2015-2016 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

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Richard_Rooster said:
What are some close by hotels?
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I stayed at the Sheraton in downtown Brooklyn. The price was competitive ($250 per night), but still fairly expensive. It was really close to the subway going to Manhattan and SUNY. Took about 20 minutes to get to Downstate by subway. Honestly, AirBnB might be the cheapest option and would also allow you to explore an area you may want to live in.
 
Rochgirl94 said:
Was just wondering how many people have been waiting for several months now? Submitted my secondary in September and haven't heard a peep since then. Does it look bad?
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My son is in the same boat...no news and he submitted everything a while ago. Not sure if it looks bad or not..seems to be the overall process is slow. He is also waiting to hear from Stony Brook and Buffalo...not a peep either except that he did the Casper test for Buffalo.
 
Richny said:
My son is in the same boat...no news and he submitted everything a while ago. Not sure if it looks bad or not..seems to be the overall process is slow. He is also waiting to hear from Stony Brook and Buffalo...not a peep either except that he did the Casper test for Buffalo.
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I don't think Buffalo required students to do the Casper? Did you mean NYMC?
 
Hey current students! Where do most students like to study? In the library? (is it 24/7?) At home? Totally understand that it's a personal preference, but I just wanted to get some anecdotes on how Downstate students like to study -- alone, in groups, etc 🙂 I'm just thinking for myself -- I'm definitely the study at library type--usually alone first. but if i commute, not sure how much of a hassle this would be, having to take subway after and such...
 
Oranges2 said:
Hey current students! Where do most students like to study? In the library? (is it 24/7?) At home? Totally understand that it's a personal preference, but I just wanted to get some anecdotes on how Downstate students like to study -- alone, in groups, etc 🙂 I'm just thinking for myself -- I'm definitely the study at library type--usually alone first. but if i commute, not sure how much of a hassle this would be, having to take subway after and such...
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Definitely varies a lot. Library is open 24/7, as are the carrels. I rotate between home, carrels, cafes, occasionally library, depending on my mood/how much I do or don't want to be around people. I like studying on my own (because that's really the only way I can memorize stuff) but in the vicinity of other people, so we can help each other out if someone has a question, or just complain about everything together. 😛 But yeah, it's pretty much a personal decision, but you'll find people whose study style matches yours for sure.
 
Oranges2 said:
Hey current students! Where do most students like to study? In the library? (is it 24/7?) At home? Totally understand that it's a personal preference, but I just wanted to get some anecdotes on how Downstate students like to study -- alone, in groups, etc 🙂 I'm just thinking for myself -- I'm definitely the study at library type--usually alone first. but if i commute, not sure how much of a hassle this would be, having to take subway after and such...
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It definitely varies for me personally. If I only have lectures in a day i typically do all of my studying in my room. If I have pbl/anatomy/pops (mandatory small group stuff), i'm always in the library probably at a desk alone but around people. First unit I studied primarily in a very social part of the library and realized it stressed me out more than it helped me because everyone moves at different paces. Around exam time when I know my **** I tend to study more around people. It really all depends on my day's schedule and how prepared I am.

And as far as commuting being a hassle, it depends on where you commute from. If you live real close by (I have friends with apartments literally right across the street), you can study at the lib/carrels/whatever constantly. You'll figure it out with each unit. And each units techniques may be different as the first unit you will live in the anatomy lab.



Wanted to add that the first unit you'll probably ACTUALLY attend lecture so you'll be on campus/in the library more. Now, if I don't have a mandatory class I barely leave my room for anything other than the gym/seeing friends/clubs haha


TL;DR -it varies, you'll figure out what works for you, and you'll continue to adapt your study style with each unit.
 
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I dont know whether any specifics were given earlier about interview questions, but does anyone mind sharing some of the questions they got unrelated to their app? I heard that they have a standard set of questions they like to ask.
 
Richard_Rooster said:
I dont know whether any specifics were given earlier about interview questions, but does anyone mind sharing some of the questions they got unrelated to their app? I heard that they have a standard set of questions they like to ask.
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How did you study for the mcat [must be a study they are doing or something].
Research experience.
 
Does anyone know the chances of getting accepted after being put on "hold for spring consideration" status? Or has anyone had any success with calling admissions and asking where on the wait list they might be? This is my number 1 school so really hoping for the best 🙁
 
talulah said:
Does anyone know the chances of getting accepted after being put on "hold for spring consideration" status? Or has anyone had any success with calling admissions and asking where on the wait list they might be? This is my number 1 school so really hoping for the best 🙁
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There is "no rank" to this list. In April/May when all interviews are done the committee re-reviews people on hfs and will decide to either let you in or keep you as an alternate for in case others drop. I personally was accepted off this list as were almost all of my friends (some even got in after being told they were "alternates"). It is not a death sentence. If it is your top school, let them know (do this in April as that's when they will re-review your application anyway). Tell them why you belong here and why downstate is your top school. It's annoying to have to wait even longer but it's not a bad spot to be in.


