2014-2015 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

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Can any current students comment on the interview here? My interview here on Tuesday is my first one, and I'm starting to feel unprepared. I looked at the interview feedback, but I feel like I could have prepared more for ethics/current events/healthcare etc. Is it mainly behavioral/screening, or do they typically ask a lot of those topics?

They typically try to make them "easy," and match you up with someone with whom you have a bunch of things in common, which makes a nice start to the interview. This isn't always the case, but it was for me, and I've heard they typically try to do that. I don't remember having any "hard" questions (like, at all); it was mostly typical interview things. They really want to see that you can work well as part of a team. I don't remember anything more specific, and don't have my notes from after the interview at hand (or in state), but I mostly just prepared by looking at the interview feedback here, and I definitely felt adequately prepared. 🙂
 
They typically try to make them "easy," and match you up with someone with whom you have a bunch of things in common, which makes a nice start to the interview. This isn't always the case, but it was for me, and I've heard they typically try to do that. I don't remember having any "hard" questions (like, at all); it was mostly typical interview things. They really want to see that you can work well as part of a team. I don't remember anything more specific, and don't have my notes from after the interview at hand (or in state), but I mostly just prepared by looking at the interview feedback here, and I definitely felt adequately prepared. 🙂
I completely agree with this. The interview was pretty laid back and conversational and the questions were standard interview questions that you'd expect - there were none that were out of the ordinary. My interviewer had a standardized sheet with questions that he went through. He had also clearly read through my entire file and had come in prepared with some notes to ask about some of my experiences (research, volunteer work, etc.) but again, very conversational and, personally, I thought it was really nice to see that he had put a lot of effort into getting to know me as an applicant.
 
They typically try to make them "easy," and match you up with someone with whom you have a bunch of things in common, which makes a nice start to the interview. This isn't always the case, but it was for me, and I've heard they typically try to do that. I don't remember having any "hard" questions (like, at all); it was mostly typical interview things. They really want to see that you can work well as part of a team. I don't remember anything more specific, and don't have my notes from after the interview at hand (or in state), but I mostly just prepared by looking at the interview feedback here, and I definitely felt adequately prepared. 🙂

I completely agree with this. The interview was pretty laid back and conversational and the questions were standard interview questions that you'd expect - there were none that were out of the ordinary. My interviewer had a standardized sheet with questions that he went through. He had also clearly read through my entire file and had come in prepared with some notes to ask about some of my experiences (research, volunteer work, etc.) but again, very conversational and, personally, I thought it was really nice to see that he had put a lot of effort into getting to know me as an applicant.

Thanks! That makes me feel a little bit better ..
 
Does anyone know if there's a way to check the status of your app online? I only received a link for my secondary but no username/password. Thanks!
 
Does anyone know if there's a way to check the status of your app online? I only received a link for my secondary but no username/password. Thanks!
There is no way to check your status. After submitting the secondary, you should get a complete email. After that, if you get an II, it will be via email.
 
Has anyone received an II confirmation and/or reminder? I have my interview here next week and am a little worried that I received no confirmation or reminder...I just imagine showing up there and they are like "Who are you?"
 
No news here either. Complete Aug 8th. Looks like they pick 1 week a month and go HAM on the IIs. Let's hope that will be next week at the latest cuz I'm slowly starting to panic about my schools.
Same here. They havent sent out many IIs. Hopefully a wave of IIs is coming soon.
Complete mid-August.
 
Thank you! Yes, the invite was by email (there's no way to check your status otherwise, since they don't have a real secondary website set up after you submit).

They actually give you an interview date in the email, which you respond to in order to confirm it. I have mine scheduled for early October, so they are definitely still early in the cycle.
 
Thank you! Yes, the invite was by email (there's no way to check your status otherwise, since they don't have a real secondary website set up after you submit).

They actually give you an interview date in the email, which you respond to in order to confirm it. I have mine scheduled for early October, so they are definitely still early in the cycle.
Oh okay. Thats good. Some schools are already on Jan/Feb for interviews which worries me.
 
Thank you! Yes, the invite was by email (there's no way to check your status otherwise, since they don't have a real secondary website set up after you submit).

