2016 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

[p0gono]

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Yay!! The new MSAR breaks down the age brackets for each school's matriculants. It could be very helpful for those of us looking for schools where we won't be the lone old fogey in a sea of 22 year olds.

 

[Eccesignum]

Yay!! The new MSAR breaks down the age brackets for each school's matriculants. It could be very helpful for those of us looking for schools where we won't be the lone old fogey in a sea of 22 year olds.

WHAT. Bah, why didn't they think of that last year?! 🙂

 

[p0gono]

WHAT. Bah, why didn't they think of that last year?! 🙂

I knowwww!!!! It would have been great. Interestingly, it looks like all of the UCs are quite mature. Most East Coast privates, not so much.

 

[TravelingPanda]

Yay!! The new MSAR breaks down the age brackets for each school's matriculants. It could be very helpful for those of us looking for schools where we won't be the lone old fogey in a sea of 22 year olds.

I did not know that was a feature. Damn it would have been interesting to see. I had access last year, but no longer.

 

[p0gono]

I did not know that was a feature. Damn it would have been interesting to see. I had access last year, but no longer.

I think it is a new addition, along with applicant MCAT data.

 

[hueso]

Anyone want to hear a story? I'm guessing yes.

This morning at 3:45 am I got a call from a friend who goes to school nearby telling me that he was having excruciating abdominal pain. He doesn't have a car and wanted to know if I thought he should call an ambulance. After talking a little bit, he decided he didn't think it was an emergency yet (no vomiting, diarrhea etc., etc.), but he asked me to come over and bring some pepto bismol. Long story short, I spent the next few hours at his bedside wondering if I should drive him to the hospital, with the end result that his pain resolved on its own. So I went home at 7 this morning (luckily no work today) and went to bed. Fast forward to 11 am: I woke up to a missed call and voicemail from UC Davis, where I've been on pre-interview hold since August. They called me at 9:30 this morning but I slept right through it. Obviously I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and called every half hour after. Even though I have an acceptance, I have really been aching to stay in California and so I was really excited. When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.
I kind of wish they hadn't called at all, because now I find that I can't quite kick the feeling that I just let a great opportunity slip through my fingers. I think there is some irony here in that I was taking care of someone last night and my sleeping through the call was a direct result of that (is that irony? I've never been too good with identifying it).

Just needed to vent, I think. I'm super happy and excited about my acceptance that I already have, and I shouldn't be bummed about today. But, you know...I am anyway.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

Anyone want to hear a story? I'm guessing yes.

This morning at 3:45 am I got a call from a friend who goes to school nearby telling me that he was having excruciating abdominal pain. He doesn't have a car and wanted to know if I thought he should call an ambulance. After talking a little bit, he decided he didn't think it was an emergency yet (no vomiting, diarrhea etc., etc.), but he asked me to come over and bring some pepto bismol. Long story short, I spent the next few hours at his bedside wondering if I should drive him to the hospital, with the end result that his pain resolved on its own. So I went home at 7 this morning (luckily no work today) and went to bed. Fast forward to 11 am: I woke up to a missed call and voicemail from UC Davis, where I've been on pre-interview hold since August. They called me at 9:30 this morning but I slept right through it. Obviously I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and called every half hour after. Even though I have an acceptance, I have really been aching to stay in California and so I was really excited. When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.
I kind of wish they hadn't called at all, because now I find that I can't quite kick the feeling that I just let a great opportunity slip through my fingers. I think there is some irony here in that I was taking care of someone last night and my sleeping through the call was a direct result of that (is that irony? I've never been too good with identifying it).

Just needed to vent, I think. I'm super happy and excited about my acceptance that I already have, and I shouldn't be bummed about today. But, you know...I am anyway.

Oh no 🙁
Maybe if you'd been off killing someone last night you'd actually have gotten the call... Take note 😉
I just got rejected from my state school on Monday, and I'm finally getting over it and thinking maybe it's for the best... Who knows what the plan is for the rest of our lives. Maybe moving is what's meant to happen.
Sorry to hear that though, it's very unfair that they didn't wait until you called back to assign that interview.

