Columbia C/O 2019 Applicants - 2015 - 2016 Forum

[procell]

Just got an invite as well. Above both 75ths. Super stoked.

To those who already had their interview, do you guys have any advice in terms of preparing? Is there a question list floating around like H and Chicago? Apologies if there was something already posted in this thread... I just straight up couldn't find it haha!

[curious bobcat]

Just got an interview request. Why is it conventional wisdom that it means borderline or scholly candidates?

Maybe the interview spread is bimodal; with most interviews going to applicants that are at/above both 75ths or below both medians. I haven't looked at the spreadsheets to confirm--but I can't imagine any other empirical basis for this "conventional wisdom."

Anecdotally, I got the impression that my interview was probably more about a scholarship than admission. I spent no more than five minutes answering questions and they were all pretty generic. The rest of the time was my interviewer talking about why Columbia is the best. I am at/above both 75ths.

[clurrburr]

I'm an extreme splitter -- gpa over 75 and LSAT at 25 -- and I haven't submitted yet because I'm still waiting on a recommender. Trying to decide when postponing submitting becomes more dangerous than submitting without this recommender (it would be my fourth rec, but he's well known in NYC law and would definitely make my application stronger). Anyone have any input? I really appreciate it!!

[rska884]

Just got an interview request. Why is it conventional wisdom that it means borderline or scholly candidates?

Maybe the interview spread is bimodal; with most interviews going to applicants that are at/above both 75ths or below both medians. I haven't looked at the spreadsheets to confirm--but I can't imagine any other empirical basis for this "conventional wisdom."

Anecdotally, I got the impression that my interview was probably more about a scholarship than admission. I spent no more than five minutes answering questions and they were all pretty generic. The rest of the time was my interviewer talking about why Columbia is the best. I am at/above both 75ths.

I'm a standard splitter, so not sure this theory is quite accurate. I assume I'm borderline, but I'm nowhere near below both medians.

I think the reason the conventional wisdom exists isn't to do with a statistical analysis of the interview requests, but just based off the fact that a number of people get in without one, while some of those interviews end up getting rejected. That would indicate that a lot of interviews are to pick up a little more information to help make what had been a tough decision, although it doesn't explain interviews like yours (above both 75ths), which I assume is why people look at the scholarship side.

[curious bobcat]

Just got an invite as well. Above both 75ths. Super stoked.

To those who already had their interview, do you guys have any advice in terms of preparing? Is there a question list floating around like H and Chicago? Apologies if there was something already posted in this thread... I just straight up couldn't find it haha!

My questions were no different from other interviews. Very relaxed overall. The only thing that stood out was that she asked about my experience with NYC. I got the impression that a genuine love for NYC would be a good part to a strong Why Columbia answer.

Have a lot of Qs prepared. My interviewer emphasized having a conversational interview and we ended up spending more time on me asking her Qs. If I didn't have more than one question prepared, it would have been really awkward to end the interview at the 7 minute mark.

[nicknar]

I'm an extreme splitter -- gpa over 75 and LSAT at 25 -- and I haven't submitted yet because I'm still waiting on a recommender. Trying to decide when postponing submitting becomes more dangerous than submitting without this recommender (it would be my fourth rec, but he's well known in NYC law and would definitely make my application stronger). Anyone have any input? I really appreciate it!!

I would say submit now. I was going through the same dilemma waiting on my third letter. Ended up submitting about a week ago and the last letter finally came in yesterday. I think it's worth it to get your app in now and since you have the minimum letters it'll go complete. But there's still a time period between Complete and actually being reviewed, so it's still entirely likely that your fourth letter will come in before they review your application.

[Perseus1994]

Just got an interview request. Why is it conventional wisdom that it means borderline or scholly candidates?

I'll chime in and say conventional wisdom could very well be wrong. I got an interview request as well and I'm right at 75th GPA and just below 75th LSAT. I think that puts me above "borderline" but not in consideration for a significant scholarship. Not sure if you're in a similar situation, but thought you might be.

Agreed, I am around 50% for both GPA and LSAT so I don't think that necessary puts me in either the scholly or borderline camp.

Isn't both 50 borderline?Just curious

[CerealMilk]

Just got an interview request. Why is it conventional wisdom that it means borderline or scholly candidates?

I'll chime in and say conventional wisdom could very well be wrong. I got an interview request as well and I'm right at 75th GPA and just below 75th LSAT. I think that puts me above "borderline" but not in consideration for a significant scholarship. Not sure if you're in a similar situation, but thought you might be.

Agreed, I am around 50% for both GPA and LSAT so I don't think that necessary puts me in either the scholly or borderline camp.

Isn't both 50 borderline?Just curious

Maybe? I always thought that borderline was below 50% e.g. closer to 25% but I might be wrong. I went to an ivy where those numbers usually aren't borderline if that provides any context.

[clurrburr]

I'm an extreme splitter -- gpa over 75 and LSAT at 25 -- and I haven't submitted yet because I'm still waiting on a recommender. Trying to decide when postponing submitting becomes more dangerous than submitting without this recommender (it would be my fourth rec, but he's well known in NYC law and would definitely make my application stronger). Anyone have any input? I really appreciate it!!

I would say submit now. I was going through the same dilemma waiting on my third letter. Ended up submitting about a week ago and the last letter finally came in yesterday. I think it's worth it to get your app in now and since you have the minimum letters it'll go complete. But there's still a time period between Complete and actually being reviewed, so it's still entirely likely that your fourth letter will come in before they review your application.

