified. How is this even possible?

same here lmao i thought it was a scam but is not 😭

 

[Ajtbs06]

Secondary Received, OOS

 

[potatoe79]

same here lmao i thought it was a scam but is not 😭

My whole understanding of how the system works is rocked, haha. AMCAS apparently does send our information before we are verified?! So confused.

 

[limoncito]

My whole understanding of how the system works is rocked, haha. AMCAS apparently does send our information before we are verified?! So confused.

Dude for real, I haven't even pre written secondaries because I was waiting to take my MCAT first, this caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting any secondaries this month AT ALL.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My whole understanding of how the system works is rocked, haha. AMCAS apparently does send our information before we are verified?! So confused.

Yes, except your calculated GPAs.

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[Mr.Smile12]

Dude for real, I haven't even pre written secondaries because I was waiting to take my MCAT first, this caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting any secondaries this month AT ALL.

You have to start early. Read

Write Your Secondary Essays First - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

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[simonbian]

Same here.. not verified (submit primary like 3 days ago or not..)

 

[riolustan]

does everyone get a secondary? haha can't imagine theyre pre-screening unverified apps (IS secondary received!)

 

[ranmasaotome]

Anyone get MD PhD yet(

 

[ranmasaotome]

Welp, never mind, just got mine oos

 

[opabiniafan]

+1 OOS secondary

 

[augustfifther]

+1 OOS secondary. Anybody else having trouble with the CV upload? It loads forever even though it says it uploads and then it won't let me save. When I try to upload again, it says I can only upload one file, but it's not marked as complete so I cannot submit my entire secondary.

 

[simp4levi]

what kind of CV do we have to upload? like our resume?? it's so repetitive lmao

 

[lbj019]

are yall writing why us for additional q?

 

[limoncito]

You have to start early. Read

Write Your Secondary Essays First - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

I know that, I haven't had time to work on it with working full time and taking my MCAT by the end of July. It's been super rough. I was just making a comment.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I know that, I haven't had time to work on it with working full time and taking my MCAT by the end of July. It's been super rough. I was just making a comment.

Understood. You can make it work.

 

[bdizzle646]

+1 IS + columbia grad school

 

[pablo213]

+1 OOS

 

[diamond82q]

+1 OOS Secondary without verification... wondering if it's legit? And if I submit before verification will it mess anything up?

 

[Drainnn]

+1 OOS Secondary without verification... wondering if it's legit? And if I submit before verification will it mess anything up?

I asked this question to admissions and they said that they are not going to review the application until you are verified and they also said a two week turnaround was preferred as well when asked.

 

[DataDiva]

OOS Secondary (MSTP) received.

 

[DataDiva]

Anyone get MD PhD yet(

Received one this morning (I applied MD/PhD).

 

[pokjoko]

Is the CV optional? I feel as though my CV will be mostly redundant and will not add much to my application

 

[Labe]

Is the CV optional? I feel as though my CV will be mostly redundant and will not add much to my application

Don't believe it is optional. It's inevitable that it's redundant but they might use it at the interview stage or something like that to provide interviewers with a shorter rundown of your activities.

 

[adnwastaken]

Is it worth doing a "why us" essay for the "anything else" section. I always am undecided when it comes to top schools since it's pretty obvious why you are applying there. Is there anything else that anyone is using the "anything else" section for?

 

[360noscope]

+1 OOS secondary received. Not verified yet, however.

 

[248pinkalicious]

+1 IS

 

[hatuey]

Received one this morning (I applied MD/PhD).

Could you post the MD/PhD questions? Thank you!

 

[toastedbutter]

Anyone applying Bassett?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Is it worth doing a "why us" essay for the "anything else" section. I always am undecided when it comes to top schools since it's pretty obvious why you are applying there. Is there anything else that anyone is using the "anything else" section for?

Number 6 provides a chance to advocate for your fit. You could use number 7 for "why their school".

 

[ranmasaotome]

Received one this morning (I applied MD/PhD).

Did you figure out what the Experiences section was for? It said work in one field which confused me

 

[Helenchoran]

Hello - is anyone else having the issue of not being able to upload their CV?

I tried multiple browsers / document types and contacting Zap Solutions but have had no luck. Unfortunately, it will not let me submit my application without Uploading a CV (the error is "Document type is limited to 1 per application").

 

[Helenchoran]

+1 OOS secondary. Anybody else having trouble with the CV upload? It loads forever even though it says it uploads and then it won't let me save. When I try to upload again, it says I can only upload one file, but it's not marked as complete so I cannot submit my entire secondary.

Yes me too! have you figured it out?

 

[DataDiva]

Did you figure out what the Experiences section was for? It said work in one field which confused me

No I haven't, just opened up the application today and TBH I am confused as well. I was going to look back at last year's thread to see if anyone mentioned anything and then email if I am still unsure.

 

[Aberjo]

For Q5, are you guys doing multiple meaningful positions or one? It's plural in the question, but I feel it'll be better if I just focus on one.

 

[doughnutcommerical]

For Q5, are you guys doing multiple meaningful positions or one? It's plural in the question, but I feel it'll be better if I just focus on one.

I only focused on one - I felt it was more meaningful to reflect on my actions/growth in detail that more superficially over multiple

 

[griffinfly]

For Q5, are you guys doing multiple meaningful positions or one? It's plural in the question, but I feel it'll be better if I just focus on one.

I chose to do two so I could get kinda in depth on both of them but still have multiple since they did say positions

 

[procrastinating_cheetah]

OOS Secondary (MSTP) received.

Would you be willing to share the prompts?

 

[augustfifther]

Yes me too! have you figured it out?

Sorry for the late response. I emailed them and had them remove the CV I uploaded and then tried again. It worked on Google Chrome just fine after that. Good luck!

 

[dhsy]

I applied to medical schools last cycle but this is my first time applying to Columbia. Should I answer the first question- "Have you previously applied to Medical School?" as a yes or no?

 

[limoncito]

I applied to medical schools last cycle but this is my first time applying to Columbia. Should I answer the first question- "Have you previously applied to Medical School?" as a yes or no?

Yes, this question is general, not only to Columbia. So probably you could focus your answer on what you learn and why you are applying again, etc?

 

[coolcookie24]

Could you post the MD/PhD questions? Thank you!

Not OP but the MSTP questions are:

What academic honors have you received (e.g., prizes, scholarships, fellowships, honor societies)? (1000 words)

What are your major research interests? (20 words)

PhD Goals (1000 words)

Additional Information (1000 words)

Upload CV

There's also an "Experiences" section similar in format to the Work/Activities section of the AMCAS (no word limit)

@chilly_md