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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 15% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 471 responses
Score Reference:
9โ10 Exceptional8โ8.9 Very Good7โ7.9 Good6โ6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the areaโs cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
๐ฌ Interview Questions โผ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiring about the candidate's motivation for pursuing dentistry, their background and experiences, how they handle stress, their academic preparedness, and their future goals. Some respondents mentioned being asked about specific activities, their interest in the school, and family background, while others noted the interview format may have been an MMI with potential nondisclosure agreements in place.
how do you want to be remembered? (yes, when you die. that was a cheerful question, esp given the neighbourhood. I guess it they were being realistic.)
Students said most interesting question asked at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center School of Dental and Oral Surgery discussed a wide range of topics, including personal interests, career motivations, study habits, and favorite artists. Although no specific standout questions were mentioned, the interviews were described as standard and focused on getting to know the applicants as individuals.
What other schools did you apply to? -- We actually discussed the schools and their pros and cons. My interviewer was pushing Columbia over the other schools.
None of the questions were particularly interesting or difficult; the interviewers are volunteers who advocate for you at a meeting of the admissions committee. My interviewer had gone through my application thoroughly and had very specific, but easy to answer questions about things he wanted to be prepared for.
Nothing really too interesting. My interviewer wasn't too conversational which gave the interview a drab overtone I felt. Probably not to my advantage.
I used to work for Gendex/Midwest (a factory that makes dental equipment) and I wrote about it in my application. The interviewer asked me what it was like to work for Gendex. I was excited they asked about it, b/c it showed that they took the time to notice the details of my application.
All the questions were very typical. (not to say that they were boring, rather, they were questions that most people already listed in the other interview ratings)
Students said most difficult question asked at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center School of Dental and Oral Surgery discussed various aspects, including personal life stories, struggles, study habits, and reasons for choosing dentistry. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as some responses suggest nondisclosure agreements were in place, while other questions focused on career goals and specific experiences in dentistry.
The interviewer was extremely rude to students and not nice at all. Didn't even listen to what I was trying to say.
It wasn't a grilling. Much more of a conversation, very nice, few actual questions. To be fair, not all the other applicants got such relaxed interviews.
Why dentistry? Lets be honest, it is really hard to accurately describe why we want to pursue this profession. This should always be the most difficult part of a dental school interview (regardless of it is asked or not!)
None of the questions were difficult, it seemed to be very conversational in nature and I didn't feel as if I needed to say a right answer. So the most difficult question..why dentistry? :)
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by researching the school thoroughly, reviewing their application materials, practicing interview questions, and seeking advice from current students or online resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) and the school's website. Many emphasized the importance of aligning their values with the school's mission, understanding how they could contribute to the institution, and staying calm and natural during the interview process.
SDN questions, spoke with current student at Columbia
I researched the school - how they do on board exams, their residency match rate, etc. I looked at their mission statement and how it aligns with my values. Know how you could contribute to the school and why it would be a good fit for you.
I actually really over-prepared... I read a book on dental ethics, a book on interview preparation, looked over SDN feedback, read their websites in excessive detail and stressed for extensive periods of time.
I worried a lot because I really wanted to attend the school, so I did a bunch of preparation for the interview; however, it turned out that I could have done better without having pressure. I guess for me it normally works backwards:( I wish I hadn't thought too much about it.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the positive and welcoming atmosphere at the school, emphasizing the strong sense of community and the friendly faculty and students. They also appreciated the high specialization rates, medically based curriculum, and the emphasis on research and post-doctoral programs, as well as the facilities and the location in NYC. Many remarked on the pass/fail grading system, the faculty's enthusiasm, and the supportive environment for students.
The facilities were overall good. The medical school curriculum, and a very strong research program. It is a very different type of dental school. The lunch they provided was awesome (5 stars). Prepare dentists as future leaders of the field.
The friendly and family-like atmosphere. The various avenues of dentistry. Everyone is well-prepared and they are committed to a thorough and great dental education. P/F/Honors makes taking classes with medical students OK.
World class institution, tons of patients, Dr. McManus and Dr. Davis were AWESOME!!!! Very funny and Dr. McManus was extremely direct about our chances of getting in next cycle, which I greatly appreciated. Beautiful faculty club, awesome food. My interviewer was really nice!
Though older, the equipment and labs are all very nice, and there are many planned remodels. ALso, the high rate of specialization was really nice. The best thing was that the faculty were so friendly, Dr. Davis and Dr. Macmanus were totally awesome and joked the entire time, while still doing their best to make the school seem like a family environment. Also, the Pass/Honors/Fail system I like better than grades.
high competitive specialization rate, strong biosciences curriculum, several opportunities for research and community service, international externships, FRIENDLY staff (Dr. D and Dr. M were downright hilarious!), friendly students, nongunner atmosphere, the neighborhood seemed nice, cheap on-campus housing, state-of-the-art facilities.
Academically focused Curriculum (a lot more medical science courses), philosophy in regrad with dentistry, IVY atmosphere reflected in the curriculum, great 4 seasons
They treated us very well. The interview place(the faculty dining hall)was luxurious like a nice restaurant. I felt relaxed and comfortable thanks to the welcoming atmostphere.
