Columbia Wait List

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I just wonder what is going to happen to a shmuck like me. I mean - I haven't even gotten a second interview -- I called once and talked to Dean F. but nothing else after that. I don't know that my chances are very good and if I should just withdraw.
 
Have anyone's recommenders gotten thank you letters from the admissions office?
 
Yeah, one of them that I know of. Probably doesn't mean much though.
 
yeah, my additional recommenders got thank you notes.
 
I talked to Dean Frantz today.
He said the waitlist has been moving slowly but he seemed confident that they will be taking people off the waitlist, similar to the past.
Also, i am nmot sure if this general knowledge but the waitlist is somewhat ranked into high, middle, and low. those on the high end seem to have a high chance of getting in. If you call, he will actually, tell you where on the list you are.
 
Originally posted by tekram
I talked to Dean Frantz today.
He said the waitlist has been moving slowly but he seemed confident that they will be taking people off the waitlist, similar to the past.
Also, i am nmot sure if this general knowledge but the waitlist is somewhat ranked into high, middle, and low. those on the high end seem to have a high chance of getting in. If you call, he will actually, tell you where on the list you are.
Click to expand...

wow ----- well, i guess that is worth another call to ask, i called the last time on the 19th...... but my correspondence from them indicates that the waitlist is unranked. and i dont think my additional recommenders have gotten anything.
 
Hey guys, we're still rooting for ya! Obviously don't call every day but if you haven't talked/called/written recently I think showing continued interest does weigh heavily with Dean Frantz's decisions.
 
Hey guys! Today is the happiest day ever for me, I got the call!!! I am sooooo happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for all the tips, support, news and the shoulders to cry on - I sincerely hope you will all join me at Columbia next year!! I am innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Wow-congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of all people, I'm truly glad you got in. Have a great weekend!!!
 
CONGRATS INTL!!!! I am soo incredibly happy for you! 😀

You deserve it! Go party!
 
Thank you so much guys!!! I am soooo happy, you all know I 😍 Columbia!
 
congratulations!!!! i'll see you there next year
 
woohoo IntlMD07...I will see you there!!!
 
Merlin, I can't wait to meet you, I was sooooo jealous when you got in!!!! Thank you Saiyaman!
 
Congrats!! 🙂 I'll see ya next year 🙂 🙂
 
congrats INTL...

I on the other hand--- called and asked and Dean F. told me my chances for admission were minimal at this point.
 
for the benefit of those still on the waitlist, what did those who got off the waitlist do to improve their chances?
also, once they made you an offer did they let you know what time frame they will let you know in regards in financial aid.

congrats intl!
 
Yeah...tell us your secrets!

Jm-sorry to hear the news, but at least you know now. Any other prospects?
 
Jmwalker, really sorry to hear that, but there is still NYU right?

To demografix and tekram, I am convinced that it is the luck of the draw. I don't think I deserve this more than anyone of you guys do or that I have done anything incredible that you haven't. I know that I have had a very good letter from my pre-med advisor, who is wonderful, and that I have a very strong sincere wish to attend this school above anywhere else because of the opportunities in international medicine/ public health and the p&s clubs.

To those who compute the presence of hand written notes at the bottom of letters: for the record I never got a hand written comment. I did get replies to all except for my last two letters. I think in the end I sent 4 or 5 and called twice. He did mention how much he appreciates that people show interest in the school, and that the second interview was "most helpful."

If I can help to anyone, either now or to ppl reading this forum at a later date, PM me, I would love to answer any questions you might have. This thread has been a wonderful source of information and support for me and I truly wish the best of luck to all of you. Either at Columbia or elsewhere I am sure we will all be great doctors someday!!
:clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Congratulations, Merlin and Intl!!! :clap: :clap:

See you guys in AUGUST!! 😀 ( :scared: )
 
Congrats IntlMD! Glad to see it all pay off...
Drop me a PM whenever you get a chance.


And sorry to hear jm -- You'll kick a__ some other fine place.

CycloneDub
 
I sent three things total. One thank you note to my interviewer. Two letters of interest (not intent) one post interview, one post waitlist. In my last letter I asked for a second interview with Frantz. This is basically what I sent to all of the schools that I was really interested in. Don't know what was different at Columbia but I am so happy for whatever it was. I got no handwritten comments on anything sent to me, but I did get a reply to every piece of mail I sent them.

I agree that it is completely the luck of the draw. I wanted to go to Columbia mostly because of the location and because I have a strong interest in academic medicine. I also am in to the P+S club. I like the fact that the Columbia atmosphere encourages people to continue to develop their non-academic interests as well as their medical interests.

I can't thank everyone on this forum enough. I would have never even asked for a second interview had I not been reading the old waitlist success stories on SDN. This has been a long and miserable process. Everyone told me that it would work out in the end and that in most cases people end up at a school that really fits them well. Although I had never really pictured myself in NYC, I really think that it will be the perfect thing for me and I am really looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life!
 
Still a great thread to read....A congrats again to you guys pulled from the waitlist. INTL - there could be NYU, if they pull me from the waitlist, and there is always Drexel where I have an acceptance right now. I am also waitlisted at Temple - but haven't shown them any interest at all since the Drexel acceptance and will withdraw. I didn't apply to enough schools, but that is water under the bridge now. I'll still be me wherever I go.

