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Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

New York, NY Class Size: 140
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Statistics Tuition Friendliness Mission Statement Situational Judgement Tests Dates & Deadlines Prerequisite Courses Dual Degree Tracks Contact Information Secondary App Questions Interview Questions

Gaining admission to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons is Ultra Competitive. Applicants typically have an average GPA of 3.95 and an average MCAT score of 522.

Statistics

To summarize, listed below are the most important academic statistics for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons applicants:

Average GPA:
3.95
Average MCAT:
522
Competitiveness:
Ultra Competitive
Note: Competitiveness is assessed based on the school's acceptance rate, average MCAT, and average GPA.
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Tuition

Affording medical school can be tough, often requiring students to take on significant loans. Information about the yearly tuition for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons is below.

In-State Tuition:
$71000
Out-of-State Tuition:
$71000

For more information about tuition at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, visit the following link: https://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/education/student-resources/student-financial-aid-and-planning/important-resources/student-budgets

Friendliness

Some schools prefer in-state candidates, while others are more receptive to out-of-state or international applicants. View our school "friendliness" scores for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons below:

IN-STATE

In-State Friendliness:
Neutral

OUT-OF-STATE

Accepts Out-of-State:
Yes
Out-of-State Friendliness:
Very Friendly

INTERNATIONAL

Accepts Canadian:
Yes
Accepts International:
Yes
International Friendliness:
Neutral

Note: Most schools will be labelled "Neutral" for In-State Friendlines because they don't have a strong bias for in-state applicants compared to out-of-state applicants. In other words, we believe these schools view In-State and Out-State applicants more or less equally. Schools labelled as "Out-of-State Friendly / Very Friendly" have a high proportion of their class filled with Out-of-State applicants.

Mission Statement

It is always important to read and understand a medical school's mission statement before applying. Often, you will find out what the medical school stands for, and if you fit in with the general "vibe" of the medical school. However, being honest, most medical schools have the same run-of-the-mill mission statement as everybody else. Anyways, you can be the judge. Below you can find the mission statement for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons:

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Mission Statement:
The mission of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) is to prepare future graduates to be leaders and role models in patient care, medical research, education, and health-care policy. Their experiences at VP&S will enable them to shape the future and set the standards for medicine throughout the United States and the world. Their guided exposure and training will allow them to exhibit the highest principles of humanism and professionalism in their responsibilities to their patients, to their community, and to society.

For more information on the mission statement for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, visit the following link: https://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/education/academic-programs/md-program/about-md-program/schoolwide-values#:~:text=The%20mission%20of%20Columbia%20University%20Vagelos%20College%20of,patient%20care%2C%20medical%20research%2C%20education%2C%20and%20health-care%20policy.

Situational Judgement Tests

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons does not require the completion of either the CASPer® nor the AAMC PREview™ examinations.

CASPer®:
No
AAMC PREview™:
No

Dates, Deadlines, and Fees

Throughout your application cycle, there are many dates to be cognizant of in order to ensure the successful completion of your application.

Primary Application Deadline:
October 16
Secondary Application Deadline:
Oct 22
Secondary Application Fee:
$110
Note: The primary application deadline refers to when your primary application (i.e., the initial AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS application) needs to be completed. Please be aware that there are processing times associated with primary applications—for instance, there can be a several week processing time associated with verifying your acadmic transcripts when initially submitting the AMCAS application. Upon receipt of the primary application, most schools will then shortly send you a secondary application with targeted essay questions relevant to the specific school.

The secondary application deadline is the final day for all your application materials to be together, which includes submitting the secondary essays, all letters of recommendation, all test scores, etc. Sometimes, schools may have earlier deadlines for letters of recommendation. However, note that for the vast majority of schools it is best to submit your secondary application as soon as possible: within 2 weeks of receiving the secondary application is a good rule-of-thumb.

Below are some other helpful dates:

Interview Cycle Start:
Aug 15
Interview Cycle End:
January
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Prerequisite Courses

Most schools have a list of prerequisite courses that you need to have completed before matriculating. View information provided for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons below:

Interpreting Semester Hours
Typically,
3 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course = 1 or 2 quarters
4 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course + associated lab unit
6 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses = 3 quarters
8 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses + two associated lab units

PHYSICS

Semester Hours:
7
Lab?
Required

At least one semester of lab necessary. "For applicants whose undergraduate college accepted Advanced Placement (AP) credit to satisfy the requirement in introductory-level Physics, no further Physics coursework is required."