The faculty and students seem very glad to be there. Dr. McManus and Dr. Davis are great, very kind and sincere. The clinic was quite nice. Tons of students specialize.
The focus of both oral and systemic medicine, their holistic approach to clinical requirements (points on complexity of cases instead of per crow/bridge/etc), the resources to do basically whatever I wanted with my dental education
The location and facilities are not bad at all. The campus is in Washington Heights and during the day it is a very nice and safe area. The facilities are old, sure, but what do you expect - the school has been there forever! Itââโ¬âโ¢s certainly not a dungeon ââโ¬âโฌล there are windows - and the clinics all looked high-tech and up-to-date.
The positive environment - I thought Columbia would have a cutthroat environment, but it's actually quite the opposite. Classes are H/P/F, plus 97% of their class goes on to post-doctoral programs.
It's very "ivy". Beautiful and old with an impressive history. The curriculum is focused on a thorough understanding of the biological sciences which I like. Everyone does post-grad work (not nec specialization -- a lot of GPR and AEGD). 12 applied to OMFS last year and 10 were accepted. It's NYC and dorm living makes it affordable. Financial aid director was very nice.
Ultra nice faculty members, and every student seemed very happy.The specialty matching rate is amazingly high, especially many students got in competitive specialties such as OMFS and ortho.
The staff and faculty (partic. Dean Davis and McManus) emphasize the importance of choosing the right school for yourself. They are very open & honest about the curriculum, acknowledging that it's biomedically/ academically oriented which may not be for you. They encourage you to talk to the students to see whether you'd be happy there. They were SO FRIENDLY & Dean Davis was HILARIOUS. They seem to genuinely want to see you at Columbia in the fall.
Every single student there had a smile on their face and was very happy to be there. I also really like the way they emphasize Dentistry as a part of medicine (no use in denying the link). The students are like a big family that I would love to be a part of. Also, the pass/non pass is pretty sweet.
Everything! First of all, every single person I talked to throughout the interview, be they student, professor, whatever, seemed VERY happy to be at Columbia. Even my interviewer was selling me on how the school is more of a family then a student body.
Facilities are not as old as I had heard, and were nicer then some others I have seen. They will get you into your specialty of choice. You take classes with med students, but you're graded on separate curves. Also, you have a chance during your 3rd and 4th year to take an elective "group" with lets you specialize your pre-doc education.
The faculty and students were all very enthusiastic which I really liked.
The specialty match rates were spectacular the last two years that not many other schools can boast.
The students and faculty were very nice. Dr. McManus is very funny. The dentists I spoke to at the clinics were actually volunteers. I think this is cool because they actually want to be there.
The facilities are first-rate and they have some really new and cool stuff there. Also the students and staff are very enthusiastic about Columbia and especially about it being in New York.
Dr. MacManus spent a lot of time with us and his presence really emphasized the importance he places on the incoming students - he was also very kind.
EVERYONE was extremelly friendly, faculty, students, Dr. McManus, my interviewer, our tour guide was really cool also (she graduated from columbia w/D.D.S. and is now an instructor in Pediatric Dentistry). New York is really interesting! Take the subway to times square and check out the city for a few hours!
They get their students into post-doctorate programs. They have also shifted to a pass fail grading system which reduces competition and have mentoring and tutoring programs for struggling students. The Columbia name is also very impressive.
Dr. McManus, Dr. Davis, and other faculty member who gave us the tour. People are nice and down to earth. They also have a solid program which may seem to be too much but it definitely helps you if you plan to specialize.
Everything. The staff is very friendly and the students are awesome. In fact, there were two freshman twins that took the time to talk to us after their midterms that day and they did a GREAT job selling the school - the school should seriously be paying them to be tour guides or something. They were awesome. You could tell they genuinely loved being there and having them there made the whole day better. It's a real family atmosphere over there and everyone looks out for each other. I loved it.
The entire admissions committee impressed me as well as the mutual warm and friendly attitude among students, faculty and administration. I'm also impressed by the extensive scientific/medical training. They definitely have one of the best programs medically speaking.
It is an Ivy League school. It has high standards as far as academics are concerned, insofar as Dental and Medical students take the same classes and are graded on the same curve. Students were nice and willing to answer our questions. Dr. McManus and Dr. Davis went through the presentations were witty and intersting.
The faculty is top-notch. Dr. McMannus knows EVERY student in the school by name and knows all about them. Very involved. Very enthusiastic, yet professional and knowledgable. You really could ask him anything and he wouldn't hold it against you. All of the resources you'll ever need as far as research, specialties, other people with whom you should network are there at the hospital. Also, all of the students are extremely happy to be there.
The students were so positive about the school and their experiences. They said it was a lot of work but that they were happy with their decision to go there. I liked the idea of a strong medical and basic sciences background.
Great Reputation, Focus on specialization, Dr. Davis and McManus seemed like great guys along with the rest of the staff. Also the diversity that the school strives for.
