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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 30% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 714 responses
Score Reference:
9โ10 Exceptional8โ8.9 Very Good7โ7.9 Good6โ6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the areaโs cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
๐ฌ Interview Questions โผ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about specific activities, college and work experiences, ethical scenarios, motivations for pursuing medicine, leadership qualities, research involvement, and the role of technology in healthcare. Some respondents mentioned questions tailored to their extracurricular activities, clinical experiences, family background, future goals, and ethical dilemmas. The format of the interviews may have been MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the variety of questions asked, and respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement given the specific nature of some questions.
A lot of questions about my specific activities, college experience, work experience
Specific questions about classes I took (what did you read, why did you take this), etc. Why I took such a wide variety of classes (my undergraduate school had an extremely diverse core curriculum).
Asked about High School, College course I took in sophomore year, why medicine, mostly questions about extra curricular stuff. Where did medicine advance over the past 10 years? He asked about specific experiences that I have had while volunteering in hospitals, specific experiences that I have had while being in leadership positions in various societies, specific experiences about work, etc... Basically, very specific questions about the experiences that I had written about in my primary application. Possibly secondary as well. Know thyself! He was semi-conversational, but leant more toward the q&a type interviewer. Very nice man, overall.
Do you feel that you have the ability to create a patient-physician trust very rapidly with people who will differ from you in race, age, religion, ethics, etc?
Do you think there are any "bad" drugs out on the market? Please explain. (Note: I have a pharmacy background and was asked a loat of medication management questions)
Where else have you applied? Where else have you interviewed/are schedualed to interview? Have you been accepted anywhere (strange because almost nobody hears until the 15th of october).
MD: Tell me a little about your background. Why medicine? Why MSTP? Do you have a particular field you want to go into? Why? What do you do for fun? What if you did not get accepted to MSTP, would you consider MD w/Recognition in research? Why SB? What do you do for fun? What characteristics do you offer to our school? Where do you you see yourself in the furture? I will be defending you infront of the committee, is there anything you want me to tell them about you?
Students said the most interesting questions asked at Renaissance School of Medicine - Stony Brook University discussed a wide range of ethical scenarios, including handling religious beliefs affecting medical decisions and ethical dilemmas in patient care. Notably, the interviews seemed conversational, but some respondents mentioned the interviewer's crafty wording and the inclusion of hypothetical situations, possibly indicating an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements in place.
If the president called you up right now and told you that you are being given a blank check to solve the most important problem in healthcare, what would that problem be and how would you solve it?
Where else did you apply? (The interviewer picked me up from the conference room to the interview location, and this question came up on our way there)
Interesting ethical situational questions regarding in vitro fertilization, the high cost, and the inability for doctors to dispense medicine in the state of NY (only pharmacists are allowed to do this).
What would you do if you had 90 seconds to obtain parental consent for a blood transfusion for a child who would die without it, and the parents refused based on their religion?
Stony Brook has very open exams - they are given online and you have three days to take them. If you catch another student cheating, what would you do?
None in particular; both of my interviews were more or less conversations, with a leading question thrown in now and then (Why pick your undergraduate school? How difficult was it to get a summer job at X?)
A patient has a genetic condition that when treated with stem cells from the mother's umbilical cord during a subsequent conception, the condition can be cured. What are the ethical issues behind this decision?
Why do you want to be a doctor. No really, why do YOU want to be a doctor. Okay, so why do you want to do surgery. Why not endocrinology? Why not this? Why not that?
Why will you not be sanctioned for unethical practices when you are practicing medicine? (It was actually much more eloquently presented, I'm just paraphrasing)
A question regarding a hypothetical patient and a long history of breast cancer in her family. You want her to undergo testing but insurance won't conver it unless you feel a lump. You don't feel a lump. What do you do?
The interviewer presented a series of real life expamples leading upto questions on medical ethics - embryo research, teen abortion, gene screening, etc
Much more of a conversation than bullet points, but 1 question I remember/liked: "Talk about an emergency room experience that was truly memorable"
There has been a recent movement for doctors to learn "laymans" language to enhance patient interactions and make sure the patients understand their conditions. What do you think about this?
Do you think you will remain interested in practicing medicine alone after 10 years, or will you need the additional intellectual experience of research?
If you were the doctor of a young child whose family was Jahova's Witness (who don't believe in blood transfusions), and the child was brought in with a severe accident requiring a blood transfusion, what would you do?
My Answer: I would talk to the family and explain the situation. Since my patient is the child, I would have to take it upon myself to fight for the child's well-being. While I would try to respect the wishes of the family, I would not be adverse to getting a court order for the blood transfusion.
If I child needed a blood transfusion to save his life, but this conflicted with the parents religious beliefs, would you lie to the parents that there is a blood substitute in order to save the childs life?
I was asked a number of thought provoking ethics questions:
They were on varied topics such as student cheating, having sex with patients, domestic violence
Almost all the questions were exclusively derived from my AMCAS application or supplemental application essays. It was very laid back and conversational (Although one student in my group did have a bunch of ethics questions)
If euthanasia were practiced in the United States, and a doctor's religious beliefs conflicted with the practice of euthanasia, how should he handle a terminally ill patient who's family wants euthansia?
If you caught your fellow student cheating, would you report her? ( Stony Brook has a honor code system. So my answer was suppose to be yes. But I said I am not sure. He seemed to be satisfied with the answer and said he appreciated my honesty)
Students said most difficult question asked at Renaissance School of Medicine - Stony Brook University discussed a wide range of topics, including future career plans if not accepted, healthcare system improvements, personal patient interaction experiences, ethical dilemmas like euthanasia, and unexpected questions about passions and unique aspects of their applications. Some responses indicated an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted the importance of staying calm, being honest, and preparing for unexpected inquiries during the interviews.
What is your plan B if you were not to get accepted into medical school?
Why don't you have more hands-on patient interaction experience? (E.g. taking patient histories, physicals, etc). Without that experience, how are you sure you want to be a doctor?
What are your thoughts on euthanasia? (PSA: I didn't prepare for any ethics question going in, and this definitely took me by surprise. Still, I ended up getting in. Moral of the story: if you get a difficult question, just stay calm and be honest, and don't overthink it afterwards. Even if you didn't do so well, other parts of your application may very well balance things out.)
What is the one thing I should tell the admissions committee about you that is not on your application? This came out of the blue, after the interviewer talked about his/herself for maybe 10 minutes. Be prepared.
My faculty interviewer kept asking "Are you SURE you want to go into medicine? I mean...how do you know?" I gave him four thousand answers and he just kept squinting at me....
Suppose you are a physician and you were taking care of this patient that has cancer for a long time. One day the patient tells you: I don't want any more treatment, I am tired, I want to spend time with my family. How will you handle this situation?
Do you feel that websites that advertise organ donors (sort of like craigslist for transplants, no money transaction) are ethical? Do we tell patients about this website?
One interviewer with my file proceeded to ask me questions that were on my file (i.e. did I do research, volunteer work, what was your MCAT score, etc) and I was caught off guard. I just figured that she would have seen that stuff and I was frazzled that I got asked the questions so I was unhappy with my responses. I just tried to stay positive and upbeat, but I wasn't able to adequately outline me and my application in the context of me being a capable medical student and respectable future physician.
Nothing difficult really, if I had to pick I would say: If you have your choice of what school to go to what will be the one thing that will influence your decision most?
You state in one of your essays that part of the problem with rising medical costs is that doctors and hospitals perform extraneous tests to avoid lawsuits. You state in your personal statement that your patient (as an EMT) had a condition that couldn't be determined without extensive testing. How do you reconcile those two things?
