2010-2011 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

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hey guys, i am also on the alternate list for Downstate, and just recently being placed at the bottom of the waitlist of another school. Things are looking really bad for me. I signed up for MCAT on the April 29th few months ago, and I can't even focus on studying. God, the waiting is painful!
 
Fstock said:
Could you tell us when you interviewed? Were you on the alternate list?
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I interviewed on February 22nd. Not on the alternate list, this is the first I've heard from them since my interview.
 
BtrLateThnNvr said:
I interviewed on February 22nd. Not on the alternate list, this is the first I've heard from them since my interview.
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Congrats!! I also interviewed on Feb. 22, but I haven't heard from them yet...but this is great news! It gives me hope ...
 
crazyboy123 said:
hey guys, i am also on the alternate list for Downstate, and just recently being placed at the bottom of the waitlist of another school. Things are looking really bad for me. I signed up for MCAT on the April 29th few months ago, and I can't even focus on studying. God, the waiting is painful!
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Hah, same here, except i have no plans to retake the mcat. hopefully we'll both be @ downstate next year.
 
Does anyone know what the daily schedule for Downstate students is 1st/2nd years? Is it 9-5?

Also, do they have video-recorded lectures? Thanks.
 
Hi all. I am a first year and I am looking into finding an apartment in Brooklyn but I need to find one more roommate. I would prefer to live near campus and I am looking at something affordable (under $600 a person). I would prefer a June move-in date but I would consider a later date. PM me if interested.
 
Is mail correspondence (acceptance, waitlist, rejection) sent to the preferred or permanent address?
 
Did anyone ever write a letter of interest after the interview and got accepted? I know they may not be connected, but just curious to see if there are any correlations. Also, anyone have any ideas on how to write a "standard" letter of interest?? any help will be much appreciated.
 
Interviewed mid February, just received the letter: "hold for spring consideration" ........................
 
crazyboy123 said:
Did anyone ever write a letter of interest after the interview and got accepted? I know they may not be connected, but just curious to see if there are any correlations. Also, anyone have any ideas on how to write a "standard" letter of interest?? any help will be much appreciated.
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I wrote one back in october/november after my interview and was accepted about two weeks later. I'm not sure how to write a "standard" letter. I just made the letter out to the admissions commitee, mentioned that SUNY Downstate was one of my top choices, ( I didn't want to say my first choice because I wasn't sure back then) gave them reasons (mentioned things about my interview, brooklyn in general, and Downstate overall) and then followed it up by giving them an update about what I had been doing.
 
crazyboy123 said:
Did anyone ever write a letter of interest after the interview and got accepted? I know they may not be connected, but just curious to see if there are any correlations. Also, anyone have any ideas on how to write a "standard" letter of interest?? any help will be much appreciated.
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I wrote a letter and was placed on hold. I dont think writing a letter assures that you will get accepted but it definitely can't hurt!
 
it usually doesn't do anything. its just a way of making people feel better. each school receive a billion of these letters...
 
Post-interview letters of intent are actually taken pretty seriously.
 
Asyouwereatrio said:
Thanks for naming those neighborhoods! I'm not searching for "yuppy" or "trendy"...I'm focusing on a safe place to live that is relatively close to school and along the 2/5 train line. I was just going off of the recommendations made by the students I spoke with, my cousin who lived in Brooklyn Heights, and a quick Google search (during which I came across an article from NY Magazine which had a long list of places to live).

I'm sorry if I offended you with my comment; that was just my impression based on my limited knowledge of the area. I know Brooklyn is large and there are a variety of options to choose from; I just wanted options that were conveniently near school and along one train line. I made my "desirable" comment based only on neighborhoods that were within 15 minutes of school by train...so more or less northwest Brooklyn. I didn't mean to disregard or demean other neighborhoods in the area.
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Don't apologize. There were some shootings in East Flatbush recently outside a Baby Shower (not far at all from Downstate) so don't take the neighborhood where you live lightly. There are many, many unsafe neighborhoods around Downstate and in Brooklyn. Be cautious. Personally, I find it a little obnoxious that people on these boards are referring to Park Slope as a yuppy and trendy neighborhood. A lot of this is a question of feeling safe and comfortable in a neighborhood that is a close commute to school. There are a lot of factors to consider.