Good point. Thank you!!

[pigzorz]

Just got an interview request. Why is it conventional wisdom that it means borderline or scholly candidates?

I'll chime in and say conventional wisdom could very well be wrong. I got an interview request as well and I'm right at 75th GPA and just below 75th LSAT. I think that puts me above "borderline" but not in consideration for a significant scholarship. Not sure if you're in a similar situation, but thought you might be.

Agreed, I am around 50% for both GPA and LSAT so I don't think that necessary puts me in either the scholly or borderline camp.

I had my interview last week and I'm above 50 for LSAT and above 75 for GPA, but definitely not in major scholarship range. Not sure what to make of the conventional wisdom.

[scone]

Just got an interview request. Why is it conventional wisdom that it means borderline or scholly candidates?

I'll chime in and say conventional wisdom could very well be wrong. I got an interview request as well and I'm right at 75th GPA and just below 75th LSAT. I think that puts me above "borderline" but not in consideration for a significant scholarship. Not sure if you're in a similar situation, but thought you might be.

Agreed, I am around 50% for both GPA and LSAT so I don't think that necessary puts me in either the scholly or borderline camp.

I had my interview last week and I'm above 50 for LSAT and above 75 for GPA, but definitely not in major scholarship range. Not sure what to make of the conventional wisdom.

Just got an interview offer as well. It seems like loads more interviews are going out this year - the conventional wisdom is dead, all hail the (new) conventional wisdom...

[Perseus1994]

I'm an extreme splitter -- gpa over 75 and LSAT at 25 -- and I haven't submitted yet because I'm still waiting on a recommender. Trying to decide when postponing submitting becomes more dangerous than submitting without this recommender (it would be my fourth rec, but he's well known in NYC law and would definitely make my application stronger). Anyone have any input? I really appreciate it!!

I would say submit now. I was going through the same dilemma waiting on my third letter. Ended up submitting about a week ago and the last letter finally came in yesterday. I think it's worth it to get your app in now and since you have the minimum letters it'll go complete. But there's still a time period between Complete and actually being reviewed, so it's still entirely likely that your fourth letter will come in before they review your application.

Good point. Thank you!!

You can assign your letter after it has been under review, I did that.

[pittsburghpirates]

For those that have interviewed, did your interviewer give you any sense of a timeline for when decisions might roll out? Based on LSN and what benwyatt mentioned, it looks like that could be sometime in mid to late January but wasn't sure if someone had heard anything on it from an interviewer

[benwyatt]

For those that have interviewed, did your interviewer give you any sense of a timeline for when decisions might roll out? Based on LSN and what benwyatt mentioned, it looks like that could be sometime in mid to late January but wasn't sure if someone had heard anything on it from an interviewer

My interviewer didn't mention it.

[darlenealderson]

Visited Columbia yesterday, spoke with an admissions person who said decisions will not be until early February...seemed like maybe she was hedging her bet a bit, but also could be the truth. If anyone has questions about my visit PM me!

[lunixer]

.

[curlious]

For those that have interviewed, did your interviewer give you any sense of a timeline for when decisions might roll out? Based on LSN and what benwyatt mentioned, it looks like that could be sometime in mid to late January but wasn't sure if someone had heard anything on it from an interviewer

My interviewer didn't mention it.

My interviewer told me first decisions will go out in late January, followed by periodic waves.

[Li'l Sebastian]

I didn't get an interview request, but I did just get an email requesting my Fall 2015 grades, and a transcript showing them.

Did anyone else get a request like this?

[dmp1323]

deleted

[salander]

I didn't get an interview request, but I did just get an email requesting my Fall 2015 grades, and a transcript showing them.

Did anyone else get a request like this?

Yup, I did as well. Has this happened in previous years? Do they actually target people or is it just all KJDs?

[Li'l Sebastian]

I didn't get an interview request, but I did just get an email requesting my Fall 2015 grades, and a transcript showing them.

Did anyone else get a request like this?

Yup, I did as well. Has this happened in previous years? Do they actually target people or is it just all KJDs?

Oh, is that why? I was afraid it was because my GPA was below their 25%.

I didn't get an interview request, but I did just get an email requesting my Fall 2015 grades, and a transcript showing them.

Did anyone else get a request like this?

Same, but my fall grades arent gonna do me any favors. Sigh.

Well if Salander's guess is right, it's a formality of K-JDs so it won't necessarily be a deal breaker, and if anything it means you're already in the consider pile!!!

[scone]

For those that have interviewed, did your interviewer give you any sense of a timeline for when decisions might roll out? Based on LSN and what benwyatt mentioned, it looks like that could be sometime in mid to late January but wasn't sure if someone had heard anything on it from an interviewer

My interviewer didn't mention it.

I was told along the lines of 'we won't start giving decisions before January'. No mention of when in January.

[Li'l Sebastian]

Now I get to stress extra hard about my final coming up at 5:30 today because now I know Columbia will see it!

I was taking 18 hours(most hours I've ever taken before) this semester and if I do well on this last test I think I'll have a 4.0 for this semester to be able to show Columbia Senpai.

[darlenealderson]

FWIW I'm a KJD and did not get that request as of yet.not sure if there's any meaning to that.

Edit: I'm at median LSAT and above median GPA.

[tflan19]

FWIW I'm a KJD and did not get that request as of yet.not sure if there's any meaning to that.

Edit: I'm at median LSAT and above median GPA.

KJD with no request either - above 75 LSAT and above median GPA. Applied mid-oct.