2015-2016 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

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entresuspiros said:
Just received II! Complete 8/19, OOS, LizzyM 71-73.

Got scheduled for 10/21 at 1pm, which is not the greatest time for me, but at least I live relatively close by (Boston). Does anyone know how long the interview takes?

Also, does anyone have a good breakdown on how receptive other NYC schools are pre-II in-the-area updates? I don't want to send a letter that will reflect negatively on me.
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I will also be interviewing on that day, so I guess I will see you there! 🙂

Super excited to be interviewing here! Thanks everyone for the description of the interview. Did anyone do the student housing option? I didn't see any information about it until I read this thread again and I would love to do it, not sure if it's a little too late to ask now though since my interview is just 9 days away now haha.
 
conaanaa said:
I will also be interviewing on that day, so I guess I will see you there! 🙂

Super excited to be interviewing here! Thanks everyone for the description of the interview. Did anyone do the student housing option? I didn't see any information about it until I read this thread again and I would love to do it, not sure if it's a little too late to ask now though since my interview is just 9 days away now haha.
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I did not do the student housing tour but I think you can sign up for it on the day of your interview. If you want to be sure, I'd just email them.
 
Mr Magpie said:
Here are some positive notes of the school from my recent interview there.

- Before my actual interview, I had the chance to sit in on one of the lectures for a little and learned something pretty cool about this school. All the lecture series and units are linked and transition into each other. In fact, the lecturers know each other and coordinate this very well. It's a stark contrast to schools that kind of have just one-off lecturers for a given subject without any tie-in to what came before and what is to follow. That cohesiveness is attractive--I later learned they implemented this rather recently.

- They are in the process of building a new building for stimulation centers and small classrooms. It is slated to be completed come Spring.

- In your first year, you have the opportunity (not sure if it is required) to follow a physician at a clinic of your choosing (early clinical exposure basically).

- Definitely has that NYC feel. It's bit more residential in the immediate areas around the school. The more east you go the residential sectors start getting iffy, but I didn't feel off being there at all.

- For IS people wanting to stay near campus, the dorms are literally across the street. For those wanting to escape that dorm feel/want IS status, there's a decent amount of students west of the school in some pretty nice neighborhoods (Park Slope, Bay Ridge, Borough Park, Brooklyn Heights).

- Low tuition once you establish residency. This is a big perk for me when comparing the SUNY schools to the private NY schools... and just private schools in general. The substantial savings I would have going here over a private program makes me less keen on comparing its rank (i.e. research funding) to other higher-ranked programs.
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Everything you noticed is everything I have loved about this school. In regards to the physician shadowing, it is mandatory.

My preceptorship this year is with a physician in the er, and it is incredible. You have a certain number of cards you need to complete that each has a task on it, and the doctor will sign off on what tasks you have accomplished successfully. This forces students to really get a chance to deal with real patients directly and practice what we've been learning in clinical skills lab. It is a great opportunity to have early exposure. You do not always get your preceptorship where you would like. Many of my friends have to travel to theirs, which has caused some problems. As much as I love this school, there are some definite clerical issues here and there. No different than other schools I am sure.

Also the curriculum is entirely pass/fail for the pre-clinical years, which really fosters a cooperative environment with your fellow classmates. There is a very relaxed atmosphere here (except near/during exam week =O )which is great for limiting stress.
 
Oranges2 said:
hey @Emt2md23 what's the grading system like for clinical years?
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In preclinical it's pass fail based on certain competencies. In the clinical years it is your typical tiered grading system of honors, high pass, pass, conditional, fail. As I am only a first year I can't talk at depth about what happens in clinical years
 
Emt2md23 said:
Everything you noticed is everything I have loved about this school. In regards to the physician shadowing, it is mandatory.

My preceptorship this year is with a physician in the er, and it is incredible. You have a certain number of cards you need to complete that each has a task on it, and the doctor will sign off on what tasks you have accomplished successfully. This forces students to really get a chance to deal with real patients directly and practice what we've been learning in clinical skills lab. It is a great opportunity to have early exposure. You do not always get your preceptorship where you would like. Many of my friends have to travel to theirs, which has caused some problems. As much as I love this school, there are some definite clerical issues here and there. No different than other schools I am sure.

Also the curriculum is entirely pass/fail for the pre-clinical years, which really fosters a cooperative environment with your fellow classmates. There is a very relaxed atmosphere here (except near/during exam week =O )which is great for limiting stress.
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Dammit, you're really selling me on this school
 
Hey I'm OOS (from California) and have an interview in two weeks. I heard they ask OOS interviewees questions about reasons for coming to NYC, why we think we'd like it there, etc. Has anyone experienced this in their interviews?
 
SurfsUp8 said:
Hey I'm OOS (from California) and have an interview in two weeks. I heard they ask OOS interviewees questions about reasons for coming to NYC, why we think we'd like it there, etc. Has anyone experienced this in their interviews?
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they ask all interviewees that question, in state or out of state. Talk about the cultural diversity a city has to offer, and all of the experiences you can have serving that community. they eat that up.
 
