Entering Class Fall 2005 / Graduating Class of 2009

Albany College of Pharmacy

"Plenty of Clinical Experience."

"I thought it would be a great opportunity. "

Amherst College

"The geographic location played a large part. I heard great comments form former students about their experience here, and that seemed to solidify my decision."

Barnard College

"Close to good food."

"I enjoyed my day here when I interviewed. I also wanted to stay in NYC."

"Close to home, cheap, great education."

"Location, Great medical experience and faculty."

"I live 10 minutes away from Downstate, several family members attended Downstate medical school and residency programs. The cultural diversity of the school."

Ben-Gurion University

"I decided to attend Downstate because of the school’s academic reputation and busy clinical facilities. Additionally, the financial aid available makes medical school very possible."

Binghamton University (SUNY)

"Brooklyn, Value, Proximity to Manhattan, home."

"Close to parents."

"Location, reputation, clinical exposure, in-state tuition."

"Close to home, clinical experience."

"Downstate is affordable. Close to home. And has a great reputation for clinical exposure."

"Price; location, MD/MPH program in 4 years, vicinity to home."

Boston College

"More than anything it was the vibe I got when I came for my interview. The students here just seemed relaxed and I loved that everyone seemed to be into more than just studying 24/7. I had to choose between Boston and New York and decided on here for the opportunity to experience a new city."

"Location close to home, more affordable tuition, reputation as a great medical school, and knowing some students who had highly recommended it."

"Quality of clinical experience. NYC. Tuition."

"Clinical Experience, location, price, location of all my favorite fast food restaurants nearby."

"Location, cost, experience."

Brandeis University

"A few of my friends are students here at the College of Medicine already, and have said many great things about the school. The hands-on approach to learning attracted me. "

Brooklyn College (CUNY)

"I decided to attend because I have lived in Brooklyn all my life and I wanted to be close to home and my family. "

"Quality of education & training. Tuition cost."

"Low cost, diverse student body."

"I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and Downstate was my first choice because of the diversity that it has to offer. Many people I know also attend the medical school, so I felt very comfortable with the environment."

"‘Cause it’s cheap."

"I was a student in the BA/MD program at Brooklyn College. However, volunteering with the Arthur Ashe Institute, and getting exposed to the emergency medicine room at Kings County also drew me in. It was also convenient location-wise. I was acquainted with a good number of medical students and doctors who’ve graduated from Downstate, so I knew that I would get an amazing education here."

"I decided to attend Downstate because it is very close to home."

Brown University

"Affordable price for NY residents and 6th on the nation on placing medical school faculty."

Bryn Mawr College / Columbia Postbaccalaureate

"Clinical Exposure."

Bucknell University

"Serves a diverse community. Be able to obtain great clinical experience in Brooklyn. Half the price of private medial schools. "

Buffalo University (SUNY)

"Location, cost attendance, reputation."

Carnegie Mellon University

"It was in a good location."

City College of New York (CUNY)

"Quite a few people in the city spoke highly of Downstate. The price is relatively affordable for such quality of education. The location of the school in the city is convenient because it is close to home. "

"The school was recommended to me by a friend (an MD), who attended it years ago. He spoke very highly about it, and the faculty. My place of residence, Queens, also influenced my decision to attend Downstate and not other schools I was accepted to."

Colgate University

"The clinical experience, attitudes of the students& alumni, general outlook of the school. Tuition. "

"It is close to Kings County Hospital, where there is the best clinical experience available. In addition, I am and will give back to my community. Finally, the school has a great location in the middle of Brooklyn close to the trains."

College of Staten Island (CUNY)

"I like the fact that it is located in Brooklyn because it makes me feel really close to home."

"Reputation, Location."

College of William & Mary

"Life long New Yorker, price, proximity to home, clinical experience."

"Urban educational experiences. Close to home."

Columbia University

"Location, cost, network & quality. (not in any particular order)"

"Close by- I love being in the area. NYC"

"It is located in New York and provides opportunity to learn in challenging and multicultural environment."

