Columbia C/O 2019 Applicants - 2015 - 2016 Forum

Soaphead_Church · Post by **Soaphead_Church** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:22 pm

jg61 wrote:just got an interview request from columbia. anyone else? also any intel on the interviews (substance and also whether it has any bearing on admission) would be really helpful.

I did a phone interview with Nkonye Iwerebon as a RD a few years ago prior to my admission. It was pleasant and conversational, though very focused (she wanted to ask about a couple of poor grades from freshman year and a disciplinary issue with my undergrad university). I got my admit email two days later, though, so the best I can tell you is that I think it's a promising sign that they want to do it. If there's anything unusual or questionable on your application, though, my own personal experience leads me to say that you should be ready to talk about it.

linguafranca90 · Post by **linguafranca90** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:36 pm

Does anyone have an idea of how important interviews are in the Columbia admit process? This is the first time I've heard that they actually do them. Is it similar to Harvard or Chicago, where interviews are the norm for competitive candidates, or does Columbia use interviews more as a way to clarify things within a specific candidate's file?

cbbinnyc · Post by **cbbinnyc** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:38 pm

For those who got interview requests, were these via email or phone? (I know this is pretty insignificant ... but just curious)

Also, on an unrelated note, I am applying ED to another school ... does anybody know if other schools see this and, if so, does it affect the timing of their decision (e.g. they delay your decision until after your have heard from the ED school)?

tflan19 · Post by **tflan19** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:39 pm

because I'm a spaz and like to overthink things:

- 2014/2015: 45 applicants in spreadsheet accepted, only 8 were interviewed.
- 2013/2014: 67 applicants in spreadsheet accepted, only 4 interviewed.

Sounds like interviews are used when admissions has specific questions about an applicants file but are seen in a range of applicants (including those above both 75%). However, it does look like accepted interviewees received scholarship money at a much higher rate than the general population, at least in 2014-2015 (3/8 have scholarships recorded in the spreadsheet - only 6 scholarships recorded).

Also, this is a great plug to fill out the spreadsheets! This info is only as helpful as our entries.

ugg · Post by **ugg** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:41 pm

Post removed.

oliverotis · Post by **oliverotis** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:54 pm

tflan19 wrote:because I'm a spaz and like to overthink things:

- 2014/2015: 45 applicants in spreadsheet accepted, only 8 were interviewed.
- 2013/2014: 67 applicants in spreadsheet accepted, only 4 interviewed.

Sounds like interviews are used when admissions has specific questions about an applicants file but are seen in a range of applicants (including those above both 75%). However, it does look like accepted interviewees received scholarship money at a much higher rate than the general population, at least in 2014-2015 (3/8 have scholarships recorded in the spreadsheet - only 6 scholarships recorded).

Also, this is a great plug to fill out the spreadsheets! This info is only as helpful as our entries.

This is because they also interview for certain scholarships, independent of their 'normal' admissions interviewing. I think it's fair to assume those applicants above both 75% were interviewed for scholarships. Conventional wisdom is they otherwise are only interviewing on the bubble, I don't have any direct evidence of this though.

sockstcat · Post by **sockstcat** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:00 pm

jg61 · Post by **jg61** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:24 pm

cbbinnyc wrote:For those who got interview requests, were these via email or phone? (I know this is pretty insignificant ... but just curious)

Also, on an unrelated note, I am applying ED to another school ... does anybody know if other schools see this and, if so, does it affect the timing of their decision (e.g. they delay your decision until after your have heard from the ED school)?

E-mail with a link to sign up for an interview slot

Aragorn · Post by **Aragorn** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:18 pm

Submitted last week!

Any other GPA-less internationals hoping for some pecuniary support?

susanlata · Post by **susanlata** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:46 pm

Also got the interview invitation this morning. I am applying ED.

Honestly I don't consider this a promising sign, at least in my case. My guessing is that they might be curious(or confused?) about the huge shift of my practice focus reflected in my PS and want to see how I would perfectly justify that...

Anyone has any tips/experience to share on the interview?
- Time
- Style (Relaxed or tense)
- Question type: Resume/PS/particulars/your interest in Columbia and your possible contribution to Columbia etc.
- Interviewer (Single or multiple, admission staff?)
...

I am soooooooo nervous!! I'm so afraid of being rejected in ED round if messing it up...

dawnk · Post by **dawnk** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:01 pm

susanlata · Post by **susanlata** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:05 pm

dawnk wrote:
susanlata wrote:Also got the interview invitation this morning. I am applying ED.

Honestly I don't consider this a promising sign, at least in my case. My guessing is that they might be curious(or confused?) about the huge shift of my practice focus reflected in my PS and want to see how I would perfectly justify that...

Anyone has any tips/experience to share on the interview?
- Time
- Style (Relaxed or tense)
- Question type: Resume/PS/particulars/your interest in Columbia and your possible contribution to Columbia etc.
- Interviewer (Single or multiple, admission staff?)
...

