Accepted but seriously reconsidering applying...HELP!

[calbears86]

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Hey everyone,

So, I really need some advice right now.....

I deferred my acceptance to medical school last year and am supposed to matriculate during this upcoming August. Although I really do eventually want to go to medical school and don't see myself doing anything else in the future, I do not believe that I am mentally prepared to start the process in just a few months. I am considering reapplying next June (2010).....however, I do want to stress that I am not doing this to get into a better medical school. I am currently teaching high school math in San Francisco and have built some strong relationships with my students. I would like to continue doing this work for 1-2 more years before going off to medical school and I don't mind studying for/retaking the MCATs and doing the whole application process all over again. I'm also in a pretty good relationship right now with my girlfriend and she is applying to medical school next year. I feel that in the long run I will eventually get in somewhere and I'm a firm believer of living your life to the fullest and not having any regrets. I feel that if I matriculate this year I'll regret not staying and seeing what could have been.

Do admissions committee members usually look down upon this? I can see how they would feel that I am not dedicated to becoming a doctor, but that is far from the truth. Are my chances of getting in far worse because I deferred and didn't end up going? Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated as this has been bugging me for the past few weeks. THANKS!!!!

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Hey everyone,

So, I really need some advice right now.....

I deferred my acceptance to medical school last year and am supposed to matriculate during this upcoming August. Although I really do eventually want to go to medical school and don't see myself doing anything else in the future, I do not believe that I am mentally prepared to start the process in just a few months. I am considering reapplying next June (2010).....however, I do want to stress that I am not doing this to get into a better medical school. I am currently teaching high school math in San Francisco and have built some strong relationships with my students. I would like to continue doing this work for 1-2 more years before going off to medical school and I don't mind studying for/retaking the MCATs and doing the whole application process all over again. I'm also in a pretty good relationship right now with my girlfriend and she is applying to medical school next year. I feel that in the long run I will eventually get in somewhere and I'm a firm believer of living your life to the fullest and not having any regrets. I feel that if I matriculate this year I'll regret not staying and seeing what could have been.

Do admissions committee members usually look down upon this? I can see how they would feel that I am not dedicated to becoming a doctor, but that is far from the truth. Are my chances of getting in far worse because I deferred and didn't end up going? Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated as this has been bugging me for the past few weeks. THANKS!!!!

Don't do it man, don't do it.

 

[CuddyMD]

Even if you have amazing stats, I think your chance applying again would be marginal at best. I think it would be hard for you to re-convince several admissions committees that you are passionate about medicine if you would delay it again for what would be seemingly another passion--teaching.

I think your best option would be to try to defer another year with that same school, if that were an option.

 

[cleothecat]

You have to jump in and swim with the fish, or drown in your own sea of perpetual uncertainty.

It looks like you have had one deferral too many.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I agree that doing this will put you at a significant disadvantage. You will be looked down upon for holding a spot that you don't plan on using. It will look like medical school is not that important to you.

I can't say with any certainty, but in my opinion you are about to commit medical school suicide.

 

[NeuroChaos]

Agreed. Donot reapply.

Can you speak to your medical school and explain them this story? May be they will allow you to defer another year. Just a suggestion.

 

[Beta Cell]

Now or never. Teaching will be there when you finish medical school (as an attending).

 

[Brent8927]

Hey everyone,

So, I really need some advice right now.....

I deferred my acceptance to medical school last year and am supposed to matriculate during this upcoming August. Although I really do eventually want to go to medical school and don't see myself doing anything else in the future, I do not believe that I am mentally prepared to start the process in just a few months. I am considering reapplying next June (2010).....however, I do want to stress that I am not doing this to get into a better medical school. I am currently teaching high school math in San Francisco and have built some strong relationships with my students. I would like to continue doing this work for 1-2 more years before going off to medical school and I don't mind studying for/retaking the MCATs and doing the whole application process all over again. I'm also in a pretty good relationship right now with my girlfriend and she is applying to medical school next year. I feel that in the long run I will eventually get in somewhere and I'm a firm believer of living your life to the fullest and not having any regrets. I feel that if I matriculate this year I'll regret not staying and seeing what could have been.

Do admissions committee members usually look down upon this? I can see how they would feel that I am not dedicated to becoming a doctor, but that is far from the truth. Are my chances of getting in far worse because I deferred and didn't end up going? Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated as this has been bugging me for the past few weeks. THANKS!!!!

I agree that you should live your life to the fullest, and if you feel that means not attending medical school this fall and reapplying, then go for it. But to answer your question, yes, if the adcom members know you applied and were accepted (and deferred acceptance) and then decided not to attend, it would probably be a big red flag (note that they won't know you were accepted, deferred admission, and didn't attend unless you tell them or if they ask and you tell the truth, which you should) .

Also, I think you wouldn't have any luck at all at the school you were accepted to, and it probably wouldn't be worth trying to apply there again.

But, it sounds like your students are important to you, and honestly, if you are considering deferring medical school for your students and want to teach more, I think you should consider the possibility that the field you are in now is the right one for you. Based on the little bit you posted, it sounds like you really enjoy teaching and you like your students--and the fact that you say you want to teach now so that you wont have regrets later in life suggests to me that it might be your real passion.

Remember that just because you are capable of being a doctor and have the means to become one, it doesn't mean you have to. Also, just because others say it's medical school suicide to not attend and reapply later doesn't mean it can't be done.

Just think very carefully about this and decide what it is you want. Is teaching another year or two important enough to risk not becoming a doctor? You certainly don't want to have regrets if that is still your ultimate goal, and if it is, I'd encourage you to attend (or try and defer another year or two, which is probably unlikely).

Good luck on making your decision--it sounds like a tough one.

 

[Kraazy]

Why did you apply when you weren't ready to attend med school? That will be the question on every adcom's mind if/when you reapply, and it won't be easy finding a satisfactory answer. Going to med school is a choice that involves some degree of sacrifice for everyone. We all have things that we would have loved to try or pursue if we could put off med school indefinitely or take "sabbaticals" all the time, but, as in all major choices in life, there comes a point when you have to give up certain important things for other things that are even more important.