- Joined
- Aug 25, 2008
- Messages
- 656
- Reaction score
- 1
yay goone!!! thats so exciting 🙂
SUNY Buffalo Class of 2013
- Thread starter DrRKD
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2004
- Messages
- 50
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey all...congrats on getting into UB!! I just graduated from there and Im heading down south for residency. I wanted to let you know that ill be renting out my condo fully furnished if anybody still does not know where theyll be living. Its in a perfect location only 5 min from school and in a quiet development so you could study at anytime of the day/night. Here is the posting for those of you interested:
2 bedroom 2 bathroom 2nd floor (top floor) fully furnished 1200 sq ft apartment for rent. New kitchen/appliances, hardwood floors in the dining/living rooms and hallway, new bathrooms. High rise ceilings (up to ~14 ft) in the living room and dining room areas. Includes a patio balcony. Swimming pool in the complex. Off street parking. Storage room and washer/dryer in the basement. Wegmans/Buffalo Athletic Club/Boulevard Mall are all walking distance away. Rent is $1150 which includes water, trash and the condo association fees. If interested call Tony at 716-433-6698 or 716-713-9543. If you want to see more pictures, you can email me at [email protected]
Congrats again and good luck...these four years will fly by!
2 bedroom 2 bathroom 2nd floor (top floor) fully furnished 1200 sq ft apartment for rent. New kitchen/appliances, hardwood floors in the dining/living rooms and hallway, new bathrooms. High rise ceilings (up to ~14 ft) in the living room and dining room areas. Includes a patio balcony. Swimming pool in the complex. Off street parking. Storage room and washer/dryer in the basement. Wegmans/Buffalo Athletic Club/Boulevard Mall are all walking distance away. Rent is $1150 which includes water, trash and the condo association fees. If interested call Tony at 716-433-6698 or 716-713-9543. If you want to see more pictures, you can email me at [email protected]
Congrats again and good luck...these four years will fly by!
Attachments
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2008
- Messages
- 84
- Reaction score
- 47
I have just been accepted to Buffalo and would love some information. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can provide this information.
-How are grades given? Is there a separate grade for each class or is there only one grade given for each block?
-Are the classes curved based on student performances? Or is the percentage set (ie. if everyone in the class get 90%, everyone get honors)?
-How much time is avaliable to study for boards at the end of second year?
-Do you feel like the classes during the first two years help prepare you for board?
-How much clinical exposure is avaliable during the first year?
Thank you all for any help you may provide.
-How are grades given? Is there a separate grade for each class or is there only one grade given for each block?
-Are the classes curved based on student performances? Or is the percentage set (ie. if everyone in the class get 90%, everyone get honors)?
-How much time is avaliable to study for boards at the end of second year?
-Do you feel like the classes during the first two years help prepare you for board?
-How much clinical exposure is avaliable during the first year?
Thank you all for any help you may provide.
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello Kakoy-
lets see...
grades: each class aka "module" gets its own grade. at some points you will take multiple sections of a module which are given their own grade- for example you may have a histology grade and a GI grade in the GI module. It varies depending on how each module is set up. You will receive at least one grade for each class.
Class grades are not curved, everyone could honor the class. Very rarely a single test may have a few points given back, its never a curve but if they feel a question was unfairly hard they may give the points back to us.
You get about 8 weeks of study time for your boards, it varies depending on your exact years schedule.
During the first year you will take CPM ( clinical practice of medicine). You are placed with a local doctor and you work with them 4 hours every other week. You can also choose to do an elective like the emergency med elective during which you get more clinical exposure.
lets see...
grades: each class aka "module" gets its own grade. at some points you will take multiple sections of a module which are given their own grade- for example you may have a histology grade and a GI grade in the GI module. It varies depending on how each module is set up. You will receive at least one grade for each class.
Class grades are not curved, everyone could honor the class. Very rarely a single test may have a few points given back, its never a curve but if they feel a question was unfairly hard they may give the points back to us.
You get about 8 weeks of study time for your boards, it varies depending on your exact years schedule.
During the first year you will take CPM ( clinical practice of medicine). You are placed with a local doctor and you work with them 4 hours every other week. You can also choose to do an elective like the emergency med elective during which you get more clinical exposure.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2008
- Messages
- 84
- Reaction score
- 47
Oh, thank you for your reply. I great appreciate it.
So, you get a separate grade for every class in a module, not a single grade for a module? So if you are weak in one subject and strong in another, the strong subject cannot compensate for the weaker one?
Also, if everyone in a class get 90% of their test right....then they all get honors? Am I understanding this right...
