Comments from the Class of 2006

Adelphi University

Working at Winthrop University Hospital allowed me to see the residents from various medical schools, mostly from the New York Area. Over the course of my 2 1/2 years there, it became obvious that the students from Downstate were the most confident, assured and prepared. Downstate Alumni, doctors, nurses and P.A.’s praised it and all said the clinical experience opportunities at King’s County were unparalleled. It’s proximity to the city and to my house was also a big factor in choosing Downstate.

Albany University, SUNY

Close to home and I wanted to become more familiar with NYC.

Amherst College

Cheap tuition and a good residency placements.

Clinical training and cost vs. quality of education.

Bard College

The excellence and thoroughness of clinical training resident tuition, location and the MD/MPH program.

Barnard College

The interviewer feedback was almost all positive. It is rare to find such universal response in other schools. It made an influential first impression on me. My interviewer confirmed my good impression. My answer to the “personal hardship” question was deeply personal. He seemed to respond and empathize. That kind of caring is hard to find elsewhere. I realize that this was the kind of environment I wanted to be in.

Clinical training that’s available and the excellent.

Downstate offered the best education for the money spent. It was the best choice out of all the acceptances.

The student were very positive when I visited and the cost."

Bates College

I wanted a medical education in an urban setting that would provide the opportunity for wide range of clinical experiences. The cost isn't bad either.

Binghamton University

Clinical experience reputation, cost and location.

It’s a good, affordable school with a great reputation.

A school with great reputation for it’s clinical and theoretical traditions, which is in my community and close to home.

Location, Cost, and Curriculum.

I am from Brooklyn and I wanted to be close to home. I also liked the curriculum and the academic atmosphere. The students seemed happy and enthusiastic about their experience here.

Its reputation and the opportunity to experience diverse situations and environments. Another reason was for the cost and location. There is nothing like New York City and a quality education at such a low cost.

I was excited to attend a school affiliated with hospitals that were busy…A place where you didn't know what was going to happen next. The location, the price … what more can I ask for?

Seemed like the perfect place for me. A place that fit my needs exactly.

I was impressed by what I heard of the students’ clinical experiences. Also, I appreciated the diversity of the student body and the location.

Urban location, reputation for clinical exposure, experience and tuition.

Location, excellent reputation and low cost.

Boston College

Location, close to my permanent home. 3rd & 4th year program – clinical base.

Location, clinical experience and cost.

Boston University

Confidence in Program, Residence match & success on USMLE by past students, cost and location.

Organ-based curriculum, getting involved in the public health department and cost.

Brooklyn College

Location, curriculum.

Good program, location and price.

The school had a continuous relationship with Brooklyn College and I was informed of the schools black curriculum. The system appeared more conduction to learning.

The excellent reputation.

Location and it is a great school, at an affordable price.

It is part of the BA/MD program associated with Brooklyn College.

I was a member of the BA/MD program at Brooklyn College.

Part of BA/MD College / SUNY Downstate program.

Diverse student body, correct clinical experience, financial consideration, close to home, easy to commute and block curriculum.

BA/MD Program.

Learn art of medicine, interact with the community, research, and meet interesting people, becoming a physician who is competent for the medical world.

The BA/MD program.

Brown University

Tuition, diverse patient population, student body, faculty and urban environment in New York City. "

Diversity, clinical exposure and price.

City College, CUNY

The integrated curriculum, location and hands on training.

Reputation for clinical instruction and low cost.

Colby College

Enthusiasm of medical students, attractive in-state tuition and unsurpassed clinical exposure.

Colgate University

The cost of tuition and reputation for providing excellent clinical experience. Being from Long Island, I was also looking for a school that was close to home.

Location and my father is an alumni.

Columbia University

I read about Downstate’s great tradition of making good doctors and I liked the location and the price.

Clinical Opportunities are priceless.

Location, cost, great exposure and good residency placement.

I liked the organ based learning approach. Furthermore, I conducted research with a Downstate faculty member.

Location, organ based curriculum, reputation and tuition.

Clinical reputation, academic reputation, cost and location.

It’s in Brooklyn.

Proximity to the most diverse student body and patient population, intensive clinical experience, innovative curriculum, and humanistic approach. The facilities do have a little to be desired and the administrative red tape has been a little disconcerting but these are obviously small, incidental detractors at an overall wonderful institution.

Cooper Union

Clinical experience, finances and location.

I was impressed with the clinical training one gets at Downstate.

Cornell University

It is a great education, especially for the money. Plus, I will have the opportunity for great clinical experiences.

Great school, cheap, good curriculum urban location.

When I came here for my interview the staff and students were extremely friendly and helpful. I liked the open and comfortable environment here.

I had a difficult time deciding because my other choice was Tufts. Socially, I really wanted to stay in Boston, but I couldn’t find one reason to justify the jump in tuition. In the end, my confidence in Downstate’s superior clinical education made the difference.

Downstate’s reputation for excellent clinical experience and its attention to community health are the factors that really attracted me to this school. As a strong believer in the human aspect of medicine, Downstate impressed me as a school that shared my beliefs and would help me to keep that idealism during my education.

