Accepted, but hoping to go elsewhere.

[Moogle Man]

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I should start by saying that I have been incredibly fortunate to have been accepted by several schools over this application cycle. While they are all good schools, I am not exactly excited about any of them either. Now I'm wondering if I should take a year off to boost my resume or just matriculate and be happy that I got in at all.

Opinions? Advice?

 

[metallica81788]

I should start by saying that I have been incredibly fortunate to have been accepted by several schools over this application cycle. While they are all good schools, I am not exactly excited about any of them either. Now I'm wondering if I should take a year off to boost my resume or just matriculate and be happy that I got in at all.

Opinions? Advice?

I see what you're saying. I might not end up extremely excited at the school I go to, either, but I don't think you should reapply.

Especially if you're in at multiple schools.

People would kill to be in your/our shoes, so we should just be happy that we're in. 🙂 Good luck with your decision.

 

[MSUSpartan642]

Stop it. Pick the cheapest of the ones that you got accepted to. Thread closed.

 

[FrazzleSnazzle]

Just matriculate. You'd be taking a BIG risk by re-applying. Keep in mind that if you do pick that option, then don't even bother applying to the accepted schools that you turn down this cycle. Med schools have feelings too. If you hurt them, they will probably never give you the time of day again.

 

[morning]

🙄

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

I don't want to feed the troll, but I will say this.

DO NOT APPLY ANYWHERE YOU WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO!! This goes for OP and everyone applying in the future. Re-application in the face of acceptances is STUPID. Yeah, I said it: STUPID.

There are 120+ schools. Buy an MSAR and choose wisely.

 

[SabC]

I should start by saying that I have been incredibly fortunate to have been accepted by several schools over this application cycle. While they are all good schools, I am not exactly excited about any of them either. Now I'm wondering if I should take a year off to boost my resume or just matriculate and be happy that I got in at all.

Opinions? Advice?

If it were me, I would try very dispassionately to compare these schools to the ones you are/were excited about and whether what these schools 'lack' (is it location, curriculum, environment) is genuinely worth the cost of waiting to you. I would also try to evaluate why I didn't get into the schools I wanted and evaluate the realistic probability of my chances should I reapply. And lastly, I'd try to weigh my potential regret about taking a year off against all of the possible outcomes. If you're fairly pragmatic great, but if you're prone to self-flagellation take that into consideration.

 

[SpaceDementia]

OP, you should expect pretty disapproving replies as is typical when this question is asked. A lot of people will tell you to just take the acceptance. But there's a legitimate question to be asked if you feel like a) you really shouldn't have applied to those schools and don't see yourself being happy there, and b) you're confident that something in your application held you back this cycle and that you can improve it and do better next time around.

So on the one hand the ultimate goal is to get into med school, but at the same time others can't speak for your happiness. So, to give you some neutral feedback, I think you need to find out if schools next time around will discriminate against you for having turned down an acceptance (they'll see your past acceptances). I know that people have been successful after re-applying, but my impression is also that some schools won't like it. I'm not completely sure. At the least the question will likely come up in interviews.

 

[runawayclock]

I should start by saying that I have been incredibly fortunate to have been accepted by several schools over this application cycle. While they are all good schools, I am not exactly excited about any of them either. Now I'm wondering if I should take a year off to boost my resume or just matriculate and be happy that I got in at all.

Opinions? Advice?

Can't you do both? Defer, take a year off to have fun, come back to med school.

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

Can't you do both? Defer, take a year off to have fun, come back to med school.

What fun are you going to have re-applying to medical schools that will see that you are a re-applicant, ask you what happened last year, then give you the stink-eye when they hear you were actually successful in your previous cycle? I'd be stressed the whole time. AND ONE YEAR BEHIND IN FINISHING MEDICAL SCHOOL.

If you're going to defer, you'd better have a damn good reason. Not, "I don't really like your school. Therefore, I need a year off to re-apply and see what else is out there. If all the other schools I plan to apply to realize I'm a wish-washer who passed up multiple acceptances, then I'll go here next year. K, thanks."

