Albany Impressions/Opinions

[MedAppGurl]

I have recently been accepted to Albany, and it was my first acceptance. However, I had many mixed feelings about the school, some things i really liked, others i disliked. Since it is my only acceptance as of now I recognize there is the possibility that I might end up there, so I was wondering if anyone else would share their opinions with me on Albany Medical College....
Thanks

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[kito]

Albany is a dreary place. But the medical school must be good since all U.S. medical schools are. I'm sure that you will get fine training there, and depending on how hard you work your grades and your boards will determine where you match. The question that you have to ask yourself is if four years in Albany will give you irritable bowel syndrome.

 

[josehernandez94]

You know, I actually had a pretty decent experience at Albany. I'm not going there (was accepted to Rochester, my top choice), but I do think it would be a fine place to go. I spoke with some students before and in between interviews and their unsolicited opinions were all very positive.

I agree that the school has some drawbacks (namely its reputation isn't great and Albany isn't the most happening city), but the things I liked about the school ranged from student happiness to a seemingly pretty enthusiastic faculty.

All in all I think Albany's a pretty nice place.

 

[Nor2themax]

I really didn't like it. I didn't understand how it could be $38,000 a year when it's so old and run down and you can't even use wireless internet ANYWHERE in the building.... That to me was a turn off. Medical schools should be moving INTO the 21 century not away from it. What justifies them being the most expensive school in the country with nothing very special to offer?

 

[ilovemed]

It's a back-up school.

 

[Chirurgien]

Originally posted by MedAppGurl
I have recently been accepted to Albany, and it was my first acceptance. However, I had many mixed feelings about the school, some things i really liked, others i disliked. Since it is my only acceptance as of now I recognize there is the possibility that I might end up there, so I was wondering if anyone else would share their opinions with me on Albany Medical College....
Thanks

Congratulations on your acceptance! I haven't been to Albany so I can't contribute much to the discussion but I'd just like to say that usually the first acceptance is followed by more - if one medical school admissions committee found you qualified to be their medical student, chances are other committees will likely feel the same. So, if you don't have such a great feeling about Albany, wait it out and see who accepts you next. Even in the unlikely event that this turns out to be your only acceptance, just remember that you'll only be there for 4 years and then graduate and move on to somewhere else for residency that you may like better. In the larger scheme of things, 4 years is not a long time at all.

 

[absolutezero]

I actually kind of liked Albany. I think it has some real shortcomings in terms of it's oldschool curriculum and lack of clinical exposure in years 1 and 2, but it's attached to a very good hospital and the students I met seemed really bright and mature. In terms of solvency however, I've heard through the grapevine that the school is not doing too well.

 

[Mr.Tweed]

I liked Albany too. The students were what impressed me the most. They were smart, funny, mature, and they seemed happy enough. You can live within walking distance of the school, and as I was driving around I saw some beautiful brownstones. The cost of living in Albany is so low that you could probably rent the whole thing out. Of course, one might not have much cash left after $38,000 a year.

 

[Mr.Tweed]

One last thing. I asked the students if they were studying for the boards. They were like "What are those?" So I don't think many students there shoot for specialized residencies. But that doesn't mean that you can't.

 

[hongspruce]

I don't know about everybody else... but I loved Albany Med. Unfortunately, I will most likely decline as I have roots elsewhere already. By far, the student population is the friendliest of all the places that I've interviewed. There was a true air of cooperativity. Of the faculty I met at Albany, they were extremely nice and intelligent. If you want a small school atmosphere and a great intellectual environment, Albany would be it!

 

[mdforme]

I am very familiar with Albany Med, and I am not impressed. They somehow cannot afford to buy real body bags for the cadavers, yet charge about 40 grand for tuition. I honestly don't know where their tuition goes. Facilities are run-down and most people attending decided to attend only because they had no other choice. Just my $.02.

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by mdforme
I am very familiar with Albany Med, and I am not impressed. They somehow cannot afford to buy real body bags for the cadavers, yet charge about 40 grand for tuition. I honestly don't know where their tuition goes. Facilities are run-down and most people attending decided to attend only because they had no other choice. Just my $.02.

That's what I'm wondering. The cost of living is low in Albany, yet why is the tuition so expensive?

I can only guess the reason of their high tuition is that their endowment + state funding is next to nil, hence, the burden goes to the students. I also heard that they reserve the feet of the cadavers for podiatry students. I guess they save money that way.