 

[Eccesignum]

Oh no 🙁
Maybe if you'd been off killing someone last night you'd actually have gotten the call... Take note 😉
I just got rejected from my state school on Monday, and I'm finally getting over it and thinking maybe it's for the best... Who knows what the plan is for the rest of our lives. Maybe moving is what's meant to happen.
Sorry to hear that though, it's very unfair that they didn't wait until you called back to assign that interview.

What the yack? What if you'd been working someplace with no cell signal? Seriously? That's pretty wrong...glad you have another acceptance but man.

 

[Eccesignum]

Got off the alternate list at Miami, increase exponent on Don't Know What to Do Now variable. I wish financial aid would start coming in already.

 

[VegasPreMed]

Woooow. Just finally started NeedAccess. Holy bajeezus.

 

[VegasPreMed]

When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.

That's terrible. Not even 24 hours to get back to them? Crazy. I'm sorry. 🙁

 

[tetley]

Ermagerd got into Boston. Now I got 99 problems as I'd been pretty sure I was down to my top three choices but Boston definitely makes it four again.

#firstworldproblems

JK SO VERY PROUD

you should go to boston, I'm applying to a lab there. It's a lovely place to be!

 

[pageantry]

Anyone want to hear a story? I'm guessing yes.

This morning at 3:45 am I got a call from a friend who goes to school nearby telling me that he was having excruciating abdominal pain. He doesn't have a car and wanted to know if I thought he should call an ambulance. After talking a little bit, he decided he didn't think it was an emergency yet (no vomiting, diarrhea etc., etc.), but he asked me to come over and bring some pepto bismol. Long story short, I spent the next few hours at his bedside wondering if I should drive him to the hospital, with the end result that his pain resolved on its own. So I went home at 7 this morning (luckily no work today) and went to bed. Fast forward to 11 am: I woke up to a missed call and voicemail from UC Davis, where I've been on pre-interview hold since August. They called me at 9:30 this morning but I slept right through it. Obviously I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and called every half hour after. Even though I have an acceptance, I have really been aching to stay in California and so I was really excited. When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.
I kind of wish they hadn't called at all, because now I find that I can't quite kick the feeling that I just let a great opportunity slip through my fingers. I think there is some irony here in that I was taking care of someone last night and my sleeping through the call was a direct result of that (is that irony? I've never been too good with identifying it).

Just needed to vent, I think. I'm super happy and excited about my acceptance that I already have, and I shouldn't be bummed about today. But, you know...I am anyway.

That is so deeply uncool of them.

Fwiw this may be a trend. They have an important financial aid document that you're supposed to submit by March 2nd or within three weeks of acceptance. They said it would be up in December, but it wasn't. Also not in January. Apparently some time in February they posted it but didn't let any of us know. A few of us on SDN ended up submitting it late as a result. I asked them if being five days late would matter at all and they were like, "yeah, probably you won't get as much grant money this year, sorry."

Tough crowd.

 

[hueso]

Thanks for helping me silence that little voice telling me this was my fault! You folks are the best.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Anyone want to hear a story? I'm guessing yes.

This morning at 3:45 am I got a call from a friend who goes to school nearby telling me that he was having excruciating abdominal pain. He doesn't have a car and wanted to know if I thought he should call an ambulance. After talking a little bit, he decided he didn't think it was an emergency yet (no vomiting, diarrhea etc., etc.), but he asked me to come over and bring some pepto bismol. Long story short, I spent the next few hours at his bedside wondering if I should drive him to the hospital, with the end result that his pain resolved on its own. So I went home at 7 this morning (luckily no work today) and went to bed. Fast forward to 11 am: I woke up to a missed call and voicemail from UC Davis, where I've been on pre-interview hold since August. They called me at 9:30 this morning but I slept right through it. Obviously I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and called every half hour after. Even though I have an acceptance, I have really been aching to stay in California and so I was really excited. When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.
I kind of wish they hadn't called at all, because now I find that I can't quite kick the feeling that I just let a great opportunity slip through my fingers. I think there is some irony here in that I was taking care of someone last night and my sleeping through the call was a direct result of that (is that irony? I've never been too good with identifying it).

Just needed to vent, I think. I'm super happy and excited about my acceptance that I already have, and I shouldn't be bummed about today. But, you know...I am anyway.

