Hello ghm,
I graduated from NY Med last year. So I figured I can give you some of the scoop.
Overall, I would have to say that my experience there was really good, and my training was great. I myself was a Californian who wandered out that way and I found out that nearly half my class was from that state.
For NY Med's program... I'd give it a grade of B. It's still a VERY classical method of teaching. Subject base rather than systems base. Although case studies are done throughout the course of the first two years, they are supplements to your learning... rather than the basis for it like in PBL programs. They teach you hard and they test you hard. Thing is, you'll find that the miniboard exams at the end of each coarse are relatively simple.... because you're so used to studying things in more detail. The best part about the two years is the Pathology course. It's an intensive self study course using the big blue Robbin's textbook. You have to go to pathology labs and case discussions 1-2 times a week. And there are maybe 1-2 lectures for each big chapter you have to read. It may seem hard, but the class has been highly successful, as our school has not had anybody fail step 1 in the past 5 years or so... and for a class of 190 students, that speaks a lot.
The next two years is also great because you have a HUGE selection of hospitals to do your rotations. The range of experiences and social status of your patients will be vast. NY Med has hospitals in the East Village of manhattan, the Bronx, Spanish harlem, Suburban Westchester, and even one in Danbury connecticut. So it's easy to broaden your horizons.
Anyhow, I can't complain too much about the program... I did get my first choice of residency.
As far as NY itself is for a location, I give it an A- (the minus is because the winters are so damn cold). But I was a Californian who never made it out to the East coast until med school. There was a total culture shock. The City was intimidating. And there was this white stuff on the ground called.. oh yeah.. snow. What made it fun is that most of my friends were also from California, so we shared in this culture shock together. NY City began to turn into this HUGE playground... wrought with beautiful single people in their 20's. Hanging out in the city with friends was the funnest part throughout all of med school.
Anyow, that's my small perspective. Feel free to ask anymore questions. Take care
Bernardo
Peds Intern
