Entering Class Fall 2017 / Graduating Class of 2021
Binghamton University
“Wanted a change from a more rural/suburban area. Many doctors told me the experience at downstate is unmatched”
“Great clinical experiences and close to home”
“Wanted the experience of living in NYC, having access to a vast healthcare network, and getting a top-notch clinical education.”
“I was accepted into the MD/PhD program here and its close to home.”
“Location, cost, reputation and diverse atmosphere that promotes learning and integration.”
“Opportunity to learn at a hospital affiliated with the Free Community County Health Service / Patient demographic of underserved”
“Location, price, and mission (I want to work with an underserved population)”
Boston College
“Cost, location, friendly people on interview day.”
“The clinical experience and diversity of student body”
“First rate clinical experience! Outstanding feedback from recent graduates. Innovative curriculum”
Boston University
“Being from NYC I was interested in a local school, Downstate is a perfect fit.”
“Closer to New York City and all of the opportunities that it entails.”
Bowdoin College
“Students / professors seemed friendly, felt supportive and collaborative, Brooklyn”
Brandeis University
“It's a second home”
Bucknell University
“Because it gives me the best opportunity to succeed”
Case Western Reserve University
“Close to home, affordable, opportunity to serve an underserved population.”
College of the Holy Cross
“I chose SUNY Downstate because I am an in-state student, because I know I will get a great medical education here, and because it allows me to stay close to my family in Westchester.”
“I wanted the opportunity to attend a school that naturally incorporates social justice and dedication to diverse populations into its mission.”
Colorado College
“Because I want to serve the people of Brooklyn, my neighbors, as a doctor This is my home and I want to make it a better place by addressing the health needs of the residents.”
Columbia University
“It is a great school!”
“On my interview day, all the current students who guided us around were incredibly helpful and genuinely seemed like they were enjoying their time here. There seemed to be a sense of community that I did not find at other medical schools.”
“Close to home, price, good education.”
“Close to home.”
“I decided on SUNY Downstate because of it's commitment to community health and social activism.”
“It is rare to see such a diverse student body in medical school, especially one that reflects the neighborhood it serves so well.”
“I wanted to stay in NY, and I appreciated the focus that Downstate has on medically underserved communities.”
“I am from NYC and have friends and family in the area. It was less expensive as a state school. The integrated curriculum with group learning and pass/fail grading. Here it felt like community/social activism were at the forefront.”
“I heard from many doctors that Downstate graduates have a great reputation for being hands-on and possessing more "practical knowledge" than graduates of other schools in the area. The NYC location and in-state tuition also factored into my decision.”
“Rewarding Clinical experiences, affordable, New York City/ family is close.”
Cornell University
“Location in the city, reputation, patient diversity.”
“Incredible clinical opportunities, friendly atmosphere, opportunity to stay in NYC.”
“Diversity, friendliness and chill attitude of students.”
“I enjoyed the people I met at Downstate. I wanted to go to med school in NYC. I liked that grades are pass/fail.”
“cost, location, reputation”
“Location, MD/MPH program, clinical experience in NYC”
“Location, cost, diverse patient population, pass/fail preclinical grades.”
“I liked the atmosphere when I visited; and despite being stressed and tired, the students seemed happy. I also wanted to be in the Brooklyn area with a diverse patient population.”
“Location, cost, clinical education.”
“I decided to attend Downstate Health Sciences University because of the myriad opportunities to work with a diverse population of patients, peers and staff in an urban setting.”
“Community”
CUNY Barnard College
“For the amazing clinical exposure. I was also interested in interacting with a diverse patient population”
“Location and cost”
“I live in Brooklyn and have lived here for the past 19 years. SUNY Downstate is conveniently located from where I live and it serves an underprivileged neighborhood. It is important for me to study and interact with this community, especially because I grew up around these people.”
“I wanted to stay in NYC and experience the diverse clinical opportunities”
“The culture, the location, the price, the clinical experience”
“Mom went here, community, experience, close to home.”
CUNY Brooklyn College
“I wanted to study medicine in NYC, where I'm from.”
“I grew up in the city and love the diversity and experiences it provides.”
