2010-2011 Hofstra University Application Thread

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to refutiate that
i interviewed in late january, and they said there were plenty of spots still available., i doubt they meant 5

I really don't want to start an apocalyptic SDN flame-war, but I interviewed several weeks before then, and was told that there were only "a few spots left for you guys." Take it as you wish.

I realize that someone was told that 20 acceptances were given in the first batch, but I think it is nearly impossible to verify that information. 🙁
 
i know i say this every week guys and gals, but i think this is the one!

jk, i have completely lost all hope🙂
 
lol agreed.
i 99% gave up on getting in here...

last week, i submitted the deposit for SGU at grenada. it came down to choosing between SGU and nycom (DO)
 
you made the better choice in my book

yeah both schools had pros and cons and it was a hard decision but i wanted to be an MD more.
are you or any of the others here going anywhere else for the fall, in case hofstra doesnt work out?
 
you made the better choice in my book

uhhhh no....when he starts applying for residencies he will see that US DO's with similar board scores will be getting many more interview offers. that is, if he gets to that stage since the attrition rate for carribbean medical schools are ~ 50%. Either way, I wish you luck, Stallion.
 
uhhhh no....when he starts applying for residencies he will see that US DO's with similar board scores will be getting many more interview offers. that is, if he gets to that stage since the attrition rate for carribbean medical schools are ~ 50%. Either way, I wish you luck, Stallion.

I don't think you can compare SGU with the rest of the carribbean med schools. I have friends who attend SGU and they do not regret their decisions. However, I would rather re-apply next year than go to med school abroad
 
I don't think you can compare SGU with the rest of the carribbean med schools. I have friends who attend SGU and they do not regret their decisions. However, I would rather re-apply next year than go to med school abroad

hmm, interesting. I thought the all had rather high attrition rates. However, the way things have been going, I would be inclined to say that your rotations at SGU would be inferior, and as stated before, you would come in disadvantaged by being an IMG. I can guarantee you that a DO grad vs. an SGU grad with the same board scores and credentials will have many more interviews come interview season. Just food for thought; I'm not saying you cannot become successful if you go to SGU.
 
thanks.

yeah i realized that USDO will probably have a slightly easier time with finding residency than foreign grads, but SGU really does stand out from the rest of the Caribbean schools, their residency placements from past 6-7 years are up on their site. Some ended up in really good programs like Mt. Sinai surgery. The attrition rates there are much lower than your average Caribbean school. Their entering class have a decent MCAT+GPA, similar to lower tier USMD and higher than a lot of USDO schools.

just gotta make sure i work really hard to overcome the obstacle now.
 
I don't think you can compare SGU with the rest of the carribbean med schools. I have friends who attend SGU and they do not regret their decisions. However, I would rather re-apply next year than go to med school abroad

and this was my second time applying. mind you first time i submitted amcas primaries in october though...
 
thanks.

yeah i realized that USDO will probably have a slightly easier time with finding residency than foreign grads, but SGU really does stand out from the rest of the Caribbean schools, their residency placements from past 6-7 years are up on their site. Some ended up in really good programs like Mt. Sinai surgery. The attrition rates there are much lower than your average Caribbean school. Their entering class have a decent MCAT+GPA, similar to lower tier USMD and higher than a lot of USDO schools.

just gotta make sure i work really hard to overcome the obstacle now.

The only caveat is that you should be happy doing primary care. Although SGU is a good school with a better reputation than the others, your residency options will still be limited. They place a majority of their graduates into primary care residencies; if you are hoping to enter into a competitive specialty, your chances will be lowered going to SGU.
 
i would have been more likely go in primary care anyway since most DOs end up going to primary care as well.
i don't mind primary care since there aren't any specialty that i have set my mind on yet.
 
It makes me sad that the discussion here has switched from beach volley ball to med school in the Caribbean (not that there's anything wrong with that!). But what happened to the faith, people!?
 
lol agreed.
i 99% gave up on getting in here...

last week, i submitted the deposit for SGU at grenada. it came down to choosing between SGU and nycom (DO)

I interviewed at hofstra in Oct and like almost anyone I have spoken to I really wish I could get it in..