 

[i love cookies]

Wow, I'm glad I'm not the only person thinking about turning down acceptances and reapplying in the future.

 

[brooklynblunder]

even if you defer, you are matriculated into a MD program. don't think you can re-apply.

 

[brooklynblunder]

you should list the schools you got into so people can get you to be more enthusiastic about them.

 

[He2]

how about your WL's?

 

[searun]

If you turn down multiple acceptances this cycle, it is highly unlikely that you will be accepted anywhere in the future. The med schools will know that you turned down these acceptances, and will be very sceptical about you. The fact that you are even considering this is absurd.

 

[Ableton]

I don't want to feed the troll, but I will say this.

DO NOT APPLY ANYWHERE YOU WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO!! This goes for OP and everyone applying in the future. Re-application in the face of acceptances is STUPID. Yeah, I said it: STUPID.

There are 120+ schools. Buy an MSAR and choose wisely.

Why are you so quick to pull the "troll trigger"? Are you this hasty in judging everyone else you meet in real life who happens to not share the same idealistic views as you?

The concerns the OP has are legitimate and many prospective medical students are faced with a similar dilemma. Often times when you apply, you don't really know how you feel about a certain place - it's one thing to read it in a book and a whole other to go out there for an interview.

Medical school is tough, a lot harder than you think. Studies have shown that about 50% of medical students will burn out at some point and an alarmingly high percent will be depressed and have suicidal ideations. These will only be further compounded by experiencing all of this in a place you aren't really happy to begin with.

So lay off. To the OP, you know the risk that comes with reapplying and only you can know if it's worth it.

 

[morning]

If he/she can't be happy at the school he/she should not have applied there, PERIOD. That was stupid and so is turning down multiple acceptances. It's okay to call a stupid decision stupid. The OP will spend thousands of dollars applying and interviewing next cycle and almost certainly will fail.

 

[Morsetlis]

As long as it's not SGU, you are insane to think about reapplying.

 

[futile]

I should start by saying that I have been incredibly fortunate to have been accepted by several schools over this application cycle. While they are all good schools, I am not exactly excited about any of them either. Now I'm wondering if I should take a year off to boost my resume or just matriculate and be happy that I got in at all.

Opinions? Advice?

I know how you feel, because I feel similarly, and I definitely felt this way when I was applying to undergrad.

I don't know where you got in, or what your situation is, but it's really hard after many interviews and conversations and everything not to get jaded about the schools you applied to. It's difficult not to feel let down by all the rejections to programs you were excited about and were daydreaming about attending.

When I finally picked my school for undergrad, I just made up my mind that this is where I was going to go, and I was going to make the best of it, goshdarnit, regardless of how hard that would be for me for the first couple of years. Honestly, it worked out so wonderfully that I'm okay with taking this risk again to go to a school (undecided, at this point) which I might not be absolutely 100% fantastically sure about.

I would just suggest you think about it, keep in mind the things that are especially important to you, and pick the lesser of the evils. Who is to say that when you apply next cycle you won't be faced with a similar situation? And honestly, what does it matter if you do well in your classes regardless?

People say this so often on this board, but here you go anyway: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Anyway, that's my spiel.

 

[searun]

Why are you so quick to pull the "troll trigger"? Are you this hasty in judging everyone else you meet in real life who happens to not share the same idealistic views as you?

The concerns the OP has are legitimate and many prospective medical students are faced with a similar dilemma. Often times when you apply, you don't really know how you feel about a certain place - it's one thing to read it in a book and a whole other to go out there for an interview.

Medical school is tough, a lot harder than you think. Studies have shown that about 50% of medical students will burn out at some point and an alarmingly high percent will be depressed and have suicidal ideations. These will only be further compounded by experiencing all of this in a place you aren't really happy to begin with.

So lay off. To the OP, you know the risk that comes with reapplying and only you can know if it's worth it.

What exactly do you mean that "50% of med students burn out?" Certainly med school will be stressful at times, but the vast majority of med students who matriculate will graduate and receive an MD degree - I believe that the success rate exceeds 95 percent. This is why the admissions process is so rigorous. And I certainly dispute that a high percentage of med students have "suicidal ideations."

