I have a peculiar situation, though I imagine it has happened to a few applicants in the past.
I have committed to a dental school here in the States and plan on attending in August. However, I am a Canadian student and was recently waitlisted at a couple Canadian schools. My home school tells me my position on the waitlist, and based on past waitlist behaviour, I have been told it is very likely I will be accepted, but may have to wait a very long time for it to happen (it will likely happen in mid-August).
And there-in lies the dilemma; I will be in the States, a week or two into school, when and if I receive the acceptance from my home school. Both dental students here and my family and friends have been telling me to simply attend the American school, and see what happens. If/when I get into my home school, simply move back home.
I am wondering the implications of this course of action. I understand that my spots at these schools are exceptionally valuable and people would kill to be in my situation. I also understand it can be perceived as exceptionally expensive, effortful and selfish to go through with this. I want to emphasize that it is by no means my intention to be selfish, but I value my home and family greatly. If I have the opportunity to attend my home school, and stay with my family for at least another 4 years, then that is worth the world to me, and the financial implications and logistics does not matter. However, I do NOT want to throw away my current acceptance. It DOES have exceptional value to me; and if I attend there I will be very happy. But, if I can stay with my family, that's worth even more.
I am merely wondering, does withdrawing from a dental school (albeit for personal, not academic or disciplinary reasons), hurt me some way in the future? I know my home school has no issue with it (they even allow current dental students to apply to their first-year DDS program as a regular applicant), but I am concerned with perhaps future work in the States, ie. residencies & specializing. Remember that section on applicants that asks, "Have you ever withdrawn from a dental education institution," or something along those lines? I will have to answer "Yes." Does the ADEA care? Will schools/hospitals care that I withdrew from a school in order to attend another one?
I am only concerned with the career implications in this respect. I know to many this may seem reckless, expensive, and deplorable. I may be throwing away tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and living costs. But after 5 years away from my family, the cost and effort is not a concern. I don't wish to spend another 4 away, particularly not when afterward, my life and career are underway and I will likely have to move away from home anyways.
Any and all advice is appreciated!
I have committed to a dental school here in the States and plan on attending in August. However, I am a Canadian student and was recently waitlisted at a couple Canadian schools. My home school tells me my position on the waitlist, and based on past waitlist behaviour, I have been told it is very likely I will be accepted, but may have to wait a very long time for it to happen (it will likely happen in mid-August).
And there-in lies the dilemma; I will be in the States, a week or two into school, when and if I receive the acceptance from my home school. Both dental students here and my family and friends have been telling me to simply attend the American school, and see what happens. If/when I get into my home school, simply move back home.
I am wondering the implications of this course of action. I understand that my spots at these schools are exceptionally valuable and people would kill to be in my situation. I also understand it can be perceived as exceptionally expensive, effortful and selfish to go through with this. I want to emphasize that it is by no means my intention to be selfish, but I value my home and family greatly. If I have the opportunity to attend my home school, and stay with my family for at least another 4 years, then that is worth the world to me, and the financial implications and logistics does not matter. However, I do NOT want to throw away my current acceptance. It DOES have exceptional value to me; and if I attend there I will be very happy. But, if I can stay with my family, that's worth even more.
I am merely wondering, does withdrawing from a dental school (albeit for personal, not academic or disciplinary reasons), hurt me some way in the future? I know my home school has no issue with it (they even allow current dental students to apply to their first-year DDS program as a regular applicant), but I am concerned with perhaps future work in the States, ie. residencies & specializing. Remember that section on applicants that asks, "Have you ever withdrawn from a dental education institution," or something along those lines? I will have to answer "Yes." Does the ADEA care? Will schools/hospitals care that I withdrew from a school in order to attend another one?
I am only concerned with the career implications in this respect. I know to many this may seem reckless, expensive, and deplorable. I may be throwing away tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and living costs. But after 5 years away from my family, the cost and effort is not a concern. I don't wish to spend another 4 away, particularly not when afterward, my life and career are underway and I will likely have to move away from home anyways.
Any and all advice is appreciated!