It was a funny conversation, my mom and I laughed about it later.... I asked what my chances were and he said really minimal at this point, let's be realistic, and then he said - I would go agead and sign that lease (because I said there was a lease up on a place I liked near Drexel). I just wish the people at NYU would be this candid and prompt. If you think about it, they would have a lot less people calling and pestering them if they were, because you could eliminate callers right and left... Sorry for the rant there.
 
that's strange...did you call friday, jw? I tried calling thursday and friday and they told me he was out of the office til monday. hopefully they're not giving me the run-around :-(
 
🙁 I called on Friday afternoon too and they said Dean Frantz was out. I guess I'll just try back Monday morning.
 
Hey Intl,

Congrats on your recent acceptance! Are you going to withdraw all your applications now? I am curious to know what he said to you when he called you. Did he ask you to withdraw your applications in order for you to accept a position at P&S? In any case, I wish you the very best! Well done.
 
I haven't been posting on this thread, but I have been following the drama for a couple months now. Just want to throw out a congrats to Intl, Merlin, and others who have made it, and say hang in there to those who are still waiting - it seems like things are starting to move now.
Good work everyone.
 
I called at 12:20 fri afternoon. Guess he was available to tell people their chances were minimal. 😉 😀
 
From previous experience, keep trying. He seems to be in and out a lot, and into interviews a lot too. He called me at 12:25 on friday, so he was there, or called from home (unavailable ID).

Promethius, my second interview buddy, he asked if I was still interested and I am like, yeah, it is my first choice. And then he said something along the lines of let's drop the formalities and say that you are accepted. I don't remember much after that, I was literally shaking... soooo nervous! I haven't withdrawn from Tulane yet, I will write the letter as soon as I have my official P&S acceptance letter in my hand.

Good luck to all!

Always rooting for you guys,
IntlMD
 
What does this mean? I called today to find out about where I was on the waitlist and Dean Frantz basically said what he said to me two weeks ago...

"The waitlist has been moving slower than we expected this year...tell you the truth, I don't really know where you are on the waitlist...but you're still under very active consideration...give me a call back in about two weeks, and I'll have a better idea then..."
 
That's certainly not a bad response!
 
also, do you know how long it takes calumbia after giving you an offer to give you your financial aid package?
 
Originally posted by lilywhites
What does this mean? I called today to find out about where I was on the waitlist and Dean Frantz basically said what he said to me two weeks ago...

"The waitlist has been moving slower than we expected this year...tell you the truth, I don't really know where you are on the waitlist...but you're still under very active consideration...give me a call back in about two weeks, and I'll have a better idea then..."
Click to expand...

better than being told your chances are minimal!😉
 
Originally posted by tekram
also, do you know how long it takes calumbia after giving you an offer to give you your financial aid package?
Click to expand...

After filing the laborious application, it comes rather quickly. I even called and got an email of the details of my package.
 
called today...

"waitlist movement is still slow...not sure if people still plan to withdraw...i can't tell you your chances are optimistic right now or pessimistic.. it's a struggle because people want to hear good news but you don't want to set them up for dissappointment, but also if you tell them their chances are slim they may give up mentally and commit irrevocably to another school...waitlist is still not ranked...still keep you very much in consideration.."

basically nothing helpful.
 
i don't really understand this waitlist process... so if a spot does become available, do they just pick out of a hat? in other words, how do they make their decisions without ranking their applicants?
 
From what I hear, Dr. Frantz hand picks the class. I guess he has a couple of people in mind and then just picks one when a spot opens. Who knows.
 
they also take into consideration trying to maintain a "diverse class" -- so when one student withdraws they might try to take another that provides similar demographics or has similar interests to the one that they lost.
 
wow, i think this is the longest stretch i've been away from student doctor. been busy with graduation stuff with my gf. still a few days away, but been packing in lots of hang out time.. =D

i guess it still is relativley early, so we should all keep pushing and hoping that things will work out. hang in there everyone!
 
Well, 6/3 has come and gone without my even noticing. Se la vie. Without IntlMD, we'll have to make more of an effort to keep this page on top. What else is there to talk about? Who's the next volunteer to call and harass the admissions office?
 
no worries guys. the list will keep moving. more people on sdn will get get in by the time august rolls around.
 
It is true that it's just the 4th day in June; more people will receive acceptances.

I got another letter from Dr. Frantz in response to one of my letters, saying he hadn't forgotten about us.
 
Putting this one at the top. Still interested in the progress.
 
so, I have also been waiting to hear from Columbia, but my situation is a little different from everyone else's here, as I am applying to transfer. I interviewed a couple weeks ago, and thought things went ok. Dr. Frantz asked me if I would go to Columbia if admitted, and I told him how it was definitely my top choice. However, the interview ended, and I didn't get an offer on the spot.

At this point, I am depressed because I am almost certain I will not be offered a spot. 🙁 I called the office today, and asked if they could tell me when I might expect a decision, and they said I would receive something in the mail by monday. Since I haven't received a call from Dr. Frantz, and I'm pretty sure they don't call on the weekends, I'm guessing this means I will be seeing a big fat rejection in the mail in a few days, since everyone who gets in seems to get a personal call.

I know you guys are applying for admission to first year, so it's not really the same thing, but I have been reading this thread for awhile and have gotten lots of inspiration from it. Thanks to everyone who has shared their stories, and good luck to everyone still waiting - I hope everyone achieves their dream.
 
zpdoc,

until you have that rejection letter in hand, i wouldn't give up hope. let's face it, most of us posting here have no chance, but it's nice to dream while we can...

i'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
 
Hi everyone. Well, it looks like I spoke one day too soon. I just got the call from Dr. Frantz about 30 minutes ago, and my head is still spinning. I can't believe I got in! Thanks to demografix for the kind words, and keep believing everyone!
 
Wohoooooo Zpdoc!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That confirms my theory - he does call on Fridays!!! Good luck next Friday everyone!!!!
 
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