About me: I am a greekorican, and a native new yorker. Ur standard application compared to most peeps on this website. Unfortunately like many on SDN, I did not go to africa and find a cure for malaria.....
Feel free to comment or PM me.
9/30/08: This process is daunting and stressful. Very arbitrary and I just want it to be over but it is only the beginning. At this point I just want to go somewhere but it would be nice to have options.
12/2/08: SUNY STONYBROOK Acceptance!!!!!!!!!!!!! my first one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am Going to be a DOCTOR! IT dont matter what happens now. The stress is off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1/12/09: Figured its about time for an update. So I got my first acceptance at SUNY Stonybrook which is a good school but way out there. I prefer going to a NYC school anytime and I am waiting to hear from them. I hear from Einstein really soon which I am excited about so well see......
3/5: ok so thought its about time. I got into Columbia my TOP CHOICE. could not be more thrilled. its over!!!!!!!!!!
costs
Princeton review class 1700
Mcat 210
Primary Applications 790
Secondaries 2000
Florida Airfare: 187 + 50 for food
Gas for SUNY Stonybrook:20
Buffalo Train: 130 +100 for food
total:....4500
Interview Feedback
Cornell 9/24: My interviews went horrible and I really didn't get to sell myself. I froze and forget half of what was on my AMCAS. Probably going to get rejected. It was my first interview o well. the admissions staff were nice, but some of the students seemed dorky i dunno. I just got that vibe but everyone was nice. The tour was horrible and was given to us by a first year and we did not even get to see the hospital. heavy emphasis on pbl which is attractive for free time, and of course butt loads of oppurtunities. The facilties were gorgeous tho and really state of the art with the patient acting rooms, the dummies, and the anatomy lab. Again great school but dont know if i fit in completely. We will see I probably will not get in here so why am I rambling?
SUNY Downstate 10/8: Great day here! School is in the hood of flatbush where students are bussed to the train which kinda sucks but im from the city so it aint that bad. Not really anything to do around the neighborhood though, but parkslope is in brooklyn, and brooklyn heights is nice as well. This was the one negative. The interview was great, I had a pediatric intensivist who I connected with and really was so laid back. The student tour showed us every little thing about the shcool and they seemed happy. The facilties were not top notch, but the anatomy lab was brand new, and it seemed like everyone was tight knit. The athletic facilties were standard and got the job done. Had a transcript service that allowed for kool note taking, and they had a variety of ways to get thru the school. dont have to attend lectures, and everything is podcast. Get a booklet of everything in the module, (broken down into modules). (cornell also offers that big booklet for each class) .Great school with down to earth people, and its cheap. I just wish there was more to do in the neighborhood.
10/22 Columbia- WOW. Columbia got me giddy. I AM ON THE COLUMBIA BANDWAGON. I CANNOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE SCHOOL. GOTA WAIT TILL MARCH FOR WORD. I AM PRAYING. BALSO organization is the shit, P&S clubs got everything. Support system is great. In washington heights( I grew up there). Pass/fail. Student center for wellness. Great interview with the dean of diversity absolutely loved her. Balso is amazing and the breakfast and students were so chill. Got to sit in on a journal club which was nice too. Transplant pager was sweet. Overhaul of curriclum.More free time. Laid back atmosphere. Great day overall. I will pray. Just great vibe.
11/5 AECOM- Very nice school. Probably some of the most laid back students I met. Everyone was very warm, and tried to make me feel at home. Unfortunately the student body was not very diverse as I had hoped, and the minority support is not as great as I would have liked or seen from other schools. Student cafeteria is nice, good because I love to eat. One school that probably has the least amount of lecture. Global health alliance and funding to do anything is sweet. Housing is nice and actually felt like an apartment. Gym and basketball court was gorgeous too. Brand new research building too, which I did not get the name of. Research opportunities unparalleled. Had a physchiatrist interview me who was super cool we talked about the knicks and sports, at the same time he kinda psychoanalyzed me here and there. Otherwise Great school and definitely one of my top choices.
11/13 SUNY Stonybrook: School is in the sub suburbs. Close to rural in my opinion. It is way out there. nonetheless the medical center and school is gorgeous with beatiful facilties and a clincal center similar to cornell. The medical school is woven into the hospital which is nice, with escalators throughout the school. Students were chill, a few nerds but what can u expect. Staff and admissions seem very nice and willing to help. The scioeconomic breakdown of patients is varied but again its out in long island. The school is experienceing budget cuts as other suny schools. The schools curriculum is composed of much lecture time, but u dont have to attend, and they are trying to make it more self directed. The library and everything else there is gorgeous tho however. The research oppurtunities seem pretty sweet with the opurtunity to do anything. I had a nice phd mr delihas who was super laid back just very general followed by a student 4th year who was up tight and I did not really vibe well. Threw me outta my element, and made me feel unwelcome at times. Hmm this whole things is getting harder and harder. I would rather be in a city setting in my opinion but there facilties and staff outdid suny downstate but I still like some of the other schools at this point.
11/19 SUNY Buffalo: STayed with students. Everyone was very warm. Super long tour kinda annoyed at that but good cuz they really gauge what buffalo is like and they truly value the student and havea nice community here. The dean and mr rosso really care and really analyze everyone. They have honors and high pass, pass, and wat not which aint the best but still not a competitive atmosphere at all. It is cold there too. I didnt see much for minorities. Their is a lota community service available and good socioeconomic breakdown. It is way up there, but the facilties were nice. CCC clincal competency center, a simulator, and a nice library. Over haul to more self directed learning, and case based too. Lecture 8-12 ev day. Not bad. Dont like the cold tho but buff is actually a nice city. I am a city boy but it grew on me. My interviews i had a sweet cardiologist , followed by a second year who was pretty mean and grilled which lead me to a third interviewer due to the discrepancy. Third interview an internist who was laid back but threw one off question regarding the election. eh. Overall impressed.
I got tired to write about shchools after all the interviewing. a very grueling process. more later hopefully.
We help students become doctors. TM
