what are the differences between the SUNY schools in your opinion?

[brynn7]

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which is hardest to get in? which is easiest to get in? do they look for different qualities in applicants (research etc..)? what has been your experience, or the experiences of others you know? i have noticed that downstate has given fewer interviews than upstate or stoneybrook. any feedback would be really appreciated. HELLO fellow new york staters!!!!!!!

 

[uclakid]

i'd like to know too

 

[flash]

Most people seem to think that SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook are the top SUNYs (both research schools). Stony Brook's proximity to NYC helps, plus the campus/area is nice.

SUNY Upstate probably comes in 3rd in most people's minds. Some think Syracuse is a dingy upstate town, but I actually liked it alot.

And SUNY Downstate is usually at the bottom of the list. People from outside of NYC seem to be unimpressed with the facilities and the area.

 

[CammyW45]

Most people seem to think that SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook are the top SUNYs (both research schools). Stony Brook's proximity to NYC helps, plus the campus/area is nice.

SUNY Upstate probably comes in 3rd in most people's minds. Some think Syracuse is a dingy upstate town, but I actually liked it alot.

And SUNY Downstate is usually at the bottom of the list. People from outside of NYC seem to be unimpressed with the facilities and the area.

That's weird because I got an interview at Buffalo but got put on pre-interview hold by Upstate and the big rejection from Downstate. Nothing from Stony Brook yet.

 

[ajt2003]

That's weird because I got an interview at Buffalo but got put on pre-interview hold by Upstate and the big rejection from Downstate. Nothing from Stony Brook yet.

Based purely on reputation, I thought Stony Brook and Downstate were the two most competitive schools, and tended to offer the best clinical opportunities.

SUNY Upstate ranked third in terms of competitiveness, and Buffalo 4th - but I've also heard that Buffalo students are really, really happy (my bro's there now, MS1), and that's a big part of my decision-making process (assuming I have a decision to make, of course!)...

At the end of the day, I think it's really a matter of personal preference: Long Island, Brooklyn, Syracuse or Buffalo? Pick your poision. 😛

I've received an interview at upstate and buffalo, no word from Downstate, and withdrew from Stony Brook (I'm originally from Long Island; family's still there - think I'd go nuts - too close!).

Anyone else able to offer insight?

Yay New Yorkers! Unite! Let's kick some Cali booty!

 

[wenzday01]

I actually think similarly to flash about the reputations of the school. It also depends on the location that you find most comfortable. I didn't apply to Downstate, have been interviewed by Upstate, rejected post-secondary from Buffalo, and haven't heard back from Stony Brook.

 

[NeuroChicMD]

Is there room in here for a shameless Buffalo plug? I think so... promise it will be short and sweet. 😀

Great reasons to come to Buffalo:
*We are right next door to Niagara Falls and not too much farther from Toronto
*GREAT nightlife scene, and our bars are open until 4 AM!
*We are actually one of the more cultured cities on the East coast: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Kleinhan's Music Hall, Albright - Knox Art Gallery (ranked 3rd among the entire east coast), great local music scene, and a huge wealth of 100+ year old architecture
*Despite the lack of Stanley Cup/Super Bowl wins, it's a hardy sports town!
*Some of the friendliest people you'd ever want to meet
*We are a central travel hub for the Northeast and the Midwest: Columbus, OH is about 5 hours away drive time, NYC - 8 hours, Boston - 6 hours, Detroit - 6 hours, Pittsburgh - 4 or 5, Toronto - 2 hours, etc, etc, etc!
*SUNY Buffalo's Medical Campus is located downtown, in the heart of the city. It's on location with Buffalo General Hospital and internationally acclaimed Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Students have access to RPCI, Buffalo General, Women and Childrens Hospital, VA Hospital, ECMC (the big trauma and emergency center), and many more local hospitals for clinical rotations and residency.
*The medical campus is quickly growing with several new research institutes being built within the last year. I'll post a link with pictures of the campus, it's really pretty awesome.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't so short after all... 😳

Yay, New Yorkers!

 

[brynn7]

thanks everybody!!! i am feeling super angry cuz i just got rejected w/o an interview from downstate yesterday. i got an interview from upstate more than a month ago, and have not heard anything from the others. i am not a bad applicant 🙁 (10,10,10,mcat 3.65science, 3.85non-science, lots of volunteering at hospital and other stuff, tutoring...). screw downstate i didnt want to live in brooklyn anyway! 👎

 

[lightnk102]

I'm SO glad this thread exists because I've been wondering the same thing myself. I've interviewed at Upstate, Stony Brook, and Downstate, but have yet to hear any word at all from Buffalo. I was waitlisted at Upstate and am still waiting to hear from Stony and Downstate.

