2015-2016 SUNY Downstate Application Thread

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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Interviewed beginning of March, no response...I guess I know what that means
 
bobbymc6893 said:
This is all upsetting. The website does say hfs turns into alternates. It also says that we email thank you letters to the admissions email, not the person who interviewed us. Did u email the admissions email for the thank you letter?


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I sent mine directly to my interviewer but he gave me his card to contact him
 
Interview 1/25, hfs March, placed on alternate list today.

"Our entering class is full, but our Admissions Committee has selected you to be placed on our ALTERNATE LIST of applicants who may be accepted should a vacancy occur in the class."

Last year I was placed on alternate list may22.

Feels bad
 
DocBrown90 said:
Interviewed beginning of March, no response...I guess I know what that means
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Same here, pretty upset. We asked at our interview day if we were interviewing for the wait list and they said they don't do that. I mean I guess they wouldn't know for sure how many people would accept at that point so it probably wasn't a lie. Just bummed 🙁
 
Well like all schools there should be movement after may. Let's not lose hope you guys ...I need to take my own advice


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Just spoke with admissions. The class isn't full...all she could say is that the formula they use for acceptances is very hard to explain and that just because people got an alternate list email doesn't mean every application that they haven't gotten to is an automatic wait list or rejection. She also said the committee is meeting as we speak finalizing everyone else, so we should all be hearing shortly!
 
Kieyky said:
Just spoke with admissions. The class isn't full...all she could say is that the formula they use for acceptances is very hard to explain and that just because people got an alternate list email doesn't mean every application that they haven't gotten to is an automatic wait list or rejection. She also said the committee is meeting as we speak finalizing everyone else, so we should all be hearing shortly!
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Thank you so so much!!
 
Kieyky said:
Just spoke with admissions. The class isn't full...all she could say is that the formula they use for acceptances is very hard to explain and that just because people got an alternate list email doesn't mean every application that they haven't gotten to is an automatic wait list or rejection. She also said the committee is meeting as we speak finalizing everyone else, so we should all be hearing shortly!
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Thank you, Kieyky!!!
 
Kieyky said:
Just spoke with admissions. The class isn't full...all she could say is that the formula they use for acceptances is very hard to explain and that just because people got an alternate list email doesn't mean every application that they haven't gotten to is an automatic wait list or rejection. She also said the committee is meeting as we speak finalizing everyone else, so we should all be hearing shortly!
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I'm excited for the people who will hear back later today! This makes me feel extra :lame: about my alt status.
 
Kieyky said:
Just spoke with admissions. The class isn't full...all she could say is that the formula they use for acceptances is very hard to explain and that just because people got an alternate list email doesn't mean every application that they haven't gotten to is an automatic wait list or rejection. She also said the committee is meeting as we speak finalizing everyone else, so we should all be hearing shortly!
Click to expand...
Does this apply to people who just interviewed?


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bobbymc6893 said:
Were u on hfs or alt? Sorry for the questions sploosh. Congrats!


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no problem! i interviewed in september and they kept sending me emails to send in my transcripts once i graduated. i dont know if i was on any list
 
From personal experience, I know that this is a very tough part of the year for many of you - and this goes beyond the Downstate-specific cycle. Interview invites are no longer being handed out, acceptances seem to be rolling out less frequently, and it seems like you're the only one that isn't holding one, or doesn't have one at your dream school. To share my own story, at this point two years ago, I was sitting on one waitlist, with no acceptances and no more interviews left to attend, starting to plan how I was going to spend my next year, where I'd apply this time, etc. I interviewed at Downstate towards the end of the cycle, and hadn't heard back about my decision yet, and it seemed like everyone was being HFS waitlisted at that point. I finally got my HFS email around mid-May and was pretty devastated, thinking I'd have to reapply. About 6 days later, right around the time that I started to see on here that the waitlist had begun to move, I got a phone call that I had been accepted. Downstate had been my top choice, and here I am, post-Step 1 in MS3. There is most definitely hope, and a light at the end of the tunnel.