The faculty Dr. Davis and Dr. McManus are two very honest and dynamic people, and they both happened to be pediatric dentists. I always dreamed about becoming a pedo because I love kids, and thatââโ¬âโ¢s one of the reasons I wanted to have an education in Columbia. When they talk I feel they set an example to me because I like to teach as well. Maybe I will end up being an educator just like them later on who knows:). The clinics are actually pretty good, spacious and much better than expected. Iââโ¬âโ¢m the only one from Las Vegas and everyone is like hey thatââโ¬âโ¢s a fun place to stay!
curriculum is tough, but rewarding. facilities are nice and faculty are friendly. its name will go far after graduation. apartments are close by the school, with affordable rent.
very laid back and very friendly
the community is laid out well--the dental school and medical centers are integrated together, and the dorms are 1 block away--very convenient
the community/area also seems very safe--nothing shady at all
students all seem happy, satisfied with their choice of going to Columbia (talked to a few)
They have a VERY strong biomedical component to their curriculum. The students seemed happy with that they chose Columbia. The school has an impressive history of placed its students into specialty programs. New York City (the area is not as bad as some people think it is. Drs. McManus and Davis were very friendly, and made a good case for their school. You get a rather comprehensive guide to the schools financial aid materials.
the school facilities are awesome, there are a lot of patients, tons of funded student research, the deans rock, the students seem happy, you cosit with the medical students
1) a LOT of very beautiful girls, especially the Korean girls in my group. (why are there so many Koreans there at Columbia??)
2) Dr.McManus and Dr.Davis are 2 very interesting people....very good salesmen....very loveable.
3) the students...their intelligence are way above mine.
People are very friendly. Dr. McManus and Dr. Davies(sp?) were very fun and informative.
Ther building is old, but their facilities did not seem very outdated. They looked fairly new to me.
Everyone at the school seemed happy to be at Columbia. They also seemed very honest and open in discussing the facets of the school; stressing that it is academically challenging, but also strong in biomedical science.
The school is AMAZING. I really liked the school when I went on the tour and when I got accpted off the waitlist Dr. McManus was beyond accomodating in letting me come back and visit the school. Definatly one of my favorite, if not the most favorite school I visited.
Students were very relaxed and easy going. I was surprised that they didn't seem stressed at all. Unlike the kids in my undergrad!
They stressed the importance and the difficulties of a good biomedical education during the first 2 years. They did stress that they encourage research. I liked that they were really upfront about these things and didn't give a sales pitch.
Excellent school, very very nice facilities, the students are very friendly. Beautiful school. THey have many opportunities for financial aid and the interview was first! Very friendly faculty.
Dr. Martin was incredible and dynamic. The 2 faculty that interviewed me were amazingly friendly and put me at ease right away. The students were exceptionally friendly and honest (gave me a real sense of what they liked and did not like about the school. I didn't feel as if they were trying to hide the bad or only talk about the good.) I went to Columbia being very open to going their for the program, and I left thinking "wow! i REALLY want to come here!"
urban setting. the students seem very pleased, most of them have a goal to specialize, they seem to be very proud of the school name. the facility is nice but i've seen better. overall solid education, good reputation, can't go wrong.
The faculty was stupendous. Maybe it was just the interview day I happened to be there, but there were students and faculty stopping by the interview room in droves to answer any and all questions and let us know how tough, but rewarding the program was. Also, all the other interviewees I was with were awesome people. One faculty member in particular (was not interviewing anyone) sat down to reminiss about his time at columbia and to let us know how great the student/faculty relations are.
Applicants were commonly concerned about the lack of clinical experience in the early years, high tuition costs, cramped facilities, the integration of dental and medical students in classes, and the neighborhood's safety and atmosphere. Suggestions included improving the clinical training opportunities, addressing the cost of attendance, updating facilities, and enhancing the overall student experience.
The interviewer was extremely rude to students and not nice at all. Didn't even listen to what I was trying to say.
Interview group did not have enough interviewers for interviewees, so a couple interviewees had to be interviewed by the same interviewer back to back, resulting in short interviews (10-20 mins) rather than 45+ like other students
It's NYC, the building is cramped. The hallways are really narrow and there doesn't seem to be a lot of space to move around. Also the tourguide didn't want to take us out to the library in a separate building b/c it was cold, but I would have liked to see more of the campus.
Location is way, way uptown - though that could be a good thing for housing. Hospital feel and combined classes with med students may not appeal to some. The NY law requiring residencies seems to lower the clinical emphasis.
They kept stressing that there is a TON of extra science classes - though after talking with students, it seems do-able... just harder than other schools.
obv the most common critique is the lack of clinical in the first two years, but that is changing slightly for next year. there are virtually NO merit scholarships available, which surprised me because Columbia probably has oodles of rich alumni donating. so expect to take out 70k in loans per year. and there are no externships in germany :(
High cost of living, no advantage(need) of personal ride, I was not in my best condition when speaking English so fast, but it seemed ok (Disappointed myself)
We didnt visit the lecture hall. We got thrown into the clinics for way too long. I know the adcoms are reading this so -- please make the visit to the sim lab a bit shorter.
I guess the area could be better, but I haven't been to any dental school with an outstanding neighborhood around it. Also it seems like it's hard to get on campus housing if you're from the area.