 

[solousy]

wanted to bumb this up and perhaps learn a little more about Albany in terms of people who are there and who are going there next year.
I also wanted to know whether Albany had a rugby club? I thought they mentioned it at the interview but i am not sure.

 

[bruciebaby45]

I thought Ablany was great. Everyone was friendly, honest and most important not as pretentious as most other med students I have run into. I guess there are good and bad things about every medical school. Personal I feel it is worth putting up with winters in Albany and the lack of wireless internet in order to be a member of a class that is working together towards a common goal. But I guess it is simple a matter of where your priorities are.
Bruciebaby45

 

[KarateGirl]

This just goes to show what I'm learning, that it's all a matter of opinion and everyone's is different. I'll throw in my 2 cents (which isn't even worth that), and tell you that my ex went to Albany Med and he had a great time there. I think he had a good group of classmates, which is probably the most important thing, and unfortunately the one thing you can't scope out beforehand. They seemed to socialize a lot.

I think the best way to figure out how much you like the place is to experience as much of it as you can. Do they have a second-look weekend you can go to? Otherwise, maybe you can hook up with a current student and spend a weekend to get a feel for it.

I have similar worries as you, but I guess (and hope) a lot of the experience is what you make of it.

 

[jammin_g]

I was accepted to Albany last year and had kind of mixed feelings about the place. The town seemed kind of dreary, but that may have been because of the bad weather. But one of my interviewers was one of the best ones I've had, and I think that speaks a lot to the school. Last thing, anyplace that accepts me and thinks that I have what it takes to be a good doc, I'm going to have a lot higher opinion of!

 

[JohnHolmes]

Originally posted by ankitovich
The question that you have to ask yourself is if four years in Albany will give you irritable bowel syndrome.

You forgot to mention the constipation aspect of IBS. Watch your commercials!

 

[lukeday99]

So, I just got accepted at Albany, and wanted to get some clarification from people. I'm still waiting on three other schools, but until something changes, I'll be going to this (quite expensive) school in the fall. AND I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!!
I really didn't get much of a vibe on the place, one way or the other. I know the curriculum is systems based. But what more should I know about this school? And how do I find out?
What y'all have been saying about the solvency issues and lack of technological advancement worries me.

 

[Ozymandsss]

I also have Albany as my first (and only, but still waiting) acceptance and I have to tell you, only acceptance not withstanding, I think its a fantastic place. As my premed advisor put it, wheras other schools are trying to get their curriculum to move into the new millenium by increasing emphasis on humanities and ethics among their students, Albany is already there. They place a strong emphasis on including both in their curriculum which is really important to me when I consider the type of doctor I want to be (ie. a GOOD one.) Also, the students seemed so friendly and happy, unlike at a lot of more "prestigious" schools and the school actually does have a very good reputation despite what others may say. Hopefully I will see you there in the fall.

 

[lukeday99]

Cool, well, maybe we're future classmates. I hope we get along😀 . Where are you waiting to hear from? I wonder at what point I just say "F#*% it" and go lay on a beach somewhere?

 

[Ozymandsss]

Im waitlisted out mount sinai and waiting to hear form SUNY-Downstate. I have an interview at Jefferson in two weeks. I think it will come down to Albany and Sinai (if they take me) ultimately.

 

[paramed2premed]

Yeah, it was the only school I got into. But I still think I lucked out.

I like my classmates. I like the opportunities that being in the hospital presents. I like the attitude of the administration; I get to meet with them frequently, and they are passionate about creating the best possible atmosphere for us.

I don't know about the above poster who found that students were not aware about the boards; we are acutely aware! But I dare say that we are not, in general, back-stabbing gunners who see classmates as things to step on. The class is divers, and not just racially. We have older students, plenty of married with kids, and we also have plenty of the "BA/MD" program kids. Its a good mix of perspectives.

Yeah, we have fun too. People party quite a bit. They also play soccer, row on the Hudson, and volunteer at numerous places.

True enough, there is no formal clinical stuff in the first two years. But everyone I know is getting out to the clinics, the OR, the ED, or doing research. There is plenty to do if you look for the opportunity.

If this is your back-up school, you are a lucky fellow...

