Try going on priceline.com for the hotels. I had to stay 2 days for my interview at NYMC and the day fell right around when students returned from winter break so staying with a host was not going to work out. If I was to stay at the "cheapest" hotel, it would have been around $200.
Using priceline.com, I stayed at Tarrytown Hilton for $40 a night (I think reg price is around $129?? a night). Lovely place to stay, had top notch room service and restaurant. Though it is a bit farther than other hotels, taxi ride was about $15, NOT $25-30 as listed on the hotel info sheet provided by NYMC. If you can get that hotel via priceline.com, you'll save so much money. If you need any help, just LMK!