One of the lecture halls had "stadium" seating (although not as big as a stadium of course) that was really steep and there were sections of the room where you could definitely not see the projector screen...The fact your chances of getting housing decreases the closer your permanent residence is to the city. I kind of don't want to get stuck living with my parents.
I got the impression from one of my interviewers that my being married when I entered school was going to negatively affect my chance for admission. Then, when I went to meet first years, I found about five of them who were married.
Being told that as a student we will never get to see downtown NY (which really doesn't matter because it's actually about an hour away from the dental school). Also, students who want to pass will get only 5 hours of sleep per night.
I absolutely loved the school! However, I'm not sure how I feel about taking classes with medical school students since this might put more emphasis on what they need to know and not be completely pertinent to our learning needs.
One of the students who we had lunch with said that they are treated differently (not in a good way) from the med school students. The students also told us they spend nights of studying A LOT and that eventually made this guy drop out of school in a week. The students admitted they learn unnecessary things too much.
A 4th year told me flat out that they do not get enough clinical experience there and felt he needed to do a GPR/AEGD. Also there is no cafeteria and just a tiny community kitchen in the dorm (Bard).
The clinical training isn't so hot: 3rd and 4th year students told us they are in the clinic 2-3 days per week and that they don't have a specific number of certain procedures they have to complete before graduation so in theory, students could graduate without ever having done a certain procedure. Students did mention that they can sometimes trade patients in order to get more experience in an area they are lacking, so that is good.
The fact that Dental and Med students are clubbed together for the first two years seems more like a cop-out than anything else. I mean, you can choose to buy into their spiel about how Dentistry is a specialty of medicine, but really, it seems like they have not the resources to have separate academic classes solely for dental students (Like other schools do). Although I would like to say that the grilling experience I had at the interview is a bad thing, that would be unfair. If anything, it helped me rise to the occasion and tackle the toughies one after the other as they were being thrown at me.
The student I had sat next to at lunch. It wasn't a big deal, and I don't want this to look bad for the school, because it's just one person. It's hard to explain, but he wasn't necessarily cocky about Columbia itself (all of the faculty are very accomadating and nice and not arrogant at all), but he was kind of cocky about himself having gotten into Columbia, and that was kind of a turn-off. I wasn't turned off to the school, but I he was just one of those guys that you don't really want to hang out with. Again, all of the other students were way cool and not like that, so it's nothing that will keep me from going there.
the fact that the dental school is squeeshed in the medical school... the facilities arent great. Also the director of admissions made a lot of sexist comments, yeah he was joking, but i didnt find them amusing. He was a cocky, ignorant person, and I had absolutely no respect for him.
Couldn't think of anything... wait, there are only 2 women in our 12 people group. Also I didn't see any mysterious "Korean hot chick":) Forget it, if you come here, there's no time for dating, at least the first two years.
tension between the medical and dental students. at times, bashed other schools about dent sim labs even though the other school's had equivlent facilites.
Old facility, dirty city, super expensive living cost, and taking classes with med students (some dental students told me that they feel like 2nd-class citizens).
the administration really emphasizes how HARD the first two years are, how you would have virtually no life (but in talking to the first-years, all seems swell so far--"yes you're busy during the week but you get time off during the weekend)
it's expensive and they expect family contribution...then again, so are all the other dental schools as well
I would have liked to talk to more older students (only had the chance to talk to 1st years)
complaints from the students: the first few classes are really big (med+dental students)
The price. This school is very expensive, and that CAN NOT denied.
That we don't get to use all the facilites they showed us. The post-graduate clinics were AMAZING, but as predoctoral students we will never be their. I don't think that should have been on the interview.
the interview was a waste of time. they didn't really learn anything about me and i was prepared to go in and impress but fell flat because there just wasn't the dialogue i had hoped for.
At lunch with current students, only one student came to have lunch with fifteen of us. I had expected there would be more students coming.. Well, but we did not have a lot of questions to ask anyways -- we already knew about the school quite well.
The area and all of the security guards; everything felt crowded to me; also compared to other schools I thought we interviewees were treated more like kids applying to school than adults.
It was COLD when I went there (but I guess that's not really something about COLUMBIA that negatively impressed me). Columbia's facilities aren't as nice as other places that I've seen, but they were still fine. I heard from a few of the students that the chairs etc. are going to be replaced soon. The building itself is not as new as other places I've seen.
People weren't very enthusiastic about the school. When I asked students if they were happy at Columbia, they would say yes, but there was a lot of hesitation.
The location (Washington Heights), several staff members who constantly reminded us how sketchy the area is. The overall atmosphere at the school was cold (not unfriendly, but just a bit stiff and distant).
I wasnt too thrilled with the fact many students were 2nd class citizens when compared to med students. Washington height=scary. but the program is good. saw a lot of unhappy students, esp one who said he wished he NEVER came.......
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and low-stress nature of the interview process at Columbia University, as well as the emphasis on specialization for graduates. Many also mentioned practical tips such as wearing comfortable shoes for the tour and being prepared for the cost of transportation and food in New York City.