Sorry that this happened! I've never heard of a school giving someone less than 24 hrs to respond. So messed up!! 😡

 

[breezy16]

Woooow. Just finally started NeedAccess. Holy bajeezus.

Have you had to use CSS? UGH.

 

[TravelingPanda]

Anyone want to hear a story? I'm guessing yes.

This morning at 3:45 am I got a call from a friend who goes to school nearby telling me that he was having excruciating abdominal pain. He doesn't have a car and wanted to know if I thought he should call an ambulance. After talking a little bit, he decided he didn't think it was an emergency yet (no vomiting, diarrhea etc., etc.), but he asked me to come over and bring some pepto bismol. Long story short, I spent the next few hours at his bedside wondering if I should drive him to the hospital, with the end result that his pain resolved on its own. So I went home at 7 this morning (luckily no work today) and went to bed. Fast forward to 11 am: I woke up to a missed call and voicemail from UC Davis, where I've been on pre-interview hold since August. They called me at 9:30 this morning but I slept right through it. Obviously I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and called every half hour after. Even though I have an acceptance, I have really been aching to stay in California and so I was really excited. When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.
I kind of wish they hadn't called at all, because now I find that I can't quite kick the feeling that I just let a great opportunity slip through my fingers. I think there is some irony here in that I was taking care of someone last night and my sleeping through the call was a direct result of that (is that irony? I've never been too good with identifying it).

Just needed to vent, I think. I'm super happy and excited about my acceptance that I already have, and I shouldn't be bummed about today. But, you know...I am anyway.

That is an insane story. I am so sorry.

 

[VegasPreMed]

Have you had to use CSS? UGH.

Not yet and after reading about it online I hope I don't have to!

 

[breezy16]

Not yet and after reading about it online I hope I don't have to!

I kinda feel gutted after this process. I've barred my entire soul in applications and now they're digging as deep as humanly possible through our finances and potential ability to pay and ugh. Like, how much do we have in 401k as of X-date. Uhh? We get a statement year and otherwise ignore it (because I'm totally going to pull out the measly sum in that account be taxed 35-40%) Ugh. Thats how I feel.

 

[gyrfalcon]

Bad news: I got waitlisted at Boston, so I guess I really will be leaving New England and my friends of the past 6 years.

Good news: Now I don't have to fill out NeedAccess!

 

[Eccesignum]

Bad news: I got waitlisted at Boston, so I guess I really will be leaving New England and my friends of the past 6 years.

Good news: Now I don't have to fill out NeedAccess!

🙁

You never know about dem waitlists though. People are inevitably going to withdraw once April hits. If it's what you want don't give up yet.

 

[gyrfalcon]

You never know about dem waitlists though. People are inevitably going to withdraw once April hits. If it's what you want don't give up yet.

Thanks for the support. I just don't know what I want anymore, heh. Most of my friends are here in Boston, but LA and Miami are really tempting me with their warm sunny days and palm trees! 😎

 

[VegasPreMed]

Bad news: I got waitlisted at Boston, so I guess I really will be leaving New England and my friends of the past 6 years.

Good news: Now I don't have to fill out NeedAccess!

That sucks. 🙁 But change can be good!

 

[gyrfalcon]

I woke up to a missed call and voicemail from UC Davis, where I've been on pre-interview hold since August. They called me at 9:30 this morning but I slept right through it. Obviously I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and called every half hour after. Even though I have an acceptance, I have really been aching to stay in California and so I was really excited. When the admissions office finally called me back this afternoon, however, it was only to tell me that they filled the slot that they had called to offer me this morning. AKA you snooze, you lose.

This is horrible. I know the interview season is wrapping up but I can't understand why they couldn't give you a day to respond. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

 

[hueso]

On the plus side, I don't have to get a haircut/iron all my clothes/last minute prep for an MMI/drive to Sacramento at the buttcrack of dawn.

This is horrible. I know the interview season is wrapping up but I can't understand why they couldn't give you a day to respond. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

 

[B-wildered]

Got off the alternate list at Miami, increase exponent on Don't Know What to Do Now variable. I wish financial aid would start coming in already.

Thats awesome, I am still waiting for them.... I also got put on hold for OHSU.... like I just want to know where I am gonna go... this process is such a drag....