If someone wants to pay 600/month, well then, you're going to wind up in a less desirable neighborhood. This is just how it is. This is what happens when you live in a rich city with limited housing options. Either you'll get a small place with lots of roommates in a safe area, or you'll get a larger one for cheaper in an unsafe area. That's how this housing thing works. Whoever on here is saying you can get a cheap place, close to campus and in a safe area (<20 mins commute) doesn't know what they are talking about. Bayridge is far by train from Downstate, you mind as well live in midtown Manhattan.
 
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To: a10n12a89m, SS01, waterbottle10, and hockeyhy

Thanks for taking the time out and comment, I am guessing maybe I should really write one. But i just dont know where to start, and I afraid that I might hurt my chances too. SUNY downstate ends up to be the only school that I MIGHT have chance of getting in, and I really hope that I can get into med school this year. I am afraid that if i send in a letter, it will give them the impression that I am so fake, because seriously, admission will know the motives behind the letters, and if there are given choices between another med school and Downstate, those who wrote the letters might pick other schools instead. For these couple nights I have had nightmare of being rejected and ended up being a bum on the street (seriously). All these anxiety somewhat stop me from doing anything else other than hanging in all the forms. Well, for anyone who got accepted to med school, you really should party like crazy until school start.
 
IMHO, it never hurts to write a LOI or update letter. It can only show how interested you are in their school. Of course, write it in a way that you sound humble and sincere (don't be snobby or talking trash about some other school or make any comparisons). Just be yourself and justify why that school is a good fit for you and how they would benefit from having you being there.
 
Just wondering, did EVERYONE here who got on the Alternate List also get a big packet with medical forms?
 
has anyone been invited to a and is attending operation success?
 
I'm on the alternate list

QUESTION:
do we have to complete and send all the forms in order to be considered for acceptance? or is only the confirmation form required of us (and the rest just needed before August?)?
 
Interviewed 2/23...rejected 4/01.

Whatever...wasn't going to attend anyway...the area is just to ghetto and the school gave me a depressing vibe.
 
Question to those who got alternate listed:

Did your status change online or not?

Also, if you were placed on hold, did your status change?
 
Yep, I'm talking about that website. What about for alt listers?
 
Interviewed mid february...accepted today

With this bad economy there isn't much scholarship and my financial aid package wasn't great so I might withdraw and stay and just go to my state school. NYC still seems awesome even if the area isn't great
 
how the heck are people getting accepted when my alternate list letter said the class was full roughly 2 months ago?
 
FIREitUP said:
how the heck are people getting accepted when my alternate list letter said the class was full roughly 2 months ago?
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simple, we are the waitlist guys, and the med school always save space for amazing students. And congratulation gamefreak, even though I envy your acceptance to med school, but I admire how you impress the admission committee with your hard-earned grades and qualifications. You earn the acceptance, and you will be a great doc in no time.
 
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crazyboy123 said:
simple, we are the waitlist guys, and the med school always save space for amazing students. And congratulation gamefreak, even though I envy your acceptance to med school, but I admire how you impress the admission committee with your hard-earned grades and qualifications. You earn the acceptance, and you will be a great doc in no time.
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yes, but i dont understand why it tells us the "class is full" when people are still getting accepted. 🙁
 
maybe at that time when they sent the mail out.. the class was full, but people do withdraw due to multiple acceptances and what not. I think they can still accept people they are sure about and waitlist people and re-review those around mid May. (pure guess on my part)
 
Those who got alternate listed/accepted, did your online status change?
 
hockeyhy said:
Those who got alternate listed/accepted, did your online status change?
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If your talking about the online checklist mine still says initial review. I got three letters in the mail today from downstate.
 
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Has Downstate updated those old lectures halls that are from the 70's with no video capture as I recall from when I interviewed their last year? Or are their plans to.
 
Anyone know if "Hold for Spring Consideration" is better or worse than the alternate list?
 