By God's Grace, nothing terribly difficult. My first interviewer took me back to high school and asked me how many students attended my school. This was fine because overcrowding was a problem at my HS and I had a good idea of how many kids attended with me. He also asked me questions about a specific history course I took in college and I had to explain how we had a nutty professor who didn't teach us the material that the course was supposed to cover. Again, nothing terribly difficult, but he did catch certain things that I said and asked me questions based on those things. Nice guy, one of those calm yet stern people. His last name is the same as the Saint who Feb. 14th is named for. He was a stickler for time. Both interviews were 30min long and he made sure that we kept to that limit.
See question above... Also mostly bioethics questions about Jehova's Witnesses, Jehova's Witnesses's kids, changes to the health care system, how preventive care can be effectively conveyed to a generally nonresponsive population.
Suppose you were treating a woman whose family has a history of breast cancer. She's under the age of 40 and her insurance doesnt want to pay for a preventative mammogram. Would you lie and say you felt a lump to get her the mammo you know she needs?
she wanted to know something negative about myself - and she absolutely would not accept a run of the mill answer such as a negative trait thats really a positive trait as well.
How would you respond in this situation-- one must be sober for 2 years to get a liver transplant. A man comes to you after being clean for 8 months and will die without a transplant. what would you do?
If a person in the emergency room needed a blood transfusion to live but refused to take one due to religious belief, would you respect her beliefs and watch her die?...I know you have to respect your patients belief but it was hard for me to say out lould "yes, I would let the patient die"...which was the answer my interviewer was looking for
If you know another medical student cheats on an exam - Do you report him/her? I just think I fumbled a littel bit here. He was looking for a resounding YES!!!
Nothing, every question asked was a common question which you should know how to answer for any med school interview. There were no ethics questions, just questions about why you want to be a dr., what you know about downstate, what you do in your spare time, etc.
How would you communicate in an emergency to a woman from Laos who doesn't know English? What if a 12 year old told her parents she wasn't sexually active and then told you she is pregnant and then asked for an abortion?
If you were the surgeon general, how would you aim to help the growing problem of obesity in this country? (this was directed at my answer to the first supplemental question regarding US Healthcare)
There are some very selfish and competitive people who do not treat people, even their patients, nicely in medicine. WHat would you do/how would you respond, if in the future, your boss at work is a jerk?
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
What was the stress level of the interview?
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing with mock interviews, reading the school's website, and utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback and common questions. Suggestions included revisiting personal statements and secondary essays, researching the school's curriculum and unique features, and being prepared to discuss ethical issues and current healthcare topics.
HW reading up on the website, reviewing my AMCAS, all my research projects, re-reading my secondaries to SB and reading those from other schools that may have relevant info
Read these questions, read through my personal statement and application. Might be useful to review any work you have done for professors that you have had write you a letter of recommendation as this could come up if they mentioned the project in your letter!
School website (they will ask why this school over others so know what sets them apart), watched videos on interview taking, put together a list of questions to ask.
Read up on ethical questions, re-read all six thousand essays I wrote for the school, glanced at the website and at the interview feedback here at SDN, read the Health Times the week before. None of it necessary, apparently.
SDN, reviwed AMCAS and secondary applic, talked to med students, residents and doctors, reviewed school's website, kaplan's medical admissions adviser and tried my suit on the week before to make sure it still fit.
Mock interview, SDN feedback, Understanding Health Policy, Health Care Meltdown, UWash Bioethics Module, reading House of God right now, read over pending publications, read over AMCAS, etc.
SDN, spoke with first years I knew attending the institution, overview of my AMCAS application, review of my initial research into Stony Brook before I applied
I read this site, read various journal articles related to my research, my own research articles, topics of interest (in my case neurology/neuroscience), health disparities, my application and all three essays.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and staff at Stony Brook University School of Medicine. They highlighted the supportive and close-knit community, the modern facilities, the low-stress interview process, and the emphasis on student well-being and satisfaction. Many also appreciated the opportunities for research, the quality of education, and the positive atmosphere on campus.
the interviewers were very nice and only had good things to say about the school
Interviewers were incredibly kind and welcoming. Very, very low-stress and casual. Had a biochem / physio professor (PhD, not MD), and a 4th year student. Both read my file extensively and it was obvious they took the time to really understand me beforehand. The student even referred to an specific line in one of my essays and how it really resonated with him.
Interview was dynamic and hilarious. Facilities were much better than expected, especially after having interviewed at Downstate the previous day. Loved it.
The students were so friendly and happy to be there. The hospital ER has been recently renovated and looked very nice. Facilities were up to date and nice. Everyone I met was friendly.
Admissions staff and interviewers were very friendly and the day was very low-stress. Interview was conversational with very few typical "interview questions".
I really loved the whole day. Both of my interviewers were extremely friendly and spent significant time selling the school to me. I also thought the students were very friendly and outgoing.
Enthusiastic and confident students and faculty, plethora of research opportunities, faculty who are leaders in their fields, excellent facilities, state tuition.
the students seemed to love the school. night life seemed fun at port jefferson. anatomy is very well taught at SB. they seem to prepare students very well for USMLE (Step 1 avg is 10 pts higher than national avg)
Everyone was extremely friendly, the students and faculty I met were great! The facilities are great (but a bit funky looking on the outside). The students seemed confident that they were getting a great education, and all seemed to know each other well. The student to cadaver ratio was great in the anatomy lab (less than all other SUNY schools).
Lots of opportunities for research, and a growing global health program. Also offers an accredited MPH.
I visited every school in New York State, and I liked SB better than many private schools.
The school was beautiful. Nicely renovated entrance and, most of all, everyone was so friendly and extremely proud to be a part of Stony Brook. It seems like a very close-knitted community with everyone helping one another. The best medical school I have visited this year in NY and Boston area. I was completely mesmerized with the quality of faculty and education. I fell in love!!!!!
The facilities are gorgeous, the students seem to be very friendly to one another and were extremely helpful. Students seemed very proud to be there and confident that they were getting the best education. Match list is impressive and a ton of students matched to NYC hospitals. Material in the interview folder left a very good impression. My interviewers were both friendly and my faculty interviewer, about whom some people have complained in other posts, was hilarious and we had an awesome conversation about anything and everything.
facilities were very nice, and all the lecture halls are connected in one building; only thing is that the building is a maze of its own.
a close-knit campus where everyone helps each other out.
I was the only person who was not a NY resident, but after meeting the students, faculty, and administrators, I definitely felt I could belong there. The people are super nice. First year clinical rotations. The human anatomy professor discovered Lucy - how cool is that?!
How friendly/happy everyone was. The admissions presenter was a Red Sox fan. My interviewer told me that if I got into another school which I told him I interviewed at that I should go there because its an awesome school
the students were incredibly happy, faculty seemed interested in student's lives, friendliness of admissions staff, opportunities for research and international electives, interesting university hospital, students able to pursue lots of interests outside of medicine.
The curriculum incorporates behavioral, social and humanities medicine and nutrition as well as patient contact in the first year. The MD with recognition in research or humanistic studies.
Stony Brook's MD with distinction program (Interviewers seemed very keen to elaborate on this) offers students an opportunity to get a taste of research without going into a full fledged MSTP. In addition, this research does not have to be in a medical science, but must be medically related. For example, a student could graduate with distinction for medical research in the humanities.
The shiny hospital, the amazing amount of research possibilities, the collaboration with the other University schools, the strong match list and the enthusiasm of the students for their school. Oh, and the tuition, but that's because 18.8k is a steal for a medical school. Why go out of state?