"The urban location of SUNY Downstate was a very important factor in my decision to attend. I was also interested in the clinical experience offered here."

"I liked the school and wanted to stay in NY."

"I had a great interview and it was my first acceptance. I decided to stay in New York. I really like it here, and California was too far away from home. Location, Location, Location."

"Because of the common atmosphere. The wonderful environment."

"I want to learn medicine in an urban, underserved area, because as a future MD/MPH, I want to work in this type of community. I found the school to be welcoming and very flexible towards MD/MPH students."

"No other school offered me what Downstate could."

"Great clinical program and lower tuition for in-state residents."

Cooper Union

"I decided to attend SUNY Downstate because of the location, price and reputation of the medical college."

Cornell University

"Clinical years, patient population, diversity, price, location."

"The opportunity for a great clinical experience."

"Wonderful reputation & great location for clinical."

"Proximity to NYC, diversity of people, opportunity to do clinical outside US, cost, combined degree programs."

"SUNY-> in state, WTC."

"Great hands on opportunities, close to home, good tuition."

"Price, location and clinical experience."

"Enjoyed the interview day. Good location and in-state tuition."

"SUNY school, relatively cheap, great clinical exposure."

"Downstate is located in NYC and is close to home. The clinical years at Kings County and other affiliated hospitals are great. Taking all these factors together along with the cost of education is why I chose to attend Downstate."

"SUNY Downstate caters to the people I am most interested in working with, the Hispanic and Caribbean community. This was my main motivation to become a doctor. That, coupled with the great opportunities provided with being in NYC."

"I wanted to be in an area where I would get a great clinical experience. Downstate has awesome opportunities to see a wide variety of medical cases with a lot of early hands on experience."

"Born and raised in New York. Wanted to go to school close to my family. The education is a great value. I also wanted to work with an underserved population."

"SUNY Downstate has a great reputation for their clinical education. I also liked the idea of being in New York City."

"Good clinical exposure."

"From the schools, I was accepted to, Downstate was the best choice as far as cost, location, and diversity of the student body and population of community being served. (not in any order of importance)."

"Close to home, good chance to get a great urban learning experience, especially clinical."

"I decided to attend Downstate because of its location, the diversity of the school and the price."

"I came for the clinical experience, diversity and its proximity to New York City."

Cornell University / NYU

"Location-Urban and close proximity to family and significant other. Wanted to practice in Large city and thought that people had great things to say about the clinical experience. "

Dartmouth College

"Reputation for excellent clinical experience close to home, friends and family."

Drexel University

"I’m a NYS resident, so the school is close to home and the tuition is more affordable. The clinical experience is supposed to be great here. I know many alumni who recommended the school."

Emory

"Basically, I was choosing between Downstate and [another school]. I really wanted to be in an urban setting since I am planning on continuing to live in an urban area. Downstate seemed to be a much better fit with the opportunities it will present in the future and of course now, for doing well in the Residency Match."

Florida International University

"Location, good clinical exposure, diversity of students and patients."

Fordham University

"It’s in Brooklyn."

"For its great diversity & emphasis on research investigation. The urban environment & the immense experience accrued are also major factors in attending SUNY Downstate."

George Washington University

"I wanted to couple my love of science with my desire to help others. I chose Downstate because of the availability of clinical experience."

"I decided to attend SUNY Downstate because of its reputation for clinical training."

"Love the area and block centered curriculum."

Hunter College (CUNY)

Emory

"Good Primary Care Training, Low tuition, location."

"Location NYC."

"Very diverse population in the area. This institution is known for its clinical medicine."

John Hopkins University

"Wanted to stay in NY, great clinical education."

"In-state tuition and the promise of exceptional clinical years brought me here."

"Down to earth faculty & students. Emphasis on serving undeserved population. Reputation for unique clinical exposure."

Lehman College (CUNY)

"The diverse nature of the students & faculty body is very attractive to me. I also learned of the excellent clinical experience I would gain prior to the clinical rotation and more importantly, the experience that would help during the residency. I also like the idea of staying close to home."