I am soooooooo nervous!! I'm so afraid of being rejected in ED round if messing it up...
I also got an interview invitation and I'm actually quite freaking out because I didn't realize Columbia would be doing interviews...
So nervous especially with the stats pulled off the spreadsheet a couple of posts above.
I'm applying ED as well, so maybe that's why. um.... *still freaking out*

Same thought here. The moment I saw the interview invitation email headline, I was like... "It's over. They have found loopholes all over my materials!"

mynameiskevin · Post by **mynameiskevin** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 8:07 pm

Post removed.

slizerd · Post by **slizerd** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:22 pm

Filling out and submitting my app today! Holy dang, they ask a lot of specific questions about your parents.

alyb12 · Post by **alyb12** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:28 pm

IN UNDER ED!!!!

Email received at 2:14 pm from Admit!

My application went complete on November 11th after being submitted the day before.

No interview but LSAT and GPA over 75% medians.

Can't wait!!!

Dcc617 · Post by **Dcc617** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:33 pm

alyb12 wrote:IN UNDER ED!!!!

Email received at 2:14 pm from Admit!

My application went complete on November 11th after being submitted the day before.

No interview but LSAT and GPA over 75% medians.

Can't wait!!!

Holy smokes congrats!

Does anyone care for specious speculation about what this means for RD?

gobears!! · Post by **gobears!!** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:49 pm

alyb12 wrote:IN UNDER ED!!!!

Email received at 2:14 pm from Admit!

My application went complete on November 11th after being submitted the day before.

No interview but LSAT and GPA over 75% medians.

Can't wait!!!

Congrats!

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:51 pm

alyb12 wrote:IN UNDER ED!!!!

Email received at 2:14 pm from Admit!

My application went complete on November 11th after being submitted the day before.

No interview but LSAT and GPA over 75% medians.

Can't wait!!!

Congratulations!

Can I ask why you chose to ED?

I would think that if you're over both 75ths that EDing isn't really necessary.

alyb12 · Post by **alyb12** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 4:21 pm

benwyatt wrote:
alyb12 wrote:IN UNDER ED!!!!

Email received at 2:14 pm from Admit!

My application went complete on November 11th after being submitted the day before.

No interview but LSAT and GPA over 75% medians.

Can't wait!!!
Congratulations!

Can I ask why you chose to ED?

I would think that if you're over both 75ths that EDing isn't really necessary.

I don't think my LSAT is nearly high enough for the Butler/Hamilton so I didn't think there was much to lose by applying ED as I knew I would attend Columbia over any other school (I'm from the area) and I didn't want to spend a lot of money and time applying to other schools. Also, personally I didn't do ED for my dream college despite being over both the SAT and GPA scores, and I ended up at a school I didn't love as much, while both my sisters attended the same school and loved it and knew they got in fairly quickly because they did ED. I also visited Columbia and fell in love with the school.

mynameiskevin · Post by **mynameiskevin** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:21 pm

Post removed.

alyb12 · Post by **alyb12** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:49 pm

mynameiskevin wrote:
alyb12 wrote:IN UNDER ED!!!!

Email received at 2:14 pm from Admit!

My application went complete on November 11th after being submitted the day before.

No interview but LSAT and GPA over 75% medians.

Can't wait!!!
Congratz!!
Out of curiosity, did you do any extra essays?

I did not do any extra essays.

Billy Madison · Post by **Billy Madison** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 7:36 pm

Has anyone received an email like this:

"Over the years, Columbia Law School has been consistently impressed by the caliber of ____________ University students. For this reason, we invite you to peruse our website, as well as our Viewbook, and hope that you will consider our Law School as you determine your path into a legal career."

Seems like a form email that probably means less than a fee waiver (see "nothing"), but I'm curious if anyone else got one. I doubt there's anything specific to my UG that Columbia really loves...

magnum_law · Post by **magnum_law** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 7:45 pm

gunton224 wrote:Has anyone received an email like this:

"Over the years, Columbia Law School has been consistently impressed by the caliber of ____________ University students. For this reason, we invite you to peruse our website, as well as our Viewbook, and hope that you will consider our Law School as you determine your path into a legal career."

Seems like a form email that probably means less than a fee waiver (see "nothing"), but I'm curious if anyone else got one. I doubt there's anything specific to my UG that Columbia really loves...

Got that too. I'm from a University of X. Quasi-prestigious state school.

nahmjun · Post by **nahmjun** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:57 pm

Admitted under ED!

LSAT over 75%,
GPA right at 25%,
Highly unique softs (international student, military background, war-veteran)

goddamnit I've waited 7 years for this moment

orgasmic

gobears!! · Post by **gobears!!** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:58 pm

nahmjun wrote:Admitted under ED!

LSAT over 75%,
GPA right at 25%,
Highly unique softs (international student, military background, war-veteran)

goddamnit I've waited 7 years for this moment

orgasmic

Big congrats, then! Glad to see your dream come true