I'll add a timeline for you: interviewed late January. Was put on hfs April 16th, and was accepted exactly a month later by phone call, after sending a LOI the week before.
 
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shtumpa said:
BTW how many of you had the student guide that told the story of how he got locked in the bathroom that was missing a handle? He said this in response to questions about the facilities lol

Had him two years in a row #Awesome
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Was that the funny one? Hes hands down the most entertaining med student I have encountered on the trail. He probably single handedly sold me on the school. His opinions of the anatomy lab were quite positive by the way. So not all facilities are terrible!
 
Emt2md23 said:
It definitely varies for me personally. If I only have lectures in a day i typically do all of my studying in my room. If I have pbl/anatomy/pops (mandatory small group stuff), i'm always in the library probably at a desk alone but around people. First unit I studied primarily in a very social part of the library and realized it stressed me out more than it helped me because everyone moves at different paces. Around exam time when I know my **** I tend to study more around people. It really all depends on my day's schedule and how prepared I am.

And as far as commuting being a hassle, it depends on where you commute from. If you live real close by (I have friends with apartments literally right across the street), you can study at the lib/carrels/whatever constantly. You'll figure it out with each unit. And each units techniques may be different as the first unit you will live in the anatomy lab.



Wanted to add that the first unit you'll probably ACTUALLY attend lecture so you'll be on campus/in the library more. Now, if I don't have a mandatory class I barely leave my room for anything other than the gym/seeing friends/clubs haha


TL;DR -it varies, you'll figure out what works for you, and you'll continue to adapt your study style with each unit.
Click to expand...

Do you ever have a problem finding a quiet spot to study on campus at any time of the day? Like if I pack my stuff to get lunch and come back at 2PM, will there be seats available? How is it during midterms/finals time?
 
I am accepted here and comparing it to another school.

They are pretty comparable in many ways and the thing that the other school has is a professional medical Spanish course. Being that I already speak a decent gringo Spanish, thats something I m very interested in. Does downstate have anything like that I haven't found anything online.
 
shtumpa said:
I am accepted here and comparing it to another school.

They are pretty comparable in many ways and the thing that the other school has is a professional medical Spanish course. Being that I already speak a decent gringo Spanish, thats something I m very interested in. Does downstate have anything like that I haven't found anything online.
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So that was actually something I asked about, I was told that there wasn't actually a Medical Spanish class, but there was a Medical Spanish club that you can join where everyone learns and studies that together.
 
Thego2guy said:
Do you ever have a problem finding a quiet spot to study on campus at any time of the day? Like if I pack my stuff to get lunch and come back at 2PM, will there be seats available? How is it during midterms/finals time?
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Never had a problem. The library can get pretty busy, but the basement is almost always empty. Plus there are 16 carrels in total, and some other random weird classrooms, so at least some of them are empty all the time. There are also study rooms in the library that you can book for a few hours at a time (or all day on weekends, I think) and guarantee that no one else will come in, but I've never had an issue with finding my own space without doing that.

shtumpa said:
I am accepted here and comparing it to another school.

They are pretty comparable in many ways and the thing that the other school has is a professional medical Spanish course. Being that I already speak a decent gringo Spanish, thats something I m very interested in. Does downstate have anything like that I haven't found anything online.
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1234acecombat said:
So that was actually something I asked about, I was told that there wasn't actually a Medical Spanish class, but there was a Medical Spanish club that you can join where everyone learns and studies that together.
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Actually, there's a medical Spanish elective, as well as medical Haitian Creole and medical Mandarin. Those are non-graded electives, TA'd by students (I TA the medical Spanish one, and really enjoy it). There's also LMSA, the Latino Medical Student Association, which regularly hosts lunches where they teach a little & you spend the rest of the time talking to other people only in Spanish. Plus there's good food. 🙂
 
Thego2guy said:
Was that the funny one? Hes hands down the most entertaining med student I have encountered on the trail. He probably single handedly sold me on the school. His opinions of the anatomy lab were quite positive by the way. So not all facilities are terrible!
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Really interested in who this might be haha. And no the facilities are not all terrible. I'd actually rank the anatomy lab as one of the best ones I've been in.

