How do you fee about Columbia? Is it worth the money? Is is very competitive? Is there a lot of favoritism, cheating? I am really interested but I don't want to make a decision with rose-tinted glasses on. Please answer
StarGirl - Please answer
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How do you feel about Columbia?
Don't really know what you want from this....
Is it worth the money?
Don't know, I'm not spending my own money... and I haven't had to pay it back yet so really, I have no idea... but I would say it is since I'm here.
Is is very competitive?
Yes and No.
It's competitive because EVERYONE here's freakishly smart (minus me...) and everyone wants to do their best
No, because we (some of us) try to help each other out as much as possible, you can always get advice from upperclassmen... almost (if not all) of our classmmates share...
Is there a lot of favoritism, cheating?
Favortisim? From what I hear... girls have advantage first two years...guys the last two...actually i really don't know... but on written exams there's really no way you can have favoritism... lab classes I would say so, because you can have certain profs grade your stuff (so it works in your advantage and disadvantage...). There's very little cheating (if there are any...i think). There's really no reason to cheat anymore... basically, you're going to make it out of here w/ a degree if you're breathing and studying some.
I think if any Columbia students could talk about what they like and what they don't like, that would be great.
Likes: exploring the city, syllbus, cool classmmates, cool upperclassmen, lots of free time first year (but still hard exams), 3rd year (which I can't wait for), we can print out everything on line...like old released exams etc cause my class has worked hard to compile and put the stuff up to be shared, can't get better than 600ish rent in Manhattan (w/ view), you'll know a lot of OMFS (at least I will since it seems like 1/2 my class wants to do that), almost everyone's really intelligent, lots of cool non-dental students as well...[the austronut guy from britney spear's oops i did it again video's in the med school here, so is jenny thompson (olympic swimmer)], option of getting DDS/MBA and/or DDS/MPH, everything's a subway ride away (times sq is about 20-30 mins), there's always impovements and they listen to the students and try to do what's best for us...even if it's the smallest things like changing our print quota at the library to the P/F system, lots of social events [free food!!!], 9AM classes!! (and most of us only lives 2 mins away)
Dislikes: really hard exams but it's curved (you take the same exams as med students, but it's curved seperately), it's dental school...it's not going to be easy anywhere, living way UPTOWN (hey but at least it's less distractions), it's cold in the winters and hot in the summers...it might be hard to adjust, sometimes our classes get changed [schelduling times/room changes] and if this happens you have to be on top of it [if you go to lectures], getting the feeling from SOME med profs that we're idiots and not being aknowledge we're in the class... but yet "they think we're smart and can handle med school material w/o dummying stuff for us" (quote from my friend)
Also, how is the transition to P/F? Love it...wish it was this way first yr.
*everyone says that columbia isn't very clinical... our curriculum is changing to incorporate going into clinics earlier and also, mostlikely you're not going to be doing much lab work anyways 1. you'll [probably] specialize 2. you'll send your crowns and stuff to the lab of your choice... so it's better to have a great understand of what you're looking for and what's the best treatment option for your patients.... but you're still going to learn EVERYTHING you need to have an efficent and functional practice.
There's always times when you're going to be stressed, and times when you're going to HATE being a dental student regardless of what school you're at but you want to be where you'll be the most comfortable, happy and where you feel you'll do your best at.
*if i had to do it all over again would i still have choosen Columbia? Definately.
hmm i hope this makes sense, i kept going back and forth b/n things...(but fragments are never easy to read...) and i'm sleepy so if i think of anything else i'll let you guys know.
uh oh sdn's not working...
Don't really know what you want from this....
Is it worth the money?
Don't know, I'm not spending my own money... and I haven't had to pay it back yet so really, I have no idea... but I would say it is since I'm here.
Is is very competitive?
Yes and No.
It's competitive because EVERYONE here's freakishly smart (minus me...) and everyone wants to do their best
No, because we (some of us) try to help each other out as much as possible, you can always get advice from upperclassmen... almost (if not all) of our classmmates share...
Is there a lot of favoritism, cheating?
Favortisim? From what I hear... girls have advantage first two years...guys the last two...actually i really don't know... but on written exams there's really no way you can have favoritism... lab classes I would say so, because you can have certain profs grade your stuff (so it works in your advantage and disadvantage...). There's very little cheating (if there are any...i think). There's really no reason to cheat anymore... basically, you're going to make it out of here w/ a degree if you're breathing and studying some.
