Columbia c/o 2018 Applicants (2014-2015 cycle) Forum

[DetroitRed]

Anyone with the experience of the interviews under their belt, it would be great to hear a bit about the experience. Based on the calendar they look like they must move very quickly...

+1

+2

[smile0751]

I had mine today--but I typically have trouble remembering after the fact what happened during the interview. I think it has to do with nerves... anyways...

They asked the basics -- Why Columbia & Why Law. In your Why Columbia, I'd kind of have a response to "Why not NYU" in your back pocket.

They had clearly read my personal statement and addendum, but not necessarily my resume (at least my resume which imo has some really interesting things that most other interviewers grab onto was never mentioned). She asked questions about my personal statement (i.e. how did you find yourself there? Why didnt you do X? How did you feel about Y?).

Overall, besides for Why Columbia and Why Law, I dont think I could have prepared or predicted any of the questions. On the other hand, most of her questions were kind of fact based so they were simple to answer.

[musedreverie]

I had mine today--but I typically have trouble remembering after the fact what happened during the interview. I think it has to do with nerves... anyways...

They asked the basics -- Why Columbia & Why Law. In your Why Columbia, I'd kind of have a response to "Why not NYU" in your back pocket.

They had clearly read my personal statement and addendum, but not necessarily my resume (at least my resume which imo has some really interesting things that most other interviewers grab onto was never mentioned). She asked questions about my personal statement (i.e. how did you find yourself there? Why didnt you do X? How did you feel about Y?).

Overall, besides for Why Columbia and Why Law, I dont think I could have prepared or predicted any of the questions. On the other hand, most of her questions were kind of fact based so they were simple to answer.

Thanks for sharing this!

Was the atmosphere of the interview conversational like other schools or was it more grilling? (although I find it highly unlikely that they would be)

Good luck!

[smile0751]

I had mine today--but I typically have trouble remembering after the fact what happened during the interview. I think it has to do with nerves... anyways...

They asked the basics -- Why Columbia & Why Law. In your Why Columbia, I'd kind of have a response to "Why not NYU" in your back pocket.

They had clearly read my personal statement and addendum, but not necessarily my resume (at least my resume which imo has some really interesting things that most other interviewers grab onto was never mentioned). She asked questions about my personal statement (i.e. how did you find yourself there? Why didnt you do X? How did you feel about Y?).

Overall, besides for Why Columbia and Why Law, I dont think I could have prepared or predicted any of the questions. On the other hand, most of her questions were kind of fact based so they were simple to answer.

Thanks for sharing this!

Was the atmosphere of the interview conversational like other schools or was it more grilling? (although I find it highly unlikely that they would be)

Good luck!

Much more UVA-like, rather than Northwestern or UChicago. If that helps clarify anything....

Basically, pretty darn conversational.

[Mrocky2]

They asked the basics -- Why Columbia & Why Law. In your Why Columbia, I'd kind of have a response to "Why not NYU" in your back pocket.


Ivy preftige of course

[pylon]

Much more UVA-like, rather than Northwestern or UChicago. If that helps clarify anything....

Basically, pretty darn conversational.

Ahaha, that actually clarifies a lot. Thanks smile!

[GreenEggs]

So I submitted over a month ago and just recieved an email asking for my study abroad transcript. It seems strange considering LSAC does not consider this one of the required transcripts I need to send and I've already recieved quite a few acceptances without this issue.

Is this normal?

[psychmusic]

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[musedreverie]

Much more UVA-like, rather than Northwestern or UChicago. If that helps clarify anything....

Basically, pretty darn conversational.

Great!

Considering that my interview will be at around 3 a.m. (big time difference), I might look grey on Skype, but at least it's nice to know it's going to be easy-going

[DK21]

Much more UVA-like, rather than Northwestern or UChicago. If that helps clarify anything....

Basically, pretty darn conversational.

Ahaha, that actually clarifies a lot. Thanks smile!

I don't know what that means. I had a Northwester interview with an alum that was pretty conversational and don't know what happens with the Chicago or UVA interviews...

[musedreverie]

Much more UVA-like, rather than Northwestern or UChicago. If that helps clarify anything....

Basically, pretty darn conversational.

Ahaha, that actually clarifies a lot. Thanks smile!

I don't know what that means. I had a Northwester interview with an alum that was pretty conversational and don't know what happens with the Chicago or UVA interviews...

Well, the conventional wisdom (from empirical data) is that H, UVA are more relaxed and the interview questions mostly come from the PS whereas Chicago is a little more formal with preset questions that are asked to most people (like a job interview, where they ask 'tell me about a time when you faced hardship etc.)

Not sure about Northwestern tho (nor UVA for that matter, actually) as I didn't apply.

[HungarianGirl13]

What is the nature of interviewing at Columbia? Is it like Harvard, where you need to get an interview in order to get admitted? Or can you be admitted without ever being invited for an interview? If so, roughly how many people do they invite to interview and why?

