Hosted by the Columbia University Premedical Association and the Columbia University Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, the fair welcomed 121 representatives from medical, dental, veterinary, and allied health graduate schools.
“This year’s fair was praised for being the largest to date with 61 schools and programs attending,” said Sonya Levine, Vice President of Medical School Fair Operations.
Representatives attended from 41 medical schools, two dental schools, one physician assistant program, nine international medical schools, the US Navy, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, and five Columbia master’s degree programs.
Postbac Premed students and premedical undergraduates from Columbia University and Barnard College, as well as students from the City College of New York and other greater-NYC area schools, spoke with admissions representatives and attended various panels at the event.
At the Admissions Deans Panel, Columbia attendees picked up valuable advice from deans who were representing Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Washington University School of Medicine.
The deans shared details about the application process, interview preparation, and other attributes they seek in applicants. Following the panel, all students in attendance were then invited to participate in various breakout sessions throughout the day.
This year, two additional breakout sessions were offered—Financing a Medical Education, which was designed to provide students with strategies on easing the financial burden of medical school, and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Programs, a panel that informed students about the presence and benefits of an osteopathic medical education.
“Many connections were made throughout the planning process with new schools that don’t traditionally attend our fair which will hopefully translate to next year’s fair being even larger,” said Donna Chesnova, Vice President of Medical School Fair Outreach.