I think if any Columbia students could talk about what they like and what they don't like, that would be great.
Likes: exploring the city, syllbus, cool classmmates, cool upperclassmen, lots of free time first year (but still hard exams), 3rd year (which I can't wait for), we can print out everything on line...like old released exams etc cause my class has worked hard to compile and put the stuff up to be shared, can't get better than 600ish rent in Manhattan (w/ view), you'll know a lot of OMFS (at least I will since it seems like 1/2 my class wants to do that), almost everyone's really intelligent, lots of cool non-dental students as well...[the austronut guy from britney spear's oops i did it again video's in the med school here, so is jenny thompson (olympic swimmer)], option of getting DDS/MBA and/or DDS/MPH, everything's a subway ride away (times sq is about 20-30 mins), there's always impovements and they listen to the students and try to do what's best for us...even if it's the smallest things like changing our print quota at the library to the P/F system, lots of social events [free food!!!], 9AM classes!! (and most of us only lives 2 mins away)
Dislikes: really hard exams but it's curved (you take the same exams as med students, but it's curved seperately), it's dental school...it's not going to be easy anywhere, living way UPTOWN (hey but at least it's less distractions), it's cold in the winters and hot in the summers...it might be hard to adjust, sometimes our classes get changed [schelduling times/room changes] and if this happens you have to be on top of it [if you go to lectures], getting the feeling from SOME med profs that we're idiots and not being aknowledge we're in the class... but yet "they think we're smart and can handle med school material w/o dummying stuff for us" (quote from my friend)
Also, how is the transition to P/F? Love it...wish it was this way first yr.
*everyone says that columbia isn't very clinical... our curriculum is changing to incorporate going into clinics earlier and also, mostlikely you're not going to be doing much lab work anyways 1. you'll [probably] specialize 2. you'll send your crowns and stuff to the lab of your choice... so it's better to have a great understand of what you're looking for and what's the best treatment option for your patients.... but you're still going to learn EVERYTHING you need to have an efficent and functional practice.
There's always times when you're going to be stressed, and times when you're going to HATE being a dental student regardless of what school you're at but you want to be where you'll be the most comfortable, happy and where you feel you'll do your best at.
*if i had to do it all over again would i still have choosen Columbia? Definately.
hmm i hope this makes sense, i kept going back and forth b/n things...(but fragments are never easy to read...) and i'm sleepy so if i think of anything else i'll let you guys know.
uh oh sdn's not working...
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Thanks StarGirl, that's really helpful. When I interviewed there, it seemed like the first years were very happy with the transition to P/F and the dental school overall.
So who are the class of 08 Columbians????
Anyone decided yet?
Anyone decided yet?
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the only reason i would have went to Penn was to have been w/ my b/f... but i'm totally glad it didn't work out that way (we both were wait listed at the time... I had turned them down...and two weeks or so later he was accepted the same day he was accepted to ucla so it was definately the best choice...) Other than that I don't know much about Penn to give you any advice.
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Hello. stargirl
I wish you can answer some of my question about columia. I currently got accepted to coulmbia and some other schools, and it is really tough choice to make so far. I am orginally from korea, but live in cali for more than 10 years. I am really worried that i might fail to adopt to new environment in new york. did you say that you are originally from california? How was it for you to adopt to NY life. Also when i interviewed there, i got an impression that columbia dental school expect thier students to study extremly hard. Is it doable? Is there any students failing? Do you have any time to relax? maybe time for workout, doing some fun stuffs? Ah, and how much do you spend for living expenses? according to financial aid handbook that i got from columbia indicates that approximately 13000-16000 per year is enough. Is this true? I heard that everything in NY is ridiculously expensive compare to Cali. One last thing,, do you have any regret choosing columbia over californian school? I got accepted to Loma linda, columbia, tufts, unlv and others, and those 4 are the schools that i really care about now. If you have any preferences about ranks, plz let me know about that too.