"I wanted to study & work on a familiar and diverse area. The school is known for its reputation and I thought it would be a good experience. Downstate is also close to home."

Manst College

"Clinical Experience."

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

"Great school, in-state tuition, friendly faculty and staff, students very interested in learning, and happy to be at Downstate."

McGill University

"Price, location, clinical exposure."

"I applied to SUNY for the opportunity to study medicine in NYC. I feel that NYC will give me great clinical experience, especially working with the underserved. I also chose SUNY for tuition purposes it is a state school."

Medgar Evers College (CUNY)

"Downstate’s clinical experience is second to none. I’ve heard great things from Alumni and their mission fits my personal goals."

New York Institute of Technology

"Clinical diversity and affordability."

New York University

"I decided to attend SUNY Downstate of its location, price and reputation."

"Father attended, Close to home."

"Great location (close to Manhattan), wanted to learn medicine in an urban environment, good academic reputation."

"Downstate offers a great clinical experience, excellent teaching and a great price for state residents."

"I decided to attend SUNY Downstate because it has an excellent educational program and affordable tuition. I am a NY resident. I was actually born at Kings County Hospital. I grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, and I would like to practice community medicine in the area. Thus Downstate was the best choice for me."

"Good clinical experience, close to home."

"It’s in NYC."

"Clinical, tuition, location."

"I wanted clinical experience. Your school offers the best to that field. I am slightly excited to find out the best in the next few semesters."

"I got a very good impression of the school from my interview. Everyone was very friendly and helpful and overall. I got the best vibe from Downstate compared to any other school I interviewed at. I also like the location, cost and clinical experience that we will receive here."

"Good Tuition, Good location (Wanted to stay in NYC and I live in Manhattan). Liked the school at interview (very friendly)."

"I decided to attend Downstate because of its proximity to my family and friends who all live in Brooklyn. The good education it offers and because I’m cheap."

"Location, clinical experience, residency match list, tuition. Students seemed happy and down to earth interview."

"I decided to attend Downstate because it’s a very diverse environment. Also, Downstate has a great reputation with many residency program directors. The students at Downstate seem very warm and cooperative. This is the type of environment I wanted to be in for 4 years."

"I wanted to stay in Brooklyn!"

"The neighborhood surrounding Downstate offers a unique experience. The reputation of Downstate was also important."

Northwestern University

"Due to the strength of the clinical training as well as the strength of the family."

Penn State University

"Location, tuition, close to home."

Pomona College

"The opportunity to be trained in & be involved in a community that has a real need for services. Also, the curriculum & focus on hands-on training was key. Next=Location! I love Brooklyn and I’m excited to plant roots here."

Princeton University

"Close to friends and family. A great school."

"Location, tuition, good education."

Queens College (CUNY)

"I decided to attend the College of Medicine at SUNY Downstate because the curriculum appealed to me, it was cheap and close to home."

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

"This school has the most clinical experience opportunity of any school I was interested in. It was also the closest to home and had the cheapest tuition. Most importantly, however, was that this school is made for people like myself; a first generation under-represented college student."

St. John’s University

"The diverse student/faculty population. I know a 4th year and she can only speak highly of the school & it’s academic environment. Location= > New York,."

"I chose Downstate because of its excellent clinical training and cultural diversity."

Stanford University

"Great education for an affordable price. 4 Yr MD/MPH program. Exposure and direct contact with urban communities. Mobility between the 5 boroughs. The experience of living in New York City."

"Location in NYC and close to home. Great experience during rotations."

"Downstate has an excellent reputation as far as producing excellent physicians. The location is perfect, it is in a melting pot, so the experience & exposure to so many cultures will be beneficial. In addition Downstate is close to home."

"I decided to come to Downstate because of its relative affordability, proximity to family and its opportunity to interact with a diverse patient population."

"The best clinical experience. Best education value."

"SUNY Downstate is a wonderful teaching institution. The surrounding diverse community offers great opportunities for learning and patient care/education."

"For its clinical exposure throughout all the years of attending Downstate and for its low tuition."

