columbia application- what can you send?

[valliumv]

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Hi everybody-
I thought I was done with the Columbia app when I called the admissions office and the secretary(?) told me that many applicants attach a longer personal statement to their application.

What are you guys doing? What have Columbia applicants done in the past? Is there anything else, like high school education or AP credits, etc., that I should add to the application?

Basically, what will the admissions committed be willing to look at and what will they be annoyed by?

Thank you 🙂

 

[Sirworksalot]

i just posted a similar question. so did the secretary say that we should upload our amcas personal statement?

 

[Eraserhead]

Wow, I sent my application to them back in June, and I shortened my AMCAS statement to fit into their space. I would love to know if this is indeed true, so that I could possibly send in my full statement to supplement the one I already sent them. Well, actually, its probably too late for me... but what is the actual policy?

Kevin

 

[SistaKaren]

Well, if it makes anyone feel better -- I didn't submit anything extra to Columbia but I'm starting there in a few weeks. So I dunno how much it'll help you. If you want to, you should. But I wouldn't worry about it.

I ended up attaching some stuff about my minor (social and economic justice) along with some more information about a few classes I took. But I didn't attach another personal statement or anything...

 

[In2bate2]

CV, activity sheet, etc.

 

[valliumv]

the secretary was not very clear and very very curt. I dont' know what she really meant-- she told me: "dont' write a book, but send what you think will help your application"

thats why I was hoping others might have some insight about what to send.

thanks

 

[raincrew]

yeah i just sent in an activity sheet a la AMCAS to clarify stuff.

 

[Urotsukidoji1]

I am new to this site. can someone please tell me what a secondary is?

 

[valliumv]

secondaries are applications are the ones medical schools send you directly after having screened your primary application, which is generally the one provided by the americal medical college application service (AMCAS).

 

[ERMudPhud]

I think I already applied to this thread on another forum but anyway. When I applied to Columbia and ultimately ended up going there I don't remember sending in an extra page of personal statement. In fact they gave us back our personal statement when we graduated and mine all fit on one page.
Don't bother with high school AP and stuff like that but if Dr. Franz is still in charge of admissions mention any background you have in music, theater, or rugby. These are personal interests of his and the perception is that people with these interests were somewhat overrepresented in the class. One of my classmates halfjokingly claimed to have put college rugby coach on his CV when he didn't know a thing about rugby.