Very friendly and helpful admissions office staff and med students. Interviewers were very laid back, not interrogating. Both interviews were more like conversations. The med school is in the hospital building and you get patient exposure at the start of your 1st year. Students are very enthusiastic about the school and say they get a lot of support from faculty, mentors, staff, etc. Only 4 students per cadaver in anatomy lab.
Admissions staff and interviewers were incredibly warm and sincere. Asst. Dean of Admissions personally answered our questions. School honor code. Students seem non-competitive and friendly. 4 students to a cadaver. Part of larger graduate health sciences student body. Facility is integrated with hospital and classrooms.
I was very impressed that both my interviewers actually attended Stony Brook. They both had great things to say about the school. The students also seemed really happy there.
the facilites were much nicer than I thought they would be for a state school. Plus the hospital in doubling in size and the new wing will be open in about 2 years.
enthusiasm of students & faculty, warm reception, generosity with time, expectations on faculty to help students/respond to emails/take an active interest in their education
Transcription services offered (I usually like to attend all the classes, so I liked the idea of taking notes for the class), lectures are recorded, online services, extremely approachable students, closely knit community, open-door policy for professors, MD with distinction program, sharing facilities with the undergrads, easy access to transport to NYC, wonderful admissions staff (they talk TO you, not AT you)
students seem EXTREMELY happy, facilities are better than i expected, entire building is wireless, curriculum is very diverse (honor code too), my interviewer
Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. The students I talked to didn't emphasize the in-state tuition as their reason for choosing Stony Brook. It definitely seemed like a place I could be happy spending the next 4 years, especially since the beach is only 10 minutes away (ok its a long island beach, but it's still a beach).
The students were extremely friendly, down-to-earth, enthusiastic and helpful. The school seems to be very responsive to student concerns. The fellow interviewees were more interesting and pleasant than those I met at other interviews.
Nothing. Everything good about the school I had known before the interview: great reputation, clinically and especially regarding research, residency opportunities, small class. Oh and the anatomy lab seemed nice and spacious/ventilated.
The overall atmosphere - everyone was enthusiastic and friendly and seemed to really want to be there. The labs are currently undergoing a 300 million dollar renovation and look quite nice.
how great my interviewer was, how happy the students were, the fact that the students had free time, that everything was in one building so you never have to go outside in the cold
The students seemed happy to be there. There is a small class size, so the class is pretty tight. My interviewer was also a really nice guy, very enthusiastic about his field.
Student camraderie. Since they're a small class, they're all cooperative with each other. It's a very laid-back environment. My hosts and their friends came over the night before to work on a PBL set together. I was observing a class before my interview, and when there was a small break, students were very friendly and turned to me and another interviewee and asked us if we had any questions. Most areas in the school have wireless capabilities.
I had no idea that Long Island could be that beautiful. It looked like Greenwich but without the mansions. My boyfriend spent the day photographing at nearby wildlife preserves.
Everything. I have never been to a school like this - everyone was really friendly, down to earth, and very happy there (I think 20 students came in to talk to us about how much they like the school). Small class size, great library and facilities, really nice and receptive administration. Like many applicants, i applied to state schools in new york and the private schools in nyc. Stony Brook impressed more than any other school that I have visited. Sure, it isn't new york city - but i think manhattan is very overrated and way too pricy to live the way that you could live in stony brook. Some students had houses on the water! It was seriously crazy how much this place rocked.
1) Combo of great research and clinical focus/training.
2) Cost
3) Location (near city, but far from city)
4)I liked the people I was interviewing with. There was a diverse population of students. Older people (with kids). Blacks, Hispanics, Asians.
The friendliness of the students and administration. I felt comfortable from the moment that I walked in. The students had nothing but good things to say about the school.
like everyone else commented, the students were ultra friendly and really enjoyed going there. i didn't get any comments about "the only reason they went there was because it's cheap." the students were extremely helpful and knowledgeable and really put a great face on the school. there seems to be little competition and everyone is willing to help each other out.
the students are very friendly and the atmosphere seems to be very relaxed and not competative. The library is very nice and the interviewer was great! They even arranged for a kosher meal for me without any reaquest.
The prof. that interviewed me was wonderful--a pathologist and very interesting person. We ended up having a great conversation on a multitude of subjects... he had reviewed my application in great detail, and we discussed various items and topics of interest.
price (fer in-staters), facilities, (wi-fi everywhere!)happy students, very positive and nice faculty, varied and odd-ball students (lots of non-traditional students)
The interviewer. Although she just saw my record that morning, she was really interested in my research and when I got into the room she told me she had questions she was required to ask but that she first wanted to ask about my research and questions and interests she had on it and then ask the required questions and come back to my research. Plus she was really keen on selling the MPH program to me and telling me how I could continue my research for this program since it was worthy of more than a bachelor's thesis.
the interviewer was very nice and knew everything about my file and knew a lot of information on the topics we discussed, you dont have to exit the building to go to the hospital from the medical school. the staff was friendly and welcoming
Everyone I encountered at this school was exceedingly friendly. It seems to be a very supportive environment. I was also impressed by the MD with Distinction possibility for research in the humanities. Only four people to a cadaver, a mix of clinicians and basic science PhDs teach the first two years, which I think is a plus.
friendliness of staff/students/interviewer, the day flowed really well and all about 10 students that came to talk to us were very open adn willing to answer all questions
My interviewer knew my application very well. How friendly everyone was (from admissions staff to students to interviewer). Great atmosphere. The tour was really nice and the students seemed to answer questions very honestly. Student lounge was cool.
The students at Stony Brook love it their school, more so than I've seen at any other medical school. The administration goes out of its way to accomadate the student body, and the faculty at Stony Brook has good relations with its students.
Students have a positive attitude towards the school. Teachers listen to students and change curriculum in requested. Students supportive of each other.
The students were very enthusiastic and had a lot of pride in the school. The level of competition among them was incredibly low. While most schools claim that this is the case, I think it is particularly true here. The students seem to genuinely like each other, and each class elects two social chairs.
I was very encouraged by the collegial atmosphere of the medical school. Especicially the friendly staff, students and the faculty interviewers. I was also encouraged by the diversity of the students and the myriad research and clinical opportunities within the medical school, Cold Spring Harbor Labs and Brookhaven Nationals Labs.
my interview, who was the dean of admissions
He was very ethically and humanisitically oriented person, and so am I, so that added dimension to the conversation.
I really liked my interviewer. I think he was so inspiring and I learned a lot in my interview about a lot of different stuff. It was more like a conversation. I also liked the way the students were so enthusiastic about the school, and seemed very intelligent, like they loved to spend hours studying because they love the medicine profession. The combination of the interviwers and students made me want to go to Stonybrook more then I thought I wanted.
Applicants were consistently unimpressed by the outdated facilities, unprofessional behavior of some staff during interviews, lack of enthusiasm from students, suburban location, and the need for a car due to limited public transportation. Suggestions include updating facilities, improving professionalism, enhancing student engagement, and considering transportation options for students in suburban areas.
Overall state of the medical school -- super outdated.
Both the professor interviewer and my student tour guides asked where else I interviewed (and where accepted). Was kind of awkward...hadn't happened to me in other interviews. It wasn't in an antagonistic kind of way but still seemed a little unprofessional. For instance, after I told my faculty interviewer of two other NYC schools I had interviewed at, he kind of called out their flaws, so that was kinda awkward. Also, in terms of the school itself, the Honors / Pass / Fail pre-clinical seems it would stress students out / make people competitive. And the students said you don't get your exams back (the multiple-choice ones written similarly to boards), so you cannot see which answers you got wrong...that bothered me a lot.
I didn't get the feeling that the students really loved SB. They talk about going to NYC fairly often and working hard, but none seemed to have enthusiastic answers about why they chose the school or what they do for fun. The area is beautiful and suburban, but not really somewhere I'd want to be in my 20s.
