Accepted, but REAPPLYING!

[snowhite]

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Hi all!

Has anyone been accepted previously at a school they didn't want to go to and reapplied to others? I wonder if this is severely looked down upon. I've heard stories that admissions will absolutely not pay attention to those who've been previously accepted to ANY school. I recently have had a change of plans and want to stay closer to my family. I also heard they won't let you reapply. People are telling me different things. Any thoughts?

 

[GWMD2B]

I would highly advise that you not do that. There are so many people out there aching and desperate to get into medical school. There is always someone waiting to take a spot if someone drops out. Unless you have some colossal problem with the medical school I assume you were accepted at (or a real family emergency), do NOT reapply if you have already gotten in. This school has given you a shot to achieve your goal, and in my opinion it would look like you were not taking it seriously or were not committed to the endeavor. My prediction is that it would come back to harm you in the future.

GWMD2B
The George Washington University School of Medicine Class of 2008

 

[SurgeryRA]

I was actually accepted to a med school last year in late july, a week before orientation at this particular school. It came out of the blue, so I had already started to make plans for my year off. I committed to a job for the upcoming year, and started to think about reapplying. I wasn't too excited to go to the school that accepted me a week before school, so it wasn't a hard decision for me to take a year off and reapply. I had no problems this year and was accepted to a school that I am looking forward to attending, so I don't know why you would run into a problem. Good luck.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

Every school I applied to was a school that I would have attended. Why would you apply to a school that you wouldn't attend? Don't say it's about the cost of the school. There are plenty of loan alternative, loan forgiveness programs, service programs.

If it's the location that's not sufficient either. it's only a short time in your life. Also, you'll be missing out on a year's pay and work as a physician by taking a year off.

 

[English Chick]

I've done this (reapplied after multiple acceptances) and it worked out for me. In my case, I just wanted to attend med school closer to my husband's graduate school. PM me if you want more details.

 

[exmike]

this is definitely a situatoin by situation basis thing. I dont get why you applied to a school you wouldnt go to though.

 

[AndyMD]

I had written a rather lengthy response to this thread, but who knew it would lose everything I had written when I tried to submit after being (silently, automatically) logged out from the service...

anyways, suffice to say, there are plenty of reasons why someone would ultimately choose not to matriculate to a school they had applied to. No one can so exhaustively research a school prior to application that he or she might TOTALLY rule out the chance of them changing their mind... so it stands to reason that one could subsequently learn things about the school that changed his or her mind (location worse than expected, buildings not well maintained, quality of students low) and no one can really blame him or her for taking these into account... in the same vein, maybe a school just doesn't seem right in light of one's growing interest in some other area, or maybe someone has grown to like another school so strongly that they can no longer accept something less than that school. No one should have applied to a school in which they didn't entertain some modicum of interest, but interest can naturally wax and wane.

Though the decision to turn down a medical school is not a frivolous one, I think anyone who has a defensible reason should have every right to do so.
Should one's fate be bound by the fact that they applied to a school they ultimately chose not to attend, merely because they weren't accepted by a more satisfactory school that admissions cycle? Look at someone who was accepted by a school they didn't want to go to BUT was also accepted by another that they liked -- that person wouldn't have to deal with this situation because they can just tell the school they didn't like that they had a better offer, no questions asked. Are ppl suggesting that those of us without a better offer must accept the offer of lesser schools? I think that's absurd.

 

[Gauss]

basically what ANdy said

Don't go somewhere you don't want to. NO school is gonna look down on you, they will ask questions, but if anything they will be flattered you are so interested in their school.
BUt be reasonable, if you are turning down a good school don't expect much sympathy.

 

[snowhite]

Thanks guys,
The reason I am declining the school is because my fiance and I broke up and so I have no reason to be moving there. The school wasn't for me and I'd prefer to stay closer to my family and pay less. As for my year off, I was thinking about doing the things I always wanted to do and will not have time for after starting medical school...such as doing some foreign volunteer work, travelling, spending time with my family and getting a temporary job in public health. Of course, I realize there is no guarantee that I'll be accepted, but I really don't think I'd be happy at the school I was accepted. I appreciate all of your thoughts and will consider them.

 

[snowhite]

I had written a rather lengthy response to this thread, but who knew it would lose everything I had written when I tried to submit after being (silently, automatically) logged out from the service...

Sorry to hear this. Wish I could have read the original, but you make great points and I'm thankful for your time in writing this.

 

[calidoc2004]

Im interested in the same idea.
Have you narrowed down that list from MSAR?
I was thinking i could apply as "Early Decision" to one school and see what happened. If i dont hear oh well i just go onto my school i was accepted to.
My motivation is more or less location. Im from Cali but got into a NJ school so im tempted to see what happens for Cali since i didnt apply.

Let me know how it goes. Im still not sure if its worth paying out all that money to do it again.

 

[Violinrose]

Andymd, I agree with you too.

Sorry, but those who believe you should go to just any school that accepts you are wrong. Remember, you apply to schools for various reasons. If you are lucky enough to get an interview, you go and check it out to see if it is right for you. It may not be.

I had my heart set on a cali for school for many many reasons which is why I applied to the cali ones as well as only a couple out of state ones. I eventually got an interview and an acceptance to a school in the east. I carefully went over my options but ultimately turned down the acceptance because I felt the school was not right for me for various reasons.

At the time that I turned down the acceptance, things were really not looking to bright for me in terms of getting into a cali school. But I did not give up and I was completely willing to retake the MCATs and reapply again, considering that I was already a reapplicant this year.

Well, after several months filled with conviction and perseverance, it all paid off and I got into one of my top choices in cali.

If you know what you want and willing to do what you have to do to achieve your goals, then no one can look down upon you for that. I believe having such conviction is what will make you a great doctor. 🙂

 

[Luck]

Andymd, I agree with you too.

Sorry, but those who believe you should go to just any school that accepts you are wrong. Remember, you apply to schools for various reasons. If you are lucky enough to get an interview, you go and check it out to see if it is right for you. It may not be.

I had my heart set on a cali for school for many many reasons which is why I applied to the cali ones as well as only a couple out of state ones. I eventually got an interview and an acceptance to a school in the east. I carefully went over my options but ultimately turned down the acceptance because I felt the school was not right for me for various reasons.

At the time that I turned down the acceptance, things were really not looking to bright for me in terms of getting into a cali school. But I did not give up and I was completely willing to retake the MCATs and reapply again, considering that I was already a reapplicant this year.

Well, after several months filled with conviction and perseverance, it all paid off and I got into one of my top choices in cali.

If you know what you want and willing to do what you have to do to achieve your goals, then no one can look down upon you for that. I believe having such conviction is what will make you a great doctor. 🙂

Yes but you are the exception but and the rule. You cannot expect to go against logic and common sense just by telling some beyond the odds off the wall anecdote.

To the OP and anyone in that situation, do not be stupid enough to let go of an acceptance to medical school. Anything less would be uncivilized.

 

[thewzdoc]

What a terrible dilemma to be placed into?if this is a ?crap? shoot like so many have said then you are definitely gambling your future?.tough call.