Stony Brook vs. Downstate vs. UIC

[imcanadaian]

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So I have been lucky enough to be accepted at multiple schools very early in the cycle--all of htem are OOS state schools, and while I am currently hoping and waiting for an acceptance in-state (UC Irvine! Why must you alternate list me!?) I wanted to get some feedback and opinions on the schools I have been accepted to!

A factor in my thinking process: I am recently engaged, and will be married before starting med school--my fiance is a teacher, and how a school's location will affect her lifestyle is something I am definitely taking into consideration (her work, her social life, etc etc)

Here are my impressions:

1. Downstate
-this was my first interview, and being from Oakland, CA the area around East Flatbrush really didn't bother me too much. It reminded me of some of the rougher edges of Oakland, and while it was a bit jarring at first, I settled in
-NYC 🙂
-The students at school were very enthusiastic about selling me on Downstate--all were totally cool people and I felt really comfortable with them.
-The school to me felt very no-nonsense and no-frills. I think in my mind I have some fantasy that medical school will be this high tech, state of the art place...but Downstate was far from this.
-I'm concerned a bit about the lack of research/resources at DS and how that might affect my ability to match into competitive residencies back in CA. If I do go OOS for school, I'd want to return to california. I know Downstate is awesome for NYC residencies, but what about CA?
-for lifestyle, Downstate wins for being in NYC--plenty for me to do, my fiance to do, and hopefully decent opportunities for her in schools!
-the gym was really disappointing 🙁 haha

SUMMARY: Downstate is great for location, but I have qualms about the resources at the school and how it will prepare me for future residencies, especially if I want to return to CA

2. Stony Brook
-I had no idea what to expect from SBU--I quickly realized that it was FAR from NY. I took transit from Midtown East to SBU to meet my student host..and it was a LONG train ride.
-Unfortunately I did not get to see much of the surrounding area, so I don't really have a feel for LI...it's definitely not the city, and the small village feel of Stony Brook was a bit off-putting for me
-SBU IS HUGE. Haha compared to Downstate this place is gigantic
-SBU clearly has more resources than Downstate, and I definitely got the impression that they really trained their students to do extremely well after medical school--this is a plus for me here because of my goals of returning to CA
-grading system...I guess it won't matter too much, but it still sucks that it's essentially like college all over again
-I'm excited for that Winthrop program that could move us closer to the city
-for my fiance, she said the area seemed "cute" in the pictures...and I think I've heard that there are good schools out in that part of LI she can teach at

SUMMARY: SBU wins for resources and that big, state of the art school feel--but I'm worried about life in LI..really felt like the boonies for me

3. UIC
-my impression of UIC was that it was that halfway point between Stony Brook and Downstate: I got the city feel like I did at DS, but with no qualms about my medical education, and it felt like UIC had that big-school big-resources feel of SBU.
-the students and faculty made me feel like I would be adequately trained and flexibly trained to be able to pursue any residency anywhere in the country, and I was impressed by the many special programs at UIC
-Chicago 🙂
-School was older, but it didn't come across as lacking like it did at DS. There was a charm to the age of the school
-Similar to DS--it was a vibrant, urban area where I could see my fiance finding work and having solid life out there too
-Cost is going to suck: 70K for tuition each year for OOS students, with no way to gain in-state tuition (I've read about maybe getting IS status through my spouse if she's working..but I'm not banking on that)

SUMMARY: really liked it at UIC, felt like it was such a good balance between what was polarizing at SBU and DS--but the cost may be way too prohibitive for me


Financially, DS or SBU makes more sense, especially since I can get IS after the first year. However, I've read about developments in NY law that might change things (unconfirmed)...

Love to hear any opinions or thoughts!

 

[jshei0625]

I also have heard conflicting facts on whether you can receive instate tuition after the first year without also owning a house. I have interviewed at both Downstate and Stony Brook and I had a better feel from Downstate (That might be from the fact that I have lived on Long Island my whole life and I rather not stay there any longer). Downstate prides themselves on clinical experience and residency directors know this, but I think either will help you get a residency position in Cali. Take a look at the match lists of both schools and see if there is any patterns of which hospitals are consistently shown. Also, you have the benefit of time, so you should do the shadow a student day at Downstate to get a better feel of that school (I am not sure if Stony Brook or UIC have a second look).

 

[imcanadaian]

I also have heard conflicting facts on whether you can receive instate tuition after the first year without also owning a house. I have interviewed at both Downstate and Stony Brook and I had a better feel from Downstate (That might be from the fact that I have lived on Long Island my whole life and I rather not stay there any longer). Downstate prides themselves on clinical experience and residency directors know this, but I think either will help you get a residency position in Cali. Take a look at the match lists of both schools and see if there is any patterns of which hospitals are consistently shown. Also, you have the benefit of time, so you should do the shadow a student day at Downstate to get a better feel of that school (I am not sure if Stony Brook or UIC have a second look).

funny thing I met some people from LI at Downstate--they ALL told me to stay away from SBU. haha. I think that's whats partly causing me to think twice about LI

 

[jshei0625]

I can sum up Long Island as nice but very secluded. I really did not like the fact that I have to drive everywhere (I hate driving). I am somewhat bias since my favorite borough of NYC is Brooklyn. I think Brooklyn has so much to offer culturally. The area surrounding Downstate is not great, but there are so many nice areas of Brooklyn (e.g. Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights) Also, Kings Country is one of the best hospitals according to doctors I have talked to. I also have heard mixed opinions of the hospital affiliates for SBU. During my Hofstra interview, students told me to completely stay away from Nassau University Hospital.