 

[mavric1298]

Anyone heard of premedstar.com?! I'm suddenly getting emails from them and "Dr. Dale", and they reached out to my premed honor society separately to myself and my officers. Med school recruiting?! Ha!

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

I'm FREAKING OUT. Just made a list of all the stuff we need to get done before putting our house on the market... There's a lot of stuff...
Also how does one plan a move when they don't get to know where they're moving TO??
:'(

 

[gyrfalcon]

I'm FREAKING OUT. Just made a list of all the stuff we need to get done before putting our house on the market... There's a lot of stuff...
Also how does one plan a move when they don't get to know where they're moving TO??
:'(

I feel your pain! My husband and I decided to put most of our stuff in storage, sell the house, and move into a pet-friendly apartment with month-to-month rent for a few months until we know for sure where we are going. It seemed like the least stressful option overall.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

I feel your pain! My husband and I decided to put most of our stuff in storage, sell the house, and move into a pet-friendly apartment with month-to-month rent for a few months until we know for sure where we are going. It seemed like the least stressful option overall.

Unfortunately we're in the middle of a bunch of DIY construction projects, and we have to finish all of them before we can sell. But that might be a good idea if we miraculously get it all done quickly.

 

[pageantry]

Has anyone else felt themselves coming to a new place of self-assurance with the decisions being made right now? I'm wondering if I'm entering some kind of "non-trad exceptionalism" delusion as the pressure causes me to break from reality. But, I don't think so.

For example, we all know that standard SDN advice is to pick the cheapest school and let life work the rest out. But I feel like, actually, I know a lot more about myself than the average traditional med student. I've traveled. I've developed preferences based off of experience. I know regions I like and regions I don't. I know how comfortable I am with diversity--or the lack of it. I know my ability to be resourceful and imaginative and whether I enjoy struggle or prefer to take it easy, and in which ways. I know how much I like people, and what I offer in a work situation, and how I can utilize a network. Etc.

To me, all these things feel more real in myself as a person than they've ever felt before. It's like I'm bumping up into a new level of self-knowledge. Or I think I am. And it's kind of awesome. Or it's delusion. But the point is, I'm probably not going to go for my cheapest option.

Anyone else here know what I'm talking about?

 

[entresuspiros]

Has anyone else felt themselves coming to a new place of self-assurance with the decisions being made right now? I'm wondering if I'm entering some kind of "non-trad exceptionalism" delusion as the pressure causes me to break from reality. But, I don't think so.

For example, we all know that standard SDN advice is to pick the cheapest school and let life work the rest out. But I feel like, actually, I know a lot more about myself than the average traditional med student. I've traveled. I've developed preferences based off of experience. I know regions I like and regions I don't. I know how comfortable I am with diversity--or the lack of it. I know my ability to be resourceful and imaginative and whether I enjoy struggle or prefer to take it easy, and in which ways. I know how much I like people, and what I offer in a work situation, and how I can utilize a network. Etc.

To me, all these things feel more real in myself as a person than they've ever felt before. It's like I'm bumping up into a new level of self-knowledge. Or I think I am. And it's kind of awesome. Or it's delusion. But the point is, I'm probably not going to go for my cheapest option.

Anyone else here know what I'm talking about?

I understand how you feel. My experience speaking with young students/traditional applicants/SDN is inconsistent; most of the time they say to just go for the cheapest option... but then they suggest you go for a top 10 school if you get accepted because you can network better and its just a better career move. They also scoff at some of the factors affecting my decision, like weather - they insist it's immature to pick partly based on that since I'll be stuck in a library most of the time and "I can just go to a gym".

Diversity is a tricky issue as well, not just ethnically but socioeconomically. I'm not basing my decision on where I got along best with students, since I never met more than a dozen at any interview day (most times it was much less). Some exchanges I've had regarding things like housing (the word sketchy/ghetto came up way too often), activities (why must they reduce it to the local nightlife?),etc., were off-putting and reminded me of the many ways I don't fit the medical school profile. Yet I also became more self-assured and proud of myself as a person with particular goals and desires. Nevertheless, this new-found confidence doesn't make the decision any easier. Maybe that is where that feeling of delusion comes in: you feel certain of what you want but your life experiences force you to obsess over these factors much more precisely because you know that you can't let "life work the rest out".

