2014-2015 SUNY Upstate Application Thread

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Do you have a feeling it has to do with submitting relatively late? This is one of my biggest regrets with this school especially since there was basically no secondary.

I wish I could answer you. I still don't have an II from any school. This is my 2nd hold. Not sure if it's the timing or something else on my app. IIs were sent out to those who were complete after me at some of the other schools I applied to. I'm leaning toward the latter.
 
Yea I saw someone post an II with a late complete date which is why I edited my post.

Good luck with the rest of your apps though, your stats are good so don't give up hope!
 
If I am interviewing in February do you think there will still be open acceptance spots left or is it more likely that I am interviewing for a position on the wait list?
 
Also on the portal does anyone see any earlier date than February when I checked that was the soonest available?
 
Also on the portal does anyone see any earlier date than February when I checked that was the soonest available?
E-mail admissions and inquire about a wait list for earlier interview dates, I was able to get one beginning of October when originally I had late December--admissions was super friendly and helpful!
 
Anybody know their OOS interviewed vs. OOS accepted?
 
How does a pre-interview hold work? Is this simply a soft rejection? I mean is this like worse than being wait-listed after an interview?

Does anyone know someone who got in with this?

Sorry for all the questions - never heard of a pre-interview hold before. Thanks!
 
How does a pre-interview hold work? Is this simply a soft rejection? I mean is this like worse than being wait-listed after an interview?

Does anyone know someone who got in with this?

Sorry for all the questions - never heard of a pre-interview hold before. Thanks!
Basically I think it means they like your file but don't want to decide to reject yet- I assumed I got it because I submitted so early. I don't have a really competitive MD application but they must have liked something.

From last year's thread it looks like some people get interviews and then accepted after a hold. So you're not done yet!
 
Basically I think it means they like your file but don't want to decide to reject yet- I assumed I got it because I submitted so early. I don't have a really competitive MD application but they must have liked something.

From last year's thread it looks like some people get interviews and then accepted after a hold. So you're not done yet!
Thanks! But does this put us below the waitlist?
 
Thanks! But does this put us below the waitlist?

Hey Dannyboy! In both of your posts you are trying to compare hold to waitlist- I don't think you can really do that. Yes, in a sense, being on hold pre-II is "worse" or "below" the waitlist because you haven't been offered the chance to interview (and the people that have waitlisted already presented themselves to the school). Simply put- Until you get an II, you have no chance of getting in (as you already know). That being said, I think what a lot of people are trying to emphasize is that pre-II hold is not a death sentence, people do get off and get an II and in that case, maybe you will just get accepted and bypass everyone on the waitlist that interviewed before you. Unfortunately, no one knows the answer to how the process will play out for anyone else (or themselves!), so it's like comparing apples and oranges trying to gauge if one route is better than the other. I know this probably doesn't put you at ease with the whole process, but I think it's at least a rational way to look at this. Good luck, man!
 
Hey Dannyboy! In both of your posts you are trying to compare hold to waitlist- I don't think you can really do that. Yes, in a sense, being on hold pre-II is "worse" or "below" the waitlist because you haven't been offered the chance to interview (and the people that have waitlisted already presented themselves to the school). Simply put- Until you get an II, you have no chance of getting in (as you already know). That being said, I think what a lot of people are trying to emphasize is that pre-II hold is not a death sentence, people do get off and get an II and in that case, maybe you will just get accepted and bypass everyone on the waitlist that interviewed before you. Unfortunately, no one knows the answer to how the process will play out for anyone else (or themselves!), so it's like comparing apples and oranges trying to gauge if one route is better than the other. I know this probably doesn't put you at ease with the whole process, but I think it's at least a rational way to look at this. Good luck, man!
Thanks! Exactly what I needed clarified - essentially wanted to know whether a school will review their high priority and regular wait list before the look at their pre-interview hold list (realize I should have been clearer about this).
 
All pre-interview hold seems to mean is, we're not extending an interview, but we just might later on. I know of someone (one person) getting off a pre-interview hold, and he was interviewed and ultimately accepted outright. It's not good news, but not all hope is lost.
 
Hi guys I'm just wondering what your opinion is on declining the interview a little bit a week before my scheduled date. There's been changes and I don't know if I have the effort to attend this interview. but i dont mind sticking it out if a week seems maybe too late to let them know and not good etiquette
 
Hi guys I'm just wondering what your opinion is on declining the interview a little bit a week before my scheduled date. There's been changes and I don't know if I have the effort to attend this interview. but i dont mind sticking it out if a week seems maybe too late to let them know and not good etiquette

If this is an informed decision and you are quite sure you do not want to come in, I think a week is quite reasonable. It could open up an earlier date for people hoping for that, or a slot for someone who is on hold.

But it really needs to be something you are quite sure about. You could also try requesting a later interview date to give you more time to consider this. Good luck! 🙂
 
Hi guys I'm just wondering what your opinion is on declining the interview a little bit a week before my scheduled date. There's been changes and I don't know if I have the effort to attend this interview. but i dont mind sticking it out if a week seems maybe too late to let them know and not good etiquette

If you're just looking to cancel, it should be fine. Include an apology for the short notice in your decline message. Keep in mind I'm saying this as a fellow applicant--if you're really not interested in interviewing, I'm sure someone else will really appreciate the spot. Otherwise if you're trying to change the date of interview, I'd say it's a little inappropriate to be notifying them now unless something truly urgent came up.
 