CHEMISTRY

GenChem = General Chemistry

OChem = Organic Chemistry

Biochem = Biochemistry

GenChem Semester Hours:
8
GenChem Lab?
Required
OChem Semester Hours:
8
OChem Lab?
Required
Biochem Semester Hours:
1
Biochem Lab?
Not Required

2 years of gen chem with lab needed (including 1 year of organic chem with lab), 1 semester of biochem with lab recommended but not needed.

BIOLOGY

GenBio = General Biology

HL Bio = Higher Level Biology

GenBio Semester Hours:
8
GenBio Lab?
Required
HL Bio Semester Hours:
HL Bio Lab?
Not Required

"For applicants whose undergraduate college accepted Advanced Placement (AP) credit to satisfy the requirement, we require one year of advanced study. This additional year must include at least one semester of the lab, and two semesters are recommended."

HUMANITIES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Semester Hours:

ENGLISH/WRITING

Semester Hours:
6

1 year of English or any other writing intensive courses required.

MATHEMATICS/STATISTICS

Mathematics Semester Hours:
Statistics Semester Hours:

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

OTHER RECOMMENDED COURSES

SOURCE: https://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/education/academic-programs/md-program/admissions/apply/application-requirements

Special Programs

Many schools have dual-degree programs for motivated applicants. View the ones offered at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons below:

MD+PhD (MSTP - Medical Scientist Training Program):
Yes
MD+MPH (Public Health):
MD+MBA (Business, Healthcare Administration):
MD+JD (Law):
MD+MA (Master of Arts):
MD+MS (Master of Science):

Contact Information

View contact information (phone and email) available to contact Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons below:

CONTACT #1

Title:
E-mail:
psadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu
Phone:

CONTACT #2

Title:
E-mail:
Phone:

Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Below are the past secondary (supplemental) application essay prompts for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Have you previously applied to Medical School? (200 characters)
If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)
Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)
If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)
Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)
Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)
Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)

Interview Questions

Below are common interview questions that you might encounter on your important day for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Describe a time when you had to work as part of a team to achieve a common goal.
How do you prioritize and manage your time effectively?
What experiences have you had that illustrate your ability to work well under pressure?
In what ways do you think your background and experiences will contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of our medical school community?
How do you think you will handle the emotional demands of practicing medicine?
What do you think are the important qualities of a good doctor?
How do you handle ethical dilemmas in medicine?
Tell me about a time when you had to collaborate with someone from a different discipline or profession.
What experiences have you had in the field of healthcare?
How do you communicate with patients who may have different backgrounds or beliefs than you?
How have you demonstrated cultural competency in a healthcare setting?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you handle stress and pressure?
How do you think technology is impacting the field of medicine?
Why do you want to attend our medical school?
How do you plan to balance the demands of medical school with your personal life?
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision and how you reached your conclusion.
Describe a time when you had to show empathy towards a patient or colleague.
How would you handle a situation where a patient disagrees with your proposed treatment plan?
Discuss a time when you had to break bad news to a patient or their family.
How do you handle failure or making mistakes?
Tell me about a time when you had to manage conflicting priorities.
Discuss a time when you had to adapt to change or overcome a challenge.
Tell me about yourself.
What experiences have you had that demonstrate your commitment to serving others?
How have your experiences shaped your understanding of healthcare disparities?
How do you stay motivated during challenging times?
Discuss a healthcare issue that is important to you and why.
Discuss a time when you witnessed a medical error and how you addressed it.
What do you hope to accomplish in your medical career?
What steps have you taken to improve your leadership skills?
Describe a situation where you had to advocate for a patient.
Describe a challenging situation you have faced and how you handled it.
Describe a time when you had to resolve a conflict within a team.
Talk about a mentor or role model who has influenced your decision to pursue medicine.
How do you stay updated on medical advancements and research?
Describe a time when you had to provide feedback or constructive criticism to a colleague.
What qualities do you possess that would make you a good doctor?
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing healthcare today?
Why medicine?