2009-2010 NYU Application Thread

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Just got an email with my host for Thursday. I'm getting really excited for second look. I don't know about everyone else, but this second look will pretty much decide where I'll be going. I look forward to meeting everyone.
 
Just got an email with my host for Thursday. I'm getting really excited for second look. I don't know about everyone else, but this second look will pretty much decide where I'll be going. I look forward to meeting everyone.

I am excited too! Looking forward to meeting you as well 🙂 although I won't know who you are lol...
 
Did anyone receive details about the revisit? Such as where we check in, where the financial aid meeting is, or what we're exactly doing on Friday,...
 
Just got a complete schedule and map of the revisit weekend! I'm excited to meet everyone!! On another (related) note, what do you guys think the dress code will be on each day? Casual, Business Casual?
 
Just got a complete schedule and map of the revisit weekend! I'm excited to meet everyone!! On another (related) note, what do you guys think the dress code will be on each day? Casual, Business Casual?

I will wear pants (not jeans) with a shirt (no tie or suit). So I think business casual would be good.
 
I've spoken to a few people and Thursday is more casual than Friday. On Thursday I'm wearing jeans and a nice blouse and then Friday I'm wearing dress pants and a nice blouse!
 
So I am currently accepted to NYU and Wake. I am curious what you all think about the new curriculum? It is one of the major things holding me back from going to NYU, as usually after a curriculum change board scores decrease that first year. I am not really sure what to make of this?

Thoughts?
 
So I am currently accepted to NYU and Wake. I am curious what you all think about the new curriculum? It is one of the major things holding me back from going to NYU, as usually after a curriculum change board scores decrease that first year. I am not really sure what to make of this?

Thoughts?

I have a selfish thought. Go to Wake and give one of us waitlisters a shot 😉
 
So I am currently accepted to NYU and Wake. I am curious what you all think about the new curriculum? It is one of the major things holding me back from going to NYU, as usually after a curriculum change board scores decrease that first year. I am not really sure what to make of this?

Thoughts?

Cite, please.
 
Cite, please.

at another interview I had, at a school with a 1.5 / 2.5 curriculum, this question was asked of the dean of medical education who has studied trends of med edu and stated that during the first year of any type of curriculum change, avg. board scores go down slightly.

basically said that in a response to someone asking why their board scores dropped after the first year of the change. now they have done it for a few years and scores have bounced back...i didn't get in there though, but i am sure the same applies to this.

that is a huge deciding factor for me ATM.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about your school's curriculum. It sounds like that dean was just making a plausible-sounding excuse for the school's dip in board scores and reassuring you that you wouldn't be a victim. I'm sure that your score will be based almost entirely on your abilities and efforts. Pick the school that you'll be happiest with that costs the least. Don't over think it.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about your school's curriculum. It sounds like that dean was just making a plausible-sounding excuse for the school's dip in board scores and reassuring you that you wouldn't be a victim. I'm sure that your score will be based almost entirely on your abilities and efforts. Pick the school that you'll be happiest with that costs the least. Don't over think it.

Correct.

Lots of overthinking going on RE the most minor of considerations.

Plus, NYU is shifting the Step 1 to end of 3rd year.
 
Revisit was awesome. Very impressed. It wasn't even the strong sell, I just really liked the student class and the faculty. Everybody was chill but still extremely intelligent and well-balanced (academically and socially). I definitely saw me fitting in. I hope everyone who was there decides to come back in August b/c I think we would have a really fun 4 years!
 
Revisit was awesome. Very impressed. It wasn't even the strong sell, I just really liked the student class and the faculty. Everybody was chill but still extremely intelligent and well-balanced (academically and socially). I definitely saw me fitting in. I hope everyone who was there decides to come back in August b/c I think we would have a really fun 4 years!

Any details for those of us who couldn't make it?

How is the new dorm?
 
Any details for those of us who couldn't make it?

