ACCEPTED, but REAPPLYING???!!!

[CoverMe]

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There seem to be two mindsets in this forum, and I don't know if they'll EVER find a common ground.

People either seem to think

1) The point **IS NOT** to "go to XYZ medical school," the WHOLE FRIGGIN POINT is to BE A DOCTOR. Whatever, and wherever it takes for me to park for 4 years is inconsequential.

or

2) I will only be happy at XYZ med school, and I'm unwilling to look far enough down the line to see that medical school is only a means to an end.

I'm kind of wondering if people in category #2 have had much experience in clinical environments. I have no idea where 95% of the doctors I work with went to school, they don't know where each other went to school. It doesn't matter. In the big scheme of things, 4 years is barely a blip on the radar. If your motivation for going through this entire process was to go to XYZ med school, then go for it... there's someone in category #1 who would LOVE your seat.

 

[Calliope]

I read over some of the replies, and thought I'd post my experience. I did this, although I'm going for MD/PhD so my reasons were a bit different (I was accepted to only one place, and really really couldn't bring myself to go there), and have been accepted this year and will be going. However, as I was going through the process, I didn't even get interviews at most of the schools to which I applied previously (places I had gotten interviews at before as well as places that didn't consider me beyond the secondary the first time around). I had some but not a lot of extra experiences to add, but I think one year is not sufficient to make a better impression on places you have already tried to go. Being a reapplicant, as it turns out, seems not to reflect too well on you. However, I think taking 2 years or more off would highly increase your chances, so long as you do something productive for yourself. It seems that applicants who take some time to pursue other activities are looked upon quite highly. So I think if you want to try again, make sure you do something good, and make sure you are doing it for reasons you can articulate well.
In terms of deferring, I asked the school I rejected about this, and they said that they'd only do this if we had an agreement that this would be binding, so I couldn't have that safety to fall back on. The policy might be different at different schools, but I can imagine that if the school you deferred at didn't like it, and you tried reapplying anyway and they found out, there'd be repercussions.
Hope that was remotely helpful....

 

[premed]

Does anyone know if someone is accepted to just one medical school which is not their top choice, what are their chances of getting in if they reapply the next year? I heard that medical schools look badly at ppl reapplying when they got accepted the previous year, even if their application might be improved by research experiences and/or grades. Is that true???

Thanks for any input

When you designate schools on your primary application, you should ask yourself...if this is the only school I got into, would I go? If your answer is no, then don't apply to the school. If this means only applying to Harvard, then so be it, but I would strongly advise against reapplying after gaining an acceptance. I have an old lab partner who was accepted to Drexel and decided to reapply. He only applied to schools that pretty much fall in the top 20 and didn't receive any acceptances. The next year, he reapplied and added about 5 safety schools including Drexel and wasn't accepted anywhere again. Now he's debating whether or not to apply a fourth time! True E Hollywood Story...

 

[2LT DO]

I was accepted by 3 schools last year, but because of a family situation and the schools I was accepted to, I opted to decline the offers and try again this year. I applied and got accepted by 3 different schools this year, and I'll be heading off for the class of 2009.

So it has happened. If you were accepted this year, there is a good chance you will be accepted again next year (although not a guarantee).

 

[nne97080]

Does anyone know if someone is accepted to just one medical school which is not their top choice, what are their chances of getting in if they reapply the next year? I heard that medical schools look badly at ppl reapplying when they got accepted the previous year, even if their application might be improved by research experiences and/or grades. Is that true???

Thanks for any input

Had a friend who did it twice not once twice in a row but finally when she got into the school she wanted she went!!

 

[blocks]

My thought is that you care more about prestige of school, geography, etc. than about becoming a doctor. I have a feeling that med schools would share that sentiment and that is why you'll have a tough time being accepted anywhere if you reapply.

You could take dramatic steps to improve your application for next time...but why not go to med school, and put your effort into doing well and having your choice of residency? If you want to be a doctor, go to medical school.

 

[HoodyHoo]

Who would want to be an DO if he/she can become an MD? Its like having a hamburger when offered a steak. The only reason that someone decides DO over MD is if the MD is coming from the Caribbean.

I know 5-6 people in my class who got accepted to both, and chose DO over MD so shut it........and that's only people I know of. And many also only applied to DO schools. And yes, many came there because they didn't get into MD schools. I, for example, was taken off the waitlist at the one MD school I applied to after I had already moved to florida and set myself up down here. believe or not most of us will be great docs, and you might even have to work with us someday so have a little respect.

 

[housecleaning]

I've just got to say, as annoying as DO bashing is to DOs, so is DO's saying that they learn to "treat the whole body, not just the disease" while suggesting that MD's just ignore the whole person is just as annoying. Seriously, it goes both ways.

mike, the only reason you're not a moderator is because of posts like this. please buy into the DO "philosophy" before it's too late. seriously. we need more well-reasoned posts.

 

[xadmin]

I know 5-6 people in my class who got accepted to both, and chose DO over MD so shut it........and that's only people I know of. And many also only applied to DO schools. And yes, many came there because they didn't get into MD schools. I, for example, was taken off the waitlist at the one MD school I applied to after I had already moved to florida and set myself up down here. believe or not most of us will be great docs, and you might even have to work with us someday so have a little respect.

I respect you as a person, but I do not respect your degree. If you are going to have a DO, hold them to the standard of a MD. Why are people going into DO have lower GPA and MCAT score?? This speaks for the work ethic and the intelligence of DO students.

