MDE Columbia University 2021

ns12 · Feb 18, 2021

2 minutes ago, millie2827 said:

For those moving to New York I wouldn't stress too much about apartments yet, you definitely have plenty of time. Most apartments are available to rent immediately or in the very near future. In all my past NY apartments I moved into the apt within a month of finding it, and my friends have had the same experience. So you have until like mid-April/early May to start looking!

1 minute ago, Leah_w said:

I wouldn’t stress too hard about finding a place in nyc at the moment. Unless you’re trying to move well before the program starts...you can’t commit to an apartment more than 1 month in advance of when you want to move anyway. Program starts June 7, I’m not going to look to find a place to live until may 1. I have poked around just to check out the housing market right now and it’s literally the easiest and cheapest to find an apartment than it’s ever been in nyc due to COVID and so many people leaving the city. I’m a native new yorker but have lived out west for my post-grad life and I’m just hoping these rental rates last a few more months LOL!

Is it true that to rent an apartment in NYC, you would have to make 40 times the rent? My concern is finding an apartment as a student especially if student loans can't be used for rent.

Nat31 · Feb 18, 2021

16 minutes ago, ns12 said:

Is it true that to rent an apartment in NYC, you would have to make 40 times the rent? My concern is finding an apartment as a student especially if student loans can't be used for rent.

This is my concern as well!! I’ve watched a video that said that’s true and I’m currently freaking out that I won’t be able to afford it ?

ns12 · Feb 18, 2021

2 minutes ago, natasha laroia said:

This is my concern as well!! I’ve watched a video that said that’s true and I’m currently freaking out that I won’t be able to afford it ?

Glad to know I'm not the only one who is freaking out about this!

SB88 · Feb 18, 2021

5 minutes ago, natasha laroia said:

This is my concern as well!! I’ve watched a video that said that’s true and I’m currently freaking out that I won’t be able to afford it ?

@ns12 Hey guys! I just wanted to chime in. I've been searching for over a month. So if you don't make 40x the rent they will have you go through Insurent at most places. Insurent for those of us who aren't NYC residents yet and in the know- serves as a lease guarantor if you do not make 40x the rent (haha). I will put the link below. I am learning as I go just like you!!

https://www.insurent.com/renters/

Soup · Feb 18, 2021

Hey everyone,

I was accepted to this program and am pretty committed, still waiting on one more response from a school but I feel pretty set on Columbia.

I was wondering if anyone planned on living in Brooklyn? I lived there for a few years before relocating to the west coast and with going back, I’m pretty sure I’ll be moving back to that borough. Was just wondering if anyone else was!

Anxiousnurse2b · Feb 18, 2021

Would any accepted students so far be willing to share their stats? I'm feeling pretty discouraged about my application right about now.

underqualified · Feb 18, 2021

2 minutes ago, Anxiousnurse2b said:

Would any accepted students so far be willing to share their stats? I'm feeling pretty discouraged about my application right about now.

Hi ? I'll share my stats and hope that this helps! 3.6 undergrad GPA in cognitive brain science major/child development minor, 4 years research experience, student-athlete, and I've worked lots of odd jobs (bartending, pizza place, soulcycle ...) I had lots and lots of community service hours but NO clinical experience at all and I STILL have 2 pending pre-reqs! I think that my LORs were the strongest part of app & also possibly my student-athlete experiences... Also-don't lose hope, I applied fully thinking that I would be rejected and lacked confidence in my application (hence my self-depricating allnurses name) however, it all worked out and I bet that it will for you too:)

Anxiousnurse2b · Feb 18, 2021

7 minutes ago, underqualified said:

Hi ? I'll share my stats and hope that this helps! 3.6 undergrad GPA in cognitive brain science major/child development minor, 4 years research experience, student-athlete, and I've worked lots of odd jobs (bartending, pizza place, soulcycle ...) I had lots and lots of community service hours but NO clinical experience at all and I STILL have 2 pending pre-reqs! I think that my LORs were the strongest part of app & also possibly my student-athlete experiences... Also-don't lose hope, I applied fully thinking that I would be rejected and lacked confidence in my application (hence my self-depricating allnurses name) however, it all worked out and I bet that it will for you too:)

Woah you're definitely qualified ! I think your entire life experiences is what got you accepted LOL. I don't even have half of that! I think I am the under qualified one *brb crawling under a rock to hide*

FutureNPWA13 · Feb 18, 2021

For the accepted applicants, does CU like applicants with research and clinical experience? I currently work in research through UCLA school of med and have 4 years working as a medical assistant, 3 years working as an ER tech, and worked Per Diem as an ortho tech. So I want to see if my stats would kind of balance out my undergrad GPA because I didn't do so hot in my first two years of college. Thanks, everyone!

amanda12 · Feb 18, 2021

2 hours ago, KimP21 said:

OMG awesome! Im from NJ too just not in a commuter town. I do have a car but I'm looking for places close to the train too. So either or works for me tbh.

I would look into Rutherford, Secaucus, or Hoboken (although Hoboken is getting to be as expensive as NYC)! From Rutherford, the main line would take you from Rutherford station to Secaucus Junction and then you'd take a 15 min train to NY Penn. If you were in Secaucus, you'd take the train from Secaucus Junction right to NY Penn. It's a little hard because NY Penn is quite far downtown from Columbia so it would be a bit of a subway ride up. Another option could be Fort Lee or Edgewater, which you would take the GW bridge and drive ~15 mins downtown to CU, although I don't know the parking situation at the school.
If I even get into Columbia and decide to go there, I would consider commuting from my house in NJ while classes are hybrid! The commute might end up being a little inconvenient, but I assume that we won't be going in-person every day at least during the first semester. This way I could at least save some money until classes are fully in person and I get an apartment in NYC closer to CU!

eg96 · Feb 18, 2021

26 minutes ago, Melvin Valle said:

For the accepted applicants, does CU like applicants with research and clinical experience? I currently work in research through UCLA school of med and have 4 years working as a medical assistant, 3 years working as an ER tech, and worked Per Diem as an ortho tech. So I want to see if my stats would kind of balance out my undergrad GPA because I didn't do so hot in my first two years of college. Thanks, everyone!

I am still waiting in the second rounds, but I would like to say that your stats are pretty impressive. From what I know, Columbia is very big on research and clinical experience! They look at applications holistically so GPA isn't a huge factor when it comes to acceptance since they have accepted those with a GPA of 2.75 and lower. As long as you used your addendum to explain any flaws in your educational record you will be fine. I have clinical experience but no research so hopefully that doesn't hurt me.

babyalph2021 · Feb 19, 2021

3 hours ago, Melvin Valle said:

For the accepted applicants, does CU like applicants with research and clinical experience? I currently work in research through UCLA school of med and have 4 years working as a medical assistant, 3 years working as an ER tech, and worked Per Diem as an ortho tech. So I want to see if my stats would kind of balance out my undergrad GPA because I didn't do so hot in my first two years of college. Thanks, everyone!

Hi there, I actually currently working as a research associate in UCSF. In total, including undergrad research, I have accumulated close to 4 years of basic science research experience. I have minimal to zero experience in clinical/hospital setting. The closest thing I have is an experience as a Red Cross club president in my college. I got accepted without any problem even tho I took all of my prereq in community college ( I transferred into 4 year university in my junior year). I have only been published once as well. Although, my GPA has been consistently pretty well but I know college like to see upward trend in grade.

So I wouldn’t worry too much about it!