I believe that hofstra has 40 deposits already..So they are going to send out info soon about some kind of an alternate list (info from a reliable source). But still even if we're on the alternate list - it really depends on how many of the 40 people who have submitted deposits will pull out by May 15. If all of them are really going to go to Hofstra (which is a great choice!) then basically the alternate list is for nothing. Since they have no previous stats to give us on what percent of students who are "alternates" will get accepted...this is really going to be an experiment.
 
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Nah at this point, I don't think Hofstra will notify anyone about being on an alternate list. If they were going to I would think they would have done so already. You'll either be accepted or rejected, and if not the later then you'll just wait.

Yeah and I think they have 40 deposits also. Still trying to keep up hope, but Plan Bs are beginning to go into effect.
 
Yea its about time we start throwin in the towel, although i would laugh if alot of us are accepted at the end of May because Hofstra sent out acceptances to too many students who have been accepted to already stablished schools.

As for DO vs foreign MD, I have two very close family friends who are residency program directors in EM and while SGU is a good school, you have significantly higher chances of getting a good residency outside of IM with a USDO. Alot of people who get into solid residencies outside of IM coming from SGU have connections which mean ALOT in the app process for residency.
 
Still trying to keep up hope, but Plan Bs are beginning to go into effect.

+1; pretty much (Ps. This reminds me of the latest episode of 30 Rock😀). I am using this opportunity to get excited about other programs/schools.
 
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Just curious, anyone waiting for other US schools?
 
I don't think you can compare SGU with the rest of the carribbean med schools. I have friends who attend SGU and they do not regret their decisions. However, I would rather re-apply next year than go to med school abroad


It seems like you guys really know your stuff when it comes to the caribbean schools...is SGU really that much better? I'm considering applying to AUC but now I'm scared cuz it seems like you all think it's a bit of a crap school...It's just that I'm a married non-trad and my husband will have to work while I'm in school, and as a French citizen St. Maarten is the only place he'd be allowed to. But if it's really that bad...?

As to the DO route, the application timeline is pretty much the same as AMCAS so I might as well just reapply next round to MDs and DOs at the same time. The only way to start school this fall seems like an IM, right?
 
It seems like you guys really know your stuff when it comes to the caribbean schools...is SGU really that much better? I'm considering applying to AUC but now I'm scared cuz it seems like you all think it's a bit of a crap school...It's just that I'm a married non-trad and my husband will have to work while I'm in school, and as a French citizen St. Maarten is the only place he'd be allowed to. But if it's really that bad...?

As to the DO route, the application timeline is pretty much the same as AMCAS so I might as well just reapply next round to MDs and DOs at the same time. The only way to start school this fall seems like an IM, right?

I only know about SGU because I have friends who go there (I have not researched this topic myself). From what they tell me, SGU and Ross are the top, although Ross is not doing as great lately and the living conditions are less desirable. Also apparently there's a recent new school, which according to my adviser sounds promising. If you really want to study abroad, I would pay most attention to the clinical rotations each school has to offer.
 
1) why has this thread become a DO/international school thread? lol

2) If at first you don't succeed, try try again. Even with good scores and grades I had to apply twice. Way more success learning from mistakes, and you can always improve! If you want something, it's worth waiting another year (plus Hofstra will have 60 more seats!). I'm not knocking going to a DO, I've heard from scores of health care professionals (doc, nurses, etc) that their knowledge of practiced medicine isn't any less, and they tend to have better "people" skills. It just may limit what you are able to practice later on (heart versus hand surgery); and where you can practice. In the end, 99% of the time, you can still do what you love. If you want to do US MD, stick it out and apply at least twice!

3) Stay out of Caribbean schools if you can. I've met several students of SGU who were from the US, went to good undergrads, great GPAs, and just poor MCATs; and afterward couldn't match anywhere. They weren't interested in primary care, and wanted more competitive fields. They had to try matching a few times, and still are waiting to find a way into neurology/EM. Those schools exist to make money, which is RARELY a good thing. I'm not saying its an evil institution, just be wary. If its all you can get into, then absolutely go. If you want to be a doctor, you do whatever you have to in order to make it work.