“To achieve my dream of becoming a child psychiatrist in impoverished urban areas”
“In NYC, close to home, heard a lot of great things about it from friends here.”
“It is a great place to study medicine and I am excited to be going here, I heard so many great things about it.”
“It's an incredible school with incredible people”
“I was attracted to SUNY Downstate's focus on clinical skills development and providing care to an underserved community.”
“I wanted to go to medical school in a dynamic urban environment with a diverse patient population.”
“I didn't see myself anywhere else, I wanted to serve an underserved/underprivileged patient population.”
CUNY City College
“It is in my hometown of Brooklyn. I can stay close to my family and my wife can stay in her current graduate program.”
“I heard that the clinical experience you get at Downstate is top notch, there is a diverse community, good price for education.”
“I am interested in learning in an urban, immigrant setting, which would prepare me greatly for my career as primary care pediatrician for people in the underserved areas.”
“The college trains amazing physicians and is at the center of a community underserved.”
“Lower cost of tuition, proximity to home will allow me to commute from home. School has excellent reputation and I have had great recommendation.”
CUNY College of Staten Island
“Proximity to friends and family, instate tuition, clinical experiences.”
CUNY Hunter College
“I chose to attend Downstate for several reasons - great price, great experience and great city!”
“In Brooklyn/NYC, Pass/Fail grading”
“Family proximity and the "natural" New Yorker bias. I was also told the experience is intense and amazing.”
“It is close to home so I will have a good support system.”
“Location, clinical experience, cost, atmosphere during interview.”
“I am a New York resident and I have been living in New York for the past 10 years and this was my top choice school. I wanted to be close to home and I wanted to be in the city while being part of school that focuses on primary care.”
“Cheaper tuition and strong clinical experience.”
“Location - close to family in a fun city, urban environment so will gain a lot of clinical experience.”
“It's a great program that will get me lots of experience and I'll have a lot of fun.”
“I decided to attend SUNY Downstate because of its location, student atmosphere and academic excellence.”
CUNY Queens College
“Because of the diversity and curriculum.”
“Great community!”
CUNY Macaulay Honors College
“Like community oriented experiences and to contribute to the patient population.”
CUNY York College
“SUNY Downstate is located at NYC, which is a very diverse city, also, I chose Downstate because the students seemed quite relaxed in comparison to other medical school students.”
Dartmouth College
“Located in New York (close to family and friends)”
Emory University
“Because of the great community involvement the school partakes in”
Florida International University
“I've always wanted to live in NY so I applied mainly to NY schools, then I realized Downstate was close to family and shared a lot of the my values in practicing medicine.”
Fordham University
“I got a sense that the school was particularly oriented toward social justice and that is aligned with my values.”
“I have done several internships here since my high school career and throughout my college career. This is a second home to me which is why I chose to attend SUNY Downstate.”
Georgetown University
“I chose Downstate because it gives me the chance to earn a high-quality and affordable medical degree while living in New York City and Brooklyn.”
“Location and great clinical training.”
Harvard University
“Close to home, great clinical experience, great community, strong match list in NYC, strong research programs and diversity.”
Hofstra University
“It provides the type of diverse and unique healthcare exposure, centered around community care that no other institution can provide.”
“Reputation of clinical teaching, location.”
Johns Hopkins University
“Great location, great patient exposure.”
“Able to learn and serve under-represented in Brooklyn.”
“I chose Downstate because it was close to home for me, with a lot of clinical diversity in the borough of Brooklyn.”
“Excellent reputation, wanted to live and learn medicine in NYC, and love true commitment to diversity.”
Lafayette College
“Population it serves, educational experience, close to home.”
LIU-Post
“It was my first choice, I love the opportunities that they offer, the diversity, it's very close to my home, and the tuition.”
McGill University
“I was impressed with the curriculum, student spirit and constant efforts made to improve Downstate when I visited.”
Northwestern University
“I wanted to be in New York and the atmosphere here seemed amazing.”
Binghamton University
“Great reputation!”
“Warm and welcoming faculty and students.”
“The integrated curriculum and unique opportunities learning from the urban Brooklyn environment.”
“Brooklyn native, wanted to stay in NYC. Affordable tuition.”