How is the new dorm?

new dorm at 26th st is very nice. rooms were spacious (could fit a full size bed, even though it comes w/ twin. also fit a couple of dressers and big desk. includes big closet). the common room was a decent size and also had a kitchen. for 850, it's a great deal. i'm living in my current apt in midtown east, so i wasn't going to move anyways.

the first night was just a quick meet and greet, dinner, and a late night at this bar nearby. it was really fun. i get the feeling that student government knows how to throw very good parties.

the second day was more educational. they showed us the hospital. i went to the internal medicine, surgery, and radiology rotations, and the doctors who showed us around were very peronsable (i could definitely see me shadowing/mentoring under them). in the end, i can't imagine not going to nyu b/c i want the best clinical experience possible, and i feel like you're not going to see better cases than at bellevue. if you guys are hardcore research, then obviously look at, hopkins, penn, washu, but if you want to be the best clinician or technically experienced md, then it seems like nyu is the way to go.
 
Did they say anything about the new 1.5 years curriculum?
 
Did they say anything about the new 1.5 years curriculum?

Yeah. The new curriculum is "supposed" to be better in every way b/c they are not cutting out any material. the 0.5 year preclinical material will now be shifted to the clinical years so that we can revisit text info while doing clinicals. Check out the new sample schedules online of years 1-4. There are weeks inserted into years 2-3 of "revisiting" the sciences or something like that.
 
Someone here have said that "NYU is shifting the Step 1 to end of 3rd year." Did they confirm that during the revisit? If so, what's their rational? I would think the students would have forgotten a lot of the material by the time Step 1 comes around. Also could the students still take the Step 1 after their 2nd year, like most medical schools? Sorry for so many questions about this!.
.
 
new dorm at 26th st is very nice. rooms were spacious (could fit a full size bed, even though it comes w/ twin. also fit a couple of dressers and big desk. includes big closet). the common room was a decent size and also had a kitchen. for 850, it's a great deal. i'm living in my current apt in midtown east, so i wasn't going to move anyways.

the first night was just a quick meet and greet, dinner, and a late night at this bar nearby. it was really fun. i get the feeling that student government knows how to throw very good parties.

the second day was more educational. they showed us the hospital. i went to the internal medicine, surgery, and radiology rotations, and the doctors who showed us around were very peronsable (i could definitely see me shadowing/mentoring under them). in the end, i can't imagine not going to nyu b/c i want the best clinical experience possible, and i feel like you're not going to see better cases than at bellevue. if you guys are hardcore research, then obviously look at, hopkins, penn, washu, but if you want to be the best clinician or technically experienced md, then it seems like nyu is the way to go.

That sounds great. But the CoA at NYU and being the guinea pig of a new curriculum do not sound very appealing.
 
That sounds great. But the CoA at NYU and being the guinea pig of a new curriculum do not sound very appealing.

we will be taking step 1 halfway into the 3rd year, so after 1.5 yrs of preclinical and 1 yr of clinical. the last 1.5 yrs will be electives, a scholarly project (which you could be hardcore or not--they aren't picky), and some other random stuff. essentially, the first 2.5 yrs will be the most intense up through step 1. after that, it seems like just more personal development. hope that answers your questions. i've got to get to a bday party, so i'll answer anything else for you guys tomorrow.
 
Someone here have said that “NYU is shifting the Step 1 to end of 3rd year.” Did they confirm that during the revisit? If so, what’s their rational? I would think the students would have forgotten a lot of the material by the time Step 1 comes around. Also could the students still take the Step 1 after their 2nd year, like most medical schools? Sorry for so many questions about this!

oh, and their rationale was that you will be so much more prepared for the boards if you finish the required clinicals first. apparently past students suggested this, and they felt that this would actually maximize scores.
 
Yeah. The new curriculum is "supposed" to be better in every way b/c they are not cutting out any material. the 0.5 year preclinical material will now be shifted to the clinical years so that we can revisit text info while doing clinicals. Check out the new sample schedules online of years 1-4. There are weeks inserted into years 2-3 of "revisiting" the sciences or something like that.


Can't find it. Mind sending the website? Trying to see when NYU is suggesting taking the Step 1.
 
