2012-2013 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

[CorgiDoctor]

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I'm in-state, 3.6 post-bacc GPA, 31S. Are my stats reasonable enough for this school that it's worth it to send a letter of intent to try to get an interview? It's my first choice and so far I haven't gotten an interview at any of the NY State schools - though my application probably wasn't considered complete until 10/2 since that's the day my new MCAT score came out.

 

[CorgiDoctor]

Reading last year's thread, I think it's different than a waitlist. They didn't get to reviewing the people on the hold list until May

Someone on last year's thread called and was told this meant you were on hold until your spring grades were released.

 

[YankeeLion16]

I'm in-state, 3.6 post-bacc GPA, 31S. Are my stats reasonable enough for this school that it's worth it to send a letter of intent to try to get an interview? It's my first choice and so far I haven't gotten an interview at any of the NY State schools - though my application probably wasn't considered complete until 10/2 since that's the day my new MCAT score came out.

To write a letter of INTENT before you even see the school is transparent and probably won't be taken seriously. Moreover, I would suggest visiting first to really get an understanding about what people mean when they say the area is "poor." Poor doesn't do the area justice.

 

[Sophocles]

to write a letter of intent before you even see the school is transparent and probably won't be taken seriously. Moreover, i would suggest visiting first to really get an understanding about what people mean when they say the area is "poor." poor doesn't do the area justice.

+1

 

[Lenoch]

I'm in-state, 3.6 post-bacc GPA, 31S. Are my stats reasonable enough for this school that it's worth it to send a letter of intent to try to get an interview? It's my first choice and so far I haven't gotten an interview at any of the NY State schools - though my application probably wasn't considered complete until 10/2 since that's the day my new MCAT score came out.

I wouldn't advise doing this. Someone made a good point earlier. Your scores are definitely good enough for downstate. I would wait a month or so and then check in by calling. In fact, I would be a little patient right now, bc you may hear something soon. I had everything complete on 10/16 and heard back 11/09, demonstrating their quick turn-around-time. So you just might here very soon.

 

[CorgiDoctor]

I wouldn't advise doing this. Someone made a good point earlier. Your scores are definitely good enough for downstate. I would wait a month or so and then check in by calling. In fact, I would be a little patient right now, bc you may hear something soon. I had everything complete on 10/16 and heard back 11/09, demonstrating their quick turn-around-time. So you just might here very soon.

Thanks everyone. For what it's worth I actually lived in the area for 5 years and my fiance still lives there, so I know how bad the area is. I also have friends in the medical school and who work at the hospital, so I have seen a lot of it, just not in an interview capacity. So I actually would have something to say in my letter, it wouldn't just be BS.

But I'll hold off - hopefully I'll hear something soon.

 

[shym]

.

 

[Fivo]

To write a letter of INTENT before you even see the school is transparent and probably won't be taken seriously. Moreover, I would suggest visiting first to really get an understanding about what people mean when they say the area is "poor." Poor doesn't do the area justice.

Are you saying the area is even worse than described or is the term "poor" an exaggeration?

 

[YankeeLion16]

.

 

[jshei0625]

It's one of the more depressed areas in New York City I've ever seen, and I've lived here for 5 years off and on.

It definitely was not the greatest area, but that can be seen as a plus because of the great clinical experience that Downstate can offer. Some of the best medical schools have 'bad' surrounding areas (e.g. John Hopkins).

 

[YankeeLion16]

It definitely was not the greatest area, but that can be seen as a plus because of the great clinical experience that Downstate can offer. Some of the best medical schools have 'bad' surrounding areas (e.g. John Hopkins).

Absolutely. I'm not arguing that Downstate doesn't offer great clinical (and it has the nicest SUNY anatomy lab and plans for a new building in 2014), but to commit to Downstate before seeing the place (which corgidoc has) without seeing the area would be crazy.

 

[jshei0625]

Absolutely. I'm not arguing that Downstate doesn't offer great clinical (and it has the nicest SUNY anatomy lab and plans for a new building in 2014), but to commit to Downstate before seeing the place (which corgidoc has) without seeing the area would be crazy.

Absolutely...You can't be set on any medical school without first seeing it. The area and the facilities could be a deal-breaker for some people that visits this school.

 

[degov21]

It's one of the more depressed areas in New York City I've ever seen, and I've lived here for 5 years off and on.

I can't say that I completely agree with this comment. I grew up a block away from Downstate (i.e. lived there my entire life) and people that grew up in less diverse neighborhoods tend to misconstrue the cultural diversity of the area as "depressed" or "impoverished".

 

[Sophocles]

I can't say that I completely agree with this comment. I grew up a block away from Downstate (i.e. lived there my entire life) and people that grew up in less diverse neighborhoods tend to misconstrue the cultural diversity of the area as "depressed" or "impoverished".