What is your source for these statements?

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

Why are you so quick to pull the "troll trigger"? Are you this hasty in judging everyone else you meet in real life who happens to not share the same idealistic views as you?

The concerns the OP has are legitimate and many prospective medical students are faced with a similar dilemma. Often times when you apply, you don't really know how you feel about a certain place - it's one thing to read it in a book and a whole other to go out there for an interview.

Medical school is tough, a lot harder than you think. Studies have shown that about 50% of medical students will burn out at some point and an alarmingly high percent will be depressed and have suicidal ideations. These will only be further compounded by experiencing all of this in a place you aren't really happy to begin with.

So lay off. To the OP, you know the risk that comes with reapplying and only you can know if it's worth it.

😴Whomp whomp. And then a WHOMP! Idealistic? Try realistic. Out of MULTIPLE acceptances you can't find ANYTHING about one school that you like? While a book doesn't give the whole story, neither does an interview day, which is why many people take the oppportunity to go to a second look day or spend a full day on their own with a current student. And then there are other people who aren't so fortunate, who are sitting on one acceptance. And guess what? They TAKE it. And they find things about the school to fall in love with, even if it was their last choice. Y'know why? Because at the end of 4 years, when they've sweated and passed their steps and are sitting on their number 4 or even number 13 match, they can say, "HOT DAMN! I'm gonna be a DOCTOR!" That's what I want. Is that too idealistic of me?

And is it too idealistic of me to think that intelligent people who are considering a grueling profession could actually do a search? This is not an original topic and has been popping up all over the place. Edit "acceptance" with the OP's "multiple acceptances" and you have the same thread.

Oh non-judgmental, perfect-in-every-way Abelton, I apologize for my hasty judgment, I really do. It was wrong of me. I'll lay off, I promise. I shall defer to you before I ever bother to give another idealistic opinion. Is that okay? Back to sleep. 😴

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

As long as it's not SGU, you are insane to think about reapplying.

For real. I'm over here assuming that these are allopathic acceptances. Maybe they're acceptances to the Caribbean. Which is a different ballpark...

 

[IDoIt4Love]

you know what? you should definitely just decline all those acceptances that you were fortunate enough to be given, and start, allllll over again. that way, people who really will appreciate your offered spots at these schools will actually get them, and thus, people with their heads screwed on correctly will graduate and become physicians in your place.

 

[JJMrK]

Why are you so quick to pull the "troll trigger"? Are you this hasty in judging everyone else you meet in real life who happens to not share the same idealistic views as you?

The concerns the OP has are legitimate and many prospective medical students are faced with a similar dilemma. Often times when you apply, you don't really know how you feel about a certain place - it's one thing to read it in a book and a whole other to go out there for an interview.

Medical school is tough, a lot harder than you think. Studies have shown that about 50% of medical students will burn out at some point and an alarmingly high percent will be depressed and have suicidal ideations. These will only be further compounded by experiencing all of this in a place you aren't really happy to begin with.

So lay off. To the OP, you know the risk that comes with reapplying and only you can know if it's worth it.

Source?

 

[Hifey]

OP I understand this concern and, even though I don't feel the same way, I sympathize. This is just a matter of risk assessment.

Reapplying:
- since you've had multiple acceptances, you'll be at a disadvantage
- waste a year when you already have multiple choices
- possibly spend YEARS applying before a school accepts you.

OR

Make comparison lists between the schools and find SOMETHING to get excited about. Honestly, NO school is going to be perfect no matter what you think so you might as well make the best of the situation you've been given. I was also not super excited about my undergrad but ended up attending here and I now can't imagine myself having done it anywhere else. You need to realize that you can make your own happiness. No matter where you go medical school will be rigorous and unpleasant at times. Once you accept that fact, you'll feel a lot better about even having CHOICES!


good luck.