I wish you can answer some of my question about columia. I currently got accepted to coulmbia and some other schools, and it is really tough choice to make so far. I am orginally from korea, but live in cali for more than 10 years. I am really worried that i might fail to adopt to new environment in new york. did you say that you are originally from california? How was it for you to adopt to NY life. Also when i interviewed there, i got an impression that columbia dental school expect thier students to study extremly hard. Is it doable? Is there any students failing? Do you have any time to relax? maybe time for workout, doing some fun stuffs? Ah, and how much do you spend for living expenses? according to financial aid handbook that i got from columbia indicates that approximately 13000-16000 per year is enough. Is this true? I heard that everything in NY is ridiculously expensive compare to Cali. One last thing,, do you have any regret choosing columbia over californian school? I got accepted to Loma linda, columbia, tufts, unlv and others, and those 4 are the schools that i really care about now. If you have any preferences about ranks, plz let me know about that too.
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Hello. stargirl
I wish you can answer some of my question about columia. I currently got accepted to coulmbia and some other schools, and it is really tough choice to make so far. I am orginally from korea, but live in cali for more than 10 years. I am really worried that i might fail to adopt to new environment in new york. did you say that you are originally from california?
...Yup
How was it for you to adopt to NY life.
...It was ok at first, then it got really really cold...then it was harder, but then you learn to make snowballs and then it becomes ok... then you learn to accept it
Also when i interviewed there, i got an impression that columbia dental school expect thier students to study extremly hard. Is it doable?
...I guess first year was doable since i'm here, I hope the rest of the 3 years are as well... which I'm sure it is since a ton of other people have done it.
Is there any students failing?
...I don't know, I only know my own grades. Most of the time you can make it up w/ other exams or retake some
Do you have any time to relax?
...first year there was a lot more time...this year, i've been watching a lot more tv rather than going out cause there's not as much time to do things but you still need to balance your life.
maybe time for workout, doing some fun stuffs?
...a lot of people find time to workout... i am too lazy to do such thing 🙂 I'm a broadway fanatic... so when i have time money and someone to go w/ I try to see something....
Ah, and how much do you spend for living expenses?
...My spending isn't much... all i spend my money on is food...and online shopping once in a blue moon.
according to financial aid handbook that i got from columbia indicates that approximately 13000-16000 per year is enough. Is this true?
...I don't know, you do the math, my rent is about 600/650 a month. I probably spend less than 20 bucks on transportation this yr... (last year maybe 40ish a month) and then food. You just learn to manage w/ what you have.
I heard that everything in NY is ridiculously expensive compare to Cali.
...Not really. It's pretty much the same...
One last thing,, do you have any regret choosing columbia over californian school?
...Nope... I only got into USC (and was waitlisted at ucla and uop I finished my application really late and interviewed at both for their waitlist spots...). The only school I would have wanted to go to over columbia was ucla... I would have probably went to UOP or UCSF because of parental influences... School's hard no matter where you go... so make your choice wisely and live w/ it for the next 4 yrs 🙂
I got accepted to Loma linda, columbia, tufts, unlv and others, and those 4 are the schools that i really care about now. If you have any preferences about ranks, plz let me know about that too.
...If i had to choose b/n the other schools... i would rank Tufts>LomaLinda>unlv (but a lot of Cal-ians would tell you to stay in state...but that's all personal preference).
Good luck and i hope you make the right choice for yourself.
I wish you can answer some of my question about columia. I currently got accepted to coulmbia and some other schools, and it is really tough choice to make so far. I am orginally from korea, but live in cali for more than 10 years. I am really worried that i might fail to adopt to new environment in new york. did you say that you are originally from california?
...Yup
How was it for you to adopt to NY life.
...It was ok at first, then it got really really cold...then it was harder, but then you learn to make snowballs and then it becomes ok... then you learn to accept it
Also when i interviewed there, i got an impression that columbia dental school expect thier students to study extremly hard. Is it doable?
...I guess first year was doable since i'm here, I hope the rest of the 3 years are as well... which I'm sure it is since a ton of other people have done it.
Is there any students failing?
...I don't know, I only know my own grades. Most of the time you can make it up w/ other exams or retake some
Do you have any time to relax?
...first year there was a lot more time...this year, i've been watching a lot more tv rather than going out cause there's not as much time to do things but you still need to balance your life.
maybe time for workout, doing some fun stuffs?
...a lot of people find time to workout... i am too lazy to do such thing 🙂 I'm a broadway fanatic... so when i have time money and someone to go w/ I try to see something....
Ah, and how much do you spend for living expenses?