It is not like nobody else does it this way. Penn also does it this way and maybe columbia. The only problem I have with it is that you don't find out what residencies you will have a shot at until late.
 
oh, and their rationale was that you will be so much more prepared for the boards if you finish the required clinicals first. apparently past students suggested this, and they felt that this would actually maximize scores.

Also other schools who have tried this have found it very beneficial. To add to what xinger811 said, they told us today that by doing a year of clerkships you are applying what you learned during preclinical years and this would force you to go back and relearn the material so you're actually continuously reviewing the material for a year. Then you get 5-6 weeks of free time just to prepare for Step I so you'll have ample time to remember things.

Now my detailed input about the revisit:
The class is full of smart and interesting people. I really liked everyone I met. I can easily see them as my classmates/friends. The faculty, especially at Bellevue (for the clinical years) are great! I am interested in surgical specialties and the surgeon responsible for education who talked to us during the rotations was great. Same thing for the radiology physician. They seemed very experienced since, because of Bellevue, they work with the worst cases so they are always learning the best.
Today was mostly talks about different aspects of the medical education. I will highlight few things:
- the curriculum, besides moving to 1.5/2.5 system will be organ based in which you learn healthy/patho for each organ (now they do healthy first year and patho second year) and this is really great because we can connect what we learn about the science with the diseases associated. Currently you can do dual degrees for MPA or Masters of clinical investigation without taking a 5th year! This is not the case yet for MPH or MBA but for those interested in the first two, this should be a plus. You still get a summer vacation year 1 (which they said is not always available in schools that switched to 1.5/2.5).

- the IT support is really great but similar to all other schools (different system names but basically the same) - podcast lectures on iTunes U, get online modules, google apps, apps for iphone (and he was very happy with the ipad - they are hoping to make it real thing to be used by everyone to access electronic records without having to go to a workstation).

- The international health program is huge!! everyone who applied got funding for about $2000-2500 and you can either go an established site or come up with a new site. Other options for the summer are also amazing: fellowships in general surgery, orthopedic, plastic, ER, ... where you do about 2 months of paid clinical work + research (a student told me his friend did the general surgery fellowship and by the end of it he had things even a third or fourth year student doesn't know how to do). You can also pursue honors with research. If I end up at NYU I think I will be facing a dilemma because I really loved all these options.

- The free clinic is really cool. You get real clinical experience. There's also a similar thing: the hepatitis project (you give vaccines, etc.).

- Student activities and club are countless. They have an interest group for almost every single specialty, even the smaller ones. Students kept saying how you can virtually get free dinner every night because of club meetings LOL. Another cool thing about these is the national conferences. Almost every student goes to at least one. Let's say you're interested in orthopedics then you can go to the conference in Las vegas/LA/Miami/etc. using the $600 they give you (so basically it's a free trip!).

- A typical day is much easier than I though: from 9 am to 3 pm, lunch from 12 -1, once every two weeks or a week you get 3-5 for a day. Lots of times you have a free full day. Sometimes you have nothing before or 10:30 or a break in between. So basically a couple (2-3) lectures + small conference or lab per day. Very chill...

- the dorm is really nice. the view is greaaaat!!! You have a very clear view of chrysler building and the rest of midtown if you get the nice side of the building. The apartments are clean since they were renovated a couple years ago. You have AC/heater that you personally control (this was a problem in Rubin). There will be the lounge on the 26th floor (again with an amazing view) and the gym will be in the basement with the laundry room.

I am not sure if I missed something but these are the things that impressed the most. The only bad thing is financial aid 🙁
 
Just wondering how many people were at the second look (an estimate obviously) and were most people already decided on NYU?
 
Just wondering how many people were at the second look (an estimate obviously) and were most people already decided on NYU?

I would say ~120 were at the second look and the majority are going for sure to NYU, some are most likely going to NYU but not for sure, and few are waitlisted at other places and they'd go there for sure if accepted.
 
That would mean there is roughly a little more than 40 or 50 spots to fill with the waitlist. But I guess there could be others who didn't show.
 
That would mean there is roughly a little more than 40 or 50 spots to fill with the waitlist. But I guess there could be others who didn't show.