 

[lukeday99]

Yeah, it's weird. Everyone seems really happy there. What would you have to say about the complaints, ie: Expensive, bad facilities, financially unstable, murky??????? Is it really a cool place? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[spoons]

Hey I had interviewed at Albany and have been on "active consideration." Unlike some people, I actually loved Albany, being that I love cold weather. in addition, this is my third time applying to med school, and it seems that Albany is my last hope. Does anyone know how likely a person on "active consideration" gets accepted???????

I am going to shoot myself if I do't get into medical school this year!!!🙁

 

[lukeday99]

Dude, three years! I would have not only shot myself by now, I would have mangled my own corpse. It'll work out, for sure. I think that it is very fair to call and ask the office about their waitlist movement. Then, if it's where you want to go, write a really nice letter of intent. Do it now, outlining why you liked there school, why you think you'd be a good fit, and telling them, in the most eloquent way possible, to godamnit let you in before you go postal on the place!

It works, I swaer, I've seen it happen. Basically, beg, plead, wheddle your way in. But they should be able to let you know about movement on the waitlist.

 

[paramed2premed]

Originally posted by spoons
...Does anyone know how likely a person on "active consideration" gets accepted...

If you haven't heard before, AMC is famous for accepting people right up until the first lecture starts. From what I understand, we go a good ways into the waitlist. Just be ready to move to NY on a moment's notice!

Oh yeah; Active Consideration DOES NOT MEAN Waitlist! A lot of us went through that. It mean you have the potential to be on the waitlist. They create a formal wait-list only in late spring. They will ask you at that point if you still want to be considered.

It sounds good for you. Good luck!

 

[spoons]

Thank you so much!!!! yes i will beg and plead! And yes if i don't get in this year i will most definitely shoot myself.. Med school has been my dream, and if I can get into albany I will ask for nothing more in my life!!!!

 

[drdoctor]

I think AMC is a great place. I'm from Boston so I'm used to the cold and that doesn't bother me. Reputation-wise, I know plenty of doctors working at HMS, Tufts, BU, and UMass medical centers from Albany Med. Actually, the president of Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard Med. graduated from RPI and AMC. The medical school is directly connected to the hospital so very easy access. Clinical training in the first two years is increasing and money is getting poured in for wireless, etc. It also has a very strong matchlist. And, for the person who said that they don't know what boards are, that's completely wrong. Around 40% match to primary care. 60% go into specialities such as neurosurgery, otolaryngology, derm, etc. There are neurosurgery residents at Tufts, Beth Israel of Harvard Med., and many other great places. The match list really speaks for itself. Albany may not be the most exciting city, but in the first two years of med. school, you will not be partying that often if ever.

 

[bobd]

drdoctor

Do you have a recent match list for Albany for 2003 or 2002?
The last one posted on their web site is 2001.
Thanks

 

[alianwaar4]

bob, i applied to the union/albany program and got in, but just to shed some light when i was there i made it a point to see the match list for last years results (as this years hadnt come out yet, i went march 1)..but anyway, it seemed that people matched pretty well and at respectable places i saw at least 6 or 7 people matching to Harbor/UCLA and UCI in california, 2 were matched at Yale and i think i may have seen 2 but 1 for sure at Johns Hopkins....i remember seeing the radiology stats, just because thats what im interested in and about 10 people matched to a radiology residency which is REALLY high given that the class size is around 128, so thats about 9%...but as far as i saw it seemed people were going to decent places

being from cali, it was important to me to see if people were matching to residencies in california, and seeing that they were was really reassuring

i hope i helped, i know drdoctor and others really have helped me a ton!

 

[paramed2premed]

Originally posted by drdoctor
... Albany may not be the most exciting city, but in the first two years of med. school, you will not be partying that often if ever.

Yeah, that's a myth, right up there with "you have to go to class in order to do well." In Albany, the beer flows like wine.

 

[MNgrrl]

Hi everyone, I have a question for the folks that attend Albany. I am accepted there, and while I got pretty good feeling about the school, I have a couple of concerns. My biggest concern is the structure of anatomy - I understand it is a full year long, which is fine. However, my understanding is also that you have a partner, and there are 3 partner groups per cadaver, so ultimately you really only are doing about 1/3 of the dissection. If my understanding is correct, I am concerned that I won't actually learn the material well enough since my learning style is very much dependent on the opportunity to DO everything. If this is not the case, could someone please clarify for me?