The interviewer was extremely rude to students and not nice at all. Didn't even listen to what I was trying to say.
Having a light breakfast before the interview is a good idea because students usually don't touch the continental breakfast and don't have enough time to eat.
New York really isnââโ¬âโ¢t that scary, and it will not take you two hours to arrive at the campus from your hotel 70 blocks away. Only 15 minutes. (Arrived at the school at 7am ââโ¬Â¦).
D students take classe with med students, but they are graded on different curves. (GOOD NEWS). This school is also relatively inexpensive compared to many other private schools. Also, 97% of specialization rate is amazing (50% specialization and the rest are GPR + AEGD).
That interviewees were being seated about an hour or more before we were supposed to arrive.
Clinical situation at this school has been blown out of proportion; you'll get just as much exposure as you will at most schools, Columbia just doesn't have a "list" of procedures you have to get done. It's more integrative, dare I say holistic, and a much more well thought out program. The reason many students go on to GPR/AEGD is because the school really pushes for it, and there rationale makes sense, both educationally and fiscally. You're too slow right out of school to make any progress in private practice anyway, so you may as well defer your loans another year and build up speed in an educational environment.
The school is in the hospital and it took me about 30 min. to find the admissions office (I wasn't the only one who had this problem). The dental clinics are in a different building than the admissions office.
I felt the tour was really long, compared to what we actually toured. We toured D3 lab for 30 min, D4 lab for 30 min, and the dorm roof for another 30 min. Wear comfy shoes.
That the community around the school was primarily Spanish speaking. That could have helped me out during the interview, but I didn't learn that until after.
It was a lot easier driving in NYC than I thought it would be. However, plan everything with a margin of error for time in NYC. I only got 4 hours of sleep the night before.
I knew that they foccused on specialization, but 97% of the graduating class went on to spec. I personally want to go into pedo, but if you dont care to spec. look somewhere else
a pretty good part of the neighborhood--uptown NYC is nicer than downtown, IMO
Bring quarters for the metro, or buy a card! I had difficulty going from the airport to my hotel b/c I forgot to stack up on quarters. Luckily, there was a change machine.
The neighborhood really isn't that bad. I'm a New Yorker and I know the ghetto when I see it. This is NOT a Ghetto! Although some kids from Cali freaked out because they thought everyone is out to kill them. I've seen neighborhoods much worst than this one and this one doesn't even scare a coward like me.
That I would like to consider the living accomodations in my selection of a dental school, and I was not going to have a chance to check out the dorms that I would actually live in. The current students said that they were good size, but I wish I had planned time in my itinerary to see them for myself.
That the interview was going to be really fun! I went into this interview thinking that the people would be stuffy and ask difficult question to try and trip me up. It was completely the opposite! My interviewers were so friendly and open. The other interviewees were also people that I would like to go to school with (nobody struck me as a "gunner" or "one of THOSE" students). The dental students I met there were fun people and struck me as really genuine!
That Columbia is a school in which most of their students go on to pursue specialties. Also, that the first two years of classes are heavily with medical students.
Applicants generally appreciated the friendly and laid-back atmosphere at Columbia University's dental school, with some noting the school's focus on specialization and challenging academic environment. There were positive comments about the faculty, students, and facilities, while some mentioned concerns about clinical exposure and the school's location. Many found the interview process to be conversational and informative, with a focus on getting to know the applicants.
The interviewer was extremely rude to students and not nice at all. Didn't even listen to what I was trying to say.
General dynamics between faculty and students was very relaxed and personable. Good vibes. I probably asked more questions to the interviewer than they asked me.
A great school if you like to specialize and like to be challenged. It attracts the smartest students, so it is a competitive atmosphere. This school is not for everyone, but for those who are talents and like to go beyond the requirements.
Columbia would be a great choice for someone who is considering specializing but isn't sure because the school will definitely put you in the position to be able to do so upon graduating. If you know you only want to be a general dentist, you can probably find a cheaper school or one in a cheaper area. But I LOVE new york.
From Penn Station, the A express train takes you right to the subway stop at 168th - don't take the C! It will take FOREVER - more stops, even though it also takes you to 168th. Be prepared for a lot of really standard interview questions. Excellent school, excellent food, not sure if it's for me.
Really amazing school, friendly staff and students. The neighborhood isn't quite as bad as people make it out to be, since most hte the area directly around the dental school is the medical center, but out side of that it's not too great.
Many pre-dents complain about the lack of clinical exposure, older facilities and taking classes with medical students. These MAY be important if you plan on being a general dentist. If that's the case, Columbia may not be for you. However, if you want to be a specialist, it's hard to find a better school.
Admissions Director and Assistant were really friendly and welcoming. Both had a great sense of humor. The interview was very low-stress, more of a conversation than an interview. No one is trying to sell the school to you or make you convince them why you deserve to be there. They stress the fact that you were offered an interview, so you deserve to be there. They also say that the program is intense and its a great program, but it isn't for everyone. I was really impressed by the overall atmosphere of the interview. It was all about exposing us to Columbia, telling us about the program, getting to know us, and letting us decide if this is the right fit for us. They kept thanking us for coming out and spending our time and money interviewing.