 

[imcanadaian]

I can sum up Long Island as nice but very secluded. I really did not like the fact that I have to drive everywhere (I hate driving). I am somewhat bias since my favorite borough of NYC is Brooklyn. I think Brooklyn has so much to offer culturally. The area surrounding Downstate is not great, but there are so many nice areas of Brooklyn (e.g. Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights) Also, Kings Country is one of the best hospitals according to doctors I have talked to. I also have heard mixed opinions of the hospital affiliates for SBU. During my Hofstra interview, students told me to completely stay away from Nassau University Hospital.

Oh? I've heard the opposite about SBU haha..mainly that despite not being in the "city", it still gets a ton of great clinical exposure and case variety...what's so bad about Nassau university hospital?

 

[jshei0625]

Students told me at Hofstra that when they were during their EMT duties, many of the patients asked not to go to Nassau because it is very disorganized. That being said, SBU does have great clinical experiences and variety of cases. Its just that Downstate is more known for their clinical exposure. Also, I forgot to add that their are distinct differences with regards to each school's curriculum. Downstate is turning to more of a PBL approach while SBU has a more traditional and integrative approach. That alone could be a deciding factor because PBL is a hit or miss for most students.

 

[imcanadaian]

Hmm I see. Gosh thanks for all your feedback!! Any current students at these schools able to weigh in? I'd be curious to hear from your experiences!

 

[pfaction]

I live in Nassau and I can tell you anything about how Winthrop is ****ing amazing and how I quit NUMC because I hated it.

Also what's this about a grading system?

 

[imcanadaian]

I live in Nassau and I can tell you anything about how Winthrop is ****ing amazing and how I quit NUMC because I hated it.

Also what's this about a grading system?

Stony Brook (and I think Downstate) both use a H/P/F system for grading...which can be annoying from what I've heard in regards to feeling pressure andor competition vs a true P/F system. I have dig in my notes for UIC's grading

 

[Sophocles]

Stony Brook (and I think Downstate) both use a H/P/F system for grading...which can be annoying from what I've heard in regards to feeling pressure andor competition vs a true P/F system. I have dig in my notes for UIC's grading

Downstate is P/F for 18 months and then you take your step 1-this is a bit peculiar compared to other schools. Stony is also P/F and then they also took the curve away for the second year, which supposedly decreased the competitive attitude and increased the cohesiveness between the students. Neither are true P/F in the sense that they keep your grades and use them for things like AOA and their Dean's letter.

 

[imcanadaian]

Downstate is P/F for 18 months and then you take your step 1-this is a bit peculiar compared to other schools. Stony is also P/F and then they also took the curve away for the second year, which supposedly decreased the competitive attitude and increased the cohesiveness between the students. Neither are true P/F in the sense that they keep your grades and use them for things like AOA and their Dean's letter.

actually both schools are H/P/F. Just checked the webpage! Hopefully this won't be a huge deal--everyone I met at both schools seemed extremely nice and don't seem like the cutthroat, competitive type at all.

UIC is similar, they do "outstanding", "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory" for their grading tiers.

 

[6svette]

actually both schools are H/P/F. Just checked the webpage! Hopefully this won't be a huge deal--everyone I met at both schools seemed extremely nice and don't seem like the cutthroat, competitive type at all.

UIC is similar, they do "outstanding", "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory" for their grading tiers.

Downstate is changing it for next year. It will be P/F

 

[imcanadaian]

Downstate is changing it for next year. It will be P/F

oh! thanks for the clarification! 🙂

 

[Sophocles]

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/curriculum.html

That's the actual website; I don't know what you were looking at. SBU's website seems to be down, but I could be wrong about that. I know what I was told by my student interviewer and other students about how they are making recent changes for next year's class. Their website, when it was up, gave outdated information anyhow. I'm sure you spoke with students on the tour there. I was told that they currently have H/P/F, but they will switch it to P/F and uncurved for second year.

If you find any clarifications, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[imcanadaian]

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/com/curriculum.html

That's the actual website; I don't know what you were looking at. SBU's website seems to be down, but I could be wrong about that. I know what I was told by my student interviewer and other students about how they are making recent changes for next year's class. Their website, when it was up, gave outdated information anyhow. I'm sure you spoke with students on the tour there. I was told that they currently have H/P/F, but they will switch it to P/F and uncurved for second year.

If you find any clarifications, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Cool thanks. Admittedly I don't think I heard about the P/F switch at my interview--but honestly I don't think it will make that big of a difference at the end of the day.

Can anyone speak to the difference in clinical training at these schools? At my interviews at UIC and Downstate, students and faculty made it a huge point to emphasize the quality of clinical training--this is something I've also seen in other threads concerning these schools on SDN.