If you don't mind me asking, what made you decide to come to UB and what do you like about UB?
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
Yep if everyone gets a 90% then everyone honors.
As far as grading goes its really dependent completely on the module leader. In some classes you must pass each section with a 65% in others you can fail one part as long as your other grades make up for it. Its not uniform. In the end you do get one grade for the module... sat, high sat, honors .
I came to UB because its affordable and within driving distance from home. I love it here and def. made the right decision for myself. We have a diverse class from all over the US, of all types of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
I think medical school is about what you make of it. you need to learn to balance school and activities with "real" life. Its hard to fit in laundry and shopping when you just want to cram for a week ( and yes at times a week worth of solid studying is cramming). You find you get used to it. Buffalo is a friendly place, it makes it easy to transition and they have a great support system.
As far as grading goes its really dependent completely on the module leader. In some classes you must pass each section with a 65% in others you can fail one part as long as your other grades make up for it. Its not uniform. In the end you do get one grade for the module... sat, high sat, honors .
I came to UB because its affordable and within driving distance from home. I love it here and def. made the right decision for myself. We have a diverse class from all over the US, of all types of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
I think medical school is about what you make of it. you need to learn to balance school and activities with "real" life. Its hard to fit in laundry and shopping when you just want to cram for a week ( and yes at times a week worth of solid studying is cramming). You find you get used to it. Buffalo is a friendly place, it makes it easy to transition and they have a great support system.
are there a lot of UB med students who opt to go for the on-campus housing? i saw the photos and they look pretty nice and affordable. are they reserved only for grad students or are they open to the undergrad as well?
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
As of the last 2 years there has been very limited interest in on campus housing, however your class seems much more interested than we ever were. On campus housing is available for medical students but because we hear about acceptances later than other graduate schools within UB it is hard to get placed. Most of the popular housing is already full. If you really want to live there you can call and be put on a waiting list ( you do have to put down a deposit). I would suggest doing that ASAP, because the longer you wait the further down on the list you are. I dont know the status of this years wait list so I can't help you there. They are really nice and quite affordable ( because they are all inclusive). They are open to grads and undergrads in certain situations ( those who have children etc.). Hope this answers your question
I have one more question... I recently got accepted to Drexel so I'm trying to decide between the two. I've heard great things about the clinical rotations in Drexel... but would like more information on Buffalo's clinical experience. Can someone give me more info on this? How diverse is the patient population... will we see a variety of illnesses... which hospitals do students get placed? What about externships... is that easy to do for SUNY Buff students (i.e. if I want to spend 4 months in the west for a rotation etc.)?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2004
- Messages
- 1,850
- Reaction score
- 4
I'm a recent graduate of UB so I'll try to answer this one for you.
I thought that the clinical experience at UB was one of the strengths of the school actually, especially in medicine and pediatrics - you really learn how to take care of patients in these two rotations. During my interviews I got several comments from program directors of programs who have taken several UB students in the past that they've always been happy with the quality of the students they get from our school.
The patient population is pretty diverse. While I didn't like driving all over town to go to the different hospitals and would definitely have preferred one university hospital, you definitely do see different types of patients at the different hospitals.
We rotate through the following hospitals:
Buffalo General Hospital
Erie County Medical Center
Women and Children's Hospital
Millard Fillmore Gates Circle
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
Sisters of Charity Hospital
South Buffalo Mercy Hospital
Kenmore Mercy Hospital
...
Yeah that's a lot of hospitals on that list. But you won't rotate through every one of them. I spent most of 3rd year at Buffalo General, did a couple rotations at ECMC, Gates, Childrens, and Suburban. The pathology you see will vary from site to site - for example, at ECMC you see more trauma, substance-abuse related visits, HIV/AIDS related admissions, whereas at BGH you see more cardiac and GI stuff. Suburban's patients are mostly middle-class caucasian patients with health insurance, whereas at ECMC and BGH you'll see more minorities and lower SES patients. If you're interested, you can volunteer at (and in 4th year, do an elective at) clinics that serve mostly Spanish-speaking patients or even a refugee clinic that serve people who speak all kinds of languages. Buffalo's pretty diverse for a smaller city. If you're interested in rural medicine, you can do your Family Medicine clerkship at a rural site.
So basically, you'll see just about everything you'd see anywhere else.
In 3rd year you can do 2 selectives (I think they're called selectives anyway - they're a subset of electives that must be done at UB). This lets you get some experience in the specialty you're interested in (or rule one out) if it's not one of the core clerkships. There are 3 required 4th year rotations (neurology, surgical subspecialties, and advanced medicine which is basically a medicine sub-I). You can take neurology and surgical subs as one or both of your selectives in 3rd year. All the other months of 4th year are fully elective, so if you get 2 of the 3 required courses out of the way 3rd year you could spend practically your entire 4th year away from Buffalo.