I've heard so much about Columbia from my friends who graduated from the school or still in the school. So, Columbia was my first choice, and going thru the interview process didn't make any difference to me. Overall, I felt like they didn't try as hard as other schools I've been to in order to attract us. They didn't make a big sales pitch to sell them. Well, I guess they don't have to...
Overall great experience. I was very impressed with everything Columbia has to offer. The adcom people were very nice and extremely helpful. I didn't notice anything that pointed to the dental students being treated like 2nd class citizens. Spoke with students and they all seemed to be content. Their only complaint was the block exams and learning a bit too much with the med school curriculum. Columbia went from a thought in my mind to the school I want to attend!
This is my alma mater, so i knew CDM inside and out. Dr. D and Dr. M are SOOO chill. For an ivy league school, they were very laid back. feel free to stop by and say hello to anyone you may already know
The day was pretty long but it was great. Columbia seems like a fantastic school. I'll sure go there if I get in. It was the best interview experience I've had.
It's a great school if you want to specialize, or go into research or teaching. If you're into general dentistry, it seems like it's probably best to go somewhere that's more geared in that direction. The deans freely admit that.
My interviewer was flipping back and forth through my AADSAS printouts and was making comments throughout. I chimed in when I thought I needed to explain something or wanted to highlight something. He asked me a few direct questions right off my application, too. He wasn't trying to grill me, just trying to get to know me. We had a few common points, which definitely helped.
We arrived at the school and were directed to a room with a long table where the 15 of us sat. Dr. McManus and Dr. Davis (both amazing!) gave a presentation about the school and then we went to meet the faculty interviewers who took us off to corners of the Faculty Dining Hall or to their offices. The interviewers were very kind and pleasant, both Columbia grads and super enthusiastic about their school. They really helped me work through my financial worries about attending and I realized I would be crazy not to attend if I get in, because the program is phenomenal. Next we came back to the room with the long table for a FinAid presentation and then we ate lunch with three students. We then were taken on a tour of the school and we visited one of the dorms. It was a very pleasant experience.
The day started off with breakfast and I talk from Drs. Davis and McManus about the school's mission. We then met with the admissions committee and broke off into separate corners to be interviewed . After the interview, we had a financial aid presentation followed by lunch with 2 D3s and an ortho resident, who gave us the tour in and around the school. It was surprising to see that the area of the school isn't the slum everyone makes it out to be. The school is in Washington Heights, not Harlem, and the area seems pretty safe during the daytime.
All interviewees began the day seated at a long table. Presentation was given on the school and its curriculum. Various faculty members came in to call out applicants and interview them. My interviewer was very warm and friendly. Interview was not stressful, very conversational. We returned to the long table, listened to a presentation on financial aid, ate lunch at same long table with students, received tour of school (not well organized, basically it was like "here's the such and such room, go walk around"), and then had breif closing remarks from the dean of admissions.
This was not the relaxed interview people talked about. I was definately grilled throughout. The interviewer was a very clever man, and he definately tried to push me to my limits by asking a series of trick questions. He even used answers I'd given prior to evaluate the quality/nature/truthfullness of the answers I'd given him on later questions.
Stayed with a friend in midtown and cabbed it up to the D-school. Got lost by going into the vanderbilt clinic instead of P&S but eventually found everyone. Good continental breakfast and GREAT lunch. Presentation by Dr. Davis (Dr. Mcmanus was out of town) and spoke with some students who all love the school. The tour was pretty quick and we left at about 2.
I loved the people there! and I could tell that people there (both students and faculty) love the school. I heard the curriculum is very hard because it's heavily didatic, but all students looked happy.
I heard rumors beforehand that Columbia has a difficult program but didn't expect that students and faculty members would admit that I won't enjoy my time here. The interview itself went smoothly
Had to arrive by 9 at the Faculty Club. Dr. Davis first welcomed us and the man is FUNNY (such as the random slides of dental students partying and profs being surrounded by women mixed in with his presentation). Dr. McManus followed and he was definitely interesting to talk to. Then came the interviews as we were picked up one by one. The interview itself wasn't stressful at all as we talked about my interests, family background and NYC in general. Financial presentation followed by lunch. Then the tour of the facilities; unfortunately me and a couple other interviewees got separated from our guide after spending too much time walking around the clinics. Dr. Davis then came in and gave us his closing remarks and by 2pm we were dismissed.
1- arrive at the faculty club where there's a long table you will be sitting at with the other interviewees. continental breakfast available.
2- Dean Davis has everyone introduce themselves then gives a slideshow presentation on the school. The presentation is very thorough & gives many good reasons to go to Columbia!
3- Interviewers (members of the admissions committee) arrive one by one. They will take you to a certain part of the room (the room has many dining tables and is very roomy) to speak with you. Very casual, almost like talking over a fancy lunch without the food.
4- Return to the original room with the long table for lunch (sandwiches, cookies, yum). 3-4 1st or 2nd year students show up to talk to you about the school. Opportunities to talk with other interviewees as well.
5- Tour. Given by a student. Many opportunities to talk to teachers and students. All were so friendly.