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

you know what? you should definitely just decline all those acceptances that you were fortunate enough to be given, and start, allllll over again. that way, people who really will appreciate your offered spots at these schools will actually get them, and thus, people with their heads screwed on correctly will graduate and become physicians in your place.

It would be the most altruistic thing the OP could possibly do. Definitely good fodder for the next PS. 👍

 

[Ableton]

What is your source for these statements?

Source?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18765703

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20042833

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/11/1085

Medical student health is a huge concern and there's much much more data out there. Look for yourselves next time.

😴Whomp whomp. And then a WHOMP! Idealistic? Try realistic. Out of MULTIPLE acceptances you can't find ANYTHING about one school that you like? While a book doesn't give the whole story, neither does an interview day, which is why many people take the oppportunity to go to a second look day or spend a full day on their own with a current student. And then there are other people who aren't so fortunate, who are sitting on one acceptance. And guess what? They TAKE it. And they find things about the school to fall in love with, even if it was their last choice. Y'know why? Because at the end of 4 years, when they've sweated and passed their steps and are sitting on their number 4 or even number 13 match, they can say, "HOT DAMN! I'm gonna be a DOCTOR!" That's what I want. Is that too idealistic of me?

Fine, realistic. But I'll say it again, medical school is very difficult and it will be even more tortuous if you're not happy where you are. This can also have a huge impact on your performance as well. Sure, you can find a thing or two you love about a particular school, but these are simply compensatory self-justifications at best if you're not truly happy in the grand scheme.

But I do agree with you that it is still difficult to fully assess whether a place is a right fit for you based on one or two visits, however, it's the best method by which one has to go on at the moment.

In the end, I don't think it's so unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if he/she feels that they can do better the next time around and be happier in the long run. Some well-qualified applicants will think of doing this at one point or another. It's usually the less accomplished applicants that chastise them to no end, maybe because they don't have the luxury of having confidence in reapplying and will take the first acceptance they get (Note: don't read anything personal into this, I don't care what kind of applicant you are or what your stats are).

 

[goldandapager]

Wow is this College Confidential or SDN?

A school is a school and you're going there to become an MD. Sure, you want to have a good experience, but if you're a normal person, you can adapt to a less-than-ideal environment.

What purpose is there to waste a year and reapply, other than being able to study in a beautiful quad or some BS like that?

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

Fine, realistic. But I'll say it again, medical school is very difficult and it will be even more tortuous if you're not happy where you are. This can also have a huge impact on your performance as well. Sure, you can find a thing or two you love about a particular school, but these are simply compensatory self-justifications at best if you're not truly happy in the grand scheme.

But what is the "grand scheme?" I thought it was to go to medical school and be a doctor. There's no time to get bummed out about a school because the club scene isn't up to par. What is it that we should be looking for in a school, aside from optimal financial aid and a place to sit should we want to go to class? I can't speak on the first, but multiple schools have given the OP the second, and it's not enough. I guess above all I wonder what these schools have that doesn't satisfy the OP. And how does s/he know s/he is going to find it (or get the chance to find it) at the next school?

But I do agree with you that it is still difficult to fully assess whether a place is a right fit for you based on one or two visits, however, it's the best method by which one has to go on at the moment.

This is why I think OP should take as many second look days as possible before s/he thinks about throwing multiple acceptances away.

In the end, I don't think it's so unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if he/she feels that they can do better the next time around and be happier in the long run. Some well-qualified applicants will think of doing this at one point or another. It's usually the less accomplished applicants that chastise them to no end, maybe because they don't have the luxury of having confidence in reapplying and will take the first acceptance they get (Note: don't read anything personal into this, I don't care what kind of applicant you are or what your stats are).

I wish the OP luck. I hope s/he is able to come back here and laugh in the face of all the nay-sayers, and tell us that it worked and s/he was successful. Good luck, OP!

 

[morning]

Fine, realistic. But I'll say it again, medical school is very difficult and it will be even more tortuous if you're not happy where you are. This can also have a huge impact on your performance as well. Sure, you can find a thing or two you love about a particular school, but these are simply compensatory self-justifications at best if you're not truly happy in the grand scheme.