In conclusion, don't pick one just because you think it has higher MCAT and GPA averages. Go chat up a DO or MD who did caribbean, or visit the schools, or meet/chat-up some students in either place. Both will ultimately produce 50%+ generalists, but DOs will likely cost less and I would assume have far more passionate faculty. Make your choice on what is best for you and your end goal, and don't hurry into a medical education if you have doubts.
 
60 out of 1000 interviewed is still bad. besides, they may no longer have the 20k scholarship for next yrs students. i will reapply in 5 years when they reach 100 student max! meanwhile, most likely working as a cashier for the next 5 years as a gap. then take the mcats again.. lol
 
20 more seats--60, total.

LOL. Technicalities! When you apply next year...there will be 60 MORE seats then there are now (which is 0). Yes, 20 more seats than was available at the start of the admissions process. I was trying to be optimistic to those who, much like me, had to weigh reapplication vs DO.

But yes, 40, 60, 80, 100.

I also wouldn't count out the scholarships part. This school is staying small, and has a lot of $$$ invested. It might not be a full ride, or half off for everyone, but they will have scholarships. The website lists like 20 of them.

In terms of competitiveness, yes it is, but I would say on similar par as any mass-application school like Drexel/GW/BU. Yet you have to recognize that Hofstra only had 4,000 applicants. In this smaller pool I would imagine that people with incredible statistics probably didn't apply in bulk, and a lot of the "on the edge" applicants (<30 MCAT < 3.5 GPA) probably jumped at a new school (which has no preset expectations of its applicants). Plus you have to get to the final numbers to actually claim it was competative. If they accept 100 kids to fill the 40 seats, I'd argue that the 2.5% rate is pretty normal? Acceptance %'s range from 7%-0.5%.
 
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60 out of 1000 interviewed is still bad. besides, they may no longer have the 20k scholarship for next yrs students. i will reapply in 5 years when they reach 100 student max! meanwhile, most likely working as a cashier for the next 5 years as a gap. then take the mcats again.. lol

to put it in perspective. another new school received 1500 APPLICATIONS for 65 spots.

so 1000 interviews for 60 spots is pretty crazy (read, unreasonable) and when i say unreasonable, i mean for the admissions office. does it hurt our chances? sure. but the onus is really on them for working themselves to death for no (clearly apparent) reason.

its just growing pains and overkill. i think they got excited and overshot reasonability. which is good for those who get it, because they are going to a program that is overly ambitious in every aspect.

-BA
 
...I was trying to be optimistic to those who, much like me, had to weigh reapplication vs DO.

I also wouldn't count out the scholarships part. This school is staying small, and has a lot of $$$ invested. It might not be a full ride, or half off for everyone, but they will have scholarships. The website lists like 20 of them.


I'm with you on the optimism for reapplication. I guess I just really wanted to start school this fall, and in case my last interview doesn't pan out was thinking maybe caribbean was the way to go.

About the scholarships, the financial aid guy (Joe?) specifically said that they wanted to be able to offer the next class something as well, and that's why they weren't offering full rides to the charter class. So even if it's not 20K a year, something is better than nothing...
 
If any Hofstra admissions office folks are reading this forum, it would be courteous of you to reject those of us who don't have a chance promptly. Many of us still hold you first in our affections. If we can move on, then we can write honest letters of intent to other schools. I can flirt with other places with letters of interest, but letters of intent are a shade more likely to help me seal the deal with another school. It will allow those of us with other options to lay down non-refundable deposits without regret. I suspect that many of us are looking at shelling out the hefty deposits required by DO schools. Let us go so we can do it without hesitation or angst.

Hofstra, you know you've got it going on! Don't keep us hanging on, waiting on your email. The interview may have only been one "date," but it meant something special to me, and, obviously, to other folks, too.

