New York, NY
Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How did the interview impress you?
Positively 🙂
What was the stress level of the interview?
2 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
What are your general comments?
WONDERFUL! it made me even more sure that columbia was where i wanted to go to school. like all interviews, it was a bit of a pain in the neck, but you get a window into a very unique community. it's definitely worth the extra application.
💬 Interview Process
What was the most interesting question?
my interviewer was a very interesting woman. we immediately started talking about the things we had in common (she had read my file and started the conversation down this direction.) we had a very involved conversation about my essay, which touched on a difficult medical situation in my family. we also talked about my research. we talked about books and sports. the conversation felt more like a chat with an adult family friend. i felt completely at ease. granted, she was a psychologist, so that might have been the point. either way i wound up getting in and am absolutely going there this fall.
How did you prepare for the interview?
i read the viewbook, read interviewfeedback (such bad luck that site is down...)
What was the most difficult question?
i can't remeber any specific questions. it was a long time ago. none were too difficult, but there were some pointed questions i had to think about. the usual 'why a doctor', 'why columbia' stuff was there. (they ask this almost everywhere, so be sure to know your answers to those questions!!!!)
What impressed you positively?
everyone - and i mean EVERYONE - running around 168th and BWAY seems tickled pink to be part of P&S. that kind of energy about med school is not entirely unique, but it was more than i'd seen anywhere else. the community is very dynamic and supportive. every single student did something interesting outside of medical studies. the history and tradition of the school are also very entrenched. i love that stuff.
What impressed you negatively?
the actual interview day was a little edgy. you sit in a room with the other fifteen interviewees waiting to go to your interview. there's always some idiot who says "so, statistically, only one of us is going to get in." (who brings that guy?!) also, it's washington heights. not scenic. HOWEVER, i have grown to be very excited about the location since further investigating columbia (easy access to rest of manhattan, not dangerous, prettiest views in all of manhattan, patient population that comes from right next door)
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
P&S doesn't give any financial aid deals to upper middle class people. as such, i'm shelling out $50K a year to go there... that's going to be a fairly significant loan debt. unless you think you'll qualify for financial aid, it might be wise to consider whether you can justify this financial burden. i think generally people want to specialize or sub-specialize or go into academic medicine. but what do i know?
📍 Travel and Logistics
Who was the tour given by?
Student
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