<p>Hey everyone. Ok, so I plan on eventually going into medicine, and hope to major in neuroscience. And Columbia University is something I'm really interested in right now. I'm not concerned with applying and getting in there right now, but would just like to know more about their pre-med program. I know that it's an Ivy League and all but that isn't a good enough reason for me. Does the college make it easy for students to do science research, give them pre-med advising, and are there any special aspects of their pre-med program which sets them apart from other top colleges? I would really appreciate any input.</p>
<p><em>listens</em> hey, I think I hear Shraf's music!</p>
<p>(more seriously, the premed program is pretty good and many students on campus do it. there's advising, there are support programs, there are lots of research opportunities [especially up at the Med School campus], and professors doing interesting things. can't be any more specific than that though)</p>
<p>Thanks! But, one more question though. I heard that even though there is advising, I heard it's not that good. Is there any truth in that?</p>
<p>anyone? 10char</p>
<p>advising is iffy, some are good, some aren't too knowledgeable and able to provide insight in your area of interest. they don't play a big role, they're good for getting around red tape and getting through general guidelines, otherwise i don't see why you'd need them.</p>
<p>i see...thanks</p>
<p>I can't tell you how good CC pre-med advising is but I can tell you that this site has pretty much all the info you'll need:
<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/%5B/url%5D">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/</a></p>
<p>Heck, it's prob a good idea to ask your question in that forum. I've seen a few Columbia students post there.</p>
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<em>listens</em> hey, I think I hear Shraf's music!
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<p>LOL</p>
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advising is iffy, some are good, some aren't too knowledgeable and able to provide insight in your area of interest. they don't play a big role, they're good for getting around red tape and getting through general guidelines, otherwise i don't see why you'd need them.
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<p>this is true in terms of general advising, which you will be using for picking classes and sorting out your major etc. </p>
<p>As for the premed advising....honestly they don't really want to have much to do with you until you are a Junior/Senior depending on when you are planning on applying to med school. It is understandable though since an exorbitant number of people are premed freshman year and even sophomore year. But usually all you have to or want to know the first two years concerning premed is what classes you should take and when....which about half of columbia students would be able to tell you along with those incompetent freshman/sophomore advisers. THe premed advisers come in handy though when you apply in guiding you to which schools you should apply and giving you interview practice and help with your essay. Also, their letter of support is apparently highly regarded among med schools. As far as i know, though, they aren't exactly selective with why they write it for but i can't imagine those who get refused one would be very forthcoming in advertising that fact. </p>
<p>Science research: if it's your cup of tea you will need to be proactive in finding a professor who is willing to let you work in their lab (don't expect to get paid). you do not NEED to do science research to get into med school, and should only be doing it if you are interested in it...clinical medicine has nothing to do with lab research (all you need to do is be able to understand it, but this is also true of a lot of upper level science classes). You might say that you need lab research for md/phd programs...but if you want to do that you should be interested in lab research and doing it in college for that reason. </p>
<p>special aspects: other than the premed advising committee letter of support...i can't really think of any....the classes are notably harder than other schools (with exceptions probably , which i am in no position to name), especially bio but that helps you in the mcat.</p>
<p>alright i'm gonna stop now, if you have any more questions feel free to ask</p>
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I can't tell you how good CC pre-med advising is but I can tell you that this site has pretty much all the info you'll need:
<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/%5B/url%5D">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/</a></p>
<p>Heck, it's prob a good idea to ask your question in that forum. I've seen a few Columbia students post there.
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<p>as far as i know, studentdoctor is a great resource.....once you are a premed.....it is alot about the application process and the mcats and other things you will be concerned with once you are actually a premed in college....there is really no place for HS kids there. Also, I'd advise you to stay away from there for the most part once you are premed because a notable portion of them are either misinformed, maliciously giving out mis-information, or (the most common) painting the process as being more difficult or more haughty than it actually is. There are quite a few who post though that really should get a grip with reality and realize that their 15 or 25 on the MCAT isn't getting them anywhere and that they should find a new career path....it's pathetic to the point of being laughable.... <a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=412739%5B/url%5D">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=412739</a></p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the info! But, if the classes are notably harder than other schools, wouldn't that make it more difficult for a pre-med student to maintain a high GPA required for medical school?</p>
<p>well yea it'll be more difficult to maintain a high GPA but if you do it looks alot better than a high GPA from a less competitive or easier school...also the difficulty of the classes makes the MCAT easier.</p>
<p>thanks. that sounds good. and i am actually interested in doing science research because it's something i have started in high school, and absolutely love it. :)</p>