But I do agree with you that it is still difficult to fully assess whether a place is a right fit for you based on one or two visits, however, it's the best method by which one has to go on at the moment.

In the end, I don't think it's so unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if he/she feels that they can do better the next time around and be happier in the long run. Some well-qualified applicants will think of doing this at one point or another. It's usually the less accomplished applicants that chastise them to no end, maybe because they don't have the luxury of having confidence in reapplying and will take the first acceptance they get (Note: don't read anything personal into this, I don't care what kind of applicant you are or what your stats are).

You have no business applying to a school and wasting their time and your money if you NEVER intended to matriculate. The only good thing is that at least they're not depriving anyone of a spot (maybe an interview slot, though) because someone else will be perfectly happy to take it.

It's hard to get into medical school as a reapplicant and nearly impossible to get in as a reapplicant who turned down multiple acceptances...what are the odds the OP actually gets into these shining ivory medical schools he wants?

The OP definitely needs to introspect. Unless these are DO schools or Caribbean and s/he was hoping on allopathic, s/he is committing career suicide and it would be idealistic to expect otherwise.

 

[JJMrK]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18765703

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20042833

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/11/1085

Medical student health is a huge concern and there's much much more data out there. Look for yourselves next time.

Approximately 11% of students have serious thoughts of dropping out of medical school each year. Burnout seems to be associated with increased likelihood of serious thoughts of dropping out.

Approximately 50% of students experience burnout and 10% experience suicidal ideation during medical school. Burnout seems to be associated with increased likelihood of subsequent suicidal ideation, whereas recovery from burnout is associated with less suicidal ideation.

I'm not sure if these data support your statements. Are these rates higher than those experienced by all individuals? Even if they are, can you substantiate a link between a school you don't like and an increase in these numbers? Lastly, I wonder if there is a correlation between not having to apply again and a decrease in these numbers among undergraduates.

Interesting articles nevertheless.

 

[robrobbberts]

Some of you are incredibly harsh. Though I don't feel the same way, I definitely understand the sentiment.

OP I understand this concern and, even though I don't feel the same way, I sympathize. This is just a matter of risk assessment.

Reapplying:
- since you've had multiple acceptances, you'll be at a disadvantage
- waste a year when you already have multiple choices
- possibly spend YEARS applying before a school accepts you.

OR

Make comparison lists between the schools and find SOMETHING to get excited about. Honestly, NO school is going to be perfect no matter what you think so you might as well make the best of the situation you've been given. I was also not super excited about my undergrad but ended up attending here and I now can't imagine myself having done it anywhere else. You need to realize that you can make your own happiness. No matter where you go medical school will be rigorous and unpleasant at times. Once you accept that fact, you'll feel a lot better about even having CHOICES!


good luck.

This is great advice.

I would also suggest attending Second Look days if those schools have them. You will most likely get more in-depth looks at the programs, and you might get a completely different feel for the schools.

 

[i love cookies]

You got a much friendlier response than I did when I asked the same question.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=707572

 

[Ableton]

I'm not sure if these data support your statements. Are these rates higher than those experienced by all individuals? Even if they are, can you substantiate a link between a school you don't like and an increase in these numbers? Lastly, I wonder if there is a correlation between not having to apply again and a decrease in these numbers among undergraduates.

Interesting articles nevertheless.

To compare with baseline numbers:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-t...s-more-depressed-than-general-population.html

I don't want to turn this thread into a journal club, so I will just say while being unhappy at a certain medical school may not be the cause of the depression, it's not beyond the realm of belief that it can further compound it.

 

[searun]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18765703

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20042833

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/11/1085

Medical student health is a huge concern and there's much much more data out there. Look for yourselves next time.



Fine, realistic. But I'll say it again, medical school is very difficult and it will be even more tortuous if you're not happy where you are. This can also have a huge impact on your performance as well. Sure, you can find a thing or two you love about a particular school, but these are simply compensatory self-justifications at best if you're not truly happy in the grand scheme.

