Entering Class Fall 2003 / Graduating Class of 2007

Barnard College

"Close to home, tuition is reasonable and when I took a tour the day of my interview the day of my interview, everyone here was really friendly and all the students I spoke to were very happy here."

"I decided to attend Downstate because I heard that it provides its students with excellent clinical experiences. Also, I wanted to stay in New York City."

"I love New York, the price was right and the students seemed happy. All of the staff I dealt with was pleasant I like the curriculum."

"It is a good, diverse school. Has a good reputation. Is a state school. Good location. Will get good experience here."

Binghamton University

"Location and affordable tuition."

"Reputation of clinical training, cost of attendance wanted to go to school in New York City and I liked the student atmosphere."

"It is close to my home and family. The tuition is reasonable and inexpensive compared to other medical schools like private medical schools. There is good clinical experience. Graduates from here find good jobs."

"State school which means a reasonable tuition cost. I came from Binghamton University and liked the state school students rather than private school students. It's close to home and a friend of mine came here and loved it."

"Its outstanding clinical reputation and training, location in New York City, affordability and the opportunity to serve and train in a predominantly diverse environment."

"Great clinical exposure, excellent faculty and for its' large number of non-traditional students."

"Best school for the money and there is a dermatology program. I want to be a dermatologist."

Boston University

"I came to Downstate because it serves an immigrant and inner city population."

"Tuition, diversity, awesome clinical experiences and New York City, Brooklyn location."

"The interview really sold me. Personally, I learn best from hands-on experience. I really like the fact that you have many opportunities to interact with patients."

Brandeis University

"Location, clinical experience and great reputation. Very happy student body."

Brandeis University

"I was drawn to the organ system-based curriculum, an outstanding reputation for clinical preparation and the relatively low cost of tuition.
Brandeis University."

"Out of all of the medical schools I was accepted to, I felt Downstate had the most to offer in terms of clinical experiences. Attending Downstate also gave me the opportunity to be close to my family."

Brooklyn College

"The more affordable tuition fees as well as the diversity of the neighborhood particularly appealed to me.

"Downstate has a good reputation and is geographically desirable.

"It's close to home and the tuition is good.

"SUNY Downstate has excellent faculty and very interesting research opportunities, which is very important for education of doctors.

"I have many friends who are students at Downstate. The clinical experiences are top notch and so is the tuition.

"SUNY Downstate has state of the art facilities and great research opportunities.

"Cost, Location, faculty and Clinical Experience.

"Attending Downstate allowed me to stay in Brooklyn, near my family. In addition, Downstate was within my financial means. Finally, I had a sibling who graduated from the medical school, and she is a wonderful doctor. I believe that, in part, this is due to her Downstate education.

"I was in the BA/MD program, which was affiliated with SUNY Downstate.

"Location, relatively low tuition and good clinical exposure.

"Able to encounter a wide arrange of medical pathologies. Cost efficient and reputation for establishing solid physicians.

"BA/MD program. Downstate is affordable and close to home. I heard of the excellent curriculum and clinical experience.

"I was part of the combined degree B.A./M.D. program at Brooklyn College, which is affiliated with Downstate Health Sciences University. In addition, I was attracted to the diversity of the student body and the patients the students have access to at Downstate.

"The school is located in New York and I had all intentions of staying in the city. Also, the financial circumstances dictated where I went. I was interested in going to a school that was diverse and offered a case base learning and block system.

Brown University

"Close to home, solid clinical training and good curriculum."

Buffolo University

"A strong clinical experience and students seem to love the school."

Catholic University of America

"The opportunity to experience clinical training in an urban area. The school also seemed to have excellent resources such as an extensive collection at the medical library and the intranet/ethernet network filled with medical resources such as classroom handouts, practice exams and anatomy dissections. The cost of Downstate was much lower than private school."

City College of New York

"Downstate offers tremendous clinical experience in areas where I am interested in working. Many students praise the education they receive from Downstate."