One of my interviewers kept defending their decision to go to Stony Brook and to stay there, and seemed to be defending the value and validity of the school. They should have focused on the positive because the school is great. Also, they talked about themselves a lot.
Almost everything, sadly. The tour guides kind of seemed like duds... When we asked one of them why she chose Stony Brook, she fumbled and said, "Well, it's not that I didn't get in anywhere else..." Awkward. They also started bashing other SUNYs which was unprofessional. My interviewer displayed some insecurity about his affiliation with the school, which was REALLY weird and off-putting. I also didn't like the fact that the library closes at 6 on Saturdays (or something like that) and you can't eat in the library (which I need to do while studying!)--these things are important to me but may not be as important to others. Also, the school is in a very suburban area so city-oriented folk need to keep that in mind as well.
The location isn't that great, but they're pretty close to NYC, just hop a train to penn station.
Long Island traffic sucks, and housing is a little pricey, but not too bad.
No campus map from the website to find my way to the right building, no directions for people if they are being dropped off (only gave directions to the parking garage, where there was no drop-off location), how unhelpful the garage guards were in guiding us. I had to be dropped off by the parking garage and then I took some random rusty stairway to the hospital.
it's a commuter school, rent is kind of expensive, the admissions office did not try to sell their school at all, no financial aid session, my interviewer had not even opened my file so he knew nothing about me.
Nothing much. Its true that the building is funny looking from the outside, but we probably wont be outside staring at buildings should we be accepted into Med school, anyway.
Interviewees were not offered a tour of the anatomy lab or student residences. The admissions office is in the hospital so parking was very difficult and required a long walk in the cold.
That everyone both interviewing and attending seemed to have a connection to Long Island, and the isolation of the school. And: there wasn't any need to trash-talk Downstate like the students did. I think we all know that it's a choice between higher-ranked/research (SB) and proximity to NYC (Downstate).
2 1/2 hour drive from the city, almost impossible to commute if you go here. The building's architecture is very strange-looking-very dark, boxy and prison like. Some facilities are in need of updating.
Nearly all the students said their biggest reason for going there was money. I've been on 6 other interviews and this is the only one where I really felt like I had a stress interview.
The usual -- the hospital architecture is nothing to write home about, etc. But the location is not as bad as some will make it out to be, as long as you know what you're getting into. It's not like you'd spend all your free time looking at a wall if you went here.
Rude, inappropriate, discouraging interviewer. Bad, bad facilities. The main reason the students had for going there: "My parents live on Long Island." Campus is spread out, confusing, and UGLY.
The smell of the anatomy labs was much more overwhelming than at the other schools where I've intereviewed (I wondered how safe that was), I'm used to getting by with public transportation but it looks like I'll need to get a car
The fact that most of the students live off-campus. Although one person I talked to has a jacuzzi in his apartment and he pays the same amount as you would for on-campus housing, so I figure it may not be such a bad thing.
The suburban location. I hate driving and a car seems to be a necessity. The villages (SB and PJ) are very attractive though. More like New England than your typical uninteresting NY suburb.
If I hadnt heard great things about the school I'd say it stunk. The buildings architecture is so bad that I think I would go crazy in that block of cement sitting on a pole (youll see what I mean when you get there). One of the structures doesnt have any windows except little egg-shaped windows on the corners (its weird). Anyway, the lecture halls are nothing special, neither is the lab. I got the feeling some students wished they went elsewhere.
the anatomy lab was nice yet standard, the activity that all the student seem to find entertaining in ping pog, the stucture of the school is confusing, the room numbers are not in order
the hospital architecture-- it felt like a cement tomb. One of our tour guides even mentioned the school rumor that the architect was a drug addict who died before it was completed. Also, that you have to go away for some rotations.
I thought the building is a little ugly (70's), but besides my aesthetic sensibility being offended nothing really.
I also didn't like the need for a car. (I hate driving)
long island (then again, if you gotta go to the 'burbs for four years, might as well go to the pinnacle of them all). lack of stuff to do in stony brook, you DEFINITELY need a car.
Students were emphasizing the price of the school rather than the quality of the education. Also NONE of the faculty or staff came to talk to interviewees before or after interviews. No presentation on the curriculuum or academic offerings of the school. Tour was pathetic and rushed. This school is NOT MY FIRST CHOICE ANYMORE.
The admissions office was very disorganized. First, my interview was at 3, everyone in the group had a morning interview, so after the tour and lunch were done at 1:30, I had to sit for an hour and a half by myself in a freezing cold room and just wait for the admissions woman to get me for my interview. Second, the tour was disorganized. Don't get me wrong, the tour guides were great and really enthusiastic, but we were locked out of the first lecture hall we were supposed to go into, then we were locked out of the anatomy lab for 15 min and it was freezing in the basement as we waited, and lunch looked like it was made five min before we got in there (and it all had cranberry sauce on it -- thankfully I got a kosher meal).
LUNCH,and one of the student who was with us during lunch was not very excited about stony brook. he also talked about how medical students can preform so much in a charity hospital, but can only observe patients in private hospital because they pay for thier health care. though, that is right, but i felt that he did not have a lot of respect for charity hopsital patients.
I wish I had seen more on the tour-- we had to ask to see the anatomy labs after the tour was over. Also, I wish it was closer to NYC, but that's just the city-girl in me talking. Otherwise quite a beautiful area.
Nothing was much at all, but the hospital does look like it was built in a futuristic 70's style. Also, there is not much available as far as on campus housing goes.
I received an automatic interview (there are certain cutoffs for GPA/MCAT) and nobody besides my interviewer had read my file. I felt like he had skimmed through it a few minutes before I came in because he didn't really know that much about my application.
nothing really. before interviews, there could have been a brief introduction or presentation about the school by an admission staff.
Expensive parking.-- they could have given us a free parking ticket.
Students don't really have guaranteed housing. They live all over stony brook in rented houses/apartments. Its up to you to find a roommate during some open houses that they have or through their website.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and stress-free nature of the interview day, the importance of being observant of small details during the interview, the long commute to Stony Brook, and the need for a more detailed campus map. Suggestions included being prepared for potentially long interviews, eating a bigger breakfast, and being aware of the shuttle bus system.
Be very observant of little things like whose name is on the door of the room you are interviewing in, just in case it's not that of the person asking you the questions.
That both interviewers would grill me, that these interviews would be so long (75+ minutes each), that I would be late to lunch because of this, andddd that I shouldn't have stressed about how difficult it all seemed. I survived and I love the school.
That my second interviewer didn't read the my application. (Note: not her fault, she was a replacement interviewer). Being surprised by a few questions got me started off in a direction I wasn't happy with.
I didn't really know much about the MD with distinction in research, and think it's a strong draw for those of us who want research opportunities without the commitment of an MD/PhD. Also, the acceptance stats on MDpotential are off: last year, they offered 300 spots to 550 interviewees (including from waitlist), which is more than 50% acceptance from the interview pool. Much better odds than I thought. Finally, I've never had such a laid-back set of interviews in my life, without even a Why Medicine question. Maybe I got lucky with the interviewers, but I was more than happy to have a non-formulaic interview.
There's no need to stress over the interviews, really. They just want to get to know you as a person instead of viewing you as another paper application.
That I would need to review more advanced bioethics case studies. The ones in the UWash module are very basic and their discussions are heavily oriented towards contemporary law and not patient-physician relations.
The facilities are a bit funky...like straight out of the 70's with purple carpet on the walls, very circular layout that makes navigation interesting and looks like a space ship. I really didnt know much at all going in, but it was awesome.