...My spending isn't much... all i spend my money on is food...and online shopping once in a blue moon.
according to financial aid handbook that i got from columbia indicates that approximately 13000-16000 per year is enough. Is this true?
...I don't know, you do the math, my rent is about 600/650 a month. I probably spend less than 20 bucks on transportation this yr... (last year maybe 40ish a month) and then food. You just learn to manage w/ what you have.
I heard that everything in NY is ridiculously expensive compare to Cali.
...Not really. It's pretty much the same...
One last thing,, do you have any regret choosing columbia over californian school?
...Nope... I only got into USC (and was waitlisted at ucla and uop I finished my application really late and interviewed at both for their waitlist spots...). The only school I would have wanted to go to over columbia was ucla... I would have probably went to UOP or UCSF because of parental influences... School's hard no matter where you go... so make your choice wisely and live w/ it for the next 4 yrs 🙂
I got accepted to Loma linda, columbia, tufts, unlv and others, and those 4 are the schools that i really care about now. If you have any preferences about ranks, plz let me know about that too.
...If i had to choose b/n the other schools... i would rank Tufts>LomaLinda>unlv (but a lot of Cal-ians would tell you to stay in state...but that's all personal preference).
Good luck and i hope you make the right choice for yourself.
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thank you so much for replying my questions stargirl.
I wish you can answer few more questions for me...
can you afford single room for 650 per month? do you( and most of dental students) have roomate? and... Is there any classes that you recommended to take before to attend the columbia dental school?
I wish you can answer few more questions for me...
can you afford single room for 650 per month? do you( and most of dental students) have roomate? and... Is there any classes that you recommended to take before to attend the columbia dental school?
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thank you so much for replying my questions stargirl.
I wish you can answer few more questions for me...
can you afford single room for 650 per month?
...i guess i can since i'm doing it... they allot a sufficent amount in loans
do you( and most of dental students) have roomate?
you will have your own room in the school housing aka towers or bard hall (unless you live in georgian but somehow they usually still figure out a way to make it so everyone has their own room)
and... Is there any classes that you recommended to take before to attend the columbia dental school?
no, get some sleep, watch some tv cause soon you're not going to be doing much of it... but if you still have classes to take before you graduate i'll definately try to take relevant classes... physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, biochem, etc...but otherwise i wouldn't give myself extra work...you'll probably forget it all by the time you take the classes anyways.
I wish you can answer few more questions for me...
can you afford single room for 650 per month?
...i guess i can since i'm doing it... they allot a sufficent amount in loans
do you( and most of dental students) have roomate?
you will have your own room in the school housing aka towers or bard hall (unless you live in georgian but somehow they usually still figure out a way to make it so everyone has their own room)
and... Is there any classes that you recommended to take before to attend the columbia dental school?
no, get some sleep, watch some tv cause soon you're not going to be doing much of it... but if you still have classes to take before you graduate i'll definately try to take relevant classes... physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, biochem, etc...but otherwise i wouldn't give myself extra work...you'll probably forget it all by the time you take the classes anyways.
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StarGirl,
Do most first year dental students live in Bard Hall or in the towers? Is there an advantage to living in one over the other?
I"m guessing if you live in Bard Hall, you are forced to be on the meal plan? Is that expensive and crappy food like undergrad?
Also, I keep hearing this phrase "pre-clinic"-what does that mean and how does it apply to Columbia?
Thanks!!!! 🙂
Do most first year dental students live in Bard Hall or in the towers? Is there an advantage to living in one over the other?
I"m guessing if you live in Bard Hall, you are forced to be on the meal plan? Is that expensive and crappy food like undergrad?
Also, I keep hearing this phrase "pre-clinic"-what does that mean and how does it apply to Columbia?
Thanks!!!! 🙂
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hey Margocat,
there's currently no meal plan for the dorm (bard)... dental students live all over...bard, towers and georgian. Most people live in Bard teh first year then move to the towers...but it might be easier to just live inthe towers...
preclinic means before you go into the clinics...mainly preclinical courses...are the course you take to prep to work on real people
there's currently no meal plan for the dorm (bard)... dental students live all over...bard, towers and georgian. Most people live in Bard teh first year then move to the towers...but it might be easier to just live inthe towers...
preclinic means before you go into the clinics...mainly preclinical courses...are the course you take to prep to work on real people