In my mind, it's a tossup between Stony and Downstate for location alone. Based on what I saw, both Upstate and Stony have nicer facilities than Downstate does. Quite honestly though - I'm not sure how much we should be weighing the facilities. Does it matter if you're sitting in a posh lecture hall or not? And the anatomy labs will teach you what you need to know - regardless of how many people to a body or how new the labs are. I think the clinical training and residency matches are much more important. Clinically speaking - Downstate probably provides the best training just by virtue of it being in an underserved area and being a public hospital. You'll probably see the same sorts of cases at StonyBrook since they also have a large underserved migrant population, but the volume at Downstate is likely to be much higher, giving you an opportunity to see more.

I believe Stony is the highest rank SUNY (someone correct me if I'm wrong), so if you're concerned about reputation, that's probably the place to go. Also, Stony seemed to have more placements in competitive residencies than Downstate does, but a friend pointed out to me last night that those numbers may be misleading. It could be that the school doesn't match well, or it could be that the kids in that particular class weren't that interested in the specialties. State schools do tend to turn out more primary care physicians and attract clinically-oriented people since they're less research-based. So, I'm not sure whether any sort of conclusions can be drawn from the match statistics.

The kids at Stony seemed to be a better community and they seem to have a lot of financial backing from the school, which was attractive. That and, cost of living is low and they have houses on the water. The student life seemed more active as they had a larger variety of clubs (including non-medically related ones, like the Outdoors Club). The kids at Downstate sounded like they only went there because of cost.

I suppose what it boils down to is that Stony Brook gave me more of the "warm fuzzies" about medical school, but Downstate definitely has better clinical training in my opinion. I like the Stony close-knit classes, but another part of me also wonders whether it will drive me crazy. That and, Stony's better reputation also tugs at me.

I speak as if I've been accepted at both and I'm trying to choose. Ha.

 

[PostalWookie]

Stony and Downstate are top. They both have pretty good research programs. Downstate will give you the best clinical training in NYC because of Kings County Hospital, and their match list reflects that. Location-wise, they're both better. Yea, Downstate's neighborhood blows, but you're half an hour out of the city. Buffalo and Upstate are in the godforsaken aprt of New York State. Upstate has the worst clinical opportunities - they pretty much urge you to go away to do your rotations.

 

[Dr. Chiquita]

This is Dr. Chiquita's rather misguided ranking:

1. Stony
2. Buffalo
3. Downstate
4. Upstate

🙂

 

[X.O.]

Im a NYer and have been interviewed by Stony Brook (acceptance) and Buffalo (wait listed), got placed on interview hold by Upstate (the $@$%), and havent heard anything from Downstate since August when they sent me some pretty cheasy photocopied handouts.

Stony Brook is very primary care orientated and you'll definetly feel it during rotations during the 3rd year and when it comes time to match. Everyone seems to rate it as the most prestigious SUNY med school based on who gets in but I wouldnt place too much stock on that. That part of Long Island is also incredibly boring and everything closes down early in the evening.

Downstate as a school isnt too bad either despite its crappy location and facilities. I have some friends that attend/graduated from there who lived in the swanky section of Brooklyn (Parke Slope) and they all went on to pretty good specialties (derm, radiology, rad onc). I would rate it higher than Upstate or Buffalo because I think anything past Westchester is a frozen wasteland.

Stony Brook and Buffalo are the most research orientated of the four and they have MSTP class research facilities. Might matter to some if you want to rack up any publications during medical school.

So my preferences are

Stony Brook
Downstate
Buffalo
Upstate

 

[BGGA]

Hello NYers,

I'm really torn when it comes to the 4 SUNY schools, well three of them because Buffalo rejected me pre interview. I went to a SUNY school so I'm not to concern about private vs public. I value the education that I received from my state school and I don't think it has hindered me in this process.

What's important? Oh so many things.

Academic training, Clinical training, Environment (in terms of students and faculty), match list, location, facilities, reputation and on and on and on.

I think for me it comes down to clinical training and location. A good student is going to be a good student at a school ranked #1 and a school ranked #71. But there is little you can do to make up for a clinical environment that is not extensive. I think Downstate probably has the greatest clinical setting just by virtue of its location. But it is the location of Downstate that could make it one of the least attractive choices for some people.

I can say from my interview experience that people at Upstate were really nice, the faculty seemed to be really behind their students but I'm not sure about syracuse as home for 4 yrs. Stonybrook seems to have a strong regard the academic and research programs but clinically I am leaning toward Downstate.

Did I help? I think I just babbled. Oh well I'm done. Good luck all and keep your opinions coming.

