Accepted.. But should i reapply?

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Reapplying would be a major mistake. The schools know that you'll be reapplying, and more importantly, they'll know that you turned down a real acceptance. This looks like (although maybe incorrectly) that you're not too serious about med school. More specifically, they could conclude that you're a high risk to turn them down (whomever "they" are)... and they would not accept you since you've shown that you can turn down any acceptance. It is therefore very likely that you wouldn't get in anywhere.

Med school apps are a real adventure. I would personally not go through the process again due to it's stress... but more importantly, the chances of getting in again will be very small after turning down a US Allo acceptance the year before.
 
If you really feel like you would rather go to a different school, you should re-apply early. I think your circumstances justify reapplying, and I believe most med schools will understand this. Yes, there is a risk involved, but I dont think reapplying will necessarily keep you out of med school.

There are so many factors that play a role in whether someone is invited to interview including how many people from your school with competitive stats have already applied to the same school, how many people from your race have been interviewed/accepted, etc. When you apply late, these things are considered before your stats and how brilliant of a student you are. By applying early, you are avoiding all of those non-stats related constraints, and from there your numbers, which I think are competitive at some top schools, certainly wont keep you out.
 
Lol.. thats amazing.
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You're getting the same advice over and over and you seem to be taking it all as an attack, rather than as people trying to help, which makes me think that you're going to go ahead and reapply despite what everyone has been trying to tell you. However, just to sum up what you've heard:

1) Medical education, particularly allopathic medical education, is very standardized and residencies don't particularly care about what school you went to when deciding if they want to accept you. Your future income and scope of practice will be determined by where you did your residency and not where you went to medical school. The prestige of your medical school will only matter to your parents.

2) The year of income you'll lose will easily excede the tuition you'll save.

3) Many people on SDN have learned the hard way that reapplicants are held to a higher standard than first time applicants, so next time around you will be a much more marginal candidate unless you do something decently impressive in your gap year.

4) There's a significant amount of luck involved in this process, and as a reapplicant there is a very real chance that you might end up with no acceptances

5) ADCOMs will ask you why you turned down a perfectly good acceptance, and there's a good chance they won't like your answer. Maybe your answer about not being willing/able to pay the out of state tuition will satisfy GA state schools, but are you really going to be able to sell that excuse to equally expensive schools that just have better name recognition? As a previous poster (who you lol'd at) said, if you do this they will use it as grounds to question your dedication to medicine.

Also, out of curiosity, what was it that turned you off of HPSP?
 
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perrot... the only thing i said was amazing was how he actually questioned my desire to attend med school. Honestly, can you read?

As i said i had friends recently go through the military match process and graduate from med school under the HPSP with the Navy and the Air Force and both have had horrible experiences thus far. Compound their recent experiences with the almost certainty of having to serve 1-2 years as a GMO in the Navy and its just not worth it for the specialty i want to pursue.
 
jwrigh69 said:
As i said i had friends recently go through the military match process and graduate from med school under the HPSP with the Navy and the Air Force and both have had horrible experiences thus far. Compound their recent experiences with the almost certainty of having to serve 1-2 years as a GMO in the Navy and its just not worth it for the specialty i want to pursue.
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That was my rationale for not doing HPSP as well...the match flat out sucks in military. Not worth it, IMO. At the same time, your tuition could be worse -- I almost went to NYMC and I know that was a big pill to swallow. But at some point I rationalized in my mind that the bills will get paid eventually, and the COA was higher than what yours will be at WVU. Living expenses in Morgantown are LOWWWW and WVU will in no way hold you back as a physician. My s/o is actually starting there this fall as well.

I don't think its worth the gamble of doing this whole mess twice: reapplying after already having been accepted will be a huge black mark on your record. Just my $.02
 
Do schools actually see if you have applied before and been accepted? I doubt it, I know that if you matriculate somewhere you have to say so, but unless a school asks if you have been accepted before on their secondary, and as long as you don't actually matriculate somewhere, I don't think this "black mark" everyone is talking about will come into play.
 
Plus, WV has some pretty sweet tuition reimbursement deals if you decide to establish residency and practice there for a few years. Hospitals there really need doctors and are willing to foot the bill for your medical education to keep you there if you play your cards right -- without pay reduction in the instance of a few people I know graduating who are doing emergency medicine.
 
amph119 said:
Do schools actually see if you have applied before and been accepted? I doubt it, I know that if you matriculate somewhere you have to say so, but unless a school asks if you have been accepted before on their secondary, and as long as you don't actually matriculate somewhere, I don't think this "black mark" everyone is talking about will come into play.
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I would imagine this would pop up on AMCAS though...I mean, schools can tell in March where you have been accepted if they decide to look so I don't think seeing a prior acceptance from last year's cycle is too far off. This is all speculation though and only AAMC could definitely tell you.