"The system based curriculum and the non-competitive learning environment."

"The diversity of the community, coupled with a feeling of comfort and belonging were vital elements in my decision."

College of Staten Island

"Great Recommendation, Excellent Research, Close to Home and City, Curriculum style."

Columbia University

"Training and residency placement, proximity to my family on Long Island and the tuition."

"Great clinical exposure and on intelligently organized curriculum during years 1 and 2. The price is just the icing on the cake."

"The diversity of the student body and the outstanding clinical experience."

"I knew I would get the most exposure to medical problems and therefore receive the best and most extensive medical training."

"Close to home, state school, affordable, excellent clinical education."

"Its' stellar reputation, excellent clinical setting and its proximity to home."

"The diverse patient population and opportunity for great clinical experiences attracted me to Downstate."

"Three of my close friends are Downstate Medical School graduates; another is a 3rd year student. They have all said wonderful things about Downstate, so I thought I would take their advice."

"Great location and exposure to multitudes of pathologies and patients. I also liked the distinguished faculty and the collegial atmosphere created by students from many backgrounds."

"I wanted the chance to learn medicine in an urban setting with a diverse patient population. Living in Brooklyn is also something I was interested in doing at one point in my life."

"Location, cost, reputation and quality of education."

Cooper Union

"Reputation, Location and Price."

Cornell University

"Great clinical experience, very affordable."

"Great clinical experience, location, low state tuition."

"I like Brooklyn."

"It's close to home. Great education for the tri-state tuition. Great clinical training."

"My primary reason for attending SUNY Downstate is the patient population. I am very interested in serving a population that may not always have access to medical care."

"Downstate offers an ideal location at which to study medicine. Since the college situates in Brooklyn, I expect to see a wide variety of medical problems. I am also happy to be near many cultural and medical events. Finally, Downstate is a state school and therefore places the least financial strain on me as a New York resident."

"Cost, Quality of Education, Location and Residency Placement."

"The cost of tuition for New York State residents, along with its excellent clinical reputation made it an attractive bargain. I also was drawn to the schools proximity to New York City."

"I was told by an alumnus that I would receive an excellent education because of the rigorous academics and because of the clinical experience."

"The location, cost and the curriculum also incorporates both lecture and case based learning which is exactly what I was looking for."

"Great school, close to home, cheap and friendly staff."

"I wanted to stay in the New York City area. Downstate has a great clinical reputation."

"Prime location, cheap, amazing clinical and in the best city in the world."

"Location, reputation, cost."

"The location, price and superb clinical exposure."

"Price, location, outstanding clinical reputation. I want to graduate medical school with the ability to choose any specialty without regard to my financial situation."

"Close to home and family and I love New York City."

"I enjoyed the close location to my home in Long Island. I heard positive comments about Downstate's program, and diverse students and patient population."

"I love it."

Dartmouth College

"Great clinical experience. I am interested in working with populations abroad (AIDS work) I think this will be great exposure. Cost, again, because of the work I am interest in I don't want to have to pay off too much."

Duke University

"State school tuition, urban environment, friendly students and clinical experiences."

Emory University

"Reputation, cost location"

Georgetown University

"I decided to attend Downstate because it's in New York City, has a strong education department and is reasonably priced."

Harvard University

"Clinical experience in an urban area, in-state tuition and location."

Haverford College

"The superb clinical training while enabling students to access an excellent range of hospital sites within New York City. Additionally, medical students at Downstate benefit from a very distinguished faculty."

Hobart & William Smith College

"As a native New Yorker, I have been actively involved in my community. When applying to medical school I wanted a place that would offer me the opportunity to work and teach the community. SUNY Downstate is that place."

Hofstra University

"Very friendly staff, administration and students. Lower cost of tuition compared to other schools. Good clinical exposure and can obtain good residency good reputation. Close to home."

Hunter College

"The students I met at the interview seemed happy to be here. I also wanted to stay in New York, close to my family."