Thego2guy said:
Do you ever have a problem finding a quiet spot to study on campus at any time of the day? Like if I pack my stuff to get lunch and come back at 2PM, will there be seats available? How is it during midterms/finals time?
Click to expand...

You're assigned your own desk in a carrel and that spot is ALWAYS open and almost always a quiet place to study. First floor of the library can get packed/loud especially when other programs have finals (which don't necessarily sync up with our unit exams), but the basement and second floor is normally a safe bet. I only ever had issues finding a place to study around unit 1 exams but that's cause all first years were freaking out and didn't have their own set study habits down yet
 
Emt2md23 said:
There is "no rank" to this list. In April/May when all interviews are done the committee re-reviews people on hfs and will decide to either let you in or keep you as an alternate for in case others drop. I personally was accepted off this list as were almost all of my friends (some even got in after being told they were "alternates"). It is not a death sentence. If it is your top school, let them know (do this in April as that's when they will re-review your application anyway). Tell them why you belong here and why downstate is your top school. It's annoying to have to wait even longer but it's not a bad spot to be in.


I'll add a timeline for you: interviewed late January. Was put on hfs April 16th, and was accepted exactly a month later by phone call, after sending a LOI the week before.
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Thank you so much, this is super helpful and made me feel much better about being on hfs!
 
When I called earlier this week, the woman said they were in the final stages of screening my app...hope this is a good sign!
 
n4229 said:
When I called earlier this week, the woman said they were in the final stages of screening my app...hope this is a good sign!
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Not sure if you answered this already, but when was your complete date, if you don't mind?
 
SallySue1202 said:
Congratulations! Yes, I interviewed a few weeks ago.
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Congrats to you too! I was a little disappointed seeing as I haven't heard anything about an II despite submitting very early, but hopefully the good news will continue to come! 🙂
 
sss1219 said:
Congrats to you too! I was a little disappointed seeing as I haven't heard anything about an II despite submitting very early, but hopefully the good news will continue to come! 🙂
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My understanding is that DS reviews applications for IIs randomly-ish, not chronologically! So I would not be worried that you submitted early and haven't heard any news yet. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!!! :luck:
 
Does SUNY Downstate accept letters of intent? If so how can we upload them? I am having trouble accessing the application portal. Anyone else having issues or can post the link??
 
italyluvrr22 said:
Does SUNY Downstate accept letters of intent? If so how can we upload them? I am having trouble accessing the application portal. Anyone else having issues or can post the link??
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That portal basically doesn't exist after you submit if I remember correctly. Any updates, or letters should just be emailed to the admissions office.
 
Thanks that's what I figured. Is there another way to check our status?
 
italyluvrr22 said:
Does SUNY Downstate accept letters of intent? If so how can we upload them? I am having trouble accessing the application portal. Anyone else having issues or can post the link??
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I have been having issues with the portal, too. I usually refresh the page multiple times a day to check for my status. Since about two days ago, the only thing is says is "ONLINE SUPPLEMENTAL" with nothing else, I'm sure it's a system problem on their end
 
richyung131 said:
I have been having issues with the portal, too. I usually refresh the page multiple times a day to check for my status. Since about two days ago, the only thing is says is "ONLINE SUPPLEMENTAL" with nothing else, I'm sure it's a system problem on their end
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Downstate does not provide status update via portal only via email or by phone if you call them.
 
Was pleasantly surprised to receive an II this morning for March!

Complete end of July, so it's been nearly 6 months, so for others of you that were complete early I guess they're still re-reviewing apps! Just wanted to give folks the heads up
 
simplesloth said:
Was pleasantly surprised to receive an II this morning for March!

Complete end of July, so it's been nearly 6 months, so for others of you that were complete early I guess they're still re-reviewing apps! Just wanted to give folks the heads up
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Mansamusa said:
II! I can't believe it. I was having one of my triweekly panic attacks over med school debt and now I'll have a chance to interview at the best SUNY school
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Congrats guys!!!
 
I have a question. I got the impression on interview day that a good majority of the rotations are not done at Downstate's medical area, but spread out all over NYC. Like on one you are at Staten Island, another Lenox Hill, another New York Methodist, and another North Shore. Why are the rotations spread out over different hospital systems rather than Downstate's big medical area in Brooklyn? Specifically why is the LIJ system utilized over Downstates?
 
italyluvrr22 said:
Does SUNY Downstate accept letters of intent? If so how can we upload them? I am having trouble accessing the application portal. Anyone else having issues or can post the link??
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I sent one by email in the beginning of this year...I was waitlisted a few days later haha
 
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