Also, since there aren't really formal clinical experiences in the first couple of years, do you think it puts you at a disadvantage 3rd year when you start clinical rotations?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Ozymandsss]

MNgirl,

I am also an accepted applicant and I thought I would have a little insight into your questions based on what I have heard. First of all, I don't know where else you are accepted, but just about every school throws multiple pairs of students on each cadaver. In fact, many schools have up to four or five pairs. I am not aware of a program that gives you your own cadaver or even just puts two people per cadaver. Secondly, and I was just having this conversation with a med student last night, he said that the actual dissections of a cadaver is really a slow laborious process that few students don't tire of within the first week. He said that as an incoming student, everyone is so excited to actually do the dissection, but after the first week when you see how slow an monotonous it becomes, you are grateful for the days in which your partners are dissecting and you are watching. That's just my two cents.

 

[lukeday99]

To all my accepted Albany friends: If we all end up there, here's what we'll do. We'll get together as an Anatomy group. We'll meet at times when there is no one else in the lab and blast good music (you ever here that 80's song by Oingo Boingo called "Dead Man's Party"? That'd be appropriate) and laugh about the fact that we're dissecting a former human being and that we're in Albany, NY. Then we'll go out for beers at a local bar, reeking of aldehydes, ketones, and other little nasties. I think that we can head this off at the pass by having a good time with it. Here's to Bill or Fred or Ethel or Bernice or whomever we get!

 

[paramed2premed]

Originally posted by Ozymandsss
MNgirl,

...after the first week when you see how slow an monotonous it becomes, you are grateful for the days in which your partners are dissecting and you are watching. That's just my two cents.

That is perfectly correct.

 

[talk2me]

I really wish I can share the excitement of getting accepted at Albany, but I'm still really early in the process .... I'm interviewing @ Albany in early April.

Can anyone give me their opinion on my chances this late in the interviewing season? Most schools have concluded interviews for the 2004 entering Med classes. Is my interview exclusively for the waitlist despite my accomplishments, grades, stats ...etc? Also, is it possible to get an immediate acceptance while others get waitlisted? If so, then the admissions committee must rank each student. I appreciate anyone's input.
thanks, and I hope to also join the 2004 entering class @ Albany in August, 2004!!! Good luck.

 

[fischer]

I was late in the application cycle and did not get offered an interview until March 17. A week later I got an email saying I was accepted! So don't lose hope- I think you still have a chance for an immediate acceptance. Good luck! I really liked Albany much more than I anticipated.

 

[talk2me]

Originally posted by fischer
I was late in the application cycle and did not get offered an interview until March 17. A week later I got an email saying I was accepted! So don't lose hope- I think you still have a chance for an immediate acceptance. Good luck! I really liked Albany much more than I anticipated.

Thanks for the great news. I hope all goes well on interview day and I hear back w/in a week as you did. How was your interview experience (did you post on interview feedback?)?Have you decided to attend Albany or do you have other schools to consider? Best of luck and thanks again Fischer.

 

[fischer]

No, sorry, I have not posted my interview experience yet, but I don't think that I have much to add that isn't already mentioned. Both interviews were very conversational, with ethical questions thrown in. Again, the students were very nice and seemed to enjoy Albany.

I'm still waiting to hear from a couple of schools, but so far, Albany is my only acceptance so it looks like I'll be going there in the fall. And I think I will like it just fine....I just want to go!

Good Luck!!!

 

[sharsky]

i will probably be attending albany this year too and i'm not sure how excited i am about it. it's my only acceptance. i'm waitlisted at 3 other schools. i didn't get a strong sense of the school when i interviewed there. the only thing i got was how happy the students were. but i don't remember seeing the anatomy lab, library, etc.

 

[CaptainZero]

I think the thing to point out is what nearly everyone already has ...that the students seem really happy. To me, that's the most important thing. Albany may be drab, tuition is steep (not the most expensive in the country, as someone else insinuated - check out Tufts for example - $60000/year), maybe the campus is not as picturesque as some others, but if most of the students are happy, then something good must be going on to outweigh the presumed negatives. I personally have heard only extremely postive things about the school from the several alumni I have met, and to me that says a lot. I chose Albany over Drexel, and am very excited to be going there in the fall and very much look forward to meeting those of you on this board that are also going there - Feel free to drop me an IM or e-mail in the mean time.