If Hofstra was Big Pun (Big Hof?), the song would go "Don't want to be a player no more... I'm not a player I just interview a lot"
 
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If any Hofstra admissions office folks are reading this forum, it would be courteous of you to reject those of us who don't have a chance promptly. Many of us still hold you first in our affections. If we can move on, then we can write honest letters of intent to other schools. I can flirt with other places with letters of interest, but letters of intent are a shade more likely to help me seal the deal with another school. It will allow those of us with other options to lay down non-refundable deposits without regret. I suspect that many of us are looking at shelling out the hefty deposits required by DO schools. Let us go so we can do it without hesitation or angst.

Hofstra, you know you've got it going on! Don't keep us hanging on, waiting on your email. The interview may have only been one "date," but it meant something special to me, and, obviously, to other folks, too.

If Hofstra was Big Pun (Big Hof?), the song would go "Don't want to be a player no more... I'm not a player I just interview a lot"

Haha so true....what is up with those hefty DO school deposits...DO schools should make their process the same; I guess they just want every $ from us possible.

Loving the player reference....Big Hof is being such a Big Tease to us!
 
OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT I.....haven't heard anything. (had you going 🙂)
 
omg what a surprise.....NOT
i guess they think it's good enough to just say, you may hear back by July if you get in. So maybe they feel like they don't need to update us on anything that's going on :annoyed:
 
My family friend (a doctor at North Shore Hospital) told my mom that Hofstra sent out letters today on everyones status. So hopefully we will hear things by Monday?
 
My family friend (a doctor at North Shore Hospital) told my mom that Hofstra sent out letters today on everyones status. So hopefully we will hear things by Monday?


snail mail? and i thought we were dealing with the med school of the new millenium...
 
snail mail? and i thought we were dealing with the med school of the new millenium...

lol, they don't have any books in the library, they have to kill their quota of trees somehow 🙂

possibly an april fools above, repost that again tomorrow arl88 just so we know for sure 🙂
 
to put it in perspective. another new school received 1500 APPLICATIONS for 65 spots.

so 1000 interviews for 60 spots is pretty crazy (read, unreasonable) and when i say unreasonable, i mean for the admissions office. does it hurt our chances? sure. but the onus is really on them for working themselves to death for no (clearly apparent) reason.

its just growing pains and overkill. i think they got excited and overshot reasonability. which is good for those who get it, because they are going to a program that is overly ambitious in every aspect.

-BA

True. But I'm sure their interview inefficiency was a great way to learn how to do things different next year.
 
has anyone asked if they accept/will look at update letters and stuff like that? I know a lot of schools dont care what you send in since they have a score... I still can't believe that they refuse to reject people yet when their class size is 40. They should easily be able to reject 500 students right now.
 
i have received the email from them:

Thank you for interviewing at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. We appreciate the patience you have shown throughout this process.

We have had the very challenging task of selecting only 40 students from the thousands of applications we received. We regret to inform you, that after much consideration of your application, we will not be able to offer you a seat in our inaugural class.


i guess it's best to know now than to have my hopes up until july.
:shrug:



good luck to the rest of you!🙂
 
I checked my online status~ I'm on the alternate list...

Prob not a good thing considering the class size
=(
 
alternate list as well via status update. and can you believe it"

"Our list will remain active through our first day of class, August 1, 2011, and we will notify you of your status via email and postal mail if you are accepted."

AUGUST.
 
Even though the chances of getting in here are super slim now (even more than before), I still have a gut feeling that there is definitely hope for some of us. IMO, everyone who got an acceptance put the deposit in and is holding a spot that they will not necessarily matriculate into.


Maybe I am being overzealous, but I am still:xf:for some good news!
 
Thanks for the updates. It's good to see they're giving some information out to everyone who interviewed, even if it isn't good news (sorry to hear that StallionSupreme). I haven't gotten an email or status update yet if anyone else might be in the same boat. They do have 750+ people to update or email, so maybe it will take a little while.
 
Woo Alternate List!!! Celebrating this weekend for sure! (my condolences of course, though, to those who did not make it on to the list)
 
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