In practice, it's not that easy to set up away electives - you need to begin the application process pretty early and stay on top of things. But if you want to spend 4 months out west you should be able to. It depends on whether or not you can get an affiliation agreement between UB and the place you want to go (if one isn't already in place). There's a new thing coming out called VSAS which is centralizing the away elective application process so things should be easier by the time you apply for them.
To sum things up, UB will give you the opportunity to go where you want to go - sure it's no Ivy but it won't hold you back in terms of getting the residency you want. You'll get as good an education there as you would anywhere else. In my personal opinion, I don't think Drexel is worth the extra money it would cost to attend over UB (assuming you don't get scholarships/grants to make up the difference). If you have other factors like close ties to Philadelphia that might change things but barring anything like that I'd happily recommend UB 🙂.
I thought that the clinical experience at UB was one of the strengths of the school actually, especially in medicine and pediatrics - you really learn how to take care of patients in these two rotations. During my interviews I got several comments from program directors of programs who have taken several UB students in the past that they've always been happy with the quality of the students they get from our school.
The patient population is pretty diverse. While I didn't like driving all over town to go to the different hospitals and would definitely have preferred one university hospital, you definitely do see different types of patients at the different hospitals.
We rotate through the following hospitals:
Buffalo General Hospital
Erie County Medical Center
Women and Children's Hospital
Millard Fillmore Gates Circle
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
Sisters of Charity Hospital
South Buffalo Mercy Hospital
Kenmore Mercy Hospital
...
Yeah that's a lot of hospitals on that list. But you won't rotate through every one of them. I spent most of 3rd year at Buffalo General, did a couple rotations at ECMC, Gates, Childrens, and Suburban. The pathology you see will vary from site to site - for example, at ECMC you see more trauma, substance-abuse related visits, HIV/AIDS related admissions, whereas at BGH you see more cardiac and GI stuff. Suburban's patients are mostly middle-class caucasian patients with health insurance, whereas at ECMC and BGH you'll see more minorities and lower SES patients. If you're interested, you can volunteer at (and in 4th year, do an elective at) clinics that serve mostly Spanish-speaking patients or even a refugee clinic that serve people who speak all kinds of languages. Buffalo's pretty diverse for a smaller city. If you're interested in rural medicine, you can do your Family Medicine clerkship at a rural site.
So basically, you'll see just about everything you'd see anywhere else.
In 3rd year you can do 2 selectives (I think they're called selectives anyway - they're a subset of electives that must be done at UB). This lets you get some experience in the specialty you're interested in (or rule one out) if it's not one of the core clerkships. There are 3 required 4th year rotations (neurology, surgical subspecialties, and advanced medicine which is basically a medicine sub-I). You can take neurology and surgical subs as one or both of your selectives in 3rd year. All the other months of 4th year are fully elective, so if you get 2 of the 3 required courses out of the way 3rd year you could spend practically your entire 4th year away from Buffalo.
In practice, it's not that easy to set up away electives - you need to begin the application process pretty early and stay on top of things. But if you want to spend 4 months out west you should be able to. It depends on whether or not you can get an affiliation agreement between UB and the place you want to go (if one isn't already in place). There's a new thing coming out called VSAS which is centralizing the away elective application process so things should be easier by the time you apply for them.
To sum things up, UB will give you the opportunity to go where you want to go - sure it's no Ivy but it won't hold you back in terms of getting the residency you want. You'll get as good an education there as you would anywhere else. In my personal opinion, I don't think Drexel is worth the extra money it would cost to attend over UB (assuming you don't get scholarships/grants to make up the difference). If you have other factors like close ties to Philadelphia that might change things but barring anything like that I'd happily recommend UB 🙂.
kazema - thanks so much for your reply! very helpful! i'm 95% sure that i'm going to SUNY Buffalo... just waiting on Drexel's financial aid package to come... then i'll decide. btw - do you know what % of ppl get their #1 choice of residency in Buff? Do you know where you're going next year and what specialty? do you also know the usmle pass rate for buff students (on avg)? sorry for all the qs... hope you don't mind!
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2004
- Messages
- 1,850
- Reaction score
- 4
I don't remember the USMLE statistics, I threw away the info they gave us about that a long time ago...maybe Ashley knows? I think there were 3 failures the year I took it, and 2 were from people from the year above mine retaking it. So 1 out of the 135 in my class. I'm not sure what the deal with the other 2 was.