“The urban environment is a nice change of pace from my usual suburban life. In addition, SUNY Downstate has a great reputation in its clinical experience. Students encounter aspects of medicine that students from other schools wouldn't until residency!”
McGill University
“Close to home, great clinical experience, Brooklyn is terrific.”
“Quality of clinical rotations and diversity of patient population.”
Mercy College
“Brooklyn!!!”
New York Institute of Technology
“Located in Brooklyn, heard good things about clinical staff.”
New York University
“I am interested in working with underserved and urban populations, and I wish to practice medicine in New York City.”
“Learn medicine in the city”
“It offered the best medical education at the best value and would provide me with a great support system.”
“Downstate is close to home and I was impressed by the opportunities for clinical exposure.”
“Tuition, clinical experiences, location.”
“Great location, great reputation.”
“Love NYC! Can't leave it.”
“Train at NYC city hospital, attend state school, heard the students were down to earth.”
“This was my top choice. Diverse, I align with the school's mission.”
“Students (MS1s) were great during second day revisit. Diversity - which is rare in other schools, working with diverse patient population.”
“I love NYC/Brooklyn and I appreciate Downstate's focus on public health and community service. Plus, the people here seem very happy.”
“New York City, tuition, clinical opportunities, looked cool.”
“Clinical experience, diversity of patient population.”
Northeastern University
“I wanted to stay in Brooklyn, and I felt like I connected with the Downstate community.”
“Good clinical experiences in NYC.”
“Excellent hands-on clinical education and the chance to work with an underserved population in NYC.”
Pace University
“Excellent clinical exposure in NYC and close to family.”
Princeton University
“To learn/serve the neighborhood that I have grown up in.”
Rutgers University
“I love the focus on treating the underserved population and urban medicine overall.”
“I love the fact that I will be serving my community and get early clinical exposure.”
“Downstate is a great choice because of the amazing clinical opportunities and living in the Brooklyn area.”
St. John Fisher College
“I wanted to experience life and medicine in NYC and I wanted to attend an affordable school.”
Stevenson University
“I loved the environment of collaboration between students and the amazing, attentive faculty.”
SUNY Stony Brook University
“Close to home and affordable.”
“Loved the school and atmosphere on tour!”
“Living in NYC, clinical opportunities, close to my home, the people I met during the interview, overall cost.”
“The integrated curriculum was interesting, I like the proximity to New York City, in-state tuition, people were really nice.”
“I decided to attend Downstate because of the extremely friendly staff and students, as well as the ability to practice medicine in such a fast paced and diverse area.”
“Location, clinical exposure, diverse patient population.”
“State tuition! Good location.”
“I want to serve my community, I am not from Brooklyn, but I am from New York, I want to be able to get affordable education and close to home.”
“Downstate would offer me an amazing clinical experience and allow me to learn medicine under the best kind of teaching so that I can help my patients in the future.”
“I always wanted to attend school in my backyard. As a Brooklyn native, serving my community means the world to me.”
“A prestigious institution that will offer a great deal of resources for my education and career.”
“Patient exposure is unparalleled, students seemed down to earth, bang for your buck!”
SUNY Geneseo
“It's close to home and affordable relative to other schools.”
SUNY New Paltz
“The atmosphere and friendliness of the students and faculty, feels like a team effort, and I value that in education.”
Swarthmore College
“Diversity of the student body is exciting.”
“For an incredible clinical experience and mission. I want to help communities like the one I was raised in. Brooklyn is a very multicultural and vibrant community.”
Trinity College
“I decided to attend SUNY Downstate based upon my interview day, as well as the location. I really enjoyed my interview day and felt all the current students I spoke to really liked Downstate. I also really wanted to stay in NYC.”
Tufts University
“NYC, reputation, in-state, personal connection.”
“Large diverse patient base, exciting city life, great facilities throughout area.”
“In-state tuition, diverse patient population”
“I love being in Brooklyn and knew I would get an excellent education with unparalleled clinical experience here.”
UC Berkeley
“After talking to current students and faculty, I got the sense that Downstate offered a very collaborative environment. I could think of no better place to spend four years in medical school.”
“I believe it is the best medical training I will get in the country.”
“Excellent clinical exposure and training, close to an area that I can call home. Student Camaraderie.”