 

[aboo-ali-sina]

I am a 4th year at AMC. I am one of the BS/MD'ers which means I was locked into going to AMC out of High School (biggest mistake of my life) Let me tell you, if you got in ANYWHERE else, go there. Don't come here. There are several problems with the place.

1) Tuition is ridiculous, and AMC's reputation and matching capability don't make up for it. It is a middle tier school

2) If you want to go anything out side of primary care, there is little support for you. The school is focused on producing primary care physicians.

3) You have to work too hard to get anywhere. The faculty don't know many people (except in Vasc. Surg, NS, Uro, and ENT) and they can't really help you get in to competitive residencies. The Dean is EMed from Pitt so we matched 2 there, but that is not the norm.

Just so you don't think I'm some disgruntled failed out student, I matched at Duke for Gen Surg, but with no help from AMC. I had to establish connections with people at other institutions and then get them to make phone calls for me.

 

[aboo-ali-sina]

Here is our match list for 2004:
PGY-1 program/ Location
Pgy-2 Program

Family Practice
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

General Surgery
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208


Surgery- Preliminary
Hospital of Saint Raphael
New Haven, CT 06511

Psychiatry
New England Medical Center
Boston, MA 02111


Emergency Medicine
NY Hospital/Medical Center of Queens
Flushing, NY 11355

Obstetrics/Gynecology
Maine Medical Center
Portland, ME 04102


Otolaryngology
Medical College of Virginia
Richmond, VA 23298-0509

Transitional
St Vincents Hospital
New York, NY 10011
Dermatology
Cook County-Stroger Hospital (PGY2)
Chicago, IL 60612

Pediatrics
University North Carolina Hospital
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7005

Surgery-Preliminary
Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC 22042-3300
Otolaryngology
Georgetown University Hospital (PGY2)
Washington, DC 22042-3300

Internal Medicine
Kaiser Permanente
Los Angeles, CA 91188-8013

Family Practice
David Grant Medical Center
Travis Afb, CA 94535-1800


Orthopaedic Surgery
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Family Practice
North Colorado Medical Center
Greeley, CO 80631


Otolaryngology
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

General Surgery
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234


Research, Orthopaedic Surgery
New York University Medical Center
New York, NY 10016

Family Practice
St Josephs
Syracuse, NY 13203


Transitional
Portsmith Naval Hospital
Portsmith, VA

Medicine-Preliminary
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, CA 90509
Neurology
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (PGY2)
Torrance, CA 90509

Internal Medicine/Emergency Med
SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY 11203

Medicine-Preliminary
University of Maryland Medical Center
Baltimore, MD 21201-1595
Radiology Diagnostic
Westchester Med CtrNY (PGY2)
Valhalla, NY 10595

Family Practice
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Jamaica, NY 11418

Emergency Medicine
Eastern Virgina Medical School
Norfolk, VA 23507


Emergency Medicine
University of Pittsburg Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Emergency Medicine
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA 95817


Pediatrics
St Christophers Hospital
Philadelphia, PA 19134-1095

Emergency Medicine
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208


Internal Medicine
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Urology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104


General Surgery
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710

Surgery Preliminary
Beth Israel Medical Center
New York, NY


Obstetrics/Gynecology
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92354

Pathology
UC San Diego Medical Center
San Diego, CA 92163-4548


Internal Medicine
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, MD

Family Practice
Madigan Army Medical Center
Tacoma, WA 98431


Pediatrics
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Transitional
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, MI
Ophthalmology
Henry Ford Hospital (PGY2)
Detroit, MI 48202

Research, Otolaryngology
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1052

Emergency Medicine
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92354


Medicine-Pediatrics
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Medicine Preliminary
Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC 20010-2975
Radiology Diagnostic
Univ Maryland Med Ctr (PGY2)
Baltimore, MD 21201-1595

General Surgery
UMDNJ Robert Woods Johnson
Piscataway, NJ 08903

Family Practice
Community Hospital
Indianapolis, IN 46229-2601


Orthopaedic Surgery
Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Internal Medicine
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90033


Medicine-Pediatrics \
St Joseph-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Pediatrics
NYU School Of Medicine
New York, NY 10016


Medicine-Preliminary
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208
Neurology
Albany Medical Center Hospital (PGY2)
Albany, NY 12208

Emergency Medicine
University of Pittsburg Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15261


Emergency Medicine
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Medicine-Preliminary
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208
Neurology
Albany Medical Center Hospital (PGY2)
Albany, NY 12208