Or maybe I just realized that I'm really indecisive and neurotic? 🙂

 

[entresuspiros]

Also, I want to join in the "stress beyond belief" camp.

I completely shut down this last week and didn't submit NeedAccess/CSS because I was working so much and I'm still waiting on my parents' tax information. And the fact that I can't attend any second looks and am resorting to asking schools if they can help pay for travel costs (never going to happen). And that my partner is freaking out about how to pay for housing; he's a career changer and doesn't have a career to fall back on for temporary jobs. AND that I may not be able to go on a long-desired hiking trip because I need my meager savings for first/last/deposit at wherever I end up 🙁

Are second look days even useful? They just sound like an extended social event.

 

[B-wildered]

Also, I want to join in the "stress beyond belief" camp.

I completely shut down this last week and didn't submit NeedAccess/CSS because I was working so much and I'm still waiting on my parents' tax information. And the fact that I can't attend any second looks and am resorting to asking schools if they can help pay for travel costs (never going to happen). And that my partner is freaking out about how to pay for housing; he's a career changer and doesn't have a career to fall back on for temporary jobs. AND that I may not be able to go on a long-desired hiking trip because I need my meager savings for first/last/deposit at wherever I end up 🙁

Are second look days even useful? They just sound like an extended social event.

I am starting to stress out about the decisions myself, one school is paying me my flight for the "second look" . I think is great opportunity to see the school without been under the microscope / stressed out because you are getting evaluated . All my interviews seemed the same and I could not really enjoy them. I was fairly stressed/amped for them. I personally would not want to live in a place that it is ghetto/ violent. For instance NOLA struck me not like a place that I would like to live due to ghettoness IMHO. Portland for instance seemed way more "compatible" with my life style. When I went to Miami everybody just talked about how fun the night life was , something that I am not interested at all at this point of my life, however I like nature/ocean so that's tempting. INdiana gave a scholarship which would make my tuition the same as in state most places . Also they allowed to choose my campus without participating the lottery , since they have nine campus thoroughly the state.... The stress relating when I am going to be in 3 months is starting to build up, at least I got accepted everything else is minors.

 

[mavric1298]

^ I can't remember where you are selecting from but I assume OHSU, in which case, I can't say enough good things about the school and Portland. The only thing to consider is the new curriculum and the changes they have been making, but two of my best friends just matched after attending there and had nothing but glowing things to say. I grew up in Bend, my parents have a house in NW, and I live in Seattle. Needless to say I love the PNW and would chose OHSU/UW over anywhere else, but that's just me.

It's crazy that I'm already re-working my PS and application - have had some good feedback from either adcoms of rejected schools or adcoms I know through networking - and that I will be starting this process all over again in a month and half. It's also finals week and I have a ridiculously hard biochem final Tuesday and ecology final Wed., a research article writing assignment due tomorrow in advanced cell bio, and a lab report for ecology too. F me. Stress level midnight

And just to vent, we had a research article (Cyclin-dependent kinases regulate epigenetic gene silencing through phosphorylation of EZH2) that was assigned on Tuesday for a T/Th class, and our writing assignment isn't due until tomorrow, but we had our final this last Thursday - and she put 20% of the exam on the paper! Everyone I know including myself had decided to put off the paper until after the final and was going to use the weekend to do the work - I had read the abstract at least and was able reason through most of the q's, but some serious bullshet if you ask me

 

[tetley]

(Cyclin-dependent kinases regulate epigenetic gene silencing through phosphorylation of EZH2)

Just had a cell bio exam... this triggered me.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

^ I can't remember where you are selecting from but I assume OHSU, in which case, I can't say enough good things about the school and Portland. The only thing to consider is the new curriculum and the changes they have been making, but two of my best friends just matched after attending there and had nothing but glowing things to say. I grew up in Bend, my parents have a house in NW, and I live in Seattle. Needless to say I love the PNW and would chose OHSU/UW over anywhere else, but that's just me.