They actually give you an interview date in the email, which you respond to in order to confirm it. I have mine scheduled for early October, so they are definitely still early in the cycle.

That's great to hear since I thought I might of been passed over. Complete 08/06. Congrats!
 
II just received! I need some advice though. It says interviews will only be rescheduled for legitimate reasons. My reason is that I already have a interview on the date they picked for me. Should I tell them this or should I make up something else since its kind of awkward to say that? Thanks!
 
II just received! I need some advice though. It says interviews will only be rescheduled for legitimate reasons. My reason is that I already have a interview on the date they picked for me. Should I tell them this or should I make up something else since its kind of awkward to say that? Thanks!
That is a perfectly legitimate reason. Not awkward at all. They'll understand, contact them. Do you mind sharing when you were complete, btw?
 
That is a perfectly legitimate reason. Not awkward at all. They'll understand, contact them. Do you mind sharing when you were complete, btw?
Thanks for the advice. As I posted above I was complete 08/06 and someone yesterday was complete 7/31. They seem to still be in late July/ early August. Also to give people some idea of where they are on interview dates, the date I received was mid October.
 
(just noticing the small details cause I'm a neurotic pre med on sdn) Are you a pharmacy student? Asking cause of your status. This is the pre allo thread for the MD program.
 
(just noticing the small details cause I'm a neurotic pre med on sdn) Are you a pharmacy student? Asking cause of your status. This is the pre allo thread for the MD program.

I'm aware this the the pre allo section of the forums 😛. I am indeed a pharmacy student who is in their last year of pharmacy school who also happens to be applying for entry into medical school right after I finish my pharmacy program.
 
Ohhhh, okay, I see! That's a pretty interesting route 🙂 Best of luck to you!
 
Has anyone spoken with the admissions office and has an idea what days they tend to interview on?
 
I also have an interview on Tuesday...so Mon, Tues, Wed confirmed
 
I interview on a Thursday, can confirm those happen too.
 
I know Im pretty late to the game, but does downstate screen primaries?
 
Just got an II!! LizzyM of 74.
Does anyone know the percent of interviewees accepted here? According to MSAR, only a very few OOS applicants who are interviewed matriculate here, and there's no data on the US News site.
 
Thats what I was going to post. Maybe they are interviewing OOS first?
Hmm, that doesn't seem quite right. Most of the OOS'ers do have very high LizzyM scores though. So it seems like they're just interviewing all the high stat applicants first.
 
Interviewed here today. A lot better than I expected. Everyone was super nice. There is a writing assignment but it wasn't much. Facilities are so-so but apparently they just built their anatomy lab. Their is also construction on another building and should be complete by next year.
Interview itself was as standard as it gets. My interviewer pretty much said there are questions she had to ask..and asked them.
 
Interviewed here today. A lot better than I expected. Everyone was super nice. There is a writing assignment but it wasn't much. Facilities are so-so but apparently they just built their anatomy lab. Their is also construction on another building and should be complete by next year.
Interview itself was as standard as it gets. My interviewer pretty much said there are questions she had to ask..and asked them.
Around how long did the interview last?
 
The actual interview is 45-60mins.. Plus the info session and tour which started at 11:30 and ended around 1ish
 
Hmm, that doesn't seem quite right. Most of the OOS'ers do have very high LizzyM scores though. So it seems like they're just interviewing all the high stat applicants first.
Hmm, my feel was that the stats were somewhat mixed in my group. I'm IS btw.

Interviewed here today. A lot better than I expected. Everyone was super nice. There is a writing assignment but it wasn't much. Facilities are so-so but apparently they just built their anatomy lab. Their is also construction on another building and should be complete by next year.
Interview itself was as standard as it gets. My interviewer pretty much said there are questions she had to ask..and asked them.

Ain't that anatomy lab great? I also dug the study carrolls.
 
MS1 here! If you have any questions about the curriculum, the facilities and the school in general, I can give you some answers 🙂
 
MS1 here! If you have any questions about the curriculum, the facilities and the school in general, I can give you some answers 🙂

What made you choose/like Downstate? How is living in Brooklyn, especially if you aren't from the area? How's your opinion on the residence halls? Favorite pizza toppings?

Edit: What do you know about the conversion process to instate after Ms1 for tuition purposes?
 
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