"I decided to attend this school because of its urban setting as well as the diverse patient population the hospitals serve."

"It's affordable and a great medical school."

"Great clinical program, location and cost."

"It offers the best education at the price I am paying for it and it is close to home."

"Financially, best clinical experience, supportive staff and comfortable setting."

John Hopkins University

"Excellent clinical reputation and great match list in New York Hospitals. Close to home; state tuition."

Long Island University

"I liked the location of the school. I wanted to attend a school in or around New York City and this was the best chose for me in terms of location and the money issue."

M.I.T.

"I like the research currently conducted here and was impressed by some of the research mentors. I liked the organ based learning and cased based learning. The students liked the school and were happy with their decision. Location and Kings County Hospital."

Manhattan College

"Location, great curriculum and clinical experience."

Marymount College

"I wanted to learn more about the Brooklyn community and be able to serve them. This community and the surrounding communities are ethnically diverse. I would love to practice in an area like this."

McDaniel College

"Nicest interviewer and students I met. Great location and affordable."

New York Institute of Technology

"I will gain a lot of clinical experience."

New York University

"I love medicine and I believe SUNY Downstate has a wonderful academic program. It is conveniently located in Brooklyn, a diverse cultural community, close to my home. I have heard very good news about Downstate as many of my friends are now upper classmen."

"Good school, system based, problem-solving approach, affordable, in New York, clinical stronghold."

"Affordable tuition and excellent financial aid, close to home and excellent clinical education."

"Location and recommendation from former students. "

"Location, Price, Curriculum and the Hospital."

"Downstate has a great program with exposes student to clinical information from the first year. It gives great exposure and experience."

"Great clinical education with reasonable tuition rates."

"Tuition is significantly lower and the faculty reputation is renowned."

"Unparalleled clinical experience at Kings County. The location and the satisfaction of serving a community that greatly needs medical care."

"Location, rich diversity, greatest opportunities in clinical exposure, where I grew up. Affordability."

"Downstate is well-known, good school. Reasonable tuition and excellent training."

"Brooklyn is an excellent place to live and study medicine. I knew that at Downstate I would have excellent clinical exposure while learning from great faculty and students. Also, because Downstate is relatively inexpensive and the quality and education is great."

"The metropolitan location gives the best opportunity to experience a wide variety of situations and encounter things not many schools offer. The school's location is also convenient because I live 10 minutes away. I also like the fact that the faculty is progressive and takes the advice of students as well as offering great work-study and summer opportunities."

"I felt that I would do well with the case based learning system, so that aspect of the curriculum was very attractive. The clinical facilities, especially Kings County, were also very appealing to me since I had worked in a similar hospital before. I lived in NYC my whole life so I wanted to stay as close to home as possible."

"The clinical experience and price."

"Downstate offers an incredible medical education in the greatest city in the world. Its residency opportunities are unbeatable."

"Location, clinical experience and price."

"The diversity of experiences is unparalleled."

Northwestern University

"Location (close to home) Price (in-state tuition) and excellent clinical reputation both in experience ad diversity."

Queens College

"The curriculum, the atmosphere and the support. The modified curriculum is beneficial to students in the learning process as seen by the USMLE Step 1 scores. The students are friendly and helpful and the staff seems as if they enjoy aiding the student through their journey."

St. Lawrence University

"I live in Brooklyn, so I love the location. The price is right, and you can't beat the hands-on opportunities."

Stony Brook University

"I felt that the location of Downstate would offer a more comprehensive education because of the patient diversity that exists within Brooklyn."

"Close to Manhattan and my family in Queens. In-state tuition for a great clinical education."

"Location, excellent medical school, quality education and diverse student body, all at one medical school."

"Its strong curriculum and its reputation for having a great clinical program. There are so many opportunities to participate in cutting edge research. I was attracted by the diversity of the student body, faculty and surrounding neighborhoods and the chance that I will have to help the community."

"Location (close to home), cost (less expensive than private institutions) and awesome clinical experience."

