Columbia ETP Program 2012 entry

Published

Hi,

I plan on applying for the anesthesia program at Columbia and I wanted to know how the background of those that have been accepted look like to see if I'm even competitive enough apply.

Thanks!

Hi barbiemafia,

I currently live in Brooklyn and have been for 4 years and in NYC for 7 years and love it. I also lived in Midtown Manhattan and Downtown Manhattan. I know some people who live up in Washington Heights, but it is not for me.

I was waitlisted at Columbia, so I am not sure I am going and if I get into the other program I applied to I will be go to that school, which I will know mid-March.

Best of luck in the program at Columbia.

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Is anyone else going to the visitors day march 2nd? If so, we should all meet for margaritas or something to celebrate our acceptance, get to know some people before classes start, and maybe get lucky finding a new roomie!!! Let me k ow if you're interested and I'll plan something.

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I'm down for the margaritas but also did this happen to anyone else: I got accepted into the program, but they told me that the midwifery specialty, with all the competitive applicants, was full and I need to pick another specialty. I called the admissions office and they were like, "Congratulations!" and saying it was no big deal, that when I put down my deposit I can pretty much just choose whatever other specialty other than midwifery or anesthesia...? I just thought it was weird they would accept me and be like, "Yay!" and yet kind of not accept me?

Either way I'm pumped, I didn't have my heart set on midwifery sooooo YAY for being in NYC. Someone from New York please show me around!

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Congrats again to all those accepted!

@silvrdover - I too see quite a number of applicants turning down their acceptance to go else where. I wonder if there is a specific reason about the program that turned them away or maybe because of the cost of living in NYC?

@barbiemafia - I'll be making quite a huge change if I decided to go to this program being from Southern California. Guess I'll need to turn in my swim trunks for coats and flip flops for boots! I definitely think getting to know people who are looking for roommate is a plus. I can't believe the program starts in just over 3 months. It's crazy. Drinks would be fun after!

@Fry123 - Any advice for looking for housing? I know you said Washington Heights is not for you which is where I have been looking for housing? Is it not the safest area? Never visited NYC so it's all greek to me :uhoh21:

Hope to see you all at visitors day! Question - is anyone else bringing their family/friends? Being that I would be moving from the Los Angeles area, it's going to be a HUGE change and they want to be there for support. What do you think?

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@dedicatedone - I know people in these programs are of varying ages, but as I'm just graduating college early this May, I imagine my parents will want to help me move up to NYC... kind of a big change for a southern 22 year old, so no worries.

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@alexa129 - Phew. Ok, I'm 24 myself and moved back in with my family after graduation so I could save for this type of program. Congrats on getting in while you're still going through your program! That's pretty impressive :)

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I am definitely attending visiting day, and I'm so in for margs! I think that bringing family or friends for the visit is a great idea, my momma is coming with me because I don't think I could brave the city alone yet.

About housing...I really hope to get into the dorms, at least for the first summer semester to get familiar with the campus and the city before choosing an apt...and to find a roommate in the program. On past forums students seemed to really benefit from the dorms. NYC will be a big change for me also, as I am from a small town in south florida, and went to undergrad in a pretty small town too. But if the dorms don't work out I would absolutely be looking for roommates within the program (preferablly those who love cats, I have two!)

alexa129, midwifery is a competitive specialty and I've heard that they are strict about the number of students they accept. Congrats on getting in for something else! if you didnt have your heart set on it then you'll probably find another speciality you'll really enjoy. If in the future, during the first year you find that you couldn't see yourself anywhere else and really feel passionate about midwifery you can always reapply and by then you might be familiar with the professors and so on and you'll have a better shot of switching into it. There are some posts about this on past ETP threads that you might find helpful. Again, congrats!!

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I was wondering about the age range as well! I am 23, glad to hear there are other younger students!

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But don't we have to make a decision before march? I would like to know my position with financial aid before making my decision/deposit...

Just FYI, I spoke to financial aid this morning and they said an email with more information should be going out soon -- they are hoping today! They are planning to have financial aid packages out by March 1st (and they said if not by then, definitely before deposits have to be put down).

Congrats again!

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I got in for Pediatrics too! Are you thinking of going there? Or are you waiting on other schools

Yay! :yeah: Columbia is definitely at the top of my list, but I'm waiting on a few more schools and financial aid information.

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Hi dedicatedone,

The Washington Heights area is becoming safer, but some areas are not so much. Do you know Spanish? There are lots of people who prefer to speak Spanish in that area of Manhattan. If you decide to live in Manhattan, it may be expensive. I lived on West 53rd in a 150 square foot apartment (my dorm in undergrad was larger) when I first moved to the city that cost 1233 and then they raised the rent to 1633, so I left. Then I lived with a roommate near the World Trade Center in Battery Park. Downtown Manhattan and Battery Park are ghost towns after 6-7pm and the grocery stores near by are EXPENSIVE! The LES and East Village are not as expensive, but would be more challenging to get to Columbia.

As for Brooklyn, I am partial, I love Brooklyn Heights (I currently live here now), DUMBO, and Cobble Hill. If you like hipsters then Williamsburg is your place.

Queens is cheaper, but I do not think it would be an easy commute to Columbia.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

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@barbiemafia: congrats and i am down for drinks as well!

i'm 27, so a little bit on the older side of all the posters thus far. also, i am married so i have a permanent roommate -- i hope that doesn't count me out for celebratory margaritas though! i live in northern NJ so i will be commuting for the program. the other side of the GWB (right where CUSON is) is about 15 miles from my house and constantly serviced by bus routes, so i will be the crazy one arriving super early for classes because that's when the bus gets me there! it will be interesting to see how much my commute varies when it comes to clinical placements, but being from northern NJ, i've had work in and out of NYC (including to Long Island), so i'm a veteran at this point. with a metrocard and a kindle, any train ride is do-able.

anyone else sure they're going (unless financial aid turns out to be nonexistent?) i'm beyond excited to get on the NP train!

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