Downstate vs Buffalo

[alphaluvbug]

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I am picking between Downstate and Buffalo, and I am a little stuck. I am from Brooklyn, so my parents would LOVE to have me close... Both are state schools so finances don't really differ...Any ideas, thoughts, comments?

 

[Brainsucker]

You're around family and in NYC, what thought is there?

 

[idealist]

i am in the same position (but add tulane to the mix). buffalo made a more positive impression on me than downstate, whose administration seemed more disorganized. and i felt like i fit in more with the buffalo kids i met than the downstate kids i met. altho i didnt feel like i fit in perfectly with either. but brooklyn is soo much better! any thoughts?

 

[OHMAN0125]

Well if you like it cold 2/3 of the year then go ahead to Buffalo where it snows in May....hahaha

 

[Brainsucker]

I don't know much about Buffalo, but I bet that you'll get tons of great experience in the hospital at Downstate. Just work on your Spanish. (Actually, that applies most anywhere. I wish mine were better.)

 

[LowlyPremed]

The choice is really Brooklyn vs. Buffalo. If visiting family is important to you, they would be a short drive away from you in Brooklyn as compared with a plane ride. The weather sucks Upstate. If I were to live in a place where it snows all of the time then there should at least be good skiing. Buffalo is not really near any great ski areas. If I wanted to get out of NYC I certainly would not choose an area like Buffalo. Just my 2 cents.

 

[gaspassernyc]

As a fourth year at Downstate youre observations about the two schools are porbably true. Pre clinical, academics and research Buffalo is certainly superior. But clinically downstate is definitely superior plus youre from NYC so why leave. Lastly in terms of residencies, assuming you want to stay in NYC for esidency as well, downsate has a very strong rep with all the manhattan programs.
Hope this helps

 

[Supercluster]

I am from NYC and I go to UB. It's is a great place. I don't know much about Downstate, but I know it has a really good reputation. If you're a NY'er, I would think that you'd probably be happier at Downstate, especially if proximity to family is important. Buffalo isn't a million miles away from NYC, but sometimes it feels pretty far. Then again, Jetblue is cheap and fast and me and my NYC-native classmates manage to visit family pretty easily. I'd be happy to tell you more things specifically about Buffalo, but I think the major difference is the pretty big difference in location. The weather is overrated, btw, but of course it's still very cold and snowy. However, we didn't have any 30 inch storms, but I seem to recall NYC having just such a storm a few months ago 😀 Anyway, I am very happy at UB and I think you would do great here, but I have to say, it's not common for a NYC kid to choose UB over Downstate...and there's probably a reason for that...I don't think I would have gone to UB over staying in NYC if I had the choice, although now I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.
Let me know if you have specific questions about Buffalo 🙂

 

[Diceman M.D.]

I grew up in Buffalo. The one thing you should take away from me is that you had better be prepared to handle waist-high snow for up to 3/4 of the year. In terms of the location, UB itself is actually not in the city of Buffalo proper, which is a GOOD thing. The city's dying as its tax base flees and it can't maintain proper services anymore. There's little art/culture to speak of except for going over the border to Canada and drinking, and frankly, I was happy when I got out of there. UB itself is nestled in near two neighborhoods, East Amherst and Clarence, which are actually decent and reasonably safe, if boring to live in, but the cost of real estate is really low. Oh, and of course, if you enjoy Buffalo Wings, get them at Duff's.

 

[alphaluvbug]

Thanks everyone- the replies help. Does anyone know how the two schools rank reputation wise?

 

[ny skindoc]

Thanks everyone- the replies help. Does anyone know how the two schools rank reputation wise?

I do not believe there is any significant difference in the reputation of these schools as far as getting residency appointments-they both do very well..In the NYC area Downstate is more familiar because of the proximity of the institution.Neither schools is a research powerhouse although Buffalo and its affiliate Roswell Park Cancer Institute has an edge there.