Columbia University ETP 2008

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So where are the potential 2008 Columbia ETPers at? I think a handful of regulars around here have Columbia on their list of apps, so heres a thread to get us through until notifications in Spring 2008. If you'd like, reply here and let us know which specialty you are trying for! I just submitted my app online for Acute Care...Good luck everyone! ;)

Specializes in SRNA.

I'm only slightly annoyed. :angryfire

Wow, I'm sorry! I'm not a Columbian, but I've been following along...I think its personally ridiculous that they can't bother do anything when they say they will, including the deadlines they set for sending the decision letters and housing decisions. All of the accepted students are complying with their deadlines to do things and submit documentation and they can't even stick to their own!

And yes...although I do not have to deal with it, the way I understand their housing policy, I think its just plain silly. :stone

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Thanks for clearing that up PurpleBee - I just overnighted ($28) another deposit check in hopes that I can get on the enrollment list which might not even happen.

Assignments are supposed to go out tomorrow - when I called today I was told assignments have not been made yet. They will be putting together the list and sending it out tomorrow. Good luck everyone - I may soon be looking for a few roommies!

Oh and I just had to ask this question while I was on the phone with housing:

Why are medical/dental students guaranteed on-campus housing and nursing students have to fight for it?

Response: You ETP guys start a lot earlier, far before the other students, so we have to hold on to every room that becomes available.

So there you have it -

Asherah - it's not so much deadlines that they make/break it's just the he-said/she-said in the offices as far as when things will be sent, etc. All of the dates they've officially set have been met. That's good at least!

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anybody know the pet policy? is there ANY campus housing that'll allow cats? married housing maybe?

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Specializes in NICU.

Why are medical/dental students guaranteed on-campus housing and nursing students have to fight for it?

Response: You ETP guys start a lot earlier, far before the other students, so we have to hold on to every room that becomes available.

And that, my dears, is a bunch of crap. Med students also get paid models to practice pelvic exams on, while the FNP and CNM/WHNP students practice on each OTHER. The nursing student lounge has a conference table and a computer that, at least my year, rarely worked. The med student lounge has multiple leather recliners, a bunch of top of the line computers, a huge flatscreen TV... I could go on, but it still makes me angry. One more thing that's just the way it is, I guess.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Asherah - it's not so much deadlines that they make/break it's just the he-said/she-said in the offices as far as when things will be sent, etc. All of the dates they've officially set have been met. That's good at least!

We'll its neither here nor there to me, but I disagree. When we were all waiting for admissions notifications, they told me my letter was sent on a certain day when in fact it was postmarked a whopping five days later. And didn't previous posts regarding housing decisions indicate that they were to be express mailed today and now they're going out tomorrow? Like I said, I'm not going there, but the admissions letter delay really was ridiculous.

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Med students also get paid models to practice pelvic exams on, while the FNP and CNM/WHNP students practice on each OTHER

Yeah, that's going to be a problem because as a male not only do I not feel comfortable doing pelvic exams on fellow classmates, I'm pretty sure they don't either. I was almost certain this was not done anymore because of issues involved.

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Are you F*ing kidding me??!! I just got a horrible totally-creeped-out feeling reading that post. Making us practice on each other is totally inappropriate and just plain insane. Please someone tell me that this practice is outdated and no longer tolerated?

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Specializes in L&D.

This practice is still happening in many places, including Columbia. There is always the choice to opt out. There are other students who volunteer to have more than one person practice on them and they also occasionally have paid models. Please remember, no matter where you are you're in charge of your own body. No one can make you do something you don't want to do and if you're not comfortable practicing on a classmate or having a classmate practice on you then you'll find another way to work it out, which could include helping change the system for future students.

Also, not everyone thinks this is a bad idea. There is a certain bonding that comes with learning this on a partner. You both help each other and learn what it means to be respectful, gentle, etc. I think it learning on a friend encourages a certain humanity, that way you can't just disassociate and forget that there is an actual person at the other end of the exam.

dg

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Specializes in Psychiatric/Mental Health.

Yeah, I wasn't shocked when I read that nursing students practice pelvic exams on each other, but the fact that the medical students do not is what DOES bother me. Plus I must say, nursing used to be all women so I can see how it used to make sense, but now it really is not all women...and shouldn't be encouraged to be, so practicing exams on each other doesn't make sense anymore.

Unless we are practicing prostate exams on our male partners, I don't see how the relationship between a male and female partner could possibly have the same humane reciprocity between partners that dg speaks of. I have never had a male gynecologist simply because it seems more comfortable and logical to me to have someone who understands from personal experience what is going on with my body. I have talked to tons of women, however, who prefer a male practitioner so it's obviously quite personal and bound to vary.

I can't believe that the med student lounge is so much nicer, I'm pretty sure all of our money goes to the same place...

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Also, not everyone thinks this is a bad idea. There is a certain bonding that comes with learning this on a partner. You both help each other and learn what it means to be respectful, gentle, etc. I think it learning on a friend encourages a certain humanity, that way you can't just disassociate and forget that there is an actual person at the other end of the exam.

dg

Well, obviously I can't experience a pelvic exam, but I don't think you need to directly experience something to show respect. I wouldn't need to break all my limbs to relate to a trauma patient. I wouldn't need to have an endoscopy or every single type of exploratory exam for that matter to know that they're not exactly comfortable. The fact that the College of Physicians and Surgeons doesn't practice on each other, as well as numerous institutions, goes to show that empathetic clinicians do not need to probe around on each other to gain some type of bond. It's different when the relationship is more professionally defined. I think the school just doesn't want to pay for volunteers to be honest (it's usually around $25/exam performed or per hour). I know that understanding there's a person at the other end is important but really, isn't that what clinicals are for?

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I can't believe that the med student lounge is so much nicer, I'm pretty sure all of our money goes to the same place...

Really, this just serves to mirror the disparity between our professions that stems deeper than "who has the nicer lounge". I think it's unfair but I'm sure the school has some justification just like for pelvic exams. Maybe having non-working computers and crappy seating further prepares us to be martyrs in healthcare. I think the fact that the school does not have a student association (that I know of) doesn't really help with addressing these issues.

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So as another gem in our housing assignment situation - I just called to verify that I was on the housing department's list of enrolled students and was told that because one of the staff isn't in today, assignments will be made on Monday.

I was also told that I was one of the first to send in my housing application and things looked good for getting a room, so hopefully that will pan out!

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