Hi guys I'm just wondering what your opinion is on declining the interview a little bit a week before my scheduled date. There's been changes and I don't know if I have the effort to attend this interview. but i dont mind sticking it out if a week seems maybe too late to let them know and not good etiquette
Agree with everyone else. If you're into a school you'd go to above Upstate, don't waste your time and money, and more importantly, give that slot to someone else who would want to go there!
 
Anyone else interviewing this upcoming Wednesday?
 
Does upstate accept pre-interview update letters? Sorry if already discussed.
 
Does upstate accept pre-interview update letters? Sorry if already discussed.
I emailed them asking this before my interview invite, and they said "we will accept a brief, relevant update." sent to the main admissions email. I may be reading into the succinct reply but they didn't seem too thrilled about it, once you get an interview a whole new update option exists when you log in, so it seems like they mainly care about post-II updates.
 
I was wondering since its so cold in upstate new york around this time of year how much of the interview day do you have to be outside? Thanks!
 
I was wondering since its so cold in upstate new york around this time of year how much of the interview day do you have to be outside? Thanks!
None for me. Everything was interconnected.
 
For anyone who has interviewed already, can you please answer a few questions.

1.) How do you suggest preparing for the MMI interview?

2.) Where can I keep my stuff during the interview? I'm assuming the hotel has a 12 p.m. checkout but the interview lasts until 3:30 p.m.

Thanks!
 
How do you suggest preparing for the MMI interview?
MMI is much like a broken down traditional interview. Instead of answering different questions to the same person as in the traditional interview settings, you answer those questions to different people. Many questions will overlap: why medicine, what do think think about certain ethical and healthcare policy related issue, why our school. Disclaimer: This statement was not a conclusion based on any specific MMI topics at any of the schools that I've interviewed at. It was based on information that can be discovered through materials voluntarily disclosed by various schools in the form of press release, info sessions, books and online introductions to MMI.

So in addition to sharpening your awareness regarding your own fundamental drive and motivations behind your med school dream, just make sure you really understand what studying medicine at Upstate means and what is it about Upstate specifically that will help you to get to where you want to be, something unique or uniquely good about Upstate. Talk to current students, they'll make it pretty obvious. You might also do that for your own sake to see if the school is a good fit for you. I believe that I had a rather successful interviewing experience at Upstate because of such preparations based on a few obvious feedback cues during my MMIs which probably also helped me getting into another school that also used MMI.
 
MMI here was basically: stand in front of computer, it gives you a prompt, you have 2 minutes to read it and think about it, enter the room and discuss for 6 minutes. Super low key, don't stress about preparing for it too much
 
Re: 2, they had big closets in the main room you could leave stuff in - people were leaving big duffel bags in there.

Re: 1, just like any other interview. Everyone there is super friendly and I don't think there's any special way to prepare - it was actually a really good experience.
MMI is much like a broken down traditional interview. Instead of answering different questions to the same person as in the traditional interview settings, you answer those questions to different people. Many questions will overlap: why medicine, what do think think about certain ethical and healthcare policy related issue, why our school. Disclaimer: This statement was not a conclusion based on any specific MMI topics at any of the schools that I've interviewed at. It was based on information that can be discovered through materials voluntarily disclosed by various schools in the form of press release, info sessions, books and online introductions to MMI.

So in addition to sharpening your awareness regarding your own fundamental drive and motivations behind your med school dream, just make sure you really understand what studying medicine at Upstate means and what is it about Upstate specifically that will help you to get to where you want to be, something unique or uniquely good about Upstate. Talk to current students, they'll make it pretty obvious. You might also do that for your own sake to see if the school is a good fit for you. I believe that I had a rather successful interviewing experience at Upstate because of such preparations based on a few obvious feedback cues during my MMIs which probably also helped me getting into another school that also used MMI.

Great stuff. Thanks guys!
 
MMI here was basically: stand in front of computer, it gives you a prompt, you have 2 minutes to read it and think about it, enter the room and discuss for 6 minutes. Super low key, don't stress about preparing for it too much
Gotcha, thanks! How did you prepare and how long did you prepare for if you don't mind me asking?
 
For anyone who has interviewed already, can you please answer a few questions.

1.) How do you suggest preparing for the MMI interview?

2.) Where can I keep my stuff during the interview? I'm assuming the hotel has a 12 p.m. checkout but the interview lasts until 3:30 p.m.

Thanks!

i did some interviewing for upstate last year and there isn't much to prepare for. be ready for the usual questions. its just a regular interview broken up into many interviews. its really relaxed if you get us student interviewers. i try to ask lead students down paths that say good things about themselves so i can write it in later.
 
Gotcha, thanks! How did you prepare and how long did you prepare for if you don't mind me asking?
to echo what other posters have said, it's largely standard interview questions, though you may get a few scenarios involving medical ethics. I found a really nice, brief guide to medical ethics online, if you want the link PM me.
 
Have any more of the mid-late September interviewers heard anything yet?
 
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