Does Downstate have a pulse?

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Penguin Poptart

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If anybody knows anything at all about the situation or what to expect as the summer progresses from the "Don't call-us-we'll-call-you-SUNY," please share.
 
are you going to downstate? What exactly do need to know? housing info, financial aid, start dates? I am headed there.
 
No, I'm on HOLD.
All my questions concern the hope/possibilities/timetable of getting in if one is not yet accepted, and whether the students there are happy.

Congratulations that you've been accepted. It seems like the clinical opportunities there are amazing.
 
well, with May 15 coming up there is most likely still some hope. I just sent my withdrawal letter to stony brook and there will be people withdrawing from downstate. Did you send a letter of intent/interest? Some people recommend that. As far as students being happy. I know quite a few students there. One is graduating and going into an anesthesiology residency. She loved her experience at the school. I also know a second year who was not as exciting in talking about downstate. But I think that may have to do with step 1 coming up and being upset that their class is the first required to take that $1000 step 2b . I am so excited about the clinical experiences that will be waiting. You can even do a er elective in your first year.
 
Yes, I'm very jealous of you. And it's nice that you're excited about it (the school.)

If you know a lot of students there then you might be able to share some unreliable anecdotal evidence of WL/Hold movement there.. is there a lot of it? When?
 
I know how you feel. I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone regarding this "HOLD" status at Brooklyn. They said late Spring in their letter...June 20th ?????
 
I called last week, they are meeting again AFTER May 15th so we shouldn't hear anything until June at the earliest. It is at this meeting that they will form the waitlist.

So we wait....
 
wow, I'm impressed some actual information. Thanks 🙂 So did you interpret this to mean that all of us currently on "HOLD" will either be put on the waitlist or rejected at this meeting ? Sorry I'm so confused.
 
I really don't know.

I know on SDN people have gotten off of Hold and someone mentioned that there is a high priority hold going on right now. I called and they told me that there is no high priority (someone is not telling the truth and I am leaning towards downstate- maybe they menat YOU are not on the high priority)

you can call yourself, can't do any harm at this point. I am underthe impression that they are not even going to look at my folder until after may 15th. perhaps they rank the list at that point, i don't know.

so in other words, i am confused too.
 
We're all rational people here, why can't they just come out and tell us the truth? so frustrating. I think I'll try to give them a call. If I here anything new, I'll let you know.
 
Yeah I would appreciate that. I think we have every right to call and get some answers at this point.
 
skijag3 and bridgie --

I'm glad you guys are out there. I sort of now feel like the end of the TV show, the Waltons, "Good night John Boy," "Night Elizabeth,".."Night...Erin, ..." "Night... " et. al.

I think it's an improvement on my perspective.
 
misery loves company...I guess.

So I just got off the phone with downstate or the FBI...I'm not really sure at this point. I felt like I was trying to get information out of the "secret files" or something. At any rate, the woman I spoke with laid out essentially the same crap about my folder not being looked at until after May 15th. Get this- she wouldn't give be a straight answer about waitlist vs. hold. I'm even more confused now. ugh!😕
 
skijag that is too funny. at least i got a laugh out of this, thanks man.

so...back to waiting....
 
I tried the secret password with the admissions office and I think they must have changed it. No information given. I'm waiting to hear back post interview (2+ months post interview that is)! All I got was, "a few more weeks and you should hear something." I think they're just waiting to see how many smarty pants reject them before they start rejecting us. No, this process hasn't made me bitter, where did you get that idea!?!?
 
I have news!!! Oh my god! So I called to make sure I was on the waitlist since I have recieved no form from them like I have from all my other waitlist schools. And they transfer me to this man who spilled the beans. For those on hold here is the deal: they are scheduling the next review at the end of this month. At that meeting they will decide who will be offered a place on the waitlist. So, in fact, we are still on hold post May 15th and will continue to be on hold until the first week of June or somewhere around there. Then we can all recieve a rejection, acceptance or a form to offer us a place on the waitlist.
 