[xylocarp]

What is the nature of interviewing at Columbia? Is it like Harvard, where you need to get an interview in order to get admitted? Or can you be admitted without ever being invited for an interview? If so, roughly how many people do they invite to interview and why?

last year, lots of people were admitted without interviewing. that's probably the case this year too. there's a lot of speculation about what the interviews mean/who's chosen, and we don't know for sure, but it seems to be a combination of interviewing borderline candidates, borderline named scholarship candidates, and probably just some people for whom they want to clarify some things. I think in general it's probably a neutral or good thing, but definitely not the cause for excitement that say, getting a JS1 is.

[HungarianGirl13]

What is the nature of interviewing at Columbia? Is it like Harvard, where you need to get an interview in order to get admitted? Or can you be admitted without ever being invited for an interview? If so, roughly how many people do they invite to interview and why?

last year, lots of people were admitted without interviewing. that's probably the case this year too. there's a lot of speculation about what the interviews mean/who's chosen, and we don't know for sure, but it seems to be a combination of interviewing borderline candidates, borderline named scholarship candidates, and probably just some people for whom they want to clarify some things. I think in general it's probably a neutral or good thing, but definitely not the cause for excitement that say, getting a JS1 is.

thank you for clarifying! this is helpful!

[Four Winds]

I'm trying to update my line on the spreadsheet to reflect my interview invitation but it's only giving me the option of "Major/Minor/No" instead of "Yes/No." I'm not super familiar with Google Docs so I don't wanna touch anything but just as a heads up.

[xylocarp]

I'm trying to update my line on the spreadsheet to reflect my interview invitation but it's only giving me the option of "Major/Minor/No" instead of "Yes/No." I'm not super familiar with Google Docs so I don't wanna touch anything but just as a heads up.

thanks, I'll look at it later this afternoon!

[butSeriously]

As one of the[, as I can imagine, ] many eager little beavers, I tend to create calendar reminders for when to start watching for a school's movement; that way I can complete work in the interim.

I recall the last two years indicating that the first-wave decisions come somewhere between the 16th and 30th. Pardon me if I'm too early on the start date: I'm working from memory. Adjusting for this year's calendar, I assume that that would put us somewhere in the 19th-30th.

What is the educated opinion on when it is right to start checking my mail / this thread daily?

Thanks in advance.

[LoganCouture]

As one of the[, as I can imagine, ] many eager little beavers, I tend to create calendar reminders for when to start watching for a school's movement; that way I can complete work in the interim.

I recall the last two years indicating that the first-wave decisions come somewhere between the 16th and 30th. Pardon me if I'm too early on the start date: I'm working from memory. Adjusting for this year's calendar, I assume that that would put us somewhere in the 19th-30th.

What is the educated opinion on when it is right to start checking my mail / this thread daily?

Thanks in advance.

First wave decisions last year were mailed out on 1/24 (a Friday) and I think people reported getting them in the mail on Monday 1/27. But it depends how far you live from NYC.

[Mack.Hambleton]

As one of the[, as I can imagine, ] many eager little beavers, I tend to create calendar reminders for when to start watching for a school's movement; that way I can complete work in the interim.

I recall the last two years indicating that the first-wave decisions come somewhere between the 16th and 30th. Pardon me if I'm too early on the start date: I'm working from memory. Adjusting for this year's calendar, I assume that that would put us somewhere in the 19th-30th.

What is the educated opinion on when it is right to start checking my mail / this thread daily?

Thanks in advance.

F5 this thread constantly

[butSeriously]

As one of the[, as I can imagine, ] many eager little beavers, I tend to create calendar reminders for when to start watching for a school's movement; that way I can complete work in the interim.

I recall the last two years indicating that the first-wave decisions come somewhere between the 16th and 30th. Pardon me if I'm too early on the start date: I'm working from memory. Adjusting for this year's calendar, I assume that that would put us somewhere in the 19th-30th.

What is the educated opinion on when it is right to start checking my mail / this thread daily?

Thanks in advance.

F5 this thread constantly

Haha, so "three months ago" : )

[ChemEng1642]

As one of the[, as I can imagine, ] many eager little beavers, I tend to create calendar reminders for when to start watching for a school's movement; that way I can complete work in the interim.

I recall the last two years indicating that the first-wave decisions come somewhere between the 16th and 30th. Pardon me if I'm too early on the start date: I'm working from memory. Adjusting for this year's calendar, I assume that that would put us somewhere in the 19th-30th.

What is the educated opinion on when it is right to start checking my mail / this thread daily?

Thanks in advance.

F5 this thread constantly

Lol yeah my strategy is to subscribe to all the threads of the schools I'm applying to and just watch those

[xylocarp]

I'm trying to update my line on the spreadsheet to reflect my interview invitation but it's only giving me the option of "Major/Minor/No" instead of "Yes/No." I'm not super familiar with Google Docs so I don't wanna touch anything but just as a heads up.

thanks, I'll look at it later this afternoon!

ok this should be fixed now!

[downbeat14]

.

[Four Winds]

ok this should be fixed now!

Terrific, thanks!

[pylon]

Lol yeah my strategy is to subscribe to all the threads of the schools I'm applying to and just watch those

Same here lol