Was waitlisted here last cycle here and was eventually rejected at the end of summer 🙁. Downstate was definitely my top choice! Interview day was very enjoyable and the student tours were very laid back, but informative.

Does anyone have insight as to whether or not reapplicants are well received. I completed earlier this year with more experiences, another letter of rec, revised PS, and same gpa.

Also, if by some miracle I receive an II, is there a chance the interviewer already has my interview answers and app from the last cycle?
 
SurfsUp8 said:
Hey I'm OOS (from California) and have an interview in two weeks. I heard they ask OOS interviewees questions about reasons for coming to NYC, why we think we'd like it there, etc. Has anyone experienced this in their interviews?
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I would definitely prepare for it, especially if you're OOS. I didn't get it, but maybe because I'm IS? Then again, for some reason, I didn't get ANY of the common interview questions that users posted for Downstate hah.
 
Does anyone know if Downstate will email an acceptance letter or send it by snail mail?
 
For those that interviewed here in the afternoon, around what time were you finished? I'm taking an afternoon bus back to Boston but I want make sure I don't miss it.
 
entresuspiros said:
For those that interviewed here in the afternoon, around what time were you finished? I'm taking an afternoon bus back to Boston but I want make sure I don't miss it.
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My interview began around 2:45pm and then ended around 4pm.
 
has anyone heard decisions yet post interview?
 
JessebenBenjamin said:
How many people get waitlisted vs rejected?
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theres no technical "wait list" off the bat. Basically you could get accepted outright, rejected outright, or put on "hold for spring consideration." Which basically means they aren't sold yet and need to see who else interviews before making a decision. They will re-review everyone on that list later in the cycle, and that list sees a lot of movement before people on hfs get switched over to the alternate list which shows less movement. Its a weird, long process.

No school will ever give stats on how many people are waitlisted or rejected or chosen off the wait list or anything, as it changes drastically each year. Just sit tight, recognize that you've worked your ass off and are still in a good position, and try to just let it happen. They say its a 4-6 week wait until the decision, but it honestly took them 12 weeks to accept me (though later in the cycle) so just try to keep calm.
 
seems like last year many people heard back via snail mail on the 24th, so we just gotta be patient! :arghh:
 
kinda_desperate said:
seems like last year many people heard back via snail mail on the 24th, so we just gotta be patient! :arghh:
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Looks like the 24th of October last year was the second to last Friday of the month so hopefully by Friday the acceptances start arriving in the mail!
 
DexterM said:
Looks like the 24th of October last year was the second to last Friday of the month so hopefully by Friday the acceptances start arriving in the mail!
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Okay cool, but just an FYI: according to the most recent admissions handbook, "you will be notified of your admission status by email." So I wonder if that means only II status or actually includes final admissions decisions, too.
Source: http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/documents/COMAdmissionsInformationBooklet2015-04-03.pdf top of page 11.
 
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RenjoLa said:
Okay cool, but just an FYI: according to the most recent admissions handbook, "you will be notified of your admission status by email." So I wonder if that means only II status or actually includes final admissions decisions, too.
Source: http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/documents/COMAdmissionsInformationBooklet2015-04-03.pdf top of page 11.
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Oh yeah, I just checked their FAQs (http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/amcas_faq.html) and it says "In general, the Admissions Committee will email you an update on your status 4-6 weeks following your interview. During the holiday season, the response time might be longer." but no one has posted an acceptance yet so I'm starting to get extra stressed haha.
 
Does anyone know if DS is amicable to pre-II updates? I'd kill to study, learn, and serve in one of the most diverse and needy populations the boroughs have to offer 🙁
 
awetmop said:
Cricket chirps... I was ready for review on the first of August.

Sigh. No mclovin here...🙁
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As I've said before, I was ready for review on JULY 3rd of last year, and I didn't get offered an interview until January 6th. Its a long process, with no real rhyme or reason that I can see. Just try not to sweat it. Sit back, relax, and wait. And stay off SDN lol
 
LOG ENTRY: DAY 37

It has been nearly three fortnights since interview day, and still no update about my status. I am worried that perhaps the acceptance (or God forbid, rejection or waitlist) letter got lost somewhere in a large USPS sorting facility somewhere out east (or the email got lost somewhere on its way over the internet). Pls Downstate.
 
DexterM said:
LOG ENTRY: DAY 37

It has been nearly three fortnights since interview day, and still no update about my status. I am worried that perhaps the acceptance (or God forbid, rejection or waitlist) letter got lost somewhere in a large USPS sorting facility somewhere out east (or the email got lost somewhere on its way over the internet). Pls Downstate.
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SAME. do they send out emails or is it just snail mail?
 
someone call pls. I would if i weren't in class
 
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