 

[lightnk102]

Someone should rank the SUNY's based on proximity to a local Trader Joe's. I love that store 🙂

 

[superso]

I don't know so much about the reputations but I've lived in brooklyn forever and did 2 years of research at downstate and gone to ugad at stony so ill tell you about location. You won't find parking at downstate unless they give u a spot in the lot. Its very international and in my opinion its an awesome place. The train station is a bus ride away. if its around 11pm and your a girl you might want to take the bus or a cab to the train station b/c its about a 20 block walk through an iffy part of town. no girls who used to work at the lab there at downstate ever walked to the train station. people in the neighborhood are nice and hardworking and polite but youll pass through areas where there will be lots of men and rowdy teens hanging out on the stoops until 1-2am and youll get alot of attention. ive never heard of anything bad happening and ive walked thru there a thousand times w/o any trouble but im not a hot girl. you might want to either have a car in a lot close by or dorm in the area if you go there.

stony brook is a pretty nice looking place and they are doing amazing things to the undergrad. its already a huge college but its being nearly doubled in size in the next 5 years b/c theyre making a new research and development campus with 10 new green buildings. Theres nothing to do here in my opinion but its only about an hour away from nyc. Theres a huge hospital here and lots of rentable space within a mile for around 600/month and less if you get a place with a few people.

 

[bsklaw83]

I have received interviews at Upstate, Downstate, and Stonybrook. No word from Buffalo(I was complete there in august).

That being said, I was accepted at Upstate. Of the 3 places I interviewed at, I'd say I got the best feeling that I would be happy there at Upstate. That is despite the crap weather. I am originally from LI. I am waiting to hear Stonybrook's decision before making my final decision. Downstate gave me the worst impression.

The thing that is nice about Upstate is that it's on Syracuse's campus. That means you are not on an isolated medical school campus, like downstate. It also means you get a fantastic basketball team, which is a big draw for me.

Syracuse didn't seem like that bad of a town. Bunch of bars, etc. I have heard only good things from people who have gone there in the past.

 

[stinkycheese]

The thing that is nice about Upstate is that it's on Syracuse's campus.

Well, that's not really true, but they are close to each other.

 

[DubZteR]

I interviewed at Upstate back in October and to me, it seems like a great place to study medicine. People often forget that it hasn't been a SUNY school for very long and today, it is actually the second oldest medical school in NY, (behind Columbia) and 16th oldest Medical School in North America. I find that the school has a really fascinating history. For instance, it was one of the few schools that survived the Flexnor Report of 1910 which wiped out the majority of the medical schools in the states. It's also where Elizabeth Blackwell received her MD degree. Anyhow .. if you're interested you can check out the following link for more cool neat facts about Upstate .. FACTS

 

[Dr. Starostik]

Don't forget, there's going to be a new bioinformatics research building in Buffalo and the medical campus is supposed to be centralized over the next few years. 🙂

 

[GATORade]

I've got my fingers crossed for Buffalo. I am lucky enough to have been accepted to another one of my top-choices (non-SUNY), but I would take Buffalo in a heartbeat if I get off of the waitlist. It will be a long and stressful next few months.

 

[funshine]

anyone know their acceptance rates for out-of-staters?

i'd like to go to suny-buffalo, but i'm no ny resident....

 

[Ames980]

i second this. im out of state and LOVED buffalo..... crossing my fingers for good news circa mid-january.... [besides, the magic 8 ball said i'd get in... that has to count for something!! i should call admissions and tell them that]

 

[reddyroo]

If I attended med school in Syracuse, do you think it would be okay for me to bring my mini cooper? What is the weather like...how are the winters?

 

[DubZteR]

If I attended med school in Syracuse, do you think it would be okay for me to bring my mini cooper? What is the weather like...how are the winters?

Winters are snowy so you would a need a set of winter wheels. How do you like your mini S?

 

[reddyroo]

Winters are snowy so you would a need a set of winter wheels. How do you like your mini S?

Well, my mini is on order. I'm buying it in Washington State and the waitlist is pretty long. I should have it by July. I can't wait! But it has such a low ground clearance, I'm worried about it getting stuck in snow piles or sliding around on ice. 🙁

 

[GATORade]

Well, my mini is on order. I'm buying it in Washington State and the waitlist is pretty long. I should have it by July. I can't wait! But it has such a low ground clearance, I'm worried about it getting stuck in snow piles or sliding around on ice. 🙁

I have an Infiniti G20t that has pretty crappy ground clearance as well. I finally got around to putting on snow tires this year and the difference in driving is tremendous. Last year with the stock tires I was barely able to make it down the road.

I was thinking about selling it for an all wheel drive, possibly a Subaru, but I would take too much of a financial loss. Hopefully it won't be too much of a problem in Buffalo's ridiculous winters.