Location.

Location, clinical experience and atmosphere.

I am from Long Island and wanted to be close to my friends and family. Everyone I met and spoke to who was a student was so enthusiastic about the school I really liked the clinical experience.

The commitment to holistic medicine (treating a patient as a person rather than a disease) and community. The cultural diversity not only in the student body but in the community as well.

The clinical experience, tuition rates and location.

My first choice it has a great curriculum.

CUNY

Reputation, introduction of some graduates from Downstate, and financial aid package.

Location in a diverse community.

Dartmouth College

Price and reputation made the option that much more attractive.

The unparalleled clinical exposure, the price and the quality of its education.

Duke University

Great clinical experience, location and tuition.

Unparalleled exposure to diverse clinical settings, along with an excellent education at an affordable price.

Recommended by my advisor and I like the curriculum.

Emory University

The clinical experience that I will get is unmatched and the location.

Organ based curriculum is what I wanted. Location and cost.

Fisk University

I was impressed by the academic curriculum. I like the fact that Downstate students are immediately exposed to the clinical aspects of medicine. The class/school is very diverse. Very important to me coming from a HBCU. The location of the school and its affiliated hospitals will give me lots of experience and exposure to a vast number of things. I did not feel I could get this at other schools.

Fordham University

My decision result from concluding there was a close fit between SUNY Downstate and my interests, experience and character. SUNY Downstate offers excellent clinical exposure and up and coming research areas informed by its position as a serves of inner-city populations.

Geneseo, SUNY

It’s excellent reputation for clinical training, research history and the medical faculty’s commitment to community health. Also, the diverse environment.

Location (urban area), clinical experience and low tuition.

George Washington

Clinical exposure and low cost.

Georgetown University

Good school and low tuition.

Gonzaga University

Opportunity to study medicine in a diverse environment and cost.

Harvard

Downstate is an excellent school in an ideal location and it’s much cheaper than most other schools.

Hofstra University

Reputation, price and location.

Hunter College

Excellent price for quality education in one of the most diverse, vibrant and colorful cities of the world. Friendly faculty, staffs who are ready to give personalized care and attention.

Johns Hopkins University

Its history of providing an excellent clinical experience. The diverse student body and clients.

Julliard /Marymount

Reputation, location and diversity of student body.

Lehman College

Location, tuition and rich clinical experience.

Long Island University

Excellent reputation for clinical experience and location.

M.I.T.

The friendly and welcoming environment. The convenience of location and the cost efficiency of the education made Downstate my first choice.

Excellent location, patient population, student body diversity and cheap.

Manhattan College

Location and curriculum.

Marymount Manhattan College

It’s affiliations with different hospitals and its low tuition.

Medgar Evers College

SUNY gives me a sense of family, everyone is very helpful and I love that.

Mercy College

Cost and reputation of having excellent clinical training.

Muhlenberg College

It’s research and clinical reputation and it’s long history of community service.

New York Institute of Technology

Clinical experience, reputation/student success, geography, cost and friendly atmosphere.

New York University

Location, Cost and Good School.

Location.

I decided to attend Downstate because I know it will provide me with an exceptional education that will meet the demanding changes that will occur in the future of healthcare.

Great school for a great price.

Great school, excellent reputation and inexpensive.

It’s the best school for me.

The school has a very good reputation, conveniently located and affordable.

The excellent reputation of the school, it’s low cost and it’s location.

I am grateful for the opportunity!

Location, affordable and clinical exposure.

Unique hospital experiences the big city has to offer.

Exceptional experience gained from education, faculty, location and cost.

Price, Location, clinical training & reputation.

Northeastern University

Great reputation for giving students a good clinical experience throughout the four years. Other reasons are cost and location.

Notre Dame

Geographic location in NY, cost of tuition, Opportunity to see a wide range of diverse pathologies and knew a couple alumni.

Penn State

Low tuition, location and the experiences.

Princeton University

After working for five years on the finance side of healthcare services, I decided that I would rather be a healthcare provider. The College of Medicine at SUNY Downstate promised a third and fourth year experience more enriching than most other schools, plus SUNY saw fit to admit me.

Queen College

The facility, I wanted to be in an area that I felt was truly representative to the minority community

Great school reputation, great faculty, fantastic location, and opportunities for community participation.

Great reputation, location and price.

The exceptional clinical experience in conjunction with the cost and location made Downstate the clear choice for me.

The great curriculum, support services, location and reputation.

Earliest acceptance, most inexpensive tuition and location.

Quinnipiac College

The NYC location, clinical reputation, curriculum and cost were my main reasons for attending. Also, diversity and research opportunities were secondary choices.

Rutgers University

Best clinical training and best tuition.

Seton Hall University

The positive experiences with faculty and students. People who genuinely care will support me throughout my education. I will become a competent & caring physician with a strong base of both textbook and clinical knowledge available in few other places."

Southern California University

Location, price, reputation and recommendations of past faculty members.

St. John’s University

I wanted to stay in New York and I am familiar with the school.

Low tuition, location, clinical and the experience. The friendliness and efficiency of the admission office was also a factor. They made me feel welcome during the interview process.

