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Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

New York, NY

Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit

⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

5 out of 10

How you think you did?

9 out of 10

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

9 out of 10

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

9 out of 10
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

Why columbia?

What was the most interesting question?

Have you read any books about physicians who serve as role models to you? (It wasn't phrased so awkwardly in the interview, but I can't remember how he asked it.)

What was the most difficult question?

None of the questions were particularly difficult.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

30 minutes

How many people interviewed you?

1

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

What type of interview was it?

Open file

Was this interview in-person or virtual?

No responses

Where did the interview take place?

At the school
📍 On-Site Experience

Who was the tour given by?

Student

How did the tour guide seem?

Enthusiastic

How do you rank the facilities?

8 out of 10

What is your in-state status?

Out of state

What were your total hours spent traveling?

0-1 hour

What was your primary mode of travel?

Automobile

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

No responses

What airport did you fly into?

LGA

Where did you stay?

Friends or family

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

No responses

How would you rate the hotel?

No responses

Would you recommend the hotel?

No responses

What is your ranking of this school's location?

10 out of 10

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

10 out of 10

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

No responses

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

No responses

How did you prepare for the interview?

SDN interview feedback, Columbia website.

What impressed you positively?

The students seem pretty laid back as far as med students go, and very diverse in their talents. The class also appears to be quite cohesive, and the students (as everyone else has said in the feedback) love the school. The Towers, where most of the 2nd through 4th years live, are fantastic, and I don't mind that Bard Hall is a dorm - the better to get to know your classmates. I didn't tour the Children's Hospital because I was feeling crappy due to my cold, but one fellow interviewee said that it was "Pimp!" Ahem. I also really liked my interviewer.

What impressed you negatively?

I guess if I have to complain, I'd say the Bard Hall rooms are small, with only one kitchen for all of them ... seems like an oversite to me. Also, I'd like to be further downtown, but the subway in NY is fantastic so that's not really a problem. Also, there was a lot of down time built into the day, which some people complain about in the feedback. I didn't mind it at all, and used the time to attend a lecture and part of a histology course.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

That it was going to be raining the entire week that I was in New York, and by the time I had my Columbia interview I had a cold.

What are your general comments?

I enjoyed my interview at Columbia. The school and the students impressed me. I'm not from a top tier undergrad school ... it's actually a mostly unknown public school, and most of the kids I interviewed with were from the Ivy league, but I didn't feel like it was an issue. The students are very friendly and enthusiastic, and I'm sold ... though in reality something terrible would have had to happen to really hurt the schools rank on my list. Columbia is my top choice.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

No responses