SUNY - Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine (Brooklyn) Admissions, Tuition & Student Feedback

School Overview

Degrees: MD
Ownership: Public Non-Profit
Program Length: 4 years
Total Enrollment: 72
Founding Year: 1860
Accreditation Year: 1942

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SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $385,826

Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for SUNY-Downstate using 4 years of in-state tuition, $1,500 annual fees, $3,000 monthly living expenses, government-derived local cost-of-living adjustment, $1,000 loan fees, and an 8.5% interest assumption.

Cost of Living: Above national average cost of living

Brooklyn, NY is about 1.13x higher than the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment raises the living allowance from $3,000 to about $3,390 per month, mainly reflecting rent, food, transportation, and day-to-day expenses. Compare this with your own housing plan before treating it as exact.

Environment: Urban

Students at SUNY-Downstate benefit from a very walkable setting, with many services and eateries just steps away. While biking is possible, the environment is best suited to those who prefer to get around on foot.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 38% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.

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Secondary Essays for SUNY-Downstate

1. Other

Are there any periods longer than three months, from the time you graduated from high school until now, during which you were not employed full-time or enrolled in college full-time? (no word count)

2. Other

Will you be attending college full-time as of September 15? If not, please describe your activities from September 15 to July 1 (no word count).

3. Motivation and Fit

What support system will you have while in medical school? (Limit 150 words)

4. Geographic Connection and Commitment

Describe the personal and urban experiences that have prepared you to live and study in New York City. (Limit: 150 words)

5. Other

If you submitted a completed application to the College of Medicine in a previous application cycle, please list any changes since your last application, along with the corresponding dates. If this...

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About the School

The State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, is a major provider of medical education, health care, and research in the New York City region. Located on an urban campus in Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate Medical Center includes a College of Medicine, College of Health Related Professions, College of Nursing, School of Graduate Studies, and the 372 bed University Hospital of Brooklyn.

Curriculum

The educational objectives of the curriculum are intended to provide students with the basics that they will need to embark upon graduate medical education in the field of their choice, and ultimately to become competent and compassionate physicians. To achieve these objectives, the College has set standards of knowledge and develops the skills and attitudes necessary to enable students to reach their goals. Many factors have stimulated the College of Medicine to revise its curriculum, including the change in the organization and practice of medicine; the explosion of new scientific and clinical information; the desire to integrate basic and clinical science throughout the four years of medical training; the need for an earlier exposure to patient care and environments where health care is delivered; the need to foster a team approach with other health care professionals; the need for more small- group and student-based learning; and the desire for medical education to stimulate curiosity and questioning and maintain altruism and idealism.

Facilities

SUNY Downstate Medical Center has many facilities for education and training students. Students receive a well-rounded didactic and clinical experience which will prepare them for whatever field of expertise they choose to enter. The Health Science Education Building (HSEB) houses classrooms, laboratories, a 500 seat auditorium, and the Medical Research Library of Brooklyn. Included in the HSEB are two floors of study carrels, which serve as "home base" for medical students during their first two years. The carrels are located in multidisciplinary laboratory sites. The arrangement fosters small-group learning. The carrels, with lockable storage and two computers, are equipped with power and data lines, which can enable students to connect computers to the library's computerized data bases.

Last Updated: Sep 10, 2025