Moral of the story is that I wouldn't want to reapply and have it come back to haunt me. I personally think its just not worth it. There has to be something that kept the OP out of these schools in the first place so why would reapplying help his chances? (Unless I missed a post where he said he's doing something substantial in the year off...even then its too risky)
 
sarahl86 said:
I would imagine this would pop up on AMCAS though...I mean, schools can tell in March where you have been accepted if they decide to look so I don't think seeing a prior acceptance from last year's cycle is too far off. This is all speculation though and only AAMC could definitely tell you.
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Yeah I'm just musing. I still think its a bit silly to toss an acceptance, however if it is something the OP will regret forever, I don't see the problem with reapplying and citing not being ready for medical school after the first go around or something, assuming he or she is willing to take the associated risks and understands the possible devastating outcome.
 
jwrigh69 said:
See.. thats the meaningful advice i was looking for. Wasnt that easy!? I knew it was in there 😀

I will more than likely end up going.. it just makes me extremely nervous when that money could easily cover the costs of attending a top tier institution. (Given that i could ever get in.) Ya know?
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hmmmm...Clearly you were not really looking for advice. Rather, you were looking for someone to support your thoughts about potentially reapplying.

I just reviewed your posts hoping to better "comprehend" your argument, and yet it only seems logical for me to remain in agreeance with my original post.

Just a brief overview of what I thought I understood:

1. Accepted at WVU, waitlist at Wake (top 1/3)
2. no longer interested in NAVY route
3. Hesitant to accept that $62k in loans per year, BUT only b/c it would be from a "lower tier" school...
4. Since you have a 3.91 and 33Q MCAT you are considering applying, but earlier in the cycle...i.e. give yourself the opportunity to assume the same amount of debt (or possibly more) from schools like Emory or Vandy...but they are top tier so you will not care (as much at least 🙄)...I mean because you want a "good residency" and all 🙄


Sidebar: 5. the majority of the people in this thread tell you to not reapply
6. you make back handed remarks in response
7. You sing praises for the one poster (maybe it was two...I don't remember exactly...regardless, they were in the minority) who tells you to consider reapplying b/c clearly you were looking for someone to provide you with a pseudo sense of support...I don't know... maybe then if you made the decision and your renewed and more expeditious effort to reapply and be "complete" proved to be futile you could blame someone else.

Sorry for not providing you with the peer pressure you need to make that decision

But then again, who really knows. You might fare well.

So in the end I still say best of luck to you. 😀
 
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I can sort of see where the OP is coming from.

Think about it, if he wants to do plastics and focus on breast augmentation, he better reapply.

Do you actually want 16 years old teens to get a boob job from surgeons who graduated from West Virgina?

Think of the cool, popular LA girls who will surely lose out on the popularity contest because her poor boobs are not designed from the cool UCLA/Miami/USC grad, but a West Virgina grad? How can she tell her friends that? How can she survive socially?

OP, YOU MUST REAPPLY!
 
Tell west virginia you want to postpone your acceptance for one year.

Move to west virginia and get a full time job as a waiter for one year. Then when the following year comes and you will be entering your first year there, guess what? YOUR A WEST VIRGINIA resident.

I'm surprised that no one else has suggested this yet. West Virginia is a good school, and you will be paying a considerable deal less as an instate resident.

Best of luck with whatever route you choose :luck:
 
Shaptown said:
Tell west virginia you want to postpone your acceptance for one year.

Move to west virginia and get a full time job as a waiter for one year. Then when the following year comes and you will be entering your first year there, guess what? YOUR A WEST VIRGINIA resident.

I'm surprised that no one else has suggested this yet. West Virginia is a good school, and you will be paying a considerable deal less as an instate resident.

Best of luck with whatever route you choose :luck:
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Unfortunately WVU is one of those schools (and states) where you're residency status (for tuition purposes) is determined during the year you APPLY. And sadly, your tuition cannot change during your years at med school even if your official state residency does.
It was for this reason that several students I knew who had there heart set on WVU moved down there to work for a year prior to applying so they can reap the benefits of in-state tuition.

Best of luck to the OP tho. In my opinion, its not worth it to reapply. Work you ass off and shine at whatever medical school you attend and you'll get a good residency stuff. Not to mention that more than likely you'll end up specializing in something you didn't even consider prior to medical school.
 