If you lived there your whole life then you are desensitized to it. Ever heard of the frog and the boiling water?

 

[YankeeLion16]

.

 

[ButterfingerBBs]

To each his own, but I have worked in Harlem, Mott Haven, Washington Heights Inwood, Morningside Heights and "diversity" has nothing to do with the condition the buildings were in, the graffiti on many buildings, and the number of closed and shuttered buildings surrounding the Downstate campus.

I currently attend Downstate and I want to say you guys are really off-base here with the talk about how bad of an area East Flatbush is. You need to get through your mind that it's NYC. It's not going to be nearly as nice as lower Manhattan or the suburbs, but I can tell you many other areas of NYC and frankly any other American city are worse. If want to live in a nicer, safer, yuppier area, you can live in Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn or the Financial District of Manhattan and easily commute to school.

 

[BecksTriad]

I currently attend Downstate and I want to say you guys are really off-base here with the talk about how bad of an area East Flatbush is. You need to get through your mind that it's NYC. It's not going to be nearly as nice as lower Manhattan or the suburbs, but I can tell you many other areas of NYC and frankly any other American city are worse. If want to live in a nicer, safer, yuppier area, you can live in Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn or the Financial District of Manhattan and easily commute to school.

+1...i think a lot of you are over exaggerating how "depressed" or "poor" the area is. you make sound like its a third world country.

 

[drd714]

Woooooooo interview invite this morning! I'm surprised since I'm OOS! Scheduled for December 13th 🙂

 

[imcanadaian]

Woooooooo interview invite this morning! I'm surprised since I'm OOS! Scheduled for December 13th 🙂

Congrats! 🙂

-on another note, anyone who's been accepted know if Downstate sends any sort of confirmation when they receive our pink response sheet?

 

[PJacqz]

Woooooooo interview invite this morning! I'm surprised since I'm OOS! Scheduled for December 13th 🙂

congrats! what are your stats/when were you complete?
I'm OOS too and have been getting progressively more anxious about this school.

 

[drd714]

congrats! what are your stats/when were you complete?
I'm OOS too and have been getting progressively more anxious about this school.

32R, 3.9 cgpa, 3.8 sgpa, complete 8/22, non-trad
I was anxious too, but I believe they review IS first and then OOS. At least that's what it looks like based upon this thread. Hopefully your II is coming up!

 

[OwlPower22]

32R, 3.9 cgpa, 3.8 sgpa, complete 8/22, non-trad
I was anxious too, but I believe they review IS first and then OOS. At least that's what it looks like based upon this thread. Hopefully your II is coming up!

I think they review OOS and IS at the same time. Plenty of Cali and OOS students at my interview.

 

[imcanadaian]

I think they review OOS and IS at the same time. Plenty of Cali and OOS students at my interview.

yup. I think they review in order of completion--I'm OOS and interviewed in late Sept with a mix of NY residents and two other CA folks

 

[doorner]

Congrats! 🙂

-on another note, anyone who's been accepted know if Downstate sends any sort of confirmation when they receive our pink response sheet?

I work there so I turned it in person and they said they don't send any confirmation. They said that next steps are financial aid in Jan, and that they'll be mailing info about 2nd look in the next few months. You can also make sure you do your AHA CPR course in the meantime.

 

[imcanadaian]

I work there so I turned it in person and they said they don't send any confirmation. They said that next steps are financial aid in Jan, and that they'll be mailing info about 2nd look in the next few months. You can also make sure you do your AHA CPR course in the meantime.

Oh perfect. Thanks for the info!

 

[PJacqz]

32R, 3.9 cgpa, 3.8 sgpa, complete 8/22, non-trad
I was anxious too, but I believe they review IS first and then OOS. At least that's what it looks like based upon this thread. Hopefully your II is coming up!

Thanks for the info, we have very similar stats (your gpa is a bit higher than mine).
32/3.6 OOS non-trad, complete 8/28.

Hopefully I'll hear something soon!

 

[anguisette]

yup. I think they review in order of completion--I'm OOS and interviewed in late Sept with a mix of NY residents and two other CA folks

Actually I was just browsing their website and came across this about their initial review:

The Admissions Committee will make an initial review of your application. Applications are not reviewed in the order that they are completed, so there may be a considerable delay between when your application is complete and when you are notified of your admissions status.

So try not to stress too much if others with later completion dates receive IIs.

Source: http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/review/index.html

 

[imcanadaian]

Actually I was just browsing their website and came across this about their initial review:



So try not to stress too much if others with later completion dates receive IIs.

Source: http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/review/index.html

Ah. I stand corrected! Hang in there everyone who's still waiting! Goodluck!!