Pediatrics
St Louis Childrens
St Louis, MO 63110

 

[aboo-ali-sina]

Transitional
Mary Imogene Bassett
Cooperstown, NY 13326-1394


Psychiatry
Stanford University Hospital
Stanford, CA 94305

Family Practice
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA 19107


Orthopaedic Surgery
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Medicine-Preliminary
Newton Wellesley Hospital
Newton, MA 02162
Radiology Diagnostic
Albany Med Ctr HospNY (PGY2)
Albany, NY 12208

Pediatrics
University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals
Seattle, WA 98195

Anesthesiology
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Washington, DC 20307-5001


Internal Medicine
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Internal Medicine
George Washington University
Washington, DC 20037


Medicine Preliminary
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208
Ophthalmology
SUNY Health Science Center (PGY2)
Brooklyn, NY 11203

Medicine-Preliminary
Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, NY 14621
Physical Med & Rehab
University of Rochester/Strong MemNY (PGY2)
Rochester, NY 14642

General Surgery
Monmouth Medical Center
Long Branch, NJ 07740

Plastic Surgery
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208


Internal Medicine
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Emergency Medicine
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, GA 30912-3103


Internal Medicine
Georgetown University Hosp
Washington, DC 22042-3300

Pediatrics
UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1736


Emergency Medicine
Christiana Care
Newark, DE 19718

Pediatrics
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208


Internal Medicine
Lahey Clinic
Burlington, MA 01805

Family Practice
NY Medical College, Brklyn/Queens SVC
Jamaica, NY 11432


Internal Medicine
University of Rochester/Strong Memorial
Rochester, NY 14642

Family Practice
University of Rochester/Strong Memorial
Rochester, NY 14642


Psychiatry
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Pediatrics
University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen
Burlington, VT 05401


Otolaryngology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Medicine-Pediatrics
Mt Sinai Hospital
New York, NY 10029-6574


Surgery-Preliminary
Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC 22042-3300
Otolaryngology
Georgetown University Hospital (PGY2)
Washingtonn, DC 22042-3300

Pediatrics
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT 06504


Psychiatry
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN 37232-2358

Psychiatry
Wright Patterson AFB
Wright Patterson, OH


Emergency Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT 06504

Pediatrics
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Norfolk, VA 23507


Pathology
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Psychiatry
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Washington, DC 20307-5001


Medicine-Pediatrics
LSU School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA 70112

Internal Medicine
New England Medical Center
Boston, MA 02111


Medicine-Pediatrics
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Otolaryngology
George Washington University Hospital
Washington, DC 20037


Pediatrics
New England Medical Center
Boston, MA 02111

Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Worcester, MA 01655


Internal Medicine
NYP Hospital Cornell
New York, NY 10021

Surgery-Preliminary
Saint Joseph Hospital
Denver, Co 80218


General Surgery
University of Connecticut
Farmington, CT 06030-3950

Anesthesiology
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, NM 87106


Medicine-Preliminary
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208
Ophthalmology
Albany Medical Center Hospital (PGY2)
Albany, NY 12208

Family Practice
University of Maryland Medical Center
Baltimore, MD 21201-1595


Emergency Medicine
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Surgery-Preliminary
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA 90048


Internal Medicine-Preliminary
Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center
Johnson City, NY 13790

Pediatrics
University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals
Tucson, AZ 85724-5040


Internal Medicine
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Family Practice
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, WA 98114-0999


Pediatrics
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208

Psychiatry
Cambridge Hospital
Cambridge, MA 02139


Pediatrics
UC Irvine Medical Center
Orange, CA 92668

General Surgery
Morristown Memorial Hospital
Morristown, NJ 07962-1956


Orthopaedic Surgery
Palmetto Richland Memorial
Columbia, SC 29203

Emergency Medicine
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY 12208


Medicine-Preliminary
University of Connecticut
Farmington, CT 06030-3950
Anesthesiology
Loma Linda University (PGY2)
Loma Linda, CA 92354

Surgery-Preliminary
Kern Medical Center
Bakersfiel, CA 93305-4197


Pediatrics
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Transitional Year
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, CA 90509
Ophthalmology
Tufts-New England Medical Center (PGY2)
Boston, MA 02111

General Surgery
Christiana Care
Newark, DE 19718

 

[sharsky]

hi aboo,
i appreciate your honest feedback about AMC. besides the cost and location and no support from administration, how would you rate the curriculum, teaching, faculty and clinical training?