6- Day ends at ~3pm. Very positive, pleasant experience.
Overall it was a good experience. I just wish my interviewer hadnt said that to me... although they did invite me to have an interview, so....
The school really seems like a family, faculty truly seems to care about students. Students seemed really happy there.
Columbia University is amazing. If I had to design "my perfect dental school curriculum," it would closely resemble that of Columbia CDM. I love NYC and I would really like to spend the next four years of my life in New York. It's nice that Columbia isn't in the complete center, so you aren't completely distracted. I wish it was Dec. 1st already.
Interview was great! Started out with a very informative information session, moved on to the personal interviews then lunch with some fourth years, including the class president. Afterwards a tour of the facilities and a quick word by Dr. McManus. All-in-all lasted about 5 hours.
Couple of things, the administration seems to really care about the students, Dr. McManus was with us throughout the whole interview, telling jokes and rubbing shoulders. The student body also has a very friendly, low competition atmosphere (H/P/F grading, no class ranks). One thing to note: very good looking student bodies ;)
All-in-all, a great school. You will get a top notch clinical and scientific education here, and it's not as stressful as it's been made out to be.
Great. Very relaxed and conversational. Nothing tricky was asked because my grades were not a cause for concern. I was questioned about why I took Women Studies 50 but everyone I know asks me why I took it. So I had an answer.
Faculty and students were very nice. The interview was very relaxed and conversation like. We had the typical school information session and financial aid session.
I stayed at a hotel in New Jersey - so heading over to Columbia was a huge issue with morning traffic and unheard of amounts of rain.
The interviewees were seated in the faculty club at a long table - there were quite a few of us - and we had "breakfast" that no one really touched ;). Next, we were given a talk about Columbia and our interviews followed thereafter. It was a bit odd because we were called from the room into the biger room of the faculty club and were seated at dinning room tables with our interviewer. Next we had lunch and met with some current students. After the tour (for which my interviewer was our tour guide) we were free to leave. It actually passed by quite quickly and the other interviewees were really great.
I really enjoyed the campus. The teaching facilities are top notch. I only was able to check out one of the labs, but it looked like a 7/10 as far as my previous experiences. The other students on the interview were really cool and not as quiet and stressed as I had thought.
The day was really long. It begins with a presentation about the school which is very informative. The tour showed us the school and the dorms which are both old and crowded. My interviewer was a very, very old man who at the time, I didnt think could hear me, and was difficult to interact with, but I got in, so he must've heard ok!
This is a great place. The only negative I can think of is the clinical experience. But even that doesnt seem like a big deal because what they lack in clincal experience can be made up with a GPR. And I think having to go through that extra year is worth it to get the level of education Columbia give you. Besides, its NYC. What's not to like?
The whole day was planned to be very laid back. The two doctors who led the day were amazing people who tried very hard to set us at ease, no matter how impossible that may have been for nervous interviewees! We listened to a great presentation on the curriculum before heading out to our interviews. The interviewer was another amazing person who immediately made me feel relaxed and comfortable to discuss my background. He really didn't ask any specific questions other than the one I posted below. We then had a presentation on financial aid and a lunch with some current students followed by a tour of the facilities including one of the housing buildings. The assistant dean of admissions was even nice enough to walk us out to the street and help us each find our way to the subway, cabs or busses!
I walk into the office of admissions at roughly 8:30 am for the 9:00 am interview. We were escorted to the faculty dining conference room where other interviewees were seated. We waited there for a good 15 -20 minutes after 9:00 am before Dr. Davis showed up and started with the introductions followed by the presentations. Dr. McManus joined in afterward and randomly started massaging some of the interviewees' shoulders (he's a good, chearful guy, i just thought this was funny). Refreshments were available throughout the presentations. Then came the eve of interviews. One by one, we were taken by our interviewers for the interview. My interviewer, surprisingly, started firing questions from the moment we sat down. At first, it was kind of a shock to be put into a defensive position without no prior warning. However, after the first few, I was in business, and gave quick retorts to his sketchy questions. For the first 30 minutes, the questions were worded in a very condescending manner, to which I had fitting responses. However, as we digressed away from grades and towards extra-curriculars and hobbies, the mood shifted to a more informal one. The interviewer, after almost ripping me a new one, started cracking dry jokes that I was forced to laugh at. All in all, I would like to advise those reading this that a tough, grilling interview is not necessarily a bad one. If anything, they may be really interested in you and want to see how you handle stressful situations. No matter how pointed the questions get, keep a smile on and look the interviewer straight in the eyes. Anyways, this hell-and-back experience was followed by Financial Aid, and then there was a tour given by two of the doctors. It was over at about 3:00 pm.
One thing you should realize is that the entire day you are being watched. The director of admissions is with you the whole day, so try to get to know him during the day. Don't kiss too much butt, though because there was a guy there with me that was trying way too hard and I think they see right through that. Be talkative, but be yourself. Be open about your intentions also. They appreciate that.
Very bad experience, The first question is why did you apply so late? before I can answer, she said, that makes me hard to get in. Then she gave me several suggestions such as retake the DAT (because PAT is 17), more shadowing, finish all classes and app earlier.