Your other question is harder to answer...I don't think schools typically publicize how many people get their first choices, or whether they even know that. They did tell us at the beginning of the process that 90% of people get one of their top 3 choice, but I'm not sure where they get that number. I honestly have no clue how many people got their #1 choice, and any estimate I could give you would probably be way off. All I can really tell you is that some people got their #1, and some didn't...it's really hard to say.
I'd prefer not to post where I'll be going just because I'd like to maintain some semblance of privacy (our matchlist has our names on it), but I'll send you a PM after I post this.
You've probably seen our matchlist (http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/ome/ome_resources_match.shtml), which does have a fairly strong northeast bias, particularly western/upstate NY. I think this is mostly by choice; a pretty sizeable portion of my class is from the area and wanted to stay, another big chunk wanted to go to Boston or NYC and ended up there. I think pretty much all the people who wanted to go to Cali are going, same for the people who wanted to go down south or to Texas.
Hope that helps!
Your other question is harder to answer...I don't think schools typically publicize how many people get their first choices, or whether they even know that. They did tell us at the beginning of the process that 90% of people get one of their top 3 choice, but I'm not sure where they get that number. I honestly have no clue how many people got their #1 choice, and any estimate I could give you would probably be way off. All I can really tell you is that some people got their #1, and some didn't...it's really hard to say.
I'd prefer not to post where I'll be going just because I'd like to maintain some semblance of privacy (our matchlist has our names on it), but I'll send you a PM after I post this.
You've probably seen our matchlist (http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/ome/ome_resources_match.shtml), which does have a fairly strong northeast bias, particularly western/upstate NY. I think this is mostly by choice; a pretty sizeable portion of my class is from the area and wanted to stay, another big chunk wanted to go to Boston or NYC and ended up there. I think pretty much all the people who wanted to go to Cali are going, same for the people who wanted to go down south or to Texas.
Hope that helps!
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 11, 2009
- Messages
- 17
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello, I have a question to ask!
one of the admissions requirement at Buffalo is a CPR certificate.
I've been looking for a BLS CPR class and it is quite pricey ($65~$75). Then I found this online CPR course site
http://www.icpri.com/index.php
I thought it was cool because it is considerably cheaper and I don't have to be in the class for 4 hours.
I was wondering if enrolling this online CPR course would satisfy my CPR certificate requirement at SUNY Buffalo Medical School.
Thanks!
one of the admissions requirement at Buffalo is a CPR certificate.
I've been looking for a BLS CPR class and it is quite pricey ($65~$75). Then I found this online CPR course site
http://www.icpri.com/index.php
I thought it was cool because it is considerably cheaper and I don't have to be in the class for 4 hours.
I was wondering if enrolling this online CPR course would satisfy my CPR certificate requirement at SUNY Buffalo Medical School.
Thanks!
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
- Messages
- 35
- Reaction score
- 0
I personally would not get certified from anywhere except the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. When I lifeguarded, these were the only 2 places my employers would accept certifications from, so I would assume the med school would be the same.
But call the admissions office... I'm sure they could tell you for sure
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2006
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 0
I actually had the same question and e-mailed the admissions office, the answer is no. The school does not honor online CPR course. Hope that helps!
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2006
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello future classmates!
Please PM me if you are from the Southern California area and want to be a part of a get together I have tentatively planned for late July. From what I've seen in the UB class emails and SDN, there are 5-10 of us in Los Angeles or the immediate surrounding areas..
I was thinking bbq, beer, and fun! (I'm a vegetarian but there will be plenty of tasty things for carnivores) The gathering would be open to your significant others, family, and friends. Or we could meet up at a BJs (not in westwood!)
Please PM me if you are from the Southern California area and want to be a part of a get together I have tentatively planned for late July. From what I've seen in the UB class emails and SDN, there are 5-10 of us in Los Angeles or the immediate surrounding areas..
I was thinking bbq, beer, and fun! (I'm a vegetarian but there will be plenty of tasty things for carnivores) The gathering would be open to your significant others, family, and friends. Or we could meet up at a BJs (not in westwood!)
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2008
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 0
hey guys, just got accepted. i am def going. pm me if you are looking for a roommate.
also, anyone have the link to the FB group?
thanks
also, anyone have the link to the FB group?
thanks
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 0
Congratulations!!
Here's the link to the fb group.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65831636698&ref=ts
Would any upperclassmen be willing to share where UB med students usually get their texts/review books? Does UB sell review books in the UB bookstore or we'd have to get them online? Really appreciate ur help, thanks.