Breakthrough!!

bridgie: congrats..well done.

Just one small question- Is it possible for any of us "hold" candidate to actually land an outright acceptance or are we all just hoping for the "purgatory-like waitlist spot" ?

thanks and good luck to everyone!!
 
yes, you can still get accepted or rejected at this point. may 15 means nothing to them. the guy i spoke iwth was like, 'that is for the students not the schools" lovely. so in other words it is still all ongoing at this point.
 
I know someone who is graduating this year from SUNY Downstate. He was accepted sometime in July. So, keep your fingers crossed. Good luck to you all!!!

Fastidious.
 
I wonder if all of us "hold" people will find out something soon...


Should we start placing bets ?
 
I have soem news...I called today to check that an update reached my file and they said that "all hold files had been pulled for review so they couldnt check right now."
 
yeah!! Finally, I don't know about you...but I just want to find out something at this point...even if it's not positive.
 
no, i would prefer the positive. 🙂

of course, i think this means very little. they could be pulled all summer long for all we know, you knwo?
 
spirit-crusher🙂
You're right though...and it would suck to have a negative outcome after all this anxiety!
 
I decided to give my buddies down at Downstate a call today and they said "You should hear from us soon regarding status and it will be through regular mail".
 
ooooh, thanks!

that sounds...scary. I am scared. 😉
 
Hey guys,
I am with you all in the same boat. It's so frustrating!!!!! I sent a letter of intent last week so hopefully they got it in time for their review. And snail mail? That sucks, they could at least call you!
 
I just spoke to someone in the admissions office this morning, and she said that they were in the process of looking at applications. Then she looked up my file, and said that I would be receiving notification very soon. I'm guessing that means that they have at least made some decisions????
 
Well, I got the letter in the mail today...from hold to alternate list. I guess that's better than a rejection, but I find myself wondering what other possible lists they could put me on where they still neither accept nor reject me. Oh well, on with the waiting. Others who have received a response post-hold status, please post.
 
ooooh boy.... i guesss we'll be hearing by monday or tuesday...

is the alternate list below the High priority waitlist or is it different?

do people get off this list traditionally, what about the HP list?

just preparing for my inevidable leter.
 
from hold to alternate.

whoop dee do.
 
big envelope + 2 seconds of excitment = alternate list at downstate 🙁

gee, they really make you jump through hoops to stay on the alternate list....and they also spelled alternate wrong on my letter!
 
I got the electricity bill today. Other than that... Nada.
 
Someone in my recently graduated class was accepted into the school the DAY OF ORIENTATION. It happens all the time apparently.

As for the difficulty of getting "official" information out of anyone at SUNY, get used to it. It's never-ending.
 
nada as of today's mail.... maybe my alternate letter will come tomorrow... anyone else hear today?!?!?
 
When do classes start at Downstate?
 
Lat week in Aug.

I know Tim Wu was trying to make us feel better but that kinda made me feel worse, I am hoping to be settled in a month. That is all i ask. This not knowing is awful.

Plus I am starting NYMC rigth now on Aug 1 so an orientation acceptance means little to me. or an aug acceptance for that matter.
 
Does anyone else think it's kind of crazy that they want us to take some healthcare providers course and get all these health forms in ect. ect. when we may not even get accepted ? It seems like just more hoops to jump through!
 
Yes but if you get accepted the first day of oreientation you have to have it all ready to go. Can't you see their logic???