It's crazy that I'm already re-working my PS and application - have had some good feedback from either adcoms of rejected schools or adcoms I know through networking - and that I will be starting this process all over again in a month and half. It's also finals week and I have a ridiculously hard biochem final Tuesday and ecology final Wed., a research article writing assignment due tomorrow in advanced cell bio, and a lab report for ecology too. F me. Stress level midnight

And just to vent, we had a research article (Cyclin-dependent kinases regulate epigenetic gene silencing through phosphorylation of EZH2) that was assigned on Tuesday for a T/Th class, and our writing assignment isn't due until tomorrow, but we had our final this last Thursday - and she put 20% of the exam on the paper! Everyone I know including myself had decided to put off the paper until after the final and was going to use the weekend to do the work - I had read the abstract at least and was able reason through most of the q's, but some serious bullshet if you ask me

Even with today's weather you'd choose Seattle/Portland over the rest of the country? I personally really hope I get to move somewhere sunny XD.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I personally would not want to live in a place that it is ghetto/ violent.

Why does everyone always assume that poor neighborhoods are violent?

 

[B-wildered]

^ I can't remember where you are selecting from but I assume OHSU, in which case, I can't say enough good things about the school and Portland. The only thing to consider is the new curriculum and the changes they have been making, but two of my best friends just matched after attending there and had nothing but glowing things to say. I grew up in Bend, my parents have a house in NW, and I live in Seattle. Needless to say I love the PNW and would chose OHSU/UW over anywhere else, but that's just me.

I got put on hold at OHSU, I think if I got accepted there would make my life easier because I really liked the city and I think it is a top 20 school and I dig the Portland life style ( nature/ mountains and etc..)
So far ' Ive been accepted at Indiana (80 k scholarship offered), Tulane and Netter. I am on the alternate list at Miami Miller, deferred at the Ohio State and in Hold ( no decision) for OHSU . and waiting to hear back this week from my state school. Patience and decisions ............... ahhhhhh

 

[B-wildered]

Why does everyone always assume that poor neighborhoods are violent?

Often, statistically poorer neighborhoods are usually associated with increased crime rates, (thats in the literature and there are a lot papers on it 🙂 . Personally I grew up and lived in many ghetto/poorer places (3rd world country and in the US) and I suffered far more robberies (car / house ant etc.. ) when I lived in those neighborhoods vs living in a "nicer " zone. I am not saying that any place is safe but I think that the odds increase in poorer areas IMHO.

 

[Eccesignum]

Also, I want to join in the "stress beyond belief" camp.

I completely shut down this last week and didn't submit NeedAccess/CSS because I was working so much and I'm still waiting on my parents' tax information. And the fact that I can't attend any second looks and am resorting to asking schools if they can help pay for travel costs (never going to happen). [SNIP] Are second look days even useful? They just sound like an extended social event.

I haven't finished my NeedAccess either, mostly because I've been talking myself into just withdrawing from the two schools that want parental info and leaving the one that doesn't (which is far over the other two in preference list anyway). Still have to get a bunch of my own info together to do it, and I've been stresscrastinating.

You never know about schools financially supporting your coming to second looks. One of mine did after I was honest about not being able to afford it, and I'm glad they did as it's one I'm somewhat conflicted over. I got to have some FOR SRS conversations with students about the nuances of the school culture and other less obvious factors. I'm going to another 2nd look in driving distance. There are two further away I wish I could go to but there's no way with flight prices. Not worth it if it's not in your budget, but if it's convenient sure.

 

[B-wildered]

I haven't finished my NeedAccess either, mostly because I've been talking myself into just withdrawing from the two schools that want parental info and leaving the one that doesn't (which is far over the other two in preference list anyway). Still have to get a bunch of my own info together to do it, and I've been stresscrastinating.

You never know about schools financially supporting your coming to second looks. One of mine did after I was honest about not being able to afford it, and I'm glad they did as it's one I'm somewhat conflicted over. I got to have some FOR SRS conversations with students about the nuances of the school culture and other less obvious factors. I'm going to another 2nd look in driving distance. There are two further away I wish I could go to but there's no way with flight prices. Not worth it if it's not in your budget, but if it's convenient sure.

Hey what is NeedACess???

 

[Eccesignum]

Hey what is NeedACess???

An extreeeeeeeeemely long and detailed romp through your and your parents' finances that certain schools make you fill out for need-based aid (I posted a list of said schools not too far back).