Their "medicine with distiction" program. You can do research and get paid for it during the school year and the summer without getting a PhD.
that I didnt have to go outside for the tour because everything to see was in one building, that the drive would only take one hour rather than the two hour drive I assumed
I like who the University Hospital serves. All strata of society are there, which is great. It doesn't just serve a posh clientelle like some of the new york city schools. Or an exclusively underserved population.
When you first arrive, a panel of medical students sit with you and the other interviwees and answer questions. Although I arrived 20 minutes before my scheduled interview time, if I had arrived a bit earlier, I could have been there for more questions.
the annoying commute from NYC, that you have to leave a half hour for getting from the train to the campus - as you must take a bus, and taxis take a while to come
There are several buses from the LIRR stop to the stonybrook campus, and several tour the undergrad campus first. Make sure to ask your driver if you have the right bus.
Applicants generally found Stony Brook to have friendly people, a laid-back interview day, and a beautiful campus. Some felt the school was a great value for education, had impressive facilities, and a strong reputation for research and residency matches. However, a few applicants mentioned concerns about specific interviewers or preferences for a more urban setting.
Overall, very friendly people! Barbara, in the office, even called me beforehand to make sure I knew how to take the shuttle from the LIRR to the right building. Students seemed happy!
Great place, nice people, beautiful suburbs. Expensive tuition, but overall I really enjoyed interview day. Not intimidating at all. In general just know your application very well and you should do fine!
Know yourself more than anything. If from a different country like me, know where some good restaurants are and be able to talk about your culture. If you don't know an answer, it's okay - say so. Educated guesses are welcome. Always tell a story with your answer (short answers allow for awkward silence) and conversation flows better that way. Make that list of questions you genuinely are concerned about.
Definitely a good school, but little things about my interview day just made it clear it was wrong for me. I wanted to go to school in a more urban setting and I think I just got unlucky when it came to my faculty interviewer and tour guides, who just seemed more insecure/defensive about their place there as opposed to enthusiastic and welcoming. The facilities were certainly nice and it's probably cheaper than most schools.
I've been to other interviews in New York State, and so far this has been my favorite. The students gave an amazing tour of the school and my interviewers were very friendly and engaging.
Stony Brook had no "state-school" feel. It has one of the most superior facilities. Great reputation and amazing match list make Stony Brook my first choice if I get accepted.
Great school - known for research, great residency match. Not that it matters, but the campus is right across from the undergrad campus.
Stony Brook is known for their tough questions and ethics questions, but fortunately I wasn't asked any from my 2 interviews.
i was a little surprised at how callous stonybrook is about its gross anatomy bodies. there's no ceremony at the end and the students have an almost too pragmatic approach to it (well, they donated their bodies for science, not for honor). the interview itself went very well.
I had two interviews, one in the morning with a clinician, and one in the afternoon with a PhD. The first one was very conversational, although I felt he spent a big chunk of the time talking about himself. The second one asked me a lot of ethical questions, but it was an engaging conversation. I wish we could have spent more than 30 minutes with our interviewers!
Started meeting in the admissions office where I got to know the other applicants that were there. First interview with faculty who was extremely out-spoken, dropping the f-bomb and such and when he asked me about a wild time I had wouldnt take anything less than a wild wild time. Student interviewer was awesome and she even keeps in touch now. Stony Brook is really pretty, everyone seems happy and I think it would be a great place to go to medical school!
Coming from a place of nothing and not knowing created a space where communication was a possibility. This created an experience such that love and affinity were present with my interviewers.
Everyone was super nice and willing to help. They were all honest about the downside of the school as well as its positives. Also my interviews were a stress free conversations and the time went by really quickly
You are there for interviews and a short presentation about the school. That is it. There is no tour or anything.
My faculty interviewer was very nice and conducted a highly structured interview(the February 14th gentleman), but my student interviewer was really tough. He asked a number of stressful questions.
My first interviewer was very casual and friendly. He asked typical but not too difficult questions. He seemed to talk a lot, though. It made it harder to say everything I wanted to say, but he did tell me interesting and useful information about Stony Brook and the work he was doing. The second interviewer was a second-year medical student. She just went straight through my AMCAS application and asked questions based on that information. It was good in that I had the chance to state information about myself that I didn't get to say in the first interview. There were no ethical or medical current-events questions.
Overall, I'd say that the interviews that I had at Stony Brook went on well. Both interviewers were great. Nothing to really be nervous about. The first one was a Dr: Dr. (Feb. 14th), and the second was a second year med student. They both knew my file well. Dr. V didnt look at my file while talking to me because he had written out notes about topics that he wanted to ask me about. The MS2 didn't look at my file when she was talking to me either, and knew what she wanted to ask me about. Both interviews were very conversational, and both really dealt with my primary app, and the questions were mostly about my extracurriculars. The tour guides were great, the students were warm and seemed like a closeknit, fun group.
The school has a great reputation. I wasn't really dazzled by the facilities nor the people though. In the end it would be hard not to attend if accepted. Great bang for your buck, and anywhere you go in healthcare most people have heard of stony brook med.
I had 2 faculty interviewers. I'm not sure if this is their standard approach to interviews, but what I got out of it was this:
My first interviewer seemed predominantly concerned with my extracurriculars and confirming that I was indeed the person my application presented. He asked me to defend my clinical experience and to speak about my other ECs. This was all very off the cuff and mimicked the conversational style interview that seems to be the norm at many places.
My second interview was more of the traditional question-answer style. He asked about my reasons for going into medicine, problems I would anticipate, what I would look forward to, and why Stony Brook? There were not extremely tricky or ethical questions, just a standard, by the book, interview. It was not especially intense but it was thorough.
Again, I'm not sure if this is their standard practice, but it seems like a reasonable assumption based on my experience.
Good. I didn't need to prepare, although fellow interviewees reported lots of ethical questions, so you might want to think about that. Overall, positive impression.
Very good - first interview a little stressful, asked VERY specific questions regarding my application and courses, second one was great - very laid back
Everyone from admissions staff to med students to interviewers were very friendly and at ease. Interviewers asked a lot of qustions mostly having to do with my personal statement, work experience and extracurriculars. Conversations flowed naturally. They weren't trying to trip me up or interrogate me. Really made me feel very comfortable to share. All this made me confident I did well. However, I think they're nice to everyone they interview so I really can't say whether their friendly attitude meant I'm accepted.
Interviewed with an MS2 and a faculty member. They could not have been nicer. The admissions office was very comfortable and the tour was very candid. They did not waste our time. The atmosphere of the interviews was relaxed.
meeting area until interviews, ms 3 and 4's stopped by to chat with us - very friendly people - two interviews (fac/dean or student) tour of facilities. lunch.
The day started early and there was a fair amount of downtime. Everyone in the admissions office was really nice and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. One of my interviewers was really harsh and basically attacked every aspect of my application. The second interview was more laid back and most of the questions focused on ethics. It wasn't a horrible experience by any means, but it was probably my worst experience visiting a school.
Interview day is nice and short. Great for people who have jobs/school. My first interview went relatively smooth, the interviewer had an accent so it was hard to understand hiim sometimes, but he was really nice so it was ok.
The second interviewer was also really nice and charming, but posed some extremely difficult ethics questions. Just knowing the UWash Bioethics module is not enough - you get to know the laws and ethical decisions and the precedents, but you have to form your own opinions and learn how to apply the module.
Lot of healthcare discussion too, which that came much smoother than the bioethics, so that was good.
Interviewers were pretty laid back, but they have access to all app materials, so they asked a few somewhat pointed questions about the stuff I've done, eg.
My interviewers were a Phd Biochemist and a Pediatrician. I thought that in general it went very well and that I connected well with both of them. They both had things to mention during the interview that they loved about my ECs and essays. They did not make any negative comments about my application.