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Accepted yesterday via snail-mail. Interviewed: 03/02. In-state.

Does anyone know when I should expect the financial aid offer? Who should I write to to let them know about competing FA offers?
 
Hi all,
Congratulations on the acceptances!

Does anyone know what exactly we have to do to establish in-state tuition after 1 year?

Do we need to change drivers license/plates/file NY income taxes, or is it mainly about living off campus for 12 mo. before your second year?

Also someone mentioned, 6 weeks before registration is the latest we have before turning in our residency petition. That means if you're trying to change your residency for MSII (say the registration deadline is Aug. 23 like it was last year), the latest you could turn in paperwork would be around July 12th, 2012. And the latest you would be able to sign a lease the year before to prove the 12 months would be July 12th, 2011. Am I missing something here, or is this basically it?

Thanks.
 
ssdk said:
Hi all,
Congratulations on the acceptances!

Does anyone know what exactly we have to do to establish in-state tuition after 1 year?

Do we need to change drivers license/plates/file NY income taxes, or is it mainly about living off campus for 12 mo. before your second year?

Also someone mentioned, 6 weeks before registration is the latest we have before turning in our residency petition. That means if you're trying to change your residency for MSII (say the registration deadline is Aug. 23 like it was last year), the latest you could turn in paperwork would be around July 12th, 2012. And the latest you would be able to sign a lease the year before to prove the 12 months would be July 12th, 2011. Am I missing something here, or is this basically it?

Thanks.
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There's a form on the Downstate website you can use to verify all of the procedures, but you're basically right. For most people, it boils down to:

1) Lease with your name on it, or notarized letter from lease-holder's name saying you live there AND 12 rent check duplicates. (this must be an off-campus apartment)

2) 12 months utility bills with your name on it (or same situation as for the lease)

3) Voter Registration Card copy

4) Driver license photocopy

5) 12 month's worth of bank statements.

That adds up to "5 points", one more than the bare minimum of four. Also, this paperwork is due by the end of July (at the latest)--at least that's what the academic calendar for 2011 says...that that'll be the last day to apply for NYS residency (but why risk it?). Beginning of July should be the latest you sign your lease (or about that time-frame). I think a month's rent, while very very expensive, is worth the peace of mind knowing you'll save 20K a year starting M2 and not M3!

If there's anything else anyone can add, that'd be great!

I read in more detail about filing NYS income tax, but I'm "dependent" on my parent's tax return and they don't live in NYS, so I think that does not work. 🙁
 
How are all you out-of-staters looking for housing? I'm coming from Cali and would like to find a place in a decent area near the subway line that goes to the school. Also, I'm planning on doing the prematriculation program, so I was hoping to move in by June 13, but I would be willing to move in anytime no later than early July.
 
For those on the alternate list, did you get an email today encouraging you to complete all of the paperwork?
 
Yea, I got that e-mail too. I'm guessing they sent it to everyone on the alternate list....probably also to encourage people to start withdrawing if they're not interested.
 
IntelInside said:
Has Downstate updated those old lectures halls that are from the 70's with no video capture as I recall from when I interviewed their last year? Or are their plans to.
Click to expand...

No and no.

Every lecture is podcasted and transcribed, and the slides are usually made available to you.
 
it's interest that the email said "...as this will benefit you if you are selected for an acceptance." That means completing the forms early will NOT benefit you for being selected.
 
It's been over 9 weeks.

Should I call and check what's going on?
 
Cali represent! I'm planning on flying out there mid June to check out apts and hopefully sign a lease by early July (so I can get in-state tuition next yr). Currently looking at park slope. One thing I don't like is how most apts got hardwood floors... and I prefer to have carpet. Anyone know of any apts in gated communities instead of condo styles?

JohnElway said:
How are all you out-of-staters looking for housing? I'm coming from Cali and would like to find a place in a decent area near the subway line that goes to the school. Also, I'm planning on doing the prematriculation program, so I was hoping to move in by June 13, but I would be willing to move in anytime no later than early July.
Click to expand...
 
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