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 41
- Reaction score
- 0
i checked out the medical bookstore during housing weekend, and they weren't fully stocked but they had plenty of review books such as rapid review, BRS, lippincott's etc.
Thanks wrasler 👍! Since every MS1's paired w/ a MS2, I'm guessing we'd be able to get a copy of the "recommended" booklist from the upperclassmen?
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2008
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey all,
I haven't gotten my packet/info the mail yet, can anyone tell me what week orientation is? Thanks!
Josh
I haven't gotten my packet/info the mail yet, can anyone tell me what week orientation is? Thanks!
Josh
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 41
- Reaction score
- 0
I know in the orientation packet they recommended to hold off purchasing books until we start and speak with the second years. It said that for the most part textbooks are unneccessary as the course notes are very in depth. I'm thinking they will suggest a lot of the boards style review books.
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey guys,
Generally the way we work things is second years sell their books ( or if you get lucky and have a generous big sib you will have books lent to you). Gross is the only class you will absolutely need to buy texts for. The rest are up to you. When you get here for orientation you will get an "unofficial guide to medical school". It will have a list of what books students recommend and what you should stay away from. I definitely would not recommend buying anything until you get here. You will get lots of help along the way.
Generally the way we work things is second years sell their books ( or if you get lucky and have a generous big sib you will have books lent to you). Gross is the only class you will absolutely need to buy texts for. The rest are up to you. When you get here for orientation you will get an "unofficial guide to medical school". It will have a list of what books students recommend and what you should stay away from. I definitely would not recommend buying anything until you get here. You will get lots of help along the way.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2006
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 0
When do we know our class schedule? I registered already but everything is listed as TBD or arranged. Thanks!
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
- Messages
- 35
- Reaction score
- 0
A question for the ladies....
What do they mean by "dress sizes" when asking for white coat size, does that mean, 2, 4, 6, 8, etc?
Do any current students think they run big or small?
Also, I'm not sure if I should go up a size since I have longer arms. I'm always in between sizes, but don't want to be drowning in my coat.
Thanks!
What do they mean by "dress sizes" when asking for white coat size, does that mean, 2, 4, 6, 8, etc?
Do any current students think they run big or small?
Also, I'm not sure if I should go up a size since I have longer arms. I'm always in between sizes, but don't want to be drowning in my coat.
Thanks!
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 0
Yeah, any current students advice on this would be really helpful. I'm always in between sizes too, so I don't know what size to choose.
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2008
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 0
does anyone have a review of the Collegiate Village complex (www.cvwny.com)? It looks great and the price is alright. Its very new so I was wondering if anybody lives here and could give me the pros and cons. Thanks
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2008
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey guys - I'm a second year at UB - congrats to all of you!
As far as the white coats, I was on the border of small/medium according to their dress sizes, so I got a medium. It ended up being too big in the shoulders, because they are unisex (I'm a girl). Don't worry too much about the size - they let you try it on when you get it, and then you can exchange it at the medical school bookstore if it doesn't fit.
I don't know too much about Collegiate Village, but I do know that it is not in a great area of town. It's close to the 33, but not much else. I've also heard that it's pretty pricey considering where it's located. Hope that helps!
As far as the white coats, I was on the border of small/medium according to their dress sizes, so I got a medium. It ended up being too big in the shoulders, because they are unisex (I'm a girl). Don't worry too much about the size - they let you try it on when you get it, and then you can exchange it at the medical school bookstore if it doesn't fit.
I don't know too much about Collegiate Village, but I do know that it is not in a great area of town. It's close to the 33, but not much else. I've also heard that it's pretty pricey considering where it's located. Hope that helps!
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi Nancy-
At the start of each new module you will buy an extensive notes packet. You will have pretty much everything you need in it. Any extra add-ons will be available for you at the back table before class. Powerpoints are posted- most of the time after class. If they are not posted officially a student will copy it and send it out to the listserve.
At the start of each new module you will buy an extensive notes packet. You will have pretty much everything you need in it. Any extra add-ons will be available for you at the back table before class. Powerpoints are posted- most of the time after class. If they are not posted officially a student will copy it and send it out to the listserve.
- Joined
- May 13, 2008
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 0
could someone please remind me how many people to a body in anatomy lab? Also, if they record lectures here at all? My interview was way back in october and I'm having a hard time remembering...
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2008
- Messages
- 310
- Reaction score
- 0
I think it's 8 students/cadaver. And I would assume that lectures are recorded - don't think I've come across one that doesn't these days.
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2008
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
I have the same question. Do we just wait until the first day to find out our class schedule?
Similar threads