I am not sure. I guess there are some who didn't show up but going for sure (I knew a couple) while some others showed up and will withdraw ... so yeah I would assume 40 to 50 is a good approximate (although the 120 estimate I gave was really rough).
 
I am not sure. I guess there are some who didn't show up but going for sure (I knew a couple) while some others showed up and will withdraw ... so yeah I would assume 40 to 50 is a good approximate (although the 120 estimate I gave was really rough).

I wouldn't say that over 100 people are already committed to NYU though. I'd say that maybe half of the students there will be NYU-bound. A lot of guys were definitely inflating their "% chance of coming" to be nice. I think it'll round out to the average every year, where about half (or more than half) of the class coming off of waitlist. I personally think that's a shame b/c I really liked everyone I met, but I'm sure that anyone NYU accepts will fit fine. Essentially, don't give up if you are still interested in coming to NYU.
 
Then go somewhere else. Pretty simple.

I mostlikely will. The post I quoted only mentioned the "+" aspects of NYU and sounded a little biased. So I thought I would add two big "-" about NYU which may offer a broader picture for some.
 
For all you waitlistees, a current 1st year told me that about 220 students have been accepted to NYU as of now. She also said that from that, enough people will definitely drop and go somewhere else that lots of waitlistees will be pulled to make up for it. So there ya go, for what it's worth.
 
For all you waitlistees, a current 1st year told me that about 220 students have been accepted to NYU as of now. She also said that from that, enough people will definitely drop and go somewhere else that lots of waitlistees will be pulled to make up for it. So there ya go, for what it's worth.

220 students total, or 220 have currently accepted their spot in the class of 2014 class (i.e. they've accepted more than that already and some people have already withdrawn)?
 
Everyone technically accepts the spot until they withdraw.
 
I they accept 435 like past years, that would be another 215 people from the waiting list.
 
I know they did some post interview rejections but it seemed like more wait lists, does anyone have any insight into how big the wait list might be? I know a lot of people must have withdrawn too due to other acceptances.
 
Just wondering how anyone else's revisits went at other schools and how they compared to NYU?
 
Just withdrew from everywhere else. I am NYU bound! I feel like I can breath again....😀
 
Can we just iron out a few details?

The curriclulum is now 18 mos. I'd also heard Steps 1 and 2 will be combined and you take this combo after your third year. How do these two mix?
 
Can we just iron out a few details?

The curriclulum is now 18 mos. I'd also heard Steps 1 and 2 will be combined and you take this combo after your third year. How do these two mix?

Yes the preclinical curriculum is 18 months. But I have heard no one say anything about combining the two steps together. What they told us is that Step 1 will be taken after 2.5 years (1.5 of preclinical and 1 of clinical) after a 5-6 week studying period.
 
I was under the impression that the step 1 was just pushed back and not step 2 pushed up, just like UPenn or Columbia is now? I don't see how taking both of those together could be an advantage, it is already a lot of material to cover.
 
I was under the impression that the step 1 was just pushed back and not step 2 pushed up, just like UPenn or Columbia is now? I don't see how taking both of those together could be an advantage, it is already a lot of material to cover.

I agree. There's no need to rush with Step 2 at all. It's not that important for residencies anyway.
 
I don't know what you guys are freaking out about. We don't take Step 2 until sometime in the 4th year, after our residency apps go out.
 
I don't know what you guys are freaking out about. We don't take Step 2 until sometime in the 4th year, after our residency apps go out.

Exactly... Step 1 is the most important part. It is the "MCAT" of residencies.
 
So why do we need the extra clinical time for Step 1? I thought 1 was all textbook knowledge and 2 was entirely clinical knowledge? Reinforcement of basics through use perhaps?
 
So why do we need the extra clinical time for Step 1? I thought 1 was all textbook knowledge and 2 was entirely clinical knowledge? Reinforcement of basics through use perhaps?

That is the current thinking and hence why more schools are moving to a shorter pre-clinical (NYU and UVA, the 2 schools I am considering, are both making this change this year).

From what I understand, the Step 1 is evolving to test more clinical practicalities, too.
 
Just withdrew!! Good luck to those on the waitlist!!:luck::luck:
 
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