Stonybrook Prerequisites??

[teethrgr8]

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I'm a NY resident and applied this year to Stonybrook (among other schools). I've taken all the gen chem, orgo, bio, english and math prereqs and plan on taking biochem my second semester this year (currently a senior).

For other schools this hasn't been an issue so far, UMD emailed me inquiring when I plan on taking biochem but that was it. Today Stonybrook emailed me and informed me that biochem is a prereq upon application, not matriculation, and that they may still consider me if I send them a letter grade by January. The add/drop deadline for my school is tomorrow, I really don't want to start biochem weeks late alongside microbio and I'm hoping to have acceptances by Dec. 1st, plus with rolling admissions I'm not very likely to be invited to interview so late in the cycle right?

Has anyone else encountered this problem? I will be speaking with my advisor in the morning but am pretty frustrated. Any advice is appreciated!!

 

[DMikes]

Well... it sounds like you either take biochem or your application will not be considered at Stonybrook. If they want a letter grade by january you have to take biochem this semester, no ifs and or buts about it.

I don't know anything about Stonybrook, but if that's what they said then that's what needs to be done.

 

[aj30]

I'm a NY resident and applied this year to Stonybrook (among other schools). I've taken all the gen chem, orgo, bio, english and math prereqs and plan on taking biochem my second semester this year (currently a senior).

For other schools this hasn't been an issue so far, UMD emailed me inquiring when I plan on taking biochem but that was it. Today Stonybrook emailed me and informed me that biochem is a prereq upon application, not matriculation, and that they may still consider me if I send them a letter grade by January. The add/drop deadline for my school is tomorrow, I really don't want to start biochem weeks late alongside microbio and I'm hoping to have acceptances by Dec. 1st, plus with rolling admissions I'm not very likely to be invited to interview so late in the cycle right?

Has anyone else encountered this problem? I will be speaking with my advisor in the morning but am pretty frustrated. Any advice is appreciated!!

Strange. I spoke to them about taking it in the spring and they said nothing of the sort. Why would it be required upon application anyways?

 

[aj30]

Did you? Could they have recently changed their prerequisites? I plan on calling them tomorrow after speaking with my advisor. I assumed that is was upon matriculation for dental schools.

I spoke to them in June right after I applied and told them I was planning on taking it next year. They said it was fine, just put it under planned coursework.

 

[ternopil07]

Wow, this is very very surprising as i just checked their website and it does say this: "Admissions requirements for the School of Dental Medicine require completion of specific courses prior to application as listed below"

 

[aj30]

Wow, this is very very surprising as i just checked their website and it does say this: "Admissions requirements for the School of Dental Medicine require completion of specific courses prior to application as listed below"

You're right. I wonder if that was new. I checked the site a few months ago and don't remember seeing that.

 

[FloorMatt]

I havent gotten that email yet but I am also in the same boat as you. I planned on taking bio chem second semester so this is a huge surprise as stony brook is my top school. I had my senior year schedule planned out since beginning of junior year and theres really no way for me to be taking biochem this semester. What do we do?

 

[FloorMatt]

Update... I just found a cached (an old snapshot from nov 2015) of the admissions requirements from stony brook. At the time, they had this posted:

The undergraduate program of studies must include:

• One semester of Biochemistry and

I think we can use this in our argument in that they switched the requirement of having biochem before application within the last year. Thats some bullsh*t to be honest

 

[aj30]

Update... I just found a cached (an old snapshot from nov 2015) of the admissions requirements from stony brook. At the time, they had this posted:

The undergraduate program of studies must include:

• One semester of Biochemistry and

I think we can use this in our argument in that they switched the requirement of having biochem before application within the last year. Thats some bullsh*t to be honest

Then you nailed it. I doubt they'll listen if they updated their site but at least we're not imaging things. This must've been some very recent update, probably even from after the app cycle opened!
Is there any other school that requires even physics before application? I'm taking that now and have never even heard of that being an issue.

 

[teethrgr8]

Update... I just found a cached (an old snapshot from nov 2015) of the admissions requirements from stony brook. At the time, they had this posted:

The undergraduate program of studies must include:

• One semester of Biochemistry and

I think we can use this in our argument in that they switched the requirement of having biochem before application within the last year. Thats some bullsh*t to be honest

Could you post the snapshot if possible?

 

[FloorMatt]

Yeah we are screwed I spoke to my advisor this morning, I go to a SUNY school and they did not notify our pre health office of these changes. They should have notified everyone last year so juniors could have planned accordingly, now I am basically out of the running at one of my state schools. I plan on calling admissions and maybe even having the dean of my university make a call.

I dont think we are screwed. There are probably tons of people in this situation. If we all complain to stony I think we can get away with this one. They cant expect to apply this change immediately after posting it

Heres the snapshot

 

[BrooklynSmilez]

I'm a NY resident and applied this year to Stonybrook (among other schools). I've taken all the gen chem, orgo, bio, english and math prereqs and plan on taking biochem my second semester this year (currently a senior).

