<p>Checking my email today, I saw that Columbia had given me the opportunity for a phone interview. As an early-decision defer, I jumped at the chance (of course) and registered...however, I had never heard of Columbia offering phone interviews until this point. It also mentioned the National Opportunity Program (which is almost equally confusing considering I do not qualify for any need-based financial assistance). Anyone else get the email??? Would love to hear from others. </p>
<p>(I can post the text of it to at anyone's request)</p>
<p>No, I wasn’t offered an alumni interview. The alumni representative in our area has a daughter going through the application process with Columbia, so he can’t interview any applicants this year (which SUCKS).
Text below:</p>
<p>Dear _____,</p>
<p>Thank you for submitting your application to Columbia University.</p>
<p>We invite you to register for a phone interview with a student interviewer, a current Columbia student leader and member of the Undergraduate Recruitment Committee, who can help you get to know Columbia better and then report on your interview to the admissions committee. In addition, our student interviewers would like to speak with you about the National Opportunity Program, a component of Columbia’s Academic Success Programs.</p>
<p>Registration for this limited opportunity is available on a first come, first served basis. You may register for only one appointment time, and each interview appointment time will close once registration capacity is reached. Even if you have already participated in an interview with a member of the Alumni Representative Committee (ARC), we invite you to take part in this additional interview to learn more about the National Opportunity Program specifically.</p>
<p>In order to register you will need your Columbia ID number, which is: _________ Please register for your desired appointment time with the link below by Monday, February 28th, at 5:00PM EST. Registration may close in advance of the deadline should all available spaces fill. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with your designated interview time immediately upon successful registration. If your first choice is closed, please keep trying until you select an appointment time that allows you to register. There are no additional interview days and times available.</p>
<p>Please contact _________ Director of the Undergraduate Recruitment Committee, at <a href="mailto:@columbia.edu">@columbia.edu</a> if you have any questions. We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity.</p>
<p>So Columbia doesn’t do phone interviews with non-HOP applicants? That explains why my URC friends had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned phone interviews.</p>
<p>Sorry for posting info…was an oversight.<br>
But again, I dont qualify for ANY financial aid. I am not a low-income student. So this doesn’t make sense…does it? NOP to my understanding is low-income only.<br>
Should I call and inquire about that, or just take the opportunity to interview??</p>
<p>pwoods - wrong, students do phone interviews, but only a few seniors do it, and that usually happens in january of each year.</p>
<p>columbia does phone interviews from seniors, and also sometimes alums will do phone interviews.</p>
<p>intuition - it could be that you didn’t send in info, or had vague stuff on your profile, or that they have different requirements, i would send a message inquiring, say you read about the NOP program, and were wondering about it and were not sure if you qualified. end saying something like ‘you don’t want to unfairly take up an interview slot for a program that tries to reach out to low-income students.’</p>
<p>hello, I also received this email about the NOP program. It makes me really nervous to do a phone interview, however I am superexcited. i applied through QuestBridge, but was not matched. I hope I get in, it’d be the ultimate gift from above!! :)</p>