Its reputation of providing an excellent clinical education. Working in various hospitals as a volunteer and as a nursing assistant, I heard many good things about Downstate and Kings county as a teaching hospital, from doctors, patients, and nurses. Downstate is very affordable compared to other schools and it has a good academic and research reputation as well.

Location cost.

St. Johns's University /Queens College

I have to admit that SUNY Downstate was not my first choice. However, at some point after receiving invitation for interviews at other institution. I came to realize that Downstate is the place to be. The experience far outweighs what I’ve heard from other places/students. I look forward to the next 4 years with the opportunity to take and give back.

Stanford University

Superior clinical experience. Opportunity to work with Brooklyn community and in NYC. Reduced in-state tuition. Diverse student body.

The clinical training, the academic support and the price are all reasons I choose Downstate. I was also impressed by the diversity of the student body.

SUNY

I was excited about coming to Downstate because of the diversity that would be in my class and in the programs, I would be involved.

SUNY Stony Brook

Price, location and reputation.

Downstate provides a great clinical and basic science education. It also is very cheap and close to home.

Great curriculum, an even greater residency match and tuition.

It’s extensive and rigorous clinical training as well as the cost and the location.

Downstate was close to home and offers good clinical training.

The energy at Downstate is amazing. The staff, faculty & students are friendly and down to earth. I am thrilled to be here.

Excellent reputation in preparing clinically well rounded graduates. Affordability and location are added bonuses to an already good choice.

For excellent clinical training and Downstate close ties to its community.

Syracuse University / Columbia

Great clinical experience and low cost.

Touro College

MD/PHD Program..

Tufts University

Resident placement, location, success rate and alumni were happy with Downstate & the education.

University of Chicago

Cost, location, residency matches and clinical affiliations Downstate offers.

University of Denver

Impressive curriculum with CBL, block system and physician shadowing. Interested in inner city and public health medicine. Once I had actually applied and received an interview, the interview process sealed my decision. The faculty were pleasant, the staff and students helpful and the students were very cohesive, which is important to me as a community.

University of Maryland

Location, convenience and cost.

The curriculum meets my needs and the location and cost.

University of Massachusetts

SUNY Downstate is an excellent medical school that meets my preference for public universities. In addition, the university is located in New York, which nicely meets my personal requirements.

Early clinical experience, excellent medical education and the offers of the MD/MPH program.

University of Miami

The outstanding clinical training, location (urban area) and cultural diversity.

University of Michigan

Location, price, clinical experience, teaching methods and nice interview experience.

The clinical experience and cost.

The best education and experience in combination that any future physician could hope to receive.

University of New Orleans

Cost, community basis and good clinical training.

University of Pennsylvania

At Downstate, I have the opportunity to work with and work in a culturally diverse environment. In addition, the resources, the integrated curriculum and the support groups available to me surpass that of many other medical schools in the country."

I decided to attend SUNY Downstate for a few reasons. First, I had heard excellent things about the clinical experience here at Downstate and wanted to benefit from that. Secondly, SUNY has a renowned research faculty and I wanted to have those opportunities available to me. Third, staying in New York was very important to me because I am married and did not want to relocate my husband. Finally, the low cost of tuition was a big incentive in deciding on coming to SUNY.

Its strong commitment to its community is most attractive to me one of my career goals is to play an active part in an urban community.

Ambience. Right in NYC.

Excellent clinical experience, friendly staff and system based learning approach.

Hands on experience in an undeserved community.
Reputation, cost and location.

The extremely affordable tuition combined with an extraordinary education made Downstate a top choice for me. The clinical experience offered to first years is another attractive and unique feature. In addition, the location is ideal for me.

University of Southern Calif.

Great medical training a diversified patient population.

University of the Science in Philadelphia

Downstate provides the convince of being close to home, the price is right and the quality of a New York education.

Vassar College

The strength & diversity of curriculum, cost, location as well as my impression of the people at the school. After my interview, I was impressed by Downstate.

Wellesley

Impressed by Downstate’s urban medicine opportunities.

Wesleyan University

Location, cost, clinical experience and good reputation.

I was told the clinical experience ant Downstate would be excellent and that I would see things that I’d never see anywhere else. I also heard that the focus on research would be minimal to nonexistent (a good thing for me).

Williams College

Downstate’s outstanding reputation for training excellent clinical physicians and the cost is unbeatable.

Yale University

Excellent reputation among attending physicians and residency directors. Urban location, close to home. Student oriented administration. Affordable in state tuition.

Yeshiva University

Downstate provides the best clinical education in New York in an environment that emphasize learning terminology and caring. I chose Downstate over many other schools.

Emphasis on student diversity, close to home, excellent reputation and cheap tuition.

York College, CUNY

The staff and student body is ethnically diverse. In addition, I will be able to experience a wonderful scholastic and clinical training.

I want to practice medicine in NYC, so training here in such an intense clinical arena is invaluable. Downstate has an excellent reputation and is extremely affordable.

Reputation & clinical education.

Location (urban city) and the excellent research opportunities.