It was totally stress free, and I didnt get many real questions. It was my first so I was hoping for some practice but didnt get much. that depends on the interviewer.
Overall it was OK. My interviewer was an older woman who was not medical school faculty. She had a list of prepared questions that the committee asked her to ask me. She often seemed to put her own spin on the questions and she told me how she thought the interview went at the end (it went well, and I got in).
My interviewer could not be nicer. It was less like an interview and more like a conversation. He worked questions into the natural flow of the conversation and genuinely listened to my answers. He did not ask me anything to "trip me up". He seemed as if he was just trying to get as much information about me so that he could make a good case to the committee. I wish all my interviewers could be like him. (Found out later all the students love him... I can see why)
much calmer than i was expecting. i didn't know much about SB before the interview, but i have many positive things to say about it now, including the investment that both faculty and students make to deliver/obtain the best possible education. lunch with students and student tour-guides were very useful in learning details about SBMed. overall very positive experience.
My interviewer was extremely discouraging and kept telling me that I should "go to a Caribbean school if you don't get in this year." Over and over. He repeatedly asked why I wanted to be a doctor, and why I liked my specialties of interest (which I explained were not set in stone).. and by the end the only thing I could say was, "I don't really know what to tell you, sir, I just find ___ to be extremely interesting and I just plain like it." He said my MCAT score was "okay" (34S) and my GPA was "ehh" (3.6) and then said that he doesn't think the adcom would put me through because I didn't have enough clinical experience (I admit it is a little lacking, but I do have over a year volunteering in a level I trauma center surgery ward). He repeatedly stated that I should look into non-US medical schools, "Stony Brook takes LOTS of residents from the Caribbean..." Then he got mad at me for saying I might not go to my last interview (end of March) and tried to sell that other med school to me. Overall, it was the worst interview I have ever had... and Stony Brook has dropped to the BOTTOM of my list.
I took an early LIRR train, so I wouldn't be late and I could take a tour of the environment, so I arrived at 10AM when my interview was at 1:30. The lunch/tour began around 12PM and we were able to see the lecture halls and anatomy labs. My interviewer was a bit late, but it was only because he's such a busy man.
The interview itself was very enjoyable. My interviewer was a purebred Stony Brook-er. He was very thorough in his questions, but didn't try to press too hard or give me a difficult time. He had this pleasant jazzy music in the background and occasionally cracked jokes to put me at ease. I couldn't have asked for a better interview.
Everything was really going find until may interview. I enjoyed the lunch with the students, the tour was short but i suppose there really wasn't much to see. My interviewer was not from the school of medicine, but from the school of social welfare and proceeded to tell me that the med students were "the more equal pigs" and got free printing when none of the other school's students did. She seemed kind of bitter about this fact. She asked me a lot of questions that didn't really get at who I am as a candidate either including if financial situations were going to be an issue in paying for medical school.
My interviewer spent a good 20minutes at the begining of the interview writing down where I interviewed and where I had upcoming interviews. I did not like having to answer this. I felt it was an encroachment on my provacy. Then another couple of minutes writign down the names of other "competitive schools" that I had applied to. Then basic question read form a sheet about ethical issues, my ideas on US healthcare. And fianlly I was aksed how I expect to pay for medical school.
The interviewer was very experienced and was quite familiar with my application when I came in, she asked me to explain many points in my application, yet was not threatening in any way, simply looking for clarification.
The interview day begins at 9 am although some interviews are conducted as late as early afternoon. However, this is not a problem because during the ââโ¬Åโdown-timeââโ¬Âย current students (mostly MS2ââโ¬âโ¢s) drop in to give you some perspective on the Stony Brook experience. My interview began roughly as scheduled (around 10 am) and lasted for 2 hours (2 separate one hour intervals: 10am-11am and 12pm-1pm). Overall, it was the best interview any applicant could ask for. The interviewer was generally interested in knowing more about me in terms of my experiences both prior to college and after matriculating. At no time did I feel that I was merely rehashing information provided by my AMCAS application, which left me appreciating the sincerity of my interviewers interest in me as a ââโ¬Åโtotal-applicantââโ¬Âย. Many of the follow up questions that were asked addressed my research and experiences after graduating from college (I am a non-traditional applicant). Here is a tip which I feel helped clinch my interview : be able to concisely explain you research without stressing upon details (although at times details may be needed). Know the goal of your research and any valuable lessons learned which can be applied to the field of medicine. Another great thing during the interview was the fact that my interviewer let the phone in his office just ring. Iââโ¬âโ¢ve often heard about how other applicants find it very disrespectable of their interviewers to be talking on the phone during their interviews. This was not the case here. After an hour of casual conversation my interviewers had to leave due to a prior obligation. Realizing that I still had more to say, he invited my back to continue our conversation later in the afternoon. I obviously took him up on the offer. Prior to the remainder of my interview (which as stated before lasted another hour :12-1pm) a tour was given of the facilities. The tour guides (more MS2ââโ¬âโ¢s) seemed very enthusiastic about being at Stony Brook and often commented on the cohesiveness of the class. They also commented on the how refreshing it is to be in a ââโ¬Åโnon-cut-throatââโ¬Âย environment that many of us pre-meds have seen in undergrad. As for the facilities: classrooms are pretty much standard, the gross anatomy lab was large and accommodating (4students/cadaver), the entire building is wireless, and the health sciences library is open for a good portion of time (unfortunately it is not 24 hrs). One big perk is the fact that the University Hospital is located adjacent to the health sciences center.
My overall impression of Stony Brook SOM is that it will provide any student an excellent education at a great price. The only negative thing I can seem to say is about SB general location (far out in L.I thus a car is a must) but for me itââโ¬âโ¢s perfect as I am far enough away from NYC not to get distracted but close enough (an hour drive or 1.25 train ride via LIRR) to go into NYC during the weekends to visit family and friends (and of course party).
this is supposedly the "bad" interviewer. it might have something to do with my personality and the fact that he went to my alma mater, but we clicked from the beginning. (at least that's how i felt) women may find his humor slightly offensive, but i certainly loved talking with him and was sad to have to stop actually.
I thought the interview went very well. My interviewer asked me a lot of thought provoking questions and played devil's advocate with some issues. But he was easy to talk to and genuinely interested in finding more about my background, my motivation and me as a person.
It was really comfortable, laid back and not stressful. It was also intellecually stimulating, he asked some really interesting questions about myself and what I have done.
Overall I had a great experience at Stony Brook. My interviewer was very friendly and didn't ask anything particularly challenging or unexpected. It was very relaxed and conversational. All the students were friendly and out going, they seemed like people I would be friends with. The tour was good in that we got to choose where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see which I think made it much more interesting.
Very disappointed in myself. This is my first interview, but it was a lot worse than I could have and should have performed. It was great for 20 minutes until he asked if I had any questions and he said "let me give u a hint, next time you should always ask about why the school is unique". I was flustered ever since that point b/c i saw it as the interviewer basically telling me i have no shot. I think i should have prepared better questions.
I walked in and my interviewer (who happens to teach biochem at the undergrad school there) was very disappointed that I didn't take biochemistry in college. He sees it as a prerequisite. We walk into his office and he has not read or even looked at my essays and file because I guess he must have been busy. It was an open file interview but he must think he's too important to prepare for every interview. He didn't know what school I went to, what my goals were, what my background was. He didn't ask me any questions other than "why do you want to be a doctor?" and "Your major was biology huh?" (it was actually biology and history but he was too busy to hear my answer). All in all I don't know what he had against me but he never smiled and he was not at all friendly, unlike what I had heard about him previously. He seemed very rushed, bored, and 10 minutes into the interview he said 'that should wrap it up' and went downstairs and asked for a sandwich. I thought he was despicable.
