UCF vs. SUNY Downstate

[jkperson]

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Downstate is closer to home for me, but UCF has newer facilities, a more innovative curriculum and seems more supportive. You can’t beat NYC hospitals though. Any and all insights would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[dreamitmakeithappen]

Where do you see yourself for residency?

 

[deleted610572]

You literally can beat nyc hospital. Unless it’s Columbia you can. They are malignant. Take UCF and enjoy the sunshine

 

[jkperson]

Where do you see yourself for residency?

Good question...probably somewhere urban but not married to any specific region. Probably Northeast/FL/Cali. Currently considering dermatology, but keeping my mind open.

 

[dreamitmakeithappen]

Good question...probably somewhere urban but not married to any specific region. Probably Northeast/FL/Cali. Currently considering dermatology, but keeping my mind open.

Hmm what's the difference in COA?

 

[jkperson]

You literally can be nyc hospital. Unless it’s Columbia you can. They are malignant. Take UCF and enjoy the sunshine

What do you mean by “malignant?” Just wanted clarification. Thanks!

 

[jkperson]

Hmm what's the difference in COA?

I don’t think much. Have to recheck exact number. UCF offered a grant, which brings it down to around the same as downstate.

 

[little_giant]

What do you mean by “malignant?” Just wanted clarification. Thanks!

Google "NYC residencies malignant reddit" and you'll see the horror stories. Manhattan hospitals are great, but none of them are #1.

 

[deleted610572]

What do you mean by “malignant?” Just wanted clarification. Thanks!

They do not treat residents well at all. Let alone medical students.

 

[jkperson]

They do not treat residents well at all. Let alone medical students.

Gotcha

 

[PugsAndHugs]

They do not treat residents well at all. Let alone medical students.

I agree as residents they are not treated great, but I would argue as a student it is a great experience.

 

[jkperson]

I made a more fleshed-out pro/con list. For context, I am from the NYC area. I have extensive experience in derm and love it, and will likely pursue it as a specialty. I have worked with derms in NYC and Boston.

Downstate
Pros

• Closer to home, family + friends close (i.e. support network close), only 20 miles away
• Well-established
• More people match into derm than UCF (31 vs 21, = total # of people who matched from 2014-2020)
• NYC--very diverse patient base, many great hospitals close by, lots of hands on experience in clinical years
• Access to residency programs in NYC likely higher
• In-state tuition (may balance out w/ UCF because of high cost of living)

Cons

• Old facilities

• High rent
• Cold winters

• Had a bad taste in my mouth after the interview, and oftentimes who interviews you is +/- a decent reflection of who will be teaching you, but it may have been a fluke
• May be more tempted to go home often, esp. during stressful times, which may not necessarily be beneficial.

UCF
Pros

• New facilities
• Cheaper cost of living
• Much more innovation--anatomage tables, full-body CT of cadavers→ new tech might make me more marketable?
• Warm year-round
• Diverse patient base
• Higher % of dermatology matches matched into a top 20 program (based on 2014 rankings, which are the most recent I could get)--23.8% vs. 22.6% for Downstate: not too terribly high of a difference, however
• I had a better feeling coming out of interview day here than at Downstate, and the community seemed more supportive, positive, and had an overall better energy
• Nicer faculty (can be a bias based on who I met)
• Smaller class size (120 cf. ~200 avg for Downstate)
• Commitment to student well- being had more of an impression on me than at Downstate
• New environment that I can explore, might help me learn more about myself
• Gives me a bubble to be a student without easy access to home, which may help academically, socially (???)

Cons

• Not a lot of docs know about it, so that may indicate that it doesn’t yet have a deeply established reputation in the residency director sphere
• Have to buy airline tickets to fly home, far (1200 mi.)
• Don’t know anybody there
• University’s teaching hospital only opening this year, whereas at Downstate there is one already that is established
• Concentration of hospitals not like NYC, and they're smaller; less likely to see highly unusual cases
• Spring and summer might also be unbearably hot
• Doesn’t have an established home derm dept like downstate has

 

[PugsAndHugs]

Doesn’t have an established home derm dept like downstate has

If you are 100% set on Derm, having that home program helps immensely with connections, applications and research. Plus I believe Downstate will start accepting 3-4 of it’s own students per year instead of only 2 which could be helpful.

 

[Davidfromcali]

I hear downstate provides a very hands on clinical education to its students. The clinical education at UCF seems disorganized but once you get in on a rotation the clinical experience still may be very good. Can’t say since I haven’t experienced it.

It’s seems like Down State has proven track record and a established reputation. For Derm, this is pretty important since connections and networking is King. Still, you could do well at UCF and from your Pro/Cons, I get the vibe you prefer UCF.

Downstate keeps you close to home and this may prove to more important than you currently think since med school is a roller coaster.

From that standpoint, I’d pick Down State because of your proximity to home

 

[oioeoelgd154]

More arrows point to SUNY Downstate. Close to support system should not be discounted.

 

[deleted610572]

More arrows point to SUNY Downstate. Close to support system should not be discounted.

Absolutely. I was unaware of the support system and gunning derm where a home program is paramount

 

[Musty Goose]

I'm not sure about UCF but our curriculum is pretty solid. 1.5 yr of preclinical (-> more clinical experience -> better prep for step 2), NBME tests, and exams only at the end of block (every 8-10 weeks). This leads to a pretty well-balanced lifestyle and more time to pursue research if you're gunning for derm. Also Step1 will be p/f by the time you take it so school reputation and step 2 will become more important for residency.

 

[PugsAndHugs]

solid. 1.5 yr of preclinical (-> more clinical experience -> better prep for step 2), NBME tests, and exams only at the end of block (every 8-10 weeks). This leads to a pretty well-balanced lifestyle and more time to pursue research if you're gunning for derm.

Downstate has the same exact layout and it is AMAZING. I wish more schools had it like this.