<p>I am currently an undergrad student at The City College of New York and have been researching all the things an undergrad student must do to get into medical school. My dream school is Columbia and I would really appreciate it if anyone from Columbia or any other Ivies could spare a few words of advice on increasing my chances of getting accepted. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>This thread is also open to any other students from schools with notable med programs such as NYU and the like. I want to be as open as possible and I apologize if I came off as biased towards the Ivies.</p>
<p>Well, I recommend you check out the pre-med topics forum here at CC so that you can peruse some of the advice stickied at the top. Columbia specifically has a lot of interest in students that are very well rounded and have diverse sets of talents and abilities. It is not uncommon for them to accept students that were not science majors, who had former careers in the arts or in sports, etc. This isn’t to say that you should switch your major to philosophy and sign up for a ballet troupe, merely that your best bet for getting into medical school in general (and especially Columbia) is to focus on your passions, both medical and non-medical. You will get more out of your extra-curriculars (personally and in terms of your application) if you follow that path rather than try to rack up xyz activities because “it will look good.”</p>
<p>Thank you mmmcdowe. I will certainly check out those forums. I am majoring in psychology with the intention of becoming a psychiatrist someday. I worry about not having a plethora of talents and abilities as most med students do. I am not particularly good at sports but I am open to almost anything. I took fencing in the summer and really enjoyed it. Any suggestions of what extracurricluars you think I might want to take? I have strengths in English and Science and I do have an appreciation of the arts if that helps.</p>
<p>Whatever interests you. Realize most talents aren’t innate but developed during college. If you like fencing, then by all means pursue it. My only advice is keep an open mind about how you can apply your outside interests. For example, if you like fencing and volunteering at after school programs perhaps when you were good enough you could teach a basic fencing course to the kids, or put on a fencing match show with a friend, etc.</p>
<p>Thank you that was very very useful advice. I think I have an idea of a few things I can try out. If I could pick your brain for one more question. I know associating yourself with the school you wish to attend in the future doesn’t hurt your chances. I started college this spring and in order to make up for lost time I was thinking of taking classes in the summer at Columbia. I checked online about it and all they really said was that the application is 80 dollars. Any idea on how to guarantee a spot for the summer? I know guarantee is an awfully strong word but I think it’s evident how badly I want this.</p>
<p>Taking summer classes at columbias undergrad will not help you in the whole association sense. Doing research in psych or otherwise volunteering during the summer at columbia is more useful and less costly if you seeking to build a long term relationship with the school. That being said, realize that hundreds of applicants have such associations and still get rejected. The primary advantage od such activities is the assurance that the school will be familiar with the program and with the writer of any letters of rec that you may receive through it.</p>
<p>To answer your question, I have no clue about the undergrad reqirement for summer school. To answer your next question, I also don’t know much about undergraduate volunteering programs or about undergraduate involvement in psych research at columbia. I know that both things occur, however.</p>
<p>My sister applied to Columbia Medical School last year as a summa cum laude, phi beta kappa senior at Barnard who did research, extracurriculars, and volunteered at hospitals; she was waitlisted and then rejected. She is, however, very happy at NYU right now. Anyway, I worked at Columbia Medical School for two summers, and I would never want to go to school there. Yes it’s Columbia and it’s a wonderful school (I’m going there for undergrad next year), but before you apply, it’s important to visit. I understand that med school is tough and you won’t have much time to socialize, but the area around Columbia Medical School is filthy, overcrowded, and there is absolutely nothing to do there; go ten blocks in either direction and you’ll find nothing. Plus, the housing there isn’t great either. I hear there is hall style living still. There’s always the subway on 168th, but getting back to your dorm in Washington Heights late at night won’t be too fun. Anyway, my point is to just seriously consider whether you want to apply or not. It’s an incredible school, but in my opinion, not worth it.</p>
<p>There are optional dorms on campus yes, but there are also apartments on campus as well. If you want to move into an empty apartment, you have to live in the dorms for a year. However, you can move into a vacancy within an existing apartment lease as a first year, or you can apply into the less nice apartments on campus as a first year, or you can live off campus. Many people live in the UWS or nearby. Washington Heights is not the most gentrified example of urban living by any means, but it is also not the barren wasteland that you describe. Regardless, a ten minute commute from 116th is all price you have to pay if you find living in WH intolerable and want to live in Morningside. As far as the safety, the campus itself has people around at all hours of the night. Walking from the subway (which is on campus right next to the ER) to the apartments/dorms is very safe, but if you don’t feel safe there is a shuttle service that will drive you anywhere within I believe about 5-10 blocks of the campus free of charge.</p>
<p>I’m glad your sister is enjoying herself at NYU. NYU has a rep for being the school for Columbia rejects. I don’t see it that way. NYU is an excellent med school and I would consider myself very lucky if I could get a spot there. As far as the horrible living conditions, as you described, is of no concern of mine. I live in Queens and my commute to City College requires that I pass through Columbia. It is only a mere two stops away. However I do know what you mean about the area but believe me when I say that it doesn’t bother me one bit. The thread is still open for anyone who would like to help this fellow out on his journey to med school. You have been very helpful mmmcdowe and I thank you for that.</p>
<p>It’s sad how so many people here are eager to reply when it comes to bashing other students on their chances of acceptance but not when someone humbly asks for some advice. Thanks anyway.</p>