2020-2021 SUNY - Downstate

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would it be unlikely that they go back to people who were complete in July?
 
I've posted here before but just a regular reminder that if you have options once acceptances roll out, choose a different school than Downstate.
 
Nontradoldguy said:
? Why
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FishermanDon99 said:
Current student at Downstate. I wish I had someone who would have spoken to me candidly about downstate when i was applying and inquiring. If you are not aware with the culture at downstate I would really encourage you to think twice about coming here. Everything is very 'figure it out on your own.' Research opportunities are minimal, mentorship is minimal, financial support is minimal. Everyone who goes here seems to just be ok with it because we're too far in but hopefully this will deter some of the rest of you from attending if you have other options. My only frame of reference of course is my UGrad institution of course which had its imperfections but this place is just something else. Feel free to PM me for specifics.

Update: This is based on preclinical years so far. I have not started clerkship which is apparently what sets Downstate students apart from others. Take what I say with a grain of salt and do your due diligence to investigate.
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Just reposting his quote from page 3 of this thread.

Also, this might just be because I read his post before my interview so I might've been biased, but my student interviewer's answers to some of my questions really made it seem like she just felt "eh" about the school. When I asked her specific questions about the school or if she was happy, she just kind of seemed indifferent. Her answers weren't as enthusiastic as many of the students at other schools that I interviewed at (both tone of voice and word choice). She also didn't really do a great job of hyping the school up in general.

At the same time though I'm friends with a physician who graduated from here back in like 2013 or something and she said she had the time of her life, so YMMV.
 
theconfusedapplicant said:
Just reposting his quote from page 3 of this thread.

Also, this might just be because I read his post before my interview so I might've been biased, but my student interviewer's answers to some of my questions really made it seem like she just felt "eh" about the school. When I asked her specific questions about the school or if she was happy, she just kind of seemed indifferent. Her answers weren't as enthusiastic as many of the students at other schools that I interviewed at (both tone of voice and word choice). She also didn't really do a great job of hyping the school up in general.

At the same time though I'm friends with a physician who graduated from here back in like 2013 or something and she said she had the time of her life, so YMMV.
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I've heard similar opinions from a few friends who currently attend Downstate. But like you said, it depends what you make of it. Sure, you might have to try a bit harder (there isn't as much "guidance" here), but if you stay in your room all day, it's unlikely you'll get a better experience from any other school.

Definitely do your research if you have multiple acceptances though.
 
Can anyone who has already done the vita interview share what the questions are or are you not allowed?
 
Ris246 said:
Can anyone who has already done the vita interview share what the questions are or are you not allowed?
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The VITA information on AMCAS sites is quite detailed and it will be worth your while to review it. There are a few categories of questions and a random question from each category will be presented to you.
 
wysdoc said:
The VITA information on AMCAS sites is quite detailed and it will be worth your while to review it. There are a few categories of questions and a random question from each category will be presented to you.
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Thanks!
 
anybody interview in early December and not get contacted for the peer to peer interview yet?
 
vzgot said:
anybody interview in early December and not get contacted for the peer to peer interview yet?
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I would contact admissions. I interviewed first week of December and had my peer-to-peer interview that weekend
 
vzgot said:
I did they said someone would contact me lol
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The holiday likely delayed things. The students are on winter break. I wouldn't be too worried especially since Downstate isn't rolling anyways.
 
How important y’all think the student II is? I didn’t like one of my answers too much
 
pinklovemed said:
Yes they do I confirmed with them yesterday
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Regarding update letters, did you submit yours via email with an attachment or into the portal? Within the portal they don't have an option for update letters, but rather just Continued Interest and other specific categories that I think they directly request from some applicants.
 
goodgollymolly said:
Regarding update letters, did you submit yours via email with an attachment or into the portal? Within the portal they don't have an option for update letters, but rather just Continued Interest and other specific categories that I think they directly request from some applicants.
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I just chose a category that said ‘other’ (or something like that) and specified as update letter as the doc title
 
Downstate is my #1 and i havent heard anything... was complete mid-August 🙁 still holding out hope though!

Also, how did people go about sending updates? Did you attach grades, just a letter of interest, etc? I would love to send them an email reaffirming my interest and desire to go to the school. Thanks!
 
moonrocket23 said:
Downstate is my #1 and i havent heard anything... was complete mid-August 🙁 still holding out hope though!

Also, how did people go about sending updates? Did you attach grades, just a letter of interest, etc? I would love to send them an email reaffirming my interest and desire to go to the school. Thanks!
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I inquired about this awhile ago, and was told to upload any updates to the document section of the portal. There you can add update letters, letters of intent (post interview), new grades, etc.
 
Another development has led me to vent on this forum. Sorry but this place is too much. The registrar is denying a tuition adjustment (that amounts to thousands of dollars) because of delays in submitting documents. Many of these documents required government appointments that were closed for months due to the pandemic, and their arrival was further delayed because of the postal service fiasco. This school's administration does not care about their students. You can feel it from the moment you walk in for your interview, and that never goes away. You can interpret this as a desperate attempt of one student who has been spurned and is trying to tarnish their school's reputation, but the sentiment of most of my classmates mimics mine but they would rather go quietly than stir the pot.

Other occurrences that show there is a culture of disregard for patients and students that goes up to hospital admin. Four Fired SUNY Downstate Surgeons Sue, Claim Retaliation for Whistleblowing
 
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FishermanDon99 said:
Another development has led me to vent on this forum. Sorry but this place is too much. The registrar is denying a tuition adjustment (that amounts to thousands of dollars) because of delays in submitting documents. Many of these documents required government appointments that were closed for months due to the pandemic, and their arrival was further delayed because of the postal service fiasco. This school's administration does not care about their students. You can feel it from the moment you walk in for your interview, and that never goes away. You can interpret this as a desperate attempt of one student who has been spurned and is trying to tarnish their school's reputation, but the sentiment of most of my classmates mimics mine but they would rather go quietly than stir the pot.

Other occurrences that show there is a culture of disregard for patients and students that goes up to hospital admin. Four Fired SUNY Downstate Surgeons Sue, Claim Retaliation for Whistleblowing
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I've heard a lot of polarizing opinions on downstate...a lot of prospective students on here describe it as their "dream school" and I'm curious as to why that is. In your experience, do a lot of students enter downstate with excitement but then are quickly disillusioned?
 
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