SUNY Downstate vs. Rosalind Franklin??

[pbandjelly]

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Hey everyone,

I have a few days left to decide between SUNY Downstate and Rosalind Franklin, and from I've researched so far, they seem academically very similar (same USMLE results, both good residence match lists, and similar affiliated hospitals. I know SUNY isn't in the greatest area, but that Rosalind Franklin is in the middle of nowhere but within train distance of downtown Chicago.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice that may give me a good reason to choose one or the other in terms of the quality of education. I'm also extremely interested in research, which so far I don't know much about at either institution.

Thanks in advance!

 

[student1799]

Hey everyone,

I have a few days left to decide between SUNY Downstate and Rosalind Franklin, and from I've researched so far, they seem academically very similar (same USMLE results, both good residence match lists, and similar affiliated hospitals. I know SUNY isn't in the greatest area, but that Rosalind Franklin is in the middle of nowhere but within train distance of downtown Chicago.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice that may give me a good reason to choose one or the other in terms of the quality of education. I'm also extremely interested in research, which so far I don't know much about at either institution.

Thanks in advance!

To answer this question intelligently, we need to know whether you are IS or OOS for Downstate. If you're IS, I think that pretty much decides the question: go for Downstate because of the cheaper tuition.

If you're OOS, both schools will cost about the same, so it's a bit more complicated. Having interviewed at RFU and been accepted there (although I'm going elsewhere due to location), I thought it was a good school with a really positive atmosphere and friendly people. It sounds like the clinical experience you can get in the Chicago area is very good. I didn't interview at Downstate, but from what I've heard, their big attraction is the great clinical exposure you get at King's County. I've heard less positive things about the school's facilities and overall atmostphere. I'm interested in research myself, but I didn't get the impression that either school is a hotbed of research opportunities--although I'm sure you can find them yourself if you put in the work.

Another unknown factor in this decision is which city you might prefer to live in, Chicago or NYC, and where you'd like to be for residency. If you have a strong preference for one city or the other, that might decide the school question for you. If you're indifferent about the location, go with your gut as to where you think you'd feel more at home.

I'm a native New Yorker so I'm obviously biased on the location question, but if I took that out of the equation, I might actually be leaning toward RFU, because the students there really did seem happy and upbeat. Med school is tremendously hard work, and I think that being in a positive, supportive environment can make it a lot more bearable. But only you can decide which place feels like the best fit for you.

 

[fuzzywuz]

Downstate is pretty close to Manhattan (A train ride away).

A few points:

1) You won't have the glitz and glamour of NYC at DS. However, it's well within reach. So if you ever need a break from the Flatbush area, you can easily get out.
2) You are far enough away from the city to not be distracted, but not far enough to be isolated.
3) The location of DS can be used to your advantage. Supposedly, the patient population will give students unparalleled learning experiences.

That's all I can think of for now..

And again, and this is what most people will bring up, where do you think you'll enjoy more?

 

[pbandjelly]

Thanks guys, this is helpful so far! I'm actually OOS in NY, but I know that after one year of living there, I can get IS status. This doesn't count living in the dorms, which I may end up doing since I don't know the area well enough to look for housing.

In terms of which city I like better, I like Chicago. I'm also a little nervous about moving to Flatbush, which I hear isn't the safest neighborhood. Having lived in midwestern suburbs all my life, I'm not sure how well I'll be able to deal with that. If you know anything else about the area, please comment!

As for clinical experience at King's County, I know that Rosalind Franklin's rotations can be done in downtown Chicago (i.e. Cook County Hospital), which I'm pretty sure treats a similar patient population to Kings County Hospital.

 

[sushichopstickz]

It seems like you've made your decision.

I do have a few comments about Downstate. I interviewed there and was not whole-heartedly impressed. The two student tour guides were really cranky. They didn't seem like they liked Downstate all that much and tried too hard to impress the student interviewers. Albeit this is a sample size of 2, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. Clinically, Downstate is pretty incredible I hear. Research wise, they're not a powerhouse. I don't know where Downstate kids would go to research; although I am sure you can do some research at Downstate. Facility wise, Downstate was not the best. The building was old and dingy. It had this nasty 70's green marble walls, sorta reminds me of a bomb shelter. The school does have a nice anatomy lab, but something about "nice" and "cadavers" does not sound right?

Good luck on your decision. I am sure a Downstater and Frankliner can chime in with more relevant and perhaps less superficial informaton.

 

[student1799]

Thanks guys, this is helpful so far! I'm actually OOS in NY, but I know that after one year of living there, I can get IS status. This doesn't count living in the dorms, which I may end up doing since I don't know the area well enough to look for housing.

It sounds like you realize this, but if you live in the dorms it won't count toward state residency. That would pretty much defeat the purpose of going to Downstate (the major attraction being the IS tution in years 2-4). As far as housing goes, I'm sure the school does something to facilitate students finding roommates to share apartments with. (This is pretty much a necessity in NY, because housing is so expensive.)

In terms of which city I like better, I like Chicago. I'm also a little nervous about moving to Flatbush, which I hear isn't the safest neighborhood. Having lived in midwestern suburbs all my life, I'm not sure how well I'll be able to deal with that.

Flatbush is really not all that bad, just kind of run-down. And I don't think most students live right near Downstate anyway, since public transit is so good; many live in nicer neighborhoods in Brooklyn (like Park Slope), and I've heard that some even commute from Manhattan, although that seems like a pretty long subway ride to me. So if you really want to go to Downstate, I wouldn't let the neighborhood scare you.

However, based on your post, it really seems that you're leaning toward RFU. As a Midwesterner, you'd probably feel very much at home there, since the majority of the students are from IL and WI. You'd have a lot of like-minded people to hang out with and go out for that strange thing they call "pizza" in your neck of the woods. 🙂