 

[TravelingPanda]

Diversity is a tricky issue as well, not just ethnically but socioeconomically. I'm not basing my decision on where I got along best with students, since I never met more than a dozen at any interview day (most times it was much less). Some exchanges I've had regarding things like housing (the word sketchy/ghetto came up way too often), activities (why must they reduce it to the local nightlife?),etc., were off-putting and reminded me of the many ways I don't fit the medical school profile.

My biggest concerns about moving for medical school are about these issues, particularly socioeconomic diversity. Miami is almost certainly the place I will be attending, but the approach of many of the conversations I've had with current students about where to live has made me more than a bit uncomfortable. The majority of students live in a very wealthy section of the city, which is fine and all, but my wife and I will be looking for a cheaper neighborhood if we can. When I asked current students about other neighborhoods, however, there were more than one comment about X section of town being a "**** hole" and how we should all just pay up and live in the wealthy neighborhood near the night life like other people. This certainly isn't representative of the entire class at the school, I'm sure, but it sure made me feel uncomfortable - both because of the idea that living in the part of town that advertises luxury living should be expected and because anyone going into medicine, a field focused on caring for others, should denigrate another person's home by calling it a **** hole feels like a really inappropriate way to talk. There are other, less demeaning ways they could have said that X neighborhood had fewer amenities, is a worse commute, etc.



Also, I'm very concerned about how my wife will adjust and fit in a new city. Even though we are both excited for this new adventure, we'll be moving to a place that has no connections for either of us and fewer non-traditional students than many of the other schools I looked at. I work at a business school now and I see how they really go out of their way to support the spouses and families of their students and I deeply wish that the University of Miami would offer support and a community like that, but from what I've seen so far I don't think that it will. I'm 1000% sure about going to medical school and even going to UM with my few reservations, but I worry about what it will put my wife through.

 

[pageantry]

When I asked current students about other neighborhoods, however, there were more than one comment about X section of town being a "**** hole" and how we should all just pay up and live in the wealthy neighborhood near the night life like other people. This certainly isn't representative of the entire class at the school, I'm sure, but it sure made me feel uncomfortable - both because of the idea that living in the part of town that advertises luxury living should be expected and because anyone going into medicine, a field focused on caring for others, should denigrate another person's home by calling it a **** hole feels like a really inappropriate way to talk. There are other, less demeaning ways they could have said that X neighborhood had fewer amenities, is a worse commute, etc.



Also, I'm very concerned about how my wife will adjust and fit in a new city. Even though we are both excited for this new adventure, we'll be moving to a place that has no connections for either of us and fewer non-traditional students than many of the other schools I looked at. I work at a business school now and I see how they really go out of their way to support the spouses and families of their students and I deeply wish that Miami would offer support and a community like that, but from what I've seen so far I don't think that it will. I'm 1000% sure about going to medical school and even going to Miami with my few reservations, but I worry about what it will put my wife through.

I appreciate what you wrote about the way med students talk about poor parts of town. As an adult, I have always lived in poor areas, and I love my neighbors and the communities here (waaay more than "nightlife"), and I've heard a lot of the same types of comments at my schools as well. I guess I would have probably talked that way at age 22 as well, tho.

Frankly, I worry more about the fallout from neighbors perceiving me as "gentrifying" than I do about crime. Being yelled at on the street and targeted for crimes is rough. But not every neighborhood I can afford rolls like that.

But I also hear... Idk... Just the sense of loss in your post. I'm going through it too. Moving is the worst. And then maybe we'll do it again in four years? And then again in three years or so for fellowship (or whatever)? And then for a job?

Right now if I go with (what may be) my most expensive option (by $80k), I'd be thirty minutes from my current apartment. That trade off is maddening.

 

[gyrfalcon]

My biggest concerns about moving for medical school are about these issues, particularly socioeconomic diversity. Miami is almost certainly the place I will be attending, but the approach of many of the conversations I've had with current students about where to live has made me more than a bit uncomfortable. The majority of students live in a very wealthy section of the city, which is fine and all, but my wife and I will be looking for a cheaper neighborhood if we can. When I asked current students about other neighborhoods, however, there were more than one comment about X section of town being a "**** hole" and how we should all just pay up and live in the wealthy neighborhood near the night life like other people.