A few general questions about myself and then various ethical dilemmas. It was a structured interview, but my interviewer was easy to engage in conversation and very helpful in addressing my questions.
Very pleasant. The interview was more of a conversation, only a couple of general questions about my application, no questtion that put you on the spot. I was able to stay with a medical student the night before, another great experience.
The interviewer was completely inappropriate and asked questions that were not only illegal in our country but were inrelevant to evaluating me as a candidate. Additionally, the interviewer berated me and did not except any answer I gave as relevant. I have looked thru the interview feedback and am certain that every negative interview posted was the result of this particular interviewer. What I don't understand is how the school could allow such an inappropriate person to interview. There is no way someone has not complained thus far because this man was beyond inapproriate and it is even more inappropriate that such a person could be evaluating candidates. Moreover, he no longer even practices medicine and is completely out of touch with modern day medical issues. The experience was so bad I thougth it might have been a joke and Da Ali G was disguise.
The interview was very casual. We talked about my application, and almost all of the questions were based on it. The interviewer was very friendly and encouraging.
Despite my negative comments that seem superficial, I just didn't get a great feeling from the school. But no matter the aura, the academic opportunities available to students there seem vast.
The interview was a really good experience. The interviewer was nice, easy to talk to and really seemed to want to represent me well before the larger committee
It was relatively relaxed. It was more of a conversation than a question and answer question. The interviewer only asked me two straightfoward questions, and we talked about our experiences and interests for the rest of the hour.
The school seem like a great nuturing place. The staff and student seem very happy to be there. My interview was really amazing. It was very conversational and I felt like I really bonded with my interviewer. I got an acceptance letter a week later that was dated the day after my interview. I would definetly feel content going to this school if I did not get into a school with a better name.
Everyone was really really nice-- the people in my interview were friendly, the students were really sweet, my interviewer was great (although he was a little late)
I took some classes at stony brook and had been in the area for a year, so I was use to the area. I'd also previously attended an open house, so I was already sold on the school.
For the interview itself, my interviewer left things pretty open ended, so I kind of guided the discussion based on his questions in the direction I thought it should head. (ie: making sure I covered the topics I needed to get across)
I don't believe the interviewer believed me when I told him why I wanted to be a doctor, he asked me that question 3 times. It's my real reason and I guess he wanted to hear something else.
my interviewer met with me in between seeing patients, so even before i was able to close the door and sit down, she started firing questions at me. i was a little bit shocked at first, but forced myself to keep on going. she seemed very pragmatic and basically went down her list of questions and wrote down my answers as i responded. it was quite difficult to judge her reactions, since she wasn't even really looking at me. but the questions were fair and nothing was out of the blue. after she finished asking me what seemed like the required questions, she became more conversational and we chatted about her med school experience, the architecture of the stony brook medical ctr, as well as other harmless random things.
Overall, I had a good experience there. I stayed with a host the night before and she said, with the small class size, it's just like high school, except everyone's motivated to work and do well and work together. It was a short interview day (my interview was at 10:45am and the day was done at about 1:30). My interviewer, according to my hosts, was a really sweet, laid back guy, and he was, but he did ask me some tough questions, especially for my first interview. I think i managed to answer them satisfactorily though.
I arrived for my interview in the morning, but my interviewer was running quite late. I ended up having to reschedule for the afternoon, so i sat around until the tour was given. Then we had lunch, chatted some more amongst ourselves, had a talk with the associate dean of admissions and then went to our individual interviews.
The interview was very difficult to gauge. I came out not really knowing how it went. As you can tell from the questions, it was a bit strange and at times I had to guess what was being asked.
don't worry about this interview! i was only asked a couple questions about my application and about myself, during the rest of the time (50 mins) my interviewer described the school in more detail and answered my questions.
Overall, I liked the school a lot and would go there over some of the private schools I applied to, but I felt like the staff didn't work to sell it like other schools had (BU and Upstate). The students sent in to give us a tour and answer our questions were friendly but had nothing in particular to talk to us about. The unstructured nature of it meant there were holes in my knowledge when I left. Someone should give a presentation laying out the basics. The assistant director of admissions said the school "sells itself". My interviewer was a great guy who took genuine interest in me, knew my application as well as I did (he quoted from my AMCAS essay twice!), and gave me a chance to get many aspects of myself across. He was heavy into the ethical stuff, but that's ok by me. We covered a lot of ground in an hour.
Great interview, lasting almost an hour and a half. It seemed as though the interviewer had specific questions he was required to ask. We would talk for a while pretty freely (conversational) until the interviewer would all of a sudden remember that he had to ask me one of those (required?) questions...then he did...then I answered...and then we would just continue talking. I couldn't really gauge what he thought about the interview at the end. I got in, though, so i guess it went ok!
Although my interviewr bombarded me with ethical questions- each of them were presented within a story which sort of hinted what he was looking for in the answer. Also, the interviewer was very familiar with my application and asked questions about every experinces I mentioned of on the AMCAS and secondary. Over all I feel that the interview was solid, fair, and interesting.
I was extremely positive. My interviewer was great. She was down to earth, friendly and inviting questions.
The assistant dean spoke to out group at the end of day. I liked her candor about the admissions process. I better get into this school, it really was for me.
Seemed like a nice school. Pretty area. The students all seemed pretty happy with having chosen Stony Brook. I had an afternoon interview, so I got there about 11:30 and talked to other applicants and a ton of students who dropped in to chat for a while. We had a tour after lunch, and then one of the Deans of Admissions gave us an overview of the process. Interviews happened at the end of the day for me.
My interview at Stony Brook was really great. I felt extremely comfortable with my interviewer who really knew my application well and asked relevant questions. I asked her a question about the school during the interview that she said she didn't know the answer to. Three hours after the interview, I received an e-mail from her with the answer and how much she enjoyed talking to me!
It was a good interview. The office staff was so flexible and understanding about my predicament. I was stuck in traffic for hours and had to push the interview back. The interview itself felt like a conversation.
Overall, not good just because I don't think my interviewer got to know me well enough to present me to the ad com. I really tried to state my case, but he kept cutting me off. Not in a rude way, he was just a quirky guy.
Good but short tour... we actually got to see some cadavers and our student guides were very enthusiastic and informative. The interview was relaxed and went much better than expected considering it was my first!
A standard interview experience. Nothing special to report. Stony Brook is a strong state school, but tuition is going up in NY, which really makes it less attractive than other private schools.
the interview was mostly conversation the interviewer was very laid back and made me feel very comfortable even though i was so nervous. The school is great and it is now definitley my first choice. The price is also amazing and the class is only 100 students.
Overall, it was great--my interview left me with a very strong desire to attend the school, not just for the in-state tuition, but for the atmosphere and opportunities.
very positive. the LIRR trains don't match up too well w/later interview times...but, if you show up early, you can go see a lecture. afterwards came the tours,interviewed with an anatomy professor, who was SUPER nice. the tour guides seemed ok, if a bit cold at first. during the process, it came out that one of them is on the admissions committee. after that, candidates were clawing to get her attention. jeez. the interview went well; the anatopmy professor was extremely friendly, and the interview was relaxed and conversational, in no way confrontational.
