Choosing between SUNY's

[fyfanatic]

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Hi guys,

I was hoping someone could help me out. I got accepted into all of the SUNY schools (downstate, upstate, stony brook, buffalo), and I am wondering which one is considered better, both for education and for clinical experience.
I live about 30 min away from downstate so thats the one closest to me, but other than that, I really am stuck between these skools and dont know which one to pick...

 

[Lennybruce]

-

 

[ParvatiP]

I interviewed at all the SUNYs, so here is my 2 cents:

For clinical experience, Downstate is probably the best. You will get to see a ton of crazy stuff there and it is really the selling point of the school, I think.

If you like research, Stony Brook has the best opportunities and is the highest ranked school (US News & W.R).

Buffalo and Upstate are pretty similar, although I thought Buffalo had the slight edge because you get clinical experience starting first year.

Both Stony Brook and Upstate have a patient simulation center with a dummy to practice on, if that matters to you.

I think the education you receive at these schools will be pretty similar.

Obviously, the location of the schools is quite different. Do you want to live in upstate NY, Brooklyn, or suburban Long Island? As far as the "feel" of the school, I will admit that at some schools, I only got to meet a couple students and that's hardly enough to see what the atmosphere is like. I know Downstate has a "stay with a student" opportunity available once you're accepted, so you can take advantage of that. I would suggest visiting the schools again, if you can, to get a better sense of what they're like. Good luck and congrats!

 

[Soggun]

Agreed with what was said for the most part. Stony Brook is very good for research and Downstate is great clinically (which I can personally vouch for). It really depends what you're looking for, but for me it was that possibility to see and do a ton that made my decision. Anyway, congrats on having this difficult choice to make. 👍

Oh yeah, and definitely do the Shadow a Student program here (as ParvatiP mentioned) before you make your decision - I think you'll find it will help your decision.

 

[nycfella]

😀Stony!!!

 

[dabiophyz]

Wow I wish I was you

 

[lackoftalent]

Wow I wish I was you

ditto

 

[nycNerd]

First, congrats on your acceptances!

I have a similar situation, but I am just deciding between downstate and stony brook.

I think education-wise, the first two years are going to be just about the same at any medical school. The big factors in your decision are going to be location, type of medical setting (i.e urban, rural, suburban) and most importantly, the feeling that you got when you visited the school and met some students and faculty.

I liked both Downstate and Stony Brook, but I had such a great interview at Stony and it just seemed like the right place for me based on the students I met and the atmosphere of the school.

I know there's usually second-look days where you can spend more time at the school. That might help you with your decision. Good luck!

 

[MDRus]

when there are two options it would be "choosing between." when there are more than two options it is "choosing among."

S on the writing!!!!!!!!! go me!!!

 

[hp540]

when there are two options it would be "choosing between." when there are more than two options it is "choosing among."

S on the writing!!!!!!!!! go me!!!

thank you strunk and white!

 

[MDRus]

thank you strunk and white!

my pleasure.

 

[fyfanatic]

thanx for the input..i guess ill have to revisit these skools and figure it out. i have heard that downstate has better clinical experience than stony especially for emergency medicine, but i am thinking of doing primary care so i dont know if its that important for me to see crazy cases. maybe stony would be the better choice.