SUNY Albany

"Although price was a major factor, the opportunity to study medicine in Brooklyn was my main motivation for attending Downstate. I look forward to gaining priceless clinical experience in such a diverse area and hope I can pursue my medical career in Brooklyn as well."

SUNY Buffalo

"Close to home, low tuition, great clinical experience."

SUNY Genesco

"I wanted to go to school in an urban environment and Downstate satisfied that requirement. Also, the reputation of Downstate's clinical training was impressive. Last, the cost was a factor."

Syracuse University

"I wanted to go to school in New York City and SUNY Downstate has great clinical training."

"The location, cost and clinical exposure. Very few schools can match SUNY Downstate in these categories."

Tuffs University

"Combination of cost and location."

Tufts University

"Close to home, state school, affordable, excellent clinical education."

U.C. Berkeley

"Location, I wanted to attend medical school in New York City. I've never lived here before and I wanted to experience everything that the Big Apple has to offer."

UCLA

"A Bargain."

"I've lived in California all my life, so I was definitely ready for a change of scenery. New York is a great place for educational and other experiences. What really sold me was the curriculum at Downstate, plus the friendliness of everybody I met. I think I'll get a great education for a bargain price."

UNC Chapel Hill

"The college has a great reputation along with a lower tuition rate. Also, the students I spoke with when I interviewed have all spoken very highly of the school."

"UNC Chapel Hill Great location, reputation and tuition."

University of California

"I would rather live in New York City for a significant part of my life then in a rural area. Also, I am very interested in the possibility of research during my education."

University of Chicago

"It's was close to home and I wanted to stay in New York City. I've also heard great things about the clinical education offered at Kings County Hospital."

University of Colorado

"My father went to Downstate in the late 60's and he has always spoken highly of the education he received here. The clinical experience that we receive here was a big bonus as well as the location. I wanted to live in an environment that I've never experienced before and Downstate definitely provides that for me. The faculty is also a big draw. During my interview they were very helpful and friendly."

University of Miami

"The clinical exposure it provides for the students. In addition, my undergraduate mentor attended Downstate for residency and he advised me that SUNY Downstate is one of the best medical schools.
University of Notre Dame Everyone seemed very nice and down to earth; very organized and comprehensive program. Great location."

University of Notre Dame

"Location, tuition, clinical experience and positive feedback from current students."

University of Pennsylvania

"Great education, lots of clinical experience, great deal financially and close to home."

"Excellent reputation among New York doctors, location and cost."

"Downstate offers a great combination of price, location and diversity that I could not find in other medical schools.
University of Rochester I really liked the curriculum in that the science curriculum and the clinical curriculum are integrated. I also think I will gain a lot of experience/exposure to a diverse patient population at Kings County Hospital."

University of Rochester

"The unparalleled clinical experience as well as the reasonable tuition. Also close to family and friends.."

University of Southern CA

"During my interview I realized it would be a wonderful place to study. The clinical experience here, resembles the environment I would love to work in."

University of Wisconsin

"Brooklyn offers diversity that can't be found in any other part of the country. Downstate also has excellent clinical training, which attracted me to the program."

USCD

"I wanted to move to New York."

"It has the best clinical education and it was a nice change from the place that I have lived for all my life."

Vassar College

"Location and cheaper than private schools."

"SUNY Downstate offers great clinical experience and a fantastic price."

Wesleyan University

"I liked the atmosphere when I visited and I thought the block curriculum suited the way I learn. I also wanted to be near the city."

Williams College

"The excellent clinical experience, the diversity of patients, service to a large underserved patient population, and location in New York City."

Yeshiva University

"The great clinical training at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, together with its friendly atmosphere and location (close to home) are a few reasons this is an ideal place for me to pursue a medical education."

York College

"Affordable tuition, location, curriculum and teaching style."

"Location, price and curriculum, which was very important. I think I will do better with the integrated block system vs. the traditional system."