We were treated very well by the school. However, the facilities are not the best, and the director of admissions is a cocky, ignorant person, whom i have very little respect for. THe fact that the school choose him to represent them to us, tell me a lot about columbia. My interviewer was nice, it was a relaxed atmosphere.
THe schools awesome. Didnt really feel that the whole DDS = 2nd class student was dominant. Im sure there are people in both the dental and Medical school who dont feel for the other. It seemed like everyone had an easy interview experience, real layed back. I felt kind of grilled causing me to possibly dig my own grave, but what can you do? The school is awesome and is my definite #1 choice. Now its time to wait for the infamous good/bad letter.
It's wonderful overall. I arrived a day earlier to check out the place and didn't know what I was going to experience until the day. Faculties were nice and we were even taken on a tour to the dorm, where we got to see the beautiful view through the window! The curriculum are very tough according to every single one and they are very honest about it, if you are not up for challenge or not wanting to pursue specialty then go somewhere else. Columbia is a place for smart individuals who seek for an opportunity to be a specialist.
interview was went pretty well...the only bad thing was the weather especially when taking a tour of the dorms and housing which were located outdoors...walking around in 4 degree weather with winds was painful esp being from california
The interview was stressful for me. I never felt comfortable in the city or at the school. I was more eager to leave once I saw the run down dental building.
i was reluctant in going at first because of things that i heard about the school, but i am happy i went. school is really good and has an excellent curriculum and reputation to specialize.
The interview is really laid back, no "grilling" whatsoever. They first give you a lot of info about the school, and then do the interview. It was more of a friendly discussion, with my interviewer basically asking me if I had any questions about Columbia. The entire interview was basically that--me asking about Columbia and what he is doing currently.
If you have extra time, definitely tour the city and take full advantage of public transportation. Think: this is where and how you will be living if you came here. I've been to NYC numerous times before but didn't want to sit in my hotel the entire time. I arrived the day before and took the bus to my hotel, then took the subway to Chinatown, ate yummy Chinese food, took the sub back, and then walked around Central park.
My interviewer was REALLY nice. I felt that she honestly wanted to get to know me more than grill me. I felt it was really a very positive experience!
It is a low stress environment, but by no means was it relaxing. The school is rather formal with things, and this is evident. They are professionals, and they act that way. You should do the same!
The school was awesome although it is expensive. I worry that the dental school ranks low on all of the other schools at the Columbia medical campus and very low among Columbia in general. Overall though, the experience was awesome I just wish the interviewer had more time and we could have gotten to more topics.
Some students said that they work very hard, others say it was fairly laid back. Some say it depends on your personal motivation and even your class--some classes are more competitive, some are more laid back. Some classes are taught with medical students. Medical students can be snobby toward dental students they say.
Residency programs look very favoriable towards Columbia graduates (one student said he doesn't understand why--he thinks Columbia is not any different than other schools in the end). One student applied to a Oral Surgery program at UCSF which is usually 7 years, but he said that that program is 6 years long if you are a graduate of Columbia, U Conn, or Harvard.
The interview was very laid back, both of us were just having a good time. Smiling and joking around. I think I was only asked 2 questions the whole time, other than that it was a good time. I taught I was going to get grilled at this interview, but no!
I like Columbia! SDOS more than makes up for the few blemishes it has with their great faculty and students. Dr.McManus and Dr.Davis are super nice and entertaining....but, perhaps they were just putting on a show to attract ppl. the students(generally) are very clever and focused, but didn't seem like robots.
The presentation was short(930 to 2). They were quite proud of their school.
Bottom line: if you want to concentrate on the science, instead of the clinical part, of dentistry...and don't mind the filth of the city, choose Columbia!
I hope they accept me.
It was very laid back, and conversational. My interviewer wanted me to ask him questions about the school, rahter than him asking me a lot of questions. When I asked him questions, he was very honest in his answers.
I had a GREAT time during my interview. It was one of the best interview experiences I had (meaning, on the dental school's part -- how they made me feel welcomed and at ease). The interview made me want to attend the school even more than before.
My interview experience was VERY laid back. It was more conversational and less formal than some of the other interviews? They just want to get to know you better, and not necessarily grill you about your credentials. If you go there, really talk to the students to get a feel for the school-esp. a second year, b/c they have seen the transition from grades to P/F.
It was a whole day of interview/touring the school. I walked away feeling very preilidged to have gotten an interview there. They really made you feel welcome and wanted. They did, however, emphasize how acedemically chalenging the first two years are. They wanted to be very clear about what we would be getting into if we attended. The cirriculum is very medically based because of trends in dentistry. They want their students to have that well-grounded base in genetics and embryology so we have the capability to understand any new techniques or research that may come about.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office improve communication by being more responsive to emails, providing important information earlier, updating their website, and being more available for questions. They also commended the office for well-organized interview experiences and suggested maintaining the positive aspects of their process.
Reply to our Emails would be highly appreciated. ????
Please provide parking locations in the interview invite. Update the website, it is outdated, and some of the videos require quicktime. The information on the website is very vague compared to other schools.