For other schools this hasn't been an issue so far, UMD emailed me inquiring when I plan on taking biochem but that was it. Today Stonybrook emailed me and informed me that biochem is a prereq upon application, not matriculation, and that they may still consider me if I send them a letter grade by January. The add/drop deadline for my school is tomorrow, I really don't want to start biochem weeks late alongside microbio and I'm hoping to have acceptances by Dec. 1st, plus with rolling admissions I'm not very likely to be invited to interview so late in the cycle right?

Has anyone else encountered this problem? I will be speaking with my advisor in the morning but am pretty frustrated. Any advice is appreciated!!

same issue I was planning on taking biochem in the spring, but I guess i'll wait to see what happens (also an NY resident)

 

[ternopil07]

Has anyone called them to find out more information regarding this issue?

 

[aj30]

I dont think we are screwed. There are probably tons of people in this situation. If we all complain to stony I think we can get away with this one. They cant expect to apply this change immediately after posting it

Heres the snapshot
View attachment 208818

There are also tons of people who apply to this school who this isn't an issue for so I'm not sure that'll do it.

 

[aj30]

Yes I called them, they told me I had to have a letter grade by January before they would consider me for admission. The admissions officer said that this has been a rule for awhile but that they just began enforcing it, but according to FloorMatt's snapshot that doesn't seem right. She also said they have been getting a lot of calls about it.

Being first considered in January doesn't sound very good given that it's a very competitive school with rolling admissions.

 

[FloorMatt]

There are also tons of people who apply to this school who this isn't an issue for so I'm not sure that'll do it.

They would be losing great applicants if they enforce this. I suggest we all call in today and reference this change being recently made. I will not be throwing biochem into my schedule this semester for a stubborn school

 

[Wav3s]

I am unfortunately having this same problem. Stony brook is my top choice. I am taking biochem this semester, but I think that by the time I have a grade in the class, the seats will already be filled. 🙁

 

[Likkriue]

Wow I feel you guys. You guys really should try your best, thats very unfortunate to change their policy so quick!

But knowing dental schools, they are VERY particular and rigid about what they say.

Goodluck guys, if worst comes to worst, at least take it for January.

 

[JLT223]

Stony is incredibly nit-picky about pre-reqs. Last year I was emailed about missing a math pre-req, around October. I was told I could take the course and it would be okay. I wasn't allowed to substitute it with ANY other math course.

However, i couldn't justify taking a course for a single school that may not have even given me an interview even if I went through with the class (while working full time).

 

[Wav3s]

Yeah we are screwed I spoke to my advisor this morning, I go to a SUNY school and they did not notify our pre health office of these changes. They should have notified everyone last year so juniors could have planned accordingly, now I am basically out of the running at one of my state schools. I plan on calling admissions and maybe even having the dean of my university make a call.

Have you given them a call?? I really hope there's still a chance for us!

 

[FloorMatt]

Have you given them a call?? I really hope there's still a chance for us!

I sent them an email. I suggest we all email or call so they know how many people are in this situation

 

[doc toothache]

They would be losing great applicants if they enforce this. I suggest we all call in today and reference this change being recently made. I will not be throwing biochem into my schedule this semester for a stubborn school

Basically, ds need to be flexible, whereas the same does not apply to applicants. Interesting.

 

[aj30]

They would be losing great applicants if they enforce this. I suggest we all call in today and reference this change being recently made. I will not be throwing biochem into my schedule this semester for a stubborn school

Basically, ds need to be flexible, whereas the same does not apply to applicants. Interesting.

I don't expect them to be flexible and I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince them. That being said, changing their rules mid cycle is totally off the wall.
I'm almost certain the website did not say this in June and I know I was specifically told otherwise by the Dean of Admissions (or whoever answers at the number AADSAS gives to contact them).

 

[doc toothache]

I don't expect them to be flexible and I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince them. That being said, changing their rules mid cycle is totally off the wall.
I'm almost certain the website did not say this in June and I know I was specifically told otherwise by the Dean of Admissions (or whoever answers at the number AADSAS gives to contact them).

"Changing the rules mid cycle", as you suggest, may be unerving, however, in the absence of a contract, it is a school's prerogative to change their requirements at will. Verba volant scripta manent.

 

[FloorMatt]

Basically, ds need to be flexible, whereas the same does not apply to applicants. Interesting.

The only flexibility I have is to take a year off. It's too late to take biochemistry this semester as the add/drop deadline passed, and taking biochemistry in the spring is considered too late to Stony Brook. It's ridiculous because as my top school I was on their requirements page a dozen times a year making sure I was on the right track. Then poof, the recent subtle change puts me and many other people out of running.

PS: The dean of admissions emailed me back saying I'm basically out of luck