2015-2016 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

[Ismet]

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Please PM the essays or lack thereof to me when the secondary is available and I will update this.

Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[thekiterunner89]

What stats is everyone applying with? Just curious

 

[dsxmchn]

What stats is everyone applying with? Just curious

3.93/38, one of my state schools

 

[ex_animo_92]

3.65 / 36, IS also

 

[taco152]

3.95/35 IS

 

[glindathegoodwitch]

Does anyone know the max number of letters accepted by this school? Admissions officer I spoke to seemed unsure...

 

[dsxmchn]

Does anyone know the max number of letters accepted by this school? Admissions officer I spoke to seemed unsure...

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/procedures/letters_of_rec.html

Their website seems vague about a max number. Since it isn't listed, there probably isn't a strict max.

 

[glindathegoodwitch]

Thanks for your input. Do you think 6 is too much? 2 sci, 1 non-sci, 1 MD, 1 graduate advisor, 1 lab PI?

I saw on the site that they're requesting a letter from a science professor who taught a course needed for admission aka prerequisite class. Do you think it'll be much of a problem to provide letters from upper level class professors only? My prereq classes were generally 80+, not really conducive to getting a strong and personal letter...

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/procedures/letters_of_rec.html

Their website seems vague about a max number. Since it isn't listed, there probably isn't a strict max.

 

[ChillDawg]

Does the SUNY Downstate healthcare system serve the people of Brighton Beach in any way?

 

[Keladry]

Does the SUNY Downstate healthcare system serve the people of Brighton Beach in any way?

Current MS1 here; I know some MS3s rotate at Coney Island Hospital.

Happy to answer any questions, although it may have to wait a little while, since exams start tomorrow.

Best of luck to everyone!

 

[taco152]

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/procedures/letters_of_rec.html

Their website seems vague about a max number. Since it isn't listed, there probably isn't a strict max.

Doesn't say on MSAR

 

[dsxmchn]

Thanks for your input. Do you think 6 is too much? 2 sci, 1 non-sci, 1 MD, 1 graduate advisor, 1 lab PI?

I saw on the site that they're requesting a letter from a science professor who taught a course needed for admission aka prerequisite class. Do you think it'll be much of a problem to provide letters from upper level class professors only? My prereq classes were generally 80+, not really conducive to getting a strong and personal letter...

I think 6 is fine, 4-6 seems to be the norm; I also have 6. As for your second question, I'm not sure. I would imagine if it's a BCMP professor(s) they could be flexible.

 

[rainieday]

yayyyy downstate LizzyM score = 70, IS.

submitted today! here we go

 

[whatever5]

Is this school OOS friendly?

 

[The Real SVB]

Is this school OOS friendly?

Not the best, not the worst. ~20% class is OOS I think

 

[dsxmchn]

Not the best, not the worst. ~20% class is OOS I think

FYI @whatever5 MSAR puts the last entering class at about 13 % OOS.

 

[The Real SVB]

FYI @whatever5 MSAR puts the last entering class at about 13 % OOS.

Heh, I was close 😏

 

[elprezidente]

Hey all, another MS1 here (about to be an MS2 in about 3 hours ). Happy to answer any questions that you guys may have either on the public board or via PM. Best of luck in the upcoming cycle!

 

[slatewater]

Hey all, another MS1 here (about to be an MS2 in about 3 hours ). Happy to answer any questions that you guys may have either on the public board or via PM. Best of luck in the upcoming cycle!

Not sure if you considered other NYC schools, but how do you think SUNY Downstate differs from others in the area? I know some basics about the program, but anything you could offer from your perspective would be great. Have you interacted with other MS's from other NYC schools?

 

[The Real SVB]

how do you think SUNY Downstate differs from others in the area?

[Not affiliated with NY whatsoever.]
It is in a much tougher area than any other NYC school, Columbia included. Kings County Hospital invented the Level 1 trauma center rating.
Also: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/nyregion/15hospital.html

 

[simplesloth]

Secondary Prompts:
If there were periods longer than 3 months, from the time you graduated from high school to now, when you were not employed full-time or in college full-time, please briefly describe your activities. (Limit 150 words)

If you are not attending college full time as of September 15, please describe your activities for the period September 2015 to July 2016.Please enter none if there are none. (Limit 200 words)

If you are not from the 5 boroughs of New York City, describe what personal experiences prepare you to live and study in New York City, and what will be your personal support system. (Limit 150 words)

If you have a specific reason why you wish to attend SUNY Downstate or a medical school in New York City, please explain. (Limit 100 words)

 

[Oranges2]

Does anyone know how to enter in the semester credit hours? SUNY DS requires, for example 8 semester credits for biology. It requires you to break out lab and lecture too, but my school didn't and I don't know how many credits to allocate to each....

 

[slatewater]

Does anyone know how to enter in the semester credit hours? SUNY DS requires, for example 8 semester credits for biology. It requires you to break out lab and lecture too, but my school didn't and I don't know how many credits to allocate to each....

My school has the same issue. Just got off the phone with someone in admissions, who said to list the credits the way it is on your transcript

 

[moc1025]

Where do we pay the fee? I don't see a place for it on the application.