 

[NeuroChicMD]

A glimpse of hope for all you prospective Buffalonians with low rider cars - it's December 7th and we have yet to have any snow fall this year! ::knocks on wood:: And when we do, the driving conditions are generally much better than you'd think. Just a thought 🙂

 

[DubZteR]

Well, my mini is on order. I'm buying it in Washington State and the waitlist is pretty long. I should have it by July. I can't wait! But it has such a low ground clearance, I'm worried about it getting stuck in snow piles or sliding around on ice. 🙁

Oh wow .. didn't know there was a waitlist for them over there. Should come over to Toronto and get one! No line ups here 🙂

I wouldn't worry too much about getting stuck or sliding around if you've got a separate set of winter wheels. Syracuse weather is very similar to Toronto weather and over here ... I have no problems zipping around in the winter in my VW 🙂

 

[DubZteR]

Last year with the stock tires I was barely able to make it down the road.

I know what you mean. Snow wheels make such a huge difference!

 

[DubZteR]

Heres a question: money aside, would you go to Albany, Upstate, or Buffalo?

As a Canadian applicant, I wasn't able to apply to Buffalo, but I did apply to the other two schools and did receive interview invites from both. I declined my invite to Albany so I guess that answers your question 🙂

 

[reddyroo]

Oh wow .. didn't know there was a waitlist for them over there. Should come over to Toronto and get one! No line ups here 🙂

I wouldn't worry too much about getting stuck or sliding around if you've got a separate set of winter wheels. Syracuse weather is very similar to Toronto weather and over here ... I have no problems zipping around in the winter in my VW 🙂

Thanks for sharing. I might base my decision on what school to attend by which one I'll be able to drive my mini at....Well, not really.

 

[DubZteR]

Thanks for sharing. I might base my decision on what school to attend by which one I'll be able to drive my mini at....Well, not really.

lol ... why not if you can manage it. I'm trying to pick schools based on my partner's outcome as well 🙂

 

[sinfin]

I'd rate them ......

1. STONY
2. DOWNSTATE
3. BUFFALO
4. Upstate

Stony Brook and Buffalo are definitely power houses in the SUNY system, but downstate has great clinicals. I have also heard about upstate encouraging its students to do their rotations else where. Additionally, I have to agree with everything west and north of Weschester is one big winter waste land.
With that said, I really wish there was a med school in Queens. We're the only major borough w/o a med school (excpet for Staten Island). Flushing and St. John's are great hospitals and Queens BLVD would serve as a great campus.

 

[lightnk102]

after hearing so many great things about Buffalo, I'm becoming more anxious about not having heard anything from them yet!! i want to go see for myself now. anyone know the deal with buff?

is it not looking good at this point?

 

[lehavre]

which is hardest to get in? which is easiest to get in? do they look for different qualities in applicants (research etc..)? what has been your experience, or the experiences of others you know? i have noticed that downstate has given fewer interviews than upstate or stoneybrook. any feedback would be really appreciated. HELLO fellow new york staters!!!!!!!

Stop your kvetching, you'll be happy to get into any of them!

 

[NubianPrincess]

I really wanna get into one of them. No i'm lying. I want out of the city.

 

[stinkycheese]

I'd rate them ......

1. STONY
2. DOWNSTATE
3. BUFFALO
4. Upstate

Stony Brook and Buffalo are definitely power houses in the SUNY system, but downstate has great clinicals. I have also heard about upstate encouraging its students to do their rotations else where. Additionally, I have to agree with everything west and north of Weschester is one big winter waste land.
With that said, I really wish there was a med school in Queens. We're the only major borough w/o a med school (excpet for Staten Island). Flushing and St. John's are great hospitals and Queens BLVD would serve as a great campus.

This whole thing about Upstate encouraging peeps to go elsewhere is not really true. They have an excellent hospital system. They encourage people interested in rural medicine to go to a rural area for their Fmed rotation, bc you're not going to experience rural med in urban Syracuse. (Yes, it's urban. The city's not big, but its still a city with city problems and city cases.) Additionally, 25% of the class does their entire clerkship schedule at Binghamton, which is a satellite campus. That doesn't really count as "encouraging students to go elsewhere". Upstate gets a bad rep, but I know many excellent clinicians who attended, and med school is what you make it. You'll see great trauma cases at Upstate, since it is a regional level-one trauma center. There are specialty clinics like Joslin and the gamma knife center and excellent maternal-fetal medicine programs. People think Upstate NY is so awful and frozen, but really, people just compare upstate to NYC, and that's not fair. Upstate NY has a string of very nice, small cities. Yes, the weather can suck, but don't discount the culture, natural resources, and beautiful landscape of Upstate NY.

In all, those of you attending Syracuse are very lucky. You will have a wonderful time. And to the haters, go ahead and criticize Upstate NY - just leaves more room for the rest of us 🙂

 

[stinkycheese]

after hearing so many great things about Buffalo, I'm becoming more anxious about not having heard anything from them yet!! i want to go see for myself now. anyone know the deal with buff?

is it not looking good at this point?

I just got an interview invite from them very recently. I was complete in August. Don't worry.