That being said, I don't want to disseminate false hope either. There will likely be people here that do not get accepted off of whatever Downstate currently calls their waitlist (I think the setup changes every year, lol), or any other waitlist. Don't get too down on yourself if you do not get into medical school at all this year. Realize that less than half of medical school applicants get accepted each year - I'm sure that you are fantastic, but all things happen for a reason; perhaps a year off will help you grow, or expose you to something that offers a new perspective. Make sure to look very closely at your application - if you'd like to ask the "why do you think I didn't get in?" question, I'd be happy to help you work that out. Be self-critical through this process, but don't be self-deprecating.

Most importantly, and in line with my previous point, if you're feeling overwhelmed with sadness, disappointment, self-guilt, etc. reach out for help, whether it be in the form of a family member, friend, mentor, colleague or whomever. You're all going to do great things - becoming a doctor is a marathon, not a sprint. You'll get there if you want to, there's always a way, even if it's not the most direct route.
 
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elprezidente said:
From personal experience, I know that this is a very tough part of the year for many of you - and this goes beyond the Downstate-specific cycle. Interview invites are no longer being handed out, acceptances seem to be rolling out less frequently, and it seems like you're the only one that isn't holding one, or doesn't have one at your dream school. To share my own story, at this point two years ago, I was sitting on one waitlist, with no more interviews left to attend, starting to plan how I was going to spend my next year, where I'd apply this time, etc. I interviewed at Downstate towards the end of the cycle, and hadn't heard back about my decision yet, and it seemed like everyone was being HFS waitlisted at that point. I finally got my HFS email around mid-May and was pretty devastated, thinking I'd have to reapply. About 6 days later, right around the time that I started to see on here that the waitlist had begun to move, I got a phone call that I had been accepted. Downstate had been my top choice, and here I am, post-Step 1 in MS3. There is most definitely hope, and a light at the end of the tunnel.

That being said, I don't want to disseminate false hope either. There will likely be people here that do not get accepted off of whatever Downstate currently calls their waitlist (I think the setup changes every year, lol), or any other waitlist. Don't get too down on yourself if you do not get into medical school at all this year. Realize that less than half of medical school applicants get accepted each year - I'm sure that you are fantastic, but all things happen for a reason; perhaps a year off will help you grow, or expose you to something that offers a new perspective. Make sure to look very closely at your application - if you'd like to ask the "why do you think I didn't get in?" question, I'd be happy to help you work that out. Be self-critical through this process, but don't be self-deprecating.

Most importantly, and in line with my previous point, if you're feeling overwhelmed with sadness, disappointment, self-guilt, etc. reach out for help, whether it be in the form of a family member, friend, mentor, colleague or whomever. You're all going to do great things - becoming a doctor is a marathon, not a sprint. You'll get there if you want to, there's always a way, even if it's not the most direct route.
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Thank you for this...sitting in a similar boat right now on one waitlist with another school and waiting to hear from Downstate.
 
Kieyky said:
Just spoke with admissions. The class isn't full...all she could say is that the formula they use for acceptances is very hard to explain and that just because people got an alternate list email doesn't mean every application that they haven't gotten to is an automatic wait list or rejection. She also said the committee is meeting as we speak finalizing everyone else, so we should all be hearing shortly!
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "finalizing everyone else"? Does that include people who interviewed in April as well? Haha wow that's pretty fast then relatively to everyone else if that's the case!
 
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Do you guys expect a lot of Alternate list movement? I have heard that for the past couple of years, that there has been a ton of movement and that in the most recent classes, almost more than a third of the students came from the alternate list. Just wanted to get your opinions. Best of luck to all!
 
CRguy3 said:
Do you guys expect a lot of Alternate list movement? I have heard that for the past couple of years, that there has been a ton of movement and that in the most recent classes, almost more than a third of the students came from the alternate list. Just wanted to get your opinions. Best of luck to all!
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This is total speculation on my part, but I think it depends on if there are still people on the HFS (because in previous years, movement seemed to come from the HFS before the alternate list)... if everyone that hasn't been accepted yet is on the alternate list, there should be decent movement after traffic day.
 
asdfjkl2016 said:
This is total speculation on my part, but I think it depends on if there are still people on the HFS (because in previous years, movement seemed to come from the HFS before the alternate list)... if everyone that hasn't been accepted yet is on the alternate list, there should be decent movement after traffic day.
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When is traffic day exactly? I feel like most people on HFS that weren't rejected were put as alternates but not completely sure.
 