For what it's worth, I had a very different conversation with the students when I was there. Some recommended the wealthy area, but it wasn't for the nightlife but rather that it was very convenient to take public transit from that neighborhood to the school so that the cost of a car could be avoided. Other neighborhoods were mentioned as well, with their good and bad points. I suppose it really depends on who you talk to. While driving around I did see some neighborhoods in Miami that I personally would not want to live in, but they weren't any of the areas listed by the current students.

I did get that weird feeling when talking to the students in Los Angeles, though. There were so many comments that the neighborhood around the school was "really sketchy" and that no one should walk around there alone that I had dreamed up in my mind some sort of urban war zone. When I got there, it looked like a pretty normal neighborhood and I wondered what the fuss was about. I'm writing it off as a result of the student body mostly being from affluent families, although I don't understand how students can treat people from this area in the hospital ("I just loooove our patients!") and then be scared when passing them on the street.

 

[TravelingPanda]

For what it's worth, I had a very different conversation with the students when I was there. Some recommended the wealthy area, but it wasn't for the nightlife but rather that it was very convenient to take public transit from that neighborhood to the school so that the cost of a car could be avoided. Other neighborhoods were mentioned as well, with their good and bad points. I suppose it really depends on who you talk to.

That is great to hear. We will be looking for places around the metro for sure. Hopefully we can find something more affordable-ish.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I don't understand how students can treat people from this area in the hospital ("I just loooove our patients!") and then be scared when passing them on the street.

I agree. I've had similar conversations with other premeds where I've heard folks complaining about "sketchy" neighborhoods. What bothers me is that I sometimes ask myself, how much of this concern is related to fear of poor people/people of color and the association of certain types of people or places with violence or "crime?"

I live in a very low-income and majority POC neighborhood. People who live in other parts of town always say things to me like, "OMG, do you feel safe walking around at night? Have you been robbed?" The reality is that I've lived here for several years now and never once had an issue. My neighbors are quiet and keep to themselves. The only time I've ever been robbed is when I was living in a much nicer part of town. (Think about it! Makes sense to me to rob someone who you think has money! 😉)

I think in most US cities, if you're not actually participating in illicit activities yourself (selling drugs, etc), you're usually pretty safe.

 

[pageantry]

My building in NYC was and to some extent is still on a patch of street known as The Square. There are drug dealers every ten feet, and always one or two sitting on my stoop. But it was great until about a year ago. Drug dealers are actually pretty nice people unless they think you're horning in on their business. And the consequence of many people having few choices for employment that don't risk further felonies, means everyone has a strong reason to continually reaffirm community, good will. It's a tough reality, but if I walk my dog around the block it's a rare day when I don't greet and get greeted by name by at least four people, and usually I get a hug.

And this is NYC. That kind of community is UNHEARD OF.

But then, a year ago, Columbia built a dorm a few blocks away, and now business-suited, nervous-looking white people are scuttling around everywhere clutching their Whole Foods bags and armfuls of dry cleaning and refusing to make eye contact. And now, it's becoming like the bad neighborhood I mentioned before. People yell at me just for walking along the street.

Don't get me wrong, racism is real, but the economic consequences of institutional gentrification are real-er.

So, idk, maybe these med school kids actually have a point. I would bet the presence of their school changed things pretty badly for the poor neighborhoods around them, and I would bet it's NOT nearly as pleasant for them to live as newcomers in those neighborhoods. No matter how good their intentions.

This has a lot to do with my initial feelings on getting accepted, actually. I was always comfortably part of the below-the-poverty line. Now I'm going to get identified with the 1%. And maybe I can resist letting that change me and maybe not, but there is no doubt that to a lot of my current friends and neighbors, I am about to become part of The Enemy.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

@pageantry, what you're saying really resonates with me. Gentrification is such an ugly process and I think it definitely creates the kind of violence and crime that people are often afraid of. It's completely understandable when you consider that people are pretty much being driven from their homes, priced out of their communities, and often harassed/brutalized by the police in the process. It's difficult to think of actionable alternatives but it's so important. And definitely a consideration when thinking about moving to a new place!