 

[HoodyHoo]

I respect you as a person, but I do not respect your degree. If you are going to have a DO, hold them to the standard of a MD. Why are people going into DO have lower GPA and MCAT score?? This speaks for the work ethic and the intelligence of DO students.

I agree that we should be held to the same standards. It is really unfortunate that the ones like myself, who have done well in undergrad, scored well on the MCAT, and are going to a DO school, are bashed just the same as someone who scored a 18 on the MCAT and got in. Their really should be a minimum....but unfortunately I know many people in my school that have gotten in with EXTREMELY LOW scores.

Have you worked with any DO's? I ask this because regardless of the standards to get accepted to the schools, the quality of the doctor once they get out of school should be the true test for respect. It is hard for me to believe that you would not respect the D.O. degree someone has after their name while they are working side-by-side with you and are just as competent as you are.

And in terms of the work ethic and intelligence thing, I disagree with that for, the most part. I don't believe that you can classify someone who is going to be a future physician as less driven or motivated....if they are intelligent enough to become a competent physician, then IMHO they are pretty damn intelligent.

 

[HoodyHoo]

I've just got to say, as annoying as DO bashing is to DOs, so is DO's saying that they learn to "treat the whole body, not just the disease" while suggesting that MD's just ignore the whole person is just as annoying. Seriously, it goes both ways.

Although I don't agree that DO bashing is equivalent to the other statement you made (DO bashing being much worse), I do agree that many MD's probably take this holistic approach as well.

There are probably just as many MD's who would take this approach as their are DO's who wouldn't. Even though we are geared towards this "treat the whole person" philosophy, I think any doctor with a bit of compassion will indeed treat the whole person.

 

[Hoya11]

why dont they just make all the DO schools MD schools, and have the THOUSANDS of borderline applicants who may or may not apply to DO enroll there, as future MDs. More schools overall, less strict standard, who knows maybe the average mcat will dip waaaay low into the 27-28 range. Get over ourselves allopaths test scores are crap.

I mean yeah the DO test scores are lower, but who cares, test scores are meaningless and the myth that they are important is only perpetuated in med school beyond all reason.

 

[Buster Douglas]

I respect you as a person, but I do not respect your degree. If you are going to have a DO, hold them to the standard of a MD. Why are people going into DO have lower GPA and MCAT score?? This speaks for the work ethic and the intelligence of DO students.

I only respect dermatologists, radiologists and cardio thoracic surgeons because you need really high standardized test scores or the right connections to become one. 🙄

anyway, to the OP... why would you apply to a school if you had no intention of going there? school rep means jack compared to how you do on Step I of the USMLE/COMLEX and "who you come into contact with".

 

[Flopotomist]

Hmm.. maybe I am a bit confused. This is my first (and hopefully last) year applying, and one thing I don't get is how you were accepted at a school that you didn't want to go to in the first place. Why would you apply to a school if you did not have every intention of going there should you get in?

 

[stoleyerscrubz]

just to see what would happen

That's an interesting way to put it but most people are not going to apply to schools where they think they are unable to attend. This helps avoid such delimas.

 

[ShyRem]

My husband goes to school in California. I applied everywhere just to see what would happen. Now it looks like my only option is out of state. What would you do?

I'd go where I was accepted. There is always the possibility of transfer, and you have a good reason to do so. (Yes, I'm married, and yes my husband and I have had to spend significant time apart due to school and/or jobs, so I'm not saying this without experience.)

I do agree with above posters... if you didn't have any intention of going to a school, you should not have applied to it. If you apply and are accepted, I think you should go (but if you get multiple acceptances enjoy choosing - you've earned it! 🙂 )

 

[thehopeful]

so what'd you guys put as ur reason for reapplying eventhough you go in.

cause that seems like a narrow line to walk on.

 

[synapse]

i'm not gonna be reapplying after all! 🙂

 

[03Doc]

Synapse - Smart move - very smart.

6ONSP98 -
I'm curious as to the motivations for doing this... On the surface this screams "NO! DON'T DO IT!!" It sounds like you're already in med school as in you've already started. To drop out of med school and then reapply is really stacking the deck against yourself - all the programs will already know this, and you will face an uphill battle getting back in.

As for the MD vs. DO talk, I graduated from MD school in 03, but I worked with a lot of people from both MD and DO schools, both as a student and as an intern. You can be a great doctor or a crummy doctor coming out of each type of school. HOWEVER - The problem isn't getting in, or the education you get, but your competitiveness for residency positions AFTER med school. I personally don't believe that it's completely justified, but if you make the decision to go to DO school, you should be comfortable with the notion that you are going to be much less competitive for the non-primary care specialties. DOs do get into derm, rads, optho, etc., but the numbers don't lie - it's a crap-shoot. If you KNOW when you go to med school that you want to be in family practice, peds, PM&R, etc., then by all means go to DO school and enjoy. If you have designs on Neurosurgery, reapply until you get into MD school. Even if you look at top-notch IM programs, there aren't many DOs - a lot of these places have "primary-care" IM programs where DOs get taken in higher numbers, but again, are a little less competitive for fellowships after IM residency. Please don't take this as DO bashing - I mean nothing like that, just trying to present a little objective observation.

The upshot - if you're doing this to move from DO to MD program, might be a reasonable thing to try. If you're talking DO-DO or MD-MD lateral transfer, I'd suck it up and stick it out.

Good luck and let us know what you come up with.

 

[LorinE]

i'm not gonna be reapplying after all! 🙂

Maybe you can attempt to transfer...

 

[synapse]

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