Your the same person who suggested I attend East Carolina University over Wake Forest correct? 😉
 
jwrigh69 said:
Lol.. thats amazing.
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OP, you missed one recurring question in your rebuttal:

What makes you think you can walk away with at least one acceptance next round, based on substantive changes to your application?
 
One other word of caution...just because your numbers are very good does not mean you will recieve the acceptance you want next year. We were both on Wake's waitlist....I had a 28 MCAT and this is my first year applying as well... I came off the waitlist. Just be careful because you will cut ties with the schools you already got into and the # of qualified applicants is only going to increase.

With that said...I do think you will get in off of the waitlist. Top 3rd usually does. Good luck and hopefully I'll see you next year!
 
Handy388 said:
I can sort of see where the OP is coming from.

Think about it, if he wants to do plastics and focus on breast augmentation, he better reapply.

Do you actually want 16 years old teens to get a boob job from surgeons who graduated from West Virgina?

Think of the cool, popular LA girls who will surely lose out on the popularity contest because her poor boobs are not designed from the cool UCLA/Miami/USC grad, but a West Virgina grad? How can she tell her friends that? How can she survive socially?

OP, YOU MUST REAPPLY!
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:laugh:

I mean even Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck had to rely on his other skills 🙂laugh🙂 to boost his clientel :laugh: and he went to MIAMI 😱 :laugh:
 
NCtoME said:
One other word of caution...just because your numbers are very good does not mean you will recieve the acceptance you want next year. We were both on Wake's waitlist....I had a 28 MCAT and this is my first year applying as well... I came off the waitlist. Just be careful because you will cut ties with the schools you already got into and the # of qualified applicants is only going to increase.

With that said...I do think you will get in off of the waitlist. Top 3rd usually does. Good luck and hopefully I'll see you next year!
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Thanks for the input NC, and yes i did suggest ECU over wake for your situation. Since you are a NC instate resident (im assuming) the tuition savings for yourself are enormous.. Wake is an excellent school that I would love to attend, dont get me or my intentions wrong. If I found myself in your position the decision would be easy.. I would go to ECU and never look back. I'd literally laugh all the way to the bank. 😀

But in my situation im comparing an education at wake for roughly $50K per, to an education at WVU at $62K per.. obviously you can see why i wanna go to wake hehe
 
amph119 said:
I still think its a bit silly to toss an acceptance, however if it is something the OP will regret forever, I don't see the problem with reapplying and citing not being ready for medical school after the first go around or something, assuming he or she is willing to take the associated risks and understands the possible devastating outcome.
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Agreed, completely. I'm not saying throw away the acceptance and re-apply, but I do think it is ridiculous that some people think it will be the end of the world if you re-apply after already getting accepted this cycle. PEOPLE DO IT! it is done. it will very unlikely be the end of your medical career if you apply wisely and to the right schools. But will going through the app process all over again be worth it given the money and time involved? And the possibility that even after reapplying you may not get into an Emory/Vandy/other target school next year? You can decide that.

If you would be happy attending Wake Forest this fall I suggest you send some interest/intent letters immediately-then all of this would be a non-issue! Good luck.
 
jwrigh69 said:
Thanks for the input NC, and yes i did suggest ECU over wake for your situation. Since you are a NC instate resident (im assuming) the tuition savings for yourself are enormous.. Wake is an excellent school that I would love to attend, dont get me or my intentions wrong. If I found myself in your position the decision would be easy.. I would go to ECU and never look back. I'd literally laugh all the way to the bank. 😀

But in my situation im comparing an education at wake for roughly $50K per, to an education at WVU at $62K per.. obviously you can see why i wanna go to wake hehe
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What does WVU's match list look like? What field of medicine are u considering? Don't tell me u've already decided on Derm. Lol.
 
the only specalities that REMOTELY need prestige from medical school are primary care specalities for bontique medicine and cash heavy specialties such as derm and plastics.

In the other field, you get referred, patients don't choose who to see.
 
jwrigh69 said:
Honestly, can you read? ... its just not worth it for the specialty i want to pursue.
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your shining personality and amazing rigidity when it comes to "advice" in a thread you posted for advice can mean your future specialty is one, and only one, of the following

plastic surgery
radiology
ortho

am i right 😕
 
chunk norris only ranked 3 programs

Harvard plastics, UCSF radiation oncology, and Yale Derm

Yale Derm is his backup.
 