 

[CaptainZero]

3) You have to work too hard to get anywhere. The faculty don't know many people (except in Vasc. Surg, NS, Uro, and ENT) and they can't really help you get in to competitive residencies. The Dean is EMed from Pitt so we matched 2 there, but that is not the norm.

Psych @ Stanford, Peds and EMed @ Yale, Internal Med @Lahey, Ortho @ NYU, ENT @ Penn...could be worse...
Anyone know ave board scores for Step 1 @ AMC?

 

[drdoctor]

The matchlist looks pretty good, I don't understand why you don't like AMC. I know a number of graduates who are doing extremely well out of the bs/md program. The 6-yr graduates have become leaders in a number of fields. The president of BWH of HMS is from the program. The Neurosurgery head (Popp) at AMC is also the president of the amer. society of neurological surgeons. How is the admin not supportive of students?

 

[aboo-ali-sina]

my issue is with the price performance of amc. you could do similarly with a state school and half the price. Additionally, I don't think that the support was there for residency placement for everyone. At most schools, students interested in surgery meet with the chairman and the chairman tries to get to know the students so he can help them with application into residency. This never happened here. This is the case in other specialities too. I can only provide primary info on surgery.

 

[drtofu66]

my issue is with the price performance of amc. you could do similarly with a state school and half the price. Additionally, I don't think that the support was there for residency placement for everyone. At most schools, students interested in surgery meet with the chairman and the chairman tries to get to know the students so he can help them with application into residency. This never happened here. This is the case in other specialities too. I can only provide primary info on surgery.

If memory serves (I'm AMC '96), if you aren't AOA the surgery chairman loses interest in you rapidly. Also, if you aren't planning on going into surgery or a surgical subspecialty, getting elected Sr. AOA is a tough row if you're on the bubble for it (since the AOA election committee is composed mostly of him and his surgeon cronies). Catch-22. The message is that if you're a star you'll do great (but then again, you'd do great anywhere you went if you were that good). They also seem to be supportive of the folks that fail their first year in getting them back in and getting them the help they seem to need. But I think that us average students get the shaft. Strange that they'd be so eager to help the people who are more than 2 standard deviations from the middle and ignore the others. For what it's worth, my 3rd year there they accepted 4 transfers from Caribbean schools into the 3rd year. I'm guessing it was to get another 8 years of tuition money (nobody had dropped out or transferred between 2nd and 3rd year). I think I can shed some light onto why it's so expensive there-- the alumni fund probably doesn't get much from us alumni. I for one am not inclined to give some of my money to a place that overcharged me in the first place and treated me like sh&t.

BTW-- nicely done, Aboo (from one BS/MD to another). Is that cleft-lipped, Napoleon complexed jerk still the surgery chair? I have to think that you're AOA from getting into Duke Gen Surg from AMC. If you're not, all the more impressive.

I think the vibe off this thread is dead on about Albany Med: EXPENSIVE, the city has little to offer, the winters are awful (-10F at noon some days), the library sucks (the subscription to NEJM consisted of issues donated by attendings. I don't think the library had its own subscription), the facilities are old, the school is way behind technologically and there is no undergraduate campus to share its facilities-- meaning no undergrads around for cheap labor to take care of the servers. Current students will need to shed light on if they have dial-up internet access as part of your benefits like med schools associated with a University (I'd bet money that they don't). And if you're interested in things like intramural sports or other college activities, there's no college around to support that. just you and your classmates. BTW-- yes, the med school is connected to the hospital but you might end up doing some rotations or even do physical diagnosis at Ellis hospital in Schenectady (40 minute drive away. If you don't have a car you're SOL). I was dumbfounded that I had to drive to Schenectady 2 times a week for a month in the dead of winter just for PD in my 2nd year. Aboo hit it right on-- AMC offers nothing in exchange for the added tuition you have to pay.

On the other hand-- it is an accredited medical school and it's better to go there than to sit out another year if you've been trying to get into med school and your heart is set on it. But if you have another option, I'd have to recommend that AMC be your choice of last resort. Just MHO. I do recall one of my classmates getting accepted literally 1 week before orientation. She had to drive from Colorado to NY, so don't give up hope even when it gets close. You never know if they'll call.

Some people really love it there. Some hate it.