 

[degov21]

If you lived there your whole life then you are desensitized to it. Ever heard of the frog and the boiling water?

Desensitized to what?

 

[UrbanRiver]

Hey guys,

I really want to apply to SUNY Downstate, but is it even worth it to submit my secondary? I feel like it's pretty late in the application cycle.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cpj09c]

Interview Invite this morning! 🙂 December 19th baby!

 

[leeyuhang]

II this morning as well
3.6/35 oos completed in 8/22!

 

[snikkle]

Hey guys,

I really want to apply to SUNY Downstate, but is it even worth it to submit my secondary? I feel like it's pretty late in the application cycle.

Thanks in advance!

I think it's pretty late.. however, they say that they don't review files in order of completion. So.. in that case you may luck out and get reviewed earlier. It's worth a shot. GL!

Also -- should we expect much, if any, merit-based scholarship money from the SUNY schools?

 

[rjaacd]

Hold for Spring Consideration email today, OOS interviewed 10/15.

Since our files aren't re-reviewed again until Summer should I basically just consider this a rejection?

 

[Abi123]

also -- should we expect much, if any, merit-based scholarship money from the suny schools?

+1

 

[Member1011290]

Hold for Spring Consideration email today, OOS interviewed 10/15.

Since our files aren't re-reviewed again until Summer should I basically just consider this a rejection?

I interviewed 10/15 too and got the hold email as well. From what I read on last years thread it's pretty hard to get in off hold and you may not find out until July. You have to be placed on the waiting list first and then accepted..seems like you only get accepted if someone withdraws at the last minute at that point.

 

[rjaacd]

I interviewed 10/15 too and got the hold email as well. From what I read on last years thread it's pretty hard to get in off hold and you may not find out until July. You have to be placed on the waiting list first and then accepted..seems like you only get accepted if someone withdraws at the last minute at that point.

Hmm well that doesn't sound too good then. Oh well. Were you OOS too? I know there were only like 2 of us that day lol

 

[silverwyvern4]

Hold for Spring Consideration email today, OOS interviewed 10/15.

Since our files aren't re-reviewed again until Summer should I basically just consider this a rejection?

I think that a large number of my class came from the hold list. Downstate has a ton of waitlist/hold list movement.

 

[philip]

i interviewed here on 9/10 and haven't heard anything. Does this mean i probably got rejected?

 

[FIREitUP]

i interviewed here on 9/10 and haven't heard anything. Does this mean i probably got rejected?

Not necessarily. There's definitely variability in how long it takes to hear back, try to be patient.

 

[Acyl chloride]

I was accepted directly off the on hold list last year, an I know many people in my class were on hold at some point in the year, so definitely don't give up if you are interested in the school. If it's your top choice, and you are on hold, definitely write a letter of intent as well to let them know.

 

[philip]

Finally got my acceptance today. I was supposed to get my letter on the 18th but never got it when I called them today to check my status they ran my name and said all the system says is that I am complete. I went to my pre-med adviser (who is able to check acceptances and rejections for all of my schools, didn't even know he could) and he told me I was accepted. An hour later I drove down to downstate and picked up my letter.

 

[Mdtichen]

Anyone know anything about student hosting? My interview is in two weeks and I am really interested in this.

 

[imcanadaian]

Anyone know anything about student hosting? My interview is in two weeks and I am really interested in this.

email the office; they'll try to schedule you with a student in the dorms

 

[pfaction]

II, finally! Woo.

 

[leeyuhang]

can anyone give some travel advice?
I'll be interviewing on dec 11th and the email says that it will last from 1pm to however.
Would it be safe to book a flight out at 8:35pm?
I read earlier in the thread that there may not be taxi service or something and I just won't want to feel rushed getting through the airport.

 

[Abi123]

can anyone give some travel advice?
I'll be interviewing on dec 11th and the email says that it will last from 1pm to however.
Would it be safe to book a flight out at 8:35pm?
I read earlier in the thread that there may not be taxi service or something and I just won't want to feel rushed getting through the airport.

That should be more than enough time for you to get to the airport. As for taxi service, just keep the phone number for the local taxi company on-hand.

 

[anguisette]

I also have a travel question.

I think my interview is in the morning (my email says to be there in the morning but didn't explicitly say that was my interview time) and the email says the day ends around 1:30 pm. Would it be ridiculously hard to fly out of LGA on a 3:20 pm flight?

 

[jshei0625]

I also have a travel question.

I think my interview is in the morning (my email says to be there in the morning but didn't explicitly say that was my interview time) and the email says the day ends around 1:30 pm. Would it be ridiculously hard to fly out of LGA on a 3:20 pm flight?

I would change the flight. I was the last to interview and I finished at 3:20pm.

 

[surf613]

Accepted!