But I do agree with you that it is still difficult to fully assess whether a place is a right fit for you based on one or two visits, however, it's the best method by which one has to go on at the moment.

In the end, I don't think it's so unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if he/she feels that they can do better the next time around and be happier in the long run. Some well-qualified applicants will think of doing this at one point or another. It's usually the less accomplished applicants that chastise them to no end, maybe because they don't have the luxury of having confidence in reapplying and will take the first acceptance they get (Note: don't read anything personal into this, I don't care what kind of applicant you are or what your stats are).

You state that you do not think that it is unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if they think that they can do better in another future application cycle. The fatal flaw in your argument is that the OP will severely damage his chances of success in a future cycle by rejecting multiple acceptances in this cycle. Med school ad coms do not take this lightly. Certainly the med schools that were rejected by the OP this cycle will never consider him again, and in the future other schools will be very wary of him because he turned acceptances during the current application cycle.

This would be a very poor decision if the OP is serious about becoming a physician. To suggest otherwise, is to be very naive about how this process actually works.

 

[quiltlady]

I'm guessing that the OP was accepted at several DO schools, but in his heart of hearts wants an MD. Therefore, he feels if he improves his MCAT, he can get accepted at an allopathic school. Am I right?

 

[FluffyRabbit]

You state that you do not think that it is unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if they think that they can do better in another future application cycle. The fatal flaw in your argument is that the OP will severely damage his chances of success in a future cycle by rejecting multiple acceptances in this cycle. Med school ad coms do not take this lightly. Certainly the med schools that were rejected by the OP this cycle will never consider him again, and in the future other schools will be very wary of him because he turned acceptances during the current application cycle.

This would be a very poor decision if the OP is serious about becoming a physician. To suggest otherwise, is to be very naive about how this process actually works.

👍

Declining a medical school acceptance is a pretty big red flag. If you even have multiple acceptances, can't you find a school that you'll be at least reasonably happy at? You yourself even said they are "good schools". It'll definitely be better than filling out the AMCAS and anxiously waiting again. 🙂

 

[morning]

I'm guessing that the OP was accepted at several DO schools, but in his heart of hearts wants an MD. Therefore, he feels if he improves his MCAT, he can get accepted at an allopathic school. Am I right?

I thought that might be the case, but after looking at his posts, he was accepted at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, the University of Iowa and Saint Louis University. I still would love to know why he applied if he didn't intend to go there.

 

[mediterranean]

You, GUYS!

I think the correct response is... Just withdraw all your acceptances since you clearly do not want to attend any of the schools you applied and even got ACCEPTED to, so stopping wasting the adcoms and other applicant's time and stress and just withdraw ALL your acceptances so we can have a spot at achieving our life-long dream. END OF STORY!

 

[morning]

Honestly screw anyone who tells you where and when you should go take a seat.

Like if all I got into was some bland last ranked school all the way across the country because I applied late, you bet your ass I would reapply. I wouldn't care that other people would "kill" to be in my shoes. Those people probably have 3.4 gpas and a 27 mcat.

There is no such thing as a last-ranked medical school.

 

[Morsetlis]

Yes there is.

http://www.spartanmed.org/

It's on an island ;p

 

[FluffyRabbit]

Honestly screw anyone who tells you where and when you should go take a seat.

Like if all I got into was some bland last ranked school all the way across the country because I applied late, you bet your ass I would reapply. I wouldn't care that other people would "kill" to be in my shoes. Those people probably have 3.4 gpas and a 27 mcat.

It doesn't matter whether you think you deserve better - you do the cost/benefit analysis accounting for the fact that in the best case you go a year late and the worst case never get in again, and find that it's almost always unwise to decline acceptances.

Not to mention you shouldn't have applied there in the first place if you disparage said school that way. It's not like you didn't know it was "ranked last" (as if there is even such a thing) the year before.

 

[MiniMoo]

Honestly screw anyone who tells you where and when you should go take a seat.

Like if all I got into was some bland last ranked school all the way across the country because I applied late, you bet your ass I would reapply. I wouldn't care that other people would "kill" to be in my shoes. Those people probably have 3.4 gpas and a 27 mcat.