(sarcasm)
 
Skijag3,

well, although it may seem like hoops, I think its because they want you to have all the forms filled out so that if you do get accepted at the last minute, you can become enrolled at the school. My brother just got accepted recently off the high priority list. They asked him to fill that stuff out too. Take it as a good sign. My guess is that you're near the top of the wait list and if it keeps moving, you're in. If lets say somebody declines the offer 2 days before class, I think they want you to have your forms filled out so that they can just call you and say, "you're in, get your ass out here and to class"....instead of "you're in, but you have to fill out all these forms and get these health tests before you can attend class"....thus missing a week to 2 weeks of school. I heard they also accept ppl who have completed all this so its in your best interest. Good luck
 
Hi guys,
I got the alternate envelope as well. If there is a high priority alternate list, why don't they just tell you in the friggin letter. Anyways, does anyone know who I should ask for at the admissions office to find out if I am on high priority or regular alternate list? Also, where do we get these "strict health forms" that we are supposed to fill out?
 
They send you the health forms after they receive your letter that says that you want to remain on the alternate list.
 
anyone else hear today? nothing for me still.... geez.... and i interviewed the first week of october.
 
Hey guys,
for those of you who have called, who should I ask to speak with regarding my alternate status? I have several things that need to be addressed, namely:

1. Did the admissions committee receive my letter of intent?
2. Am I on the high priority list?
3. I have to start apartment hunting in Pittsburgh soon, so can you tell me what my chances are for getting in off the alternate list since I stand to lose needless time and money by putting down a non-refundable security deposit on a place and having to schedule a trip?

If anyone knows who to ask for please let me know.
 
Aug 2002 - AMCAS and MCAT completed
Sept 2002 - Secondary completed
Jan 2003 - interview notice via e-mail
Feb 2003 - interview
March 2003 - high priority alternate list via snail mail
May 2003 - admission via snail mail

The high priority alternate list really does exist. It comes along with health forms, financial aid forms, a request for official transcripts, and a notice to take the American Heart Association CPR certification. The letter specifically states that "MOST" people are eventually accepted off of the high priority alternate list during the spring and summer months. It also states that preference for the people on this list are given to those who submit all official transcripts and also "clear" themselves with the Student Health Service (a very arduous task in which you need to complete all the immunization forms, as well as visit your doctor for a physical and a bunch of lab tests). If you're born outside the U.S. like I am, then you need to actually get a 2nd TB test done at the Student Health Service at Downstate in order to get "cleared". I made two 7-hour roundtrip drives to Brooklyn to get this done: one day to get the TB shot, and another day to get it read. Why? So that I could get "cleared" by the Student Health Service and thereby get preference in admissions off of the high priority alternate list. I was accepted ten days later. I don't know if my efforts helped any in the admissions decision, but I wasn't going to take any chances. You really have to want it.

As for those of you that were put on hold, waitlist, hold changed to waitlist/alternate......if your letter doesn't specifically say "high priority alternate list", then you're not on it. Of course, I don't know if they are still adding to the h.p.a. list or not. Could be that the list was made early in the spring as a one-time thing. Once that list is exhausted, Downstate would probably then go to the normal waitlist/alternate list. In the end, I hear from current students at Downstate that the turnover rate is extremely high and that many, many people eventually decide to go to other schools. Good news for anybody waiting for admission, doesn't matter what list you are on!
 
Hi Cocoboomer,
I would assume that the health exam stuff only becomes a factor toward the end of July, when time starts to become an issue. I have not been sent my health forms yet, but in my letter saying I was switched from "hold" to "alternate" status, it did not mention a high priority list, so from what you wrote I suppose I am not on it. Also, for those of us who are taking classes on the quarter system, official transcripts won't be available until the end of June, which doesn't really make it fair if the admissions office is going to use that as a way of deciding who gets pulled off the waitlist. Do you know who I can speak with at the admissions office who has any sway over admissions and who would be ammenable to answering some of my questions? It seems like fort knox over there.
 
geez.... nothing in the mail today either! still post-interview hold! im gonna call tomorrow
 
el bumpo
nada today as well

EDIT: just called, the letter was mailed on tuesday june 3rd, she wouldn't say what letter tho....
did anyone else get anything other than the 'alternate' letter??
 
hey bigredstress, didn't u get in at upstate? or am i confusing u with someone else.
 
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