“I hear it provides good clinical experience for a diverse population.”
UC Los Angeles
“It was the dedication to attending to the needs of the underserved communities as well as the reputation of the emergency medicine program. In addition, the school resides in a bustling part of the borough and the potential for in-state tuition was also a plus.”
“I chose Downstate because of the combination of challenging clinical experience and ability to live in NYC.”
UC Riverside
“The reason why I chose Downstate is because the school has a great reputation for clinical experiences.”
“UC San Diego”
“SUNY Downstate has a strong reputation for training well rounded and knowledgeable physicians. The patient population here is diverse and there's a lot of opportunities to gain clinical experience.”
“I was interested in studying in Brooklyn and the associated patient population.”
UC Santa Barbara
“Brooklyn, clinical training, and Brooklyn!”
University at Albany
“I really enjoyed the school when I visited. Students seemed happy and collaborative. Downstate also provides great access to clinical training and as a NYC resident I wanted to attend medical school close to home.”
University of Calgary
“Its focus on public health and engaging the community.”
University of Chicago
“Downstate is close to my home in a community I know and want to work in and rotations at Kings County are the kind of experience I am looking for. In-state tuition is nice too.”
“It is patient oriented, strong clinically, and located in NY where I am from.”
University of Connecticut
“I know I would get great clinical exposure/education. I also wanted to be close to my family in the New York area.”
University of Florida
“After spending four years out of the state during undergrad, I wanted to return closer to home in New York State. I also have a family connection to the area surrounding Downstate.”
“To have a diverse clinical experience.”
University of Georgia
“patient population!”
University of Maryland, College Park
“Allow me to get in-state tuition after 1st year, cool location, good curriculum, close to home.”
“Pass/Fail curriculum as well as the clinical experience. Also wanted to be in Brooklyn.”
University of Miami
“Best combination of patient interaction, class formatting, and case exposure.”
University of Michigan
“Brooklyn is awesome!”
“I decided to attend Downstate for the location, clinical experience and sense of community.”
University of Nevada, Reno
“I wanted to go to school in NYC, great match list for residency, full scholarship thanks to MD/PhD”
University of Ottawa
“Downstate is in a very diverse community, I have heard great things about Downstate from many people in the medical community, I really wanted to stay in New York.”
University of Pennsylvania
“Serving a culturally and socioeconomically diverse patient population.”
“First choice school. Lower tuition rate. Great reputation and I have family in NYC so I really wanted to stay local.”
University of Rochester
“Location, patient population, reputation.”
“Patient population, clinical opportunities and welcoming atmosphere.”
University of Southern California
“I decided to go to SUNY Downstate because I wanted innovative learning, friendly community, service-oriented culture and mission, and life in New York.”
University of Virginia
“It is the best medical school I was accepted to with regards to price, location, and quality of education.”
Villanova University
“Excellent training program, great location and in-state tuition.”
“I really liked the atmosphere and student-friendly feel during my interview. I also liked the location, close to friends and family.”
Washington University in St. Louis
“Curriculum and location”
Wesleyan University
“Close to home, more affordable, close to the city.”
“Great school, great location, diverse patient population.”
Wesleyan University
“The diverse patient population and urban environment is what initially attracted me to Downstate. I wanted a school that would train me well and I heard Downstate has incredible clinical experience.”
Western Washington University
“I want to help people and serve the people of Brooklyn!”
Williams College
“After having lived in NYC for a year, attending SUNY Downstate would help alleviate the cost of med schools; plus, I have come to enjoy the city and serving in the urban community.”
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
“I matriculated due to the excellent reputation for strong clinicals, New York City and educator pathway.”
Yeshiva University
“Because it's a school that produces excellent clinicians and it is near home too, plus, I did my MPH here and loved it so why go anywhere else?”
“The outstanding education, the exceptional value and the invaluable experience and training that Downstate is known to provide.”
Other Comments
“I am originally from NYC and want to work with the diverse /minority population of Brooklyn. I have been coming here since I was a kid, I would love to be part of the new wave of progression.”
“I decided to attend because of location (it is so close my home) and pricing. I also know that there are a lot of research opportunities and education is good here.”