Be sure to arrive early, several interviewees had their interviews bumped up for the convenience of the interviewers. My afternoon interview wound up being in the morning. Visitor's parking at the hospital is $1.50/hr, $7.50/day. Admissions office didn't mention free parking and I forgot to ask. Interviewers in general are experienced and volunteered to help find out more about the students. My interviewer claims the interview has a small role in the admission process, while the medical student tour guides claim otherwise. Regardless, the interview covered anything that I wanted to talk about, and he would follow with questions about details. 4-body per cadaver seems to be the lowest out of any other schools I've seen. Class size at 100 is the smallest of all the SUNYs. A car is essential throughout each of the four years.
i was not very impressed with the campus, and couldn't really picture myself there, but the students were very down to earth and enthusiastic about the school, and the interviewer was really funny, yet tough. he really supported stony brook. everyone seems to love it there.
My interviewer was VERY friendly. She made me feel very comfortable, and she just wanted to get to know me. She didn't ask me very difficult questions, but they were very interesting, and they made me think. In addition, the students that gave the tour seemed very happy, and they really seemed to enjoy the school.
Awesome School!!! I was really surprised how much I liked Stony Brook. It has definately jumped way up on my list and is easily one of my top choices now.
Well let's see, he basically attacked every single little thing i've done for the past 4 years and my life in general. Some of the questions came from the basic list but i felt that he was purposely attacking my character and my work to see how i would react. I felt belittled by my interviewer and i came out thinking "if he doubts the way i've lead my life and done my academics,then why did this school bother to invite me for an interview in the first place?" I felt like he was ambivalent and inconsiderate during my interview. IT sucked.
Overall it was ok, not the greatest, but by far it was not the worst interview I went on. The people were great and really friendly, even though the school is really run down and needs to get with the times.
overall, it was a positive experience. my interviewer knew a lot of information about me and asked interesting questions. we had a pleasant conversation.
I left Stony Brook feeling as though it could be my first choice. The day was well-structured, not much waiting around like at SUNY Syracuse and Downstate. I got there at 10:30 interviewed at 10:45-12, ate lunch, and toured until about 1:30. Students dropped in to chat and very friendly, as were all the staff I met. SUNY SB benefits from being part of a large university.
overall it seemed to go very well, i came away from the day with a much higher impression about stony brook than when i went in that morning, which was good
This was my first interview, which is why the stress level is a 3 instead of a 1. It was very relaxed. The school itself is in the middle of nowhere, which has it pros and cons. The students were very friendly and willing to help us in every way. I got the impression that most people had a relatively easy time with their interviews, although one said she was asked to discuss a number of ethics situations, so get your ethical stance straight before you walk in the door. Overall, very positive experience.
This school is awesome! It's defiately my top choice. On top of a decent location and low tuition, the environment is great! The students work together instead of being highly compeitive, as is the case with some other schools. The interviewer had reviewed my file throroughly and just wanted me to talk about my extracurriculars and my background.
My visit to Stony Brook definitly put the school in contention for my top choice. Students are very happy here, and that may well be the best reason to attend a school. Also, the administration here gets an A+, and the facilities aren't too shabby either.
It was a pretty laid back conversation. I feel like they just wanted to get to know me. However, it may depend on the person who is interviewing because another interviewee was asked ethics questions for an entire hour.
The interview definitely improved my opinion of the school. The students were super friendly, and my interviewer was sooooooooo nice, wow! I recommend getting your ethical stance all figured out before you enter the building, because ethical questioned seemed to predominate.
Student tour guides were awesome and very helpful in answering any questions about anything. Interviewer was very nice and friendly. Facilities are good. Overall, it seems like a great place to go to school if you feel comfortable in that area.
My interiewer was receptive to me, challenging but fair. His questions were difficult at times, especially the ethical ones, and when I brought out my point of view he challenged it and pushed me, but I wouldnt say that he grilled me. The student tour was good and the students had an very positive outlook on the school. Facilities were decent too.
Check in at 11:30, lunch at 12, students came and chatted with us and took as on a tour. INterview at 1:15. Didn't have to wait around long whcih was great. My interviewer was very nice and friendly, and we had a long (60+ mins)conversation. A couple of questions were challenging which made me a bit nervous, but he was very encouraging, and shared his insight about the medical profession.
I was really impressed by Stony Brook. I went in not expecting to like the school all that much, but the attitude of the students and faculty were great -- open, friendly, supportive, very proud of the school -- and I could see myself going there. The facilities are also pretty good; the whole med school is wireless, the anatomy lab is really big, sports complex on the undergrad campus (available to med students) is good.
My interviewer fired questions at me, and was a little abrupt. But he was good natured about it, and even though it would probably have read like a stress interview, it was actually pretty relaxed and fun. He was very candid about the school, and also very positive. After feeling some burnout from this process, Stony Brook got me excited about being a doctor again.
The interviewers as said previously on this site really tailor the interview to your application. They know it very well and target alot of questions around it.
Overall, it was a very good interview experience. I stayed over with a first year host the night before. He took me around parts of the school and I met a few students so I felt a little more at ease going into my interview the next day. Although he asked some tough questions, my interviewer was very nice and we had a great conversation.
I arrived 15min. late to my interview (traffic on the LIE, I came from Westchester (upstate NY). My first interview was with the Dir. of Admis. He was a really cool guy and very understanding. Many of the his questions were from my file and pertained to my research and clinical interests. For the other interviews I traveled to different buildings, meeting various members of the MST program, including the MST Dir. My final interview was with a third year student (in MST). I reall enjoyed chatting with him and learning as much as I could about the program. Overall, I would be very happy pursuing my studies at SB.
I was really surprised at how well the interviewer new my application. He put me at ease, and made me feel like an equal human being. He gave me a great impression of the school.
The overall experience was positive. The students and staff were very friendly and the facilities were impressive. The interviewer did have an agenda however as she read questions from a piece of paper which was somewhat stressful but after she was through with them we had a nice conversation.
I had to wait about 45 min for my interviewer, but he was nice about it, and definitely tried to put me at ease. All in all, it was a pretty nice interview. I didn't feel like he was grilling me, more like he wanted to get to know me. Nothing was too difficult, though the crystal ball question was a little strange, but I guess he wanted to see how I would react. The good thing about the interview was he was willing to share his viewpoints on the school (all positive).
The students were very enthusiastic and helpful. It defintely seems like a friendly environment that encourages cooperation.
My interviewer asked me probing questions - particularly about the state of health care in America. I believe he really wanted to know just how I felt about the situation. He threw me a lot of questions where I felt as if I had to prove myself. For example, I was talking about how I appreciate cultural diversity (I think it was in reference to where I see myself practicing in the future) so he quickly said something like, "well you must be fluent in spanish then....". I was like, er no, but I hope to be and plan to continue learning the language. That's how the whole tone of the interview was....like I was being challenged, but after a while I got used to it and didn't feel as threatened. At the end he asked me what field I'd like to go into and I said surgery- he then stated 3 times that stony brook is known for primary care and that they maintain that focus by screening applicants very heavily. I was NOT expecting him to say that at all.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Many applicants praised the admissions office for being friendly and efficient. Common suggestions included improving communication speed by implementing an automatic portal service, promoting inclusivity in student culture, and enhancing financial aid awareness for students from low-income backgrounds.
There was a long delay between my submission of all application materials and getting the application complete email, probably because the admissions office does everything manually. It caused a little bit anxiety. I hope the admissions can consider switching to an automatic portal service like what other schools do in the future.
Don't have students to talk bad about the "few students who attend lecture" and how they are try hards. Everyone learns differently and this was unattractive to me as someone who expects to attend lectures in medical school.
Financial Aid counselor was really out of touch to the burden of affording medical school for some low-income students including myself. Claiming that the money wont be an issue and I should not even consider that aspect when choosing a school.... Again, unattractive to me.
Have better accomodations for applicants without a car, such as a student host or the ability to pick an interview time that does not interfere with the travel plans: there is only 1 train every 2 hours from New York....