"I did research at Downstate when I was in high school. I’ve also I lived in Brooklyn all my life and that was another important connection. It’s a great education at an affordable price in the greatest borough in the world."

"I have been living in Brooklyn since birth. So Brooklyn is home to me. It is truly an honor to care for the community."

"Location, patient population, education, reputation state school."

"I decided to attend this school because of its reputation, promise of hands-on learning experience and finally because it allows me to live in NYC."

SUNY Albany

"I have family and friends living in New York and wanted to be close to that support system. The Brooklyn area is one with a large Caribbean population and that was also important to me."

SUNY Downstate

"Location and Price."

Swarthmore College

"In-state tuition, location near family and friends, I like Brooklyn, good experience visiting for an interview. Heard good things about the type of people who attend Downstate, good clinical experience."

"You accepted me. I wanted to live in the city for a few years."

Syracuse University

"The school’s reputation. The location."

"If you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere. There is so much diversity in patients and diseases that I will see and experience things people at other schools only read about. New York City also has a lot to offer as far as culture and other developing experiences."

Touro College

"I chose Downstate because - Great reputation, nearest to home, low cost, father’s residency and former faculty here."

Tufts University

"In-state tuition, organ based system curriculum, NYC, Kings County Hospital."

Union College

"Location."

University of California - Berkeley

"Location, Clinical experience, diversity of class."

"Supportive Atmosphere (faculty, peers). Explore the wonders of New York City."

University of California – Los Angeles

"Tuition, City Life"

"The school really gives you a chance to serve all different types of people. Being so close to Manhattan is awesome. Also you can’t beat the price."

University of California - San Diego

"Reputation as a great med school with opportunities for hands on experience."

University of Chicago

"I loved the idea of a systems based approach to medicine, and the clinical exposure is second to none."

University of Delaware

"Excellent reputation, location and curriculum."

University of Miami

"It was the only viable option that offered me a metropolitan atmosphere with an attitude."

University of Michigan

"I applied here originally because I wanted to go out of state and be in an urban area."

"Clinical experience, Location & $$$."

University of Minnesota / Boston University

"I heard fantastic things about the clinical program- i.e, the amount of hands-on clinical experience at SUNY Downstate is unparalleled compared to other institutions."

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"For the clinical experience, the location of NYC, price, in state."

"I liked the atmosphere when I came for my tour, and I liked the organ-system teaching approach. Brooklyn was also a big factor, wanted to be in the city."

"SUNY Downstate has a great reputation and is located in a very diverse and exciting city. I wanted to experience treating an urban population."

University of Notre Dame

"I wanted to learn medicine in an urban setting."

University of Pennsylvania

"Downstate offered good clinical experience. It is close to home. Financially, Downstate was a good fit for me."

"I decided to attend because of location and cost."

"I decided to attend Downstate because I know that I will gain excellent clinical experience and work closely with physicians."

"Great clinical training, chance to live in NYC and experience what it has to offer."

"Early clinical experience, close to home."

"Great school. Hands-on educational experience. Great location."

University of Rochester

"Location, Cost."

University of Virginia

"Clinical experience, New York City medical school. In state tuition."

Vassar College

"I decided to attend the College of Medicine at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University for the unsurpassed clinical experience and education."

Washington University

"The organ based program seemed more interesting than the traditional program. I liked the urban location on campus."

"Good school, good place."

Wellesley College

"I liked the block system and loved my tour."

Wesleyan University

"I liked what I had heard and learned about the program here at Downstate. When I visited, I liked the attitude of the students I had met. Also, even as someone coming from out of state, the cost was a large factor."

Williams College

"Location-I’m from the suburbs and was looking for something new. Reputation- the school does well on the boards & matches well. Interview- staff was very friendly & welcoming"

Yale University

"Excellent clinical training. I am interested in working with a diverse patient population. Also, my mentor attended SUNY Downstate, and encouraged me to apply. He was very influential towards me."

"It’s very close to my family and I wanted to receive medical training in the New York City area. After my interview, I also became very interested in the many clubs and non-academic programs available."