 

[cma116]

What do we do about our letters of rec for the secondary? It looks like you have to either choose committee OR individuals... but what if we have both?

 

[noflag]

anyone submit and get to a page saying that their student portal is still being created? Before paying

 

[dsxmchn]

Where do we pay the fee? I don't see a place for it on the application.

When I went to submit they said they were still processing my student information and I was unable to pay at this time. They said to check back within 3 days to try again.

 

[premeditated618]

Is anyone else going to end up skipping the first 3 essays because they don't apply??

 

[premeditated618]

Also, they say they like to see biochem, genetics, etc. Are we supposed to list these courses somewhere on our secondary? Or are they going to look at our primary app for that info?

 

[ShadyLane]

Does anyone know how to enter in the semester credit hours? SUNY DS requires, for example 8 semester credits for biology. It requires you to break out lab and lecture too, but my school didn't and I don't know how many credits to allocate to each....

I don't think it requires us to break down lab and lecture unless it's separate on our transcript. My labs and lectures always came together so I entered it like that, but made sure "lab" was indicated in the course name. Can anyone else clarify?

 

[moc1025]

Also, they say they like to see biochem, genetics, etc. Are we supposed to list these courses somewhere on our secondary? Or are they going to look at our primary app for that info?

Under the biology courses section where it has a space for addition information I wrote "Other relevant courses I have taken include:" and then listed genetics, physiology, etc.

Just did that on my own though...I didn't talk to anyone with authority who suggested that

 

[Stephanopolous]

Received secondary yesterday

 

[Oranges2]

I don't think it requires us to break down lab and lecture unless it's separate on our transcript. My labs and lectures always came together so I entered it like that, but made sure "lab" was indicated in the course name. Can anyone else clarify?

Yeah you're right! I was reading too quickly 🙂

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

On the section when we are entering our coursework, what do they mean by the instruction "Remember to include your AAMC ID and your name."? I don't see any additional space to put it unless they want that in the optional addition course info section.

 

[slatewater]

Is anyone having trouble paying? It says my secondary app was confirmed and gave me the login for the payment page, but it's not working for me. Anyone else?

 

[IlyaR]

For the coursework, if we retook classes, should we only add the higher of the two? Or is it like AMCAS where you just throw on everything?

Thanks!

 

[ab77]

Is anyone having trouble paying? It says my secondary app was confirmed and gave me the login for the payment page, but it's not working for me. Anyone else?

+1

 

[moc1025]

Is anyone having trouble paying? It says my secondary app was confirmed and gave me the login for the payment page, but it's not working for me. Anyone else?

Yeah I'm super confused. I've tried entering my AMCAS ID, birthday, lastname and the login they gave us a million times in different combinations but it's not working.

 

[IlyaR]

Worth adding hobbie-esque stuff in the gap year activity question?

 

[slatewater]

Yeah I'm super confused. I've tried entering my AMCAS ID, birthday, lastname and the login they gave us a million times in different combinations but it's not working.

Likewise. I called them and they said other people have been having the same problem, but they're not sure why. The bursar transferred me to admissions who said they would give me a call back later today about the matter

 

[obscurity111]

delete

 

[slatewater]

I'm getting to the payment page but it says "Select Starting Term this payment applies to" and the only options are Summer 2015, Fall 2015, and Spring 2016...

I was able to get here too, and have the same options. Maybe "Summer 2015" in reference to the secondary specifically??

 

[moc1025]

I was able to get here too, and have the same options. Maybe "Summer 2015" in reference to the secondary specifically??

I called them and asked about this. They said it shouldn't be that way and they're working on fixing it so don't pay yet.

 

[obscurity111]

delete

 

[talulah]

This might be a stupid question but regarding entering prerequisite courses, how are we supposed to enter all of them with the space they allowed? There's only space for 6 course entries but they ask for 5 classes, each with two courses (ie. physics I , 4 credits, and physics II, 4 credits = 8 general physics credits). I'm not sure how to list the courses together in one entry since they're different course numbers and names?

 

[noflag]

anyone still getting this message after submitting but before paying?

"
The Office of Admissions is in the process of setting up your record in the student information system. After the process is completed, you may pay your processing fee. Sign out and return later to pay.

"

 

[horse__pills]

IS, just submitted/paid

 

[premeditated618]

This might be a stupid question but regarding entering prerequisite courses, how are we supposed to enter all of them with the space they allowed? There's only space for 6 course entries but they ask for 5 classes, each with two courses (ie. physics I , 4 credits, and physics II, 4 credits = 8 general physics credits). I'm not sure how to list the courses together in one entry since they're different course numbers and names?

Each pre-req (bio, chem, physics, orgo, eng) has its own section. The first one was for bio I believe, and has 6 slots for 6 bio classes. Then you hit next, and you get to the chem section. So there definitely was enough space for all the pre-reqs!

 

[obscurity111]

delete

 

[ABecks1717]

So entering the prereqs for physics/chems/english was easy for me because basically I only listed the courses that fit the description, however, do you think you should fill all the spaces in the biology prereq section? Or since they only need to see 8 credits of bio on the secondary, only list your first three bio courses that appear on the transcript?