CRguy3 said:
And what does that mean specifically? What must we do on traffic day and what is the importance? thanks
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It's the last day that candidates can hold multiple acceptances. The official day this year would probably be May 2nd (since April 30th is not a business day). After this date, candidates have to drop every acceptance they have except for 1. This leads to a lot of spots opening up at nearly every school & the scramble to fill these spots (if the school has less than their target number) begins
 
asdfjkl2016 said:
This is total speculation on my part, but I think it depends on if there are still people on the HFS (because in previous years, movement seemed to come from the HFS before the alternate list)... if everyone that hasn't been accepted yet is on the alternate list, there should be decent movement after traffic day.
Click to expand...

A part of me feels like more people are choosing to actually attend Downstate this year.
 
Kieyky said:
A part of me feels like more people are choosing to actually attend Downstate this year.
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I think a lot of people were dropping earlier because of lack of fin aid from the school.
 
Kieyky said:
A part of me feels like more people are choosing to actually attend Downstate this year.
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What makes you say that?

I'm just hoping all the OOS people drop and give me my one chance at getting IS tuition
 
Kieyky said:
The fact that the alternate list happened so early worries me
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It's okay everyone. I think we should sit tight and wait for traffic day before we lose our heads :boom::boom::boom:. It's hard I know - but from what I've seen and heard from friends who are now going to school at downstate, every year is so different and we shouldn't draw any definitive conclusions from what's happening!

Let's not become like some other threads I've seen on this forum. I for one felt that the atmosphere at downstate was very chill and I know that this thread has reflected that sentiment! :biglove::biglove::biglove::biglove:
 
I was on alternate list last year. It was so strange getting together all the stuff even though there were so many people on the alternate list it was clear the chances were not that good. I got everything checked of course...pretty painful if you ask me...didn't like it. Does any other school do this!?

Accepted this year
 
I think perhaps last year there was unusually little movement so maybe not their fault (don't know if it's true just my impression). The year before someone said a ton of people got in late.
 
A ton of people from my class came off of the alternate list - I would say about a third or so as previously mentioned. Not sure about the current MS1 class, @Emt2md23 might have a better idea. This early alternate list formation is somewhat strange, but it might just be a structural change to admissions from the committee. I'm not sure if any more/less people will come off of the waitlist versus previous years. Just be aware that if scramble day is May 2nd, Downstate will not likely call people off of the waitlist on that day. At least it wasn't like that my year, nor did it seem that way last year. Calls started going out about 5 days after the deadline in 2014.
 
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elprezidente said:
A ton of people from my class came off of the alternate list - I would say about a third or so as previously mentioned. Not sure about the current MS1 class, @Emt2md23 might have a better idea. This early alternate list formation is somewhat strange, but it might just be a structural change to admissions from the committee. I'm not sure if any more/less people will come off of the waitlist versus previous years. Just be aware that if scramble day is May 2nd, Downstate will not likely call people off of the waitlist on that day. At least it wasn't like that my year, nor did it seem that way last year. Calls started going out about 5 days after the deadline in 2014.
Click to expand...

I'd say movement for us was about the same. I personally came off HFS in late May, and almost all of my friends that weren't part of some sort of linkage program were on some type of hold/wait list prior to acceptance. Last year traffic day was like May 1st, and the first movement (cause I watched like a hawk as I was neurotic as hell while applying) occurred on May 6th and was pretty steady for a few weeks. (though movement did continue throughout summer at a slower pace)

The class filled up earlier than expected this year, which is the reason for the early alternate list placement...however, there will still be a decent amount of movement I am sure, though it is impossible to predict exactly how many. I know everybody is confused as to why they have to jump through hoops and fill out checklist stuff while still on a wait list, however movement can occur right until the first day of orientation, so its easier for administration (and yourself in the long run if you get accepted in July), to have all the necessary paper work filled out and hope for the best.

As @elprezidente stated so eloquently a few posts up, try your best to stay positive through all of this. I had a real rough time with applications and lost myself somewhere along the way and hope that doesn't happen to any of you. It is a marathon, and anybody who finds themselves on alternate lists right now still has hope. And if anybody has any questions, wants to hear my story to know you're not alone, or whatever it may be, do not hesitate to ask (still don't have exams for another 5 weeks)
 
Did anyone get a confirmation email after sending in their Alternate List form?
 
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