I think the point is why apply to "some bland last ranked school all the way across the country" if you would never attend if accepted? If you aren't excited about a school or think it sucks, fine. Don't apply then.

 

[mediterranean]

You state that you do not think that it is unreasonable for someone to turn down multiple acceptances and then reapply if they think that they can do better in another future application cycle. The fatal flaw in your argument is that the OP will severely damage his chances of success in a future cycle by rejecting multiple acceptances in this cycle. Med school ad coms do not take this lightly. Certainly the med schools that were rejected by the OP this cycle will never consider him again, and in the future other schools will be very wary of him because he turned acceptances during the current application cycle.

This would be a very poor decision if the OP is serious about becoming a physician. To suggest otherwise, is to be very naive about how this process actually works.

👍

I most definitely agree and let me explain the med school/coms logic. If you apply to several schools and get accepted by multiple schools (maybe not 100% acceptances across the board). Just be applying you have expressed absolute confidence that you are willing to enter medical school with all its rigors and be a doctor. Pulling out those acceptances not only means that you are not ready the year you applied but also show the adcoms that you are indecisive about what you want to do but also shows that you are not ready the year you applied. Adcoms don't want to graduate, let alone even admit, an indecisive doc from their med school, ya know.

 

[lovemesomeTJ]

You, GUYS!

I think the correct response is... Just withdraw all your acceptances since you clearly do not want to attend any of the schools you applied and even got ACCEPTED to, so stopping wasting the adcoms and other applicant's time and stress and just withdraw ALL your acceptances so we can have a spot at achieving our life-long dream. END OF STORY!

And that's another thing. You went to the interview day, already knew you did not like the schools, but kept your application in the pot anyway. I don't knock you for attending the interview because you needed to see for yourself, but you knew that you didn't like the schools and did not withdraw your application. So now you can't even play the, "Well, I had interviews but wasn't accepted anywhere" card when re-applying next year.

But yes, OP, this is your journey and your decision. We can say what we want, but this all boils down to you.

 

[searun]

Honestly screw anyone who tells you where and when you should go take a seat.

Like if all I got into was some bland last ranked school all the way across the country because I applied late, you bet your ass I would reapply. I wouldn't care that other people would "kill" to be in my shoes. Those people probably have 3.4 gpas and a 27 mcat.

With all due respect, you sound like a premed who has never applied to medical school and is woefully unaware of how this process actually works.

 

[FrazzleSnazzle]

I thought that might be the case, but after looking at his posts, he was accepted at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, the University of Iowa and Saint Louis University. I still would love to know why he applied if he didn't intend to go there.

Haha, really? Those schools are respectively ranked 35th, 31st, and 59th by US News.

OP, if you were talking about DO or Caribbean schools that you got into, it would be a different story. But these are all great acceptances and certainly not something worth giving up. Seriously, just suck it up and go. You have some great opportunities ahead of you. It's not the end of the world just because you didn't get into Harvard or Johns Hopkins or something.

 

[caseofthemndays]

Be thankful for the opportunity to become a doctor, for the multiple opportunities you have been granted. It takes some people YEARS to get into med school. Wherever you wind up you will most likely meet cool people with similar interests.

 

[eprmn]

My guess is that the OP applied broadly and got accepted to many of his mid-range schools. However, with this initial success in mind, he might be thinking that since his application this year was good enough to get into these decent schools, another year of experience would open the doors to the most prestigious ones. Not content with his solid, yet not-as-prestigious schools, he finds himself seriously considering taking his chances next year to get that Harvard acceptance. He sees the Harvard/Hopkins/whatever acceptance threads and asks himself, "Why not me?" In other words, the OP is getting greedy.

However, this is likely a giant red flag for admission committees. If/when you finally do apply to Harvard, they'll see your acceptances last cycle and will seriously question your motivation. Why is it that you want to be a doctor? Is it for prestige, or is it to enter the medical profession?

My 2 cents.

 

[Morsetlis]

^ Exactly.