NYMC vs Stony Brook

[drdvr]

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Hi! I’m super grateful to have been accepted to NYMC and Stony Brook SOM. I’m still waiting to hear back from some other interviews but think I should decide between these two and withdraw from one. I’ve only visited NYMC so any insight into Stony Brook is welcome! As you might be able to tell, I’m leaning toward NYMC and am kind of just trying to gain any insight into things I might not be thinking about with regard to stony Brook. Longterm I would love to live in MA and being able to match to residencies there would be huge. I’m not sure what I want to specialize in yet but likely something clinical and honestly could see myself as a family med doc.

NYMC:
Pros:
- could live at home with my parents (15 min drive away)
- would save money on rent
- step 1 and 2 taken separately
- better access to rotations in NYC
- Westchester medical center right there
- seemed like a great environment on admitted students day
- nice area, access to nature and hikes, close to a climbing gym (these are important to me)
- easier drive to Boston where my SO lives

Cons:
- slightly lower rank? Not that important to me

Stony Brook
Pros:
- in state tuition
- higher ranked school (?)

Cons:
- tbh I think I would be lonely on Long Island
- 2 hrs from NYC and even farther from family/ SO
- step 1 and 2 taken same time


Basically I think I know my answer but I would love further info on things I should consider at Stony Brook before I withdraw. Thank you!!

 

[curiouswombat]

I'm deciding between NYMC and Downstate! I know a few ppl at NYMC now who are very happy. If you aren't hoping for a competitive speciality, then rank would not matter as much (from what I've read!) Especially if you hope to practice in an area near NYMC. I think there could be a pro for some people to have that independence from family and live further away (I've read about some ppl who experienced this), but ultimately we will probably only get busier in residency so it would be nice to have some time at home. Not to mention family support w/ cooking versus having to do it all on your own. However I have heard Stony Brook is the "best" of the NY state schools.

 

[surelycalm]

step1 and step2 at the same time isn't a con. There is a lot of overlap between the 2. Look at the pass/fail rate as well as average step 2 scores for Stony Brook.

With that said, being 15 minutes from home where your parent's live is a huge positive (unless they would constantly bother you).

Both schools are P/F pre clinicals with NBME which is most important, so I guess that doesn't help your decision.

I got into both Stony Brook as well as NYMC (as well as Hofstra and a few others) and ultimately chose Stony Brook. NBME is huge. Lectures for the most part being optional is huge (it's obviusly mandatory for quizes and a few other scheduled things). I am very happy there. I've actually gone into the city a few times by train and it's not a big deal. It's not like I have a lot of free time where I want to do that regularly. I have housemates that sometimes go home for the weekends to various other places nearby (brookly, manhattan, staten island, Long Island, etc).

Honestly, they are both good schools, as is Downstate. If you were bringing Hofstra into the mix, despite it's ranking, I would caution you away as it has mandatory lectures (If I remember correctly 8-12) and in house exams. In house exams (and mandatory lectures) are the biggest waste of time. PhDs writing exams and testing details as if you were studying for a phd in that specific topic, is not constructive use of time when you already have tons of material to retain.