OP, I would really ask yourself why nearly everyone on this thread has given you the same advice, and it's probably not because they are trying to screw with you. You have really just shown that you wanted to get advice that matched what you are already planning on doing. At least take the time to think about why so many of us are counseling you to take the acceptance that you have.
 
IHeartNerds said:
your shining personality and amazing rigidity when it comes to "advice" in a thread you posted for advice can mean your future specialty is one, and only one, of the following

plastic surgery
radiology
ortho

am i right 😕
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No.. I'm interested in either cardiothoracic surgery or invasive cardiology. You'll go far with your assumptions. I didn't bash anyone for giving advice.. I'm just not very fond of people who can't post without attacking or being extremely argumentative.
 
Handy388 said:
the only specalities that REMOTELY need prestige from medical school are primary care specalities for bontique medicine and cash heavy specialties such as derm and plastics.

In the other field, you get referred, patients don't choose who to see.
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Not even that much for those specialities. We had people match integrated plastics, rad onc, derm, and all the others from FSU and a school doesn't get much more primary care oriented.

I'd seriously take your acceptance and run with it man. It isn't a personal attack in any way. The risks just far outweigh the benefits. Tuition does suck but you'll deal with it. If you TRULY believe you'd be miserable at the school then fine, reapply. I can tell you now that the grass is always greener on the other side, but it is just as hard to mow.
 
jwrigh69 said:
No.. I'm interested in either cardiothoracic surgery or invasive cardiology. You'll go far with your assumptions. I didn't bash anyone for giving advice.. I'm just not very fond of people who can't post without attacking or being extremely argumentative.
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cardiothoratic surgery is not competitive at all at the moment. You can go into it if you went to a caribbean school.
 
jwrigh69 said:
No.. I'm interested in either cardiothoracic surgery or invasive cardiology. You'll go far with your assumptions. I didn't bash anyone for giving advice.. I'm just not very fond of people who can't post without attacking or being extremely argumentative.
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Cardiothoracics is a fellowship after general surgery residency; cardiology is a fellowship after internal medicine.

I promise you, if you work hard and do well, you can make it to a solid academic gen surg or medicine residency coming out of any med school in the country.
 
jwrigh69 said:
I was accepted as an OOS student at West Virginia University School of Medicine... i am currently on the alternate list at Wake Forest and was told that i'm in the top 1/3 of the list. I recently received my financial aid award from WVU and my MS1 loans will be approx $62K 😱... if i don't get into wake forest should i reapply? I just don't know if i can justify spending over $250K plus a chunk of interest to attend WVU... thats more than it would cost for me to attend Wake, Emory, etc.. (i live in georgia.) I don't wanna be the jack*** that turns down medical school but i really do not know what to do in this situation. If i wanted to do family medicine or peds it wouldnt be an issue but i hope to be in a position to specialize and get a pretty good residency and i just don't know how available that will be to me with a degree from WVU.
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Since I am now near the other end of my training, I will chime in (even though my thoughts are redundant given what has already been said on this thread).

Your time is worth a lot. When you are young it may not seem that way, but as you get older you will realize what an incredibly valuable commodity it is. Hence, blowing off a year now to reapply may seem like no big deal, but I guarantee you will feel it on the other end. Medical training is like eating a **** sandwich; there is no point in going slow or taking small bites. If your goal is to become a physician, get in, work hard, get out, get on with your life.

As for the quality of training at WVU, I cannot specifically comment on it, but I would urge you not to dismiss any accredited allopathic school as being inferior. M1 and M2 years are largely standardized, and there are outstanding training opportunities available at every academic medical center in the country. WVU has a fairly large surgery department, complete with a cardiothoracic surgery residency. They are likely the most advanced referral center for all of West Virginia. Given the socioeconomic reality of much of the state, an education there will probably entail seeing no shortage of rare, bizarre, hitherto untreated conditions.

So my advice would be to take a deep breath, mentally commit yourself to WVU, and make the best of it. Chances are you will be very happy with your education and the opportunities it will provide.
 
Handy388 said:
the only specalities that REMOTELY need prestige from medical school are primary care specalities for bontique medicine and cash heavy specialties such as derm and plastics.

In the other field, you get referred, patients don't choose who to see.
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Tell that to grads of lowly med schools like, say, LSU Shreveport, going into Derm, Plastic Surgery, and Neurosurgery year after year...

SDNers consistently overstate the importance of med school prestige in the residency process...
 
Gut Shot said:
Since I am now near the other end of my training, I will chime in (even though my thoughts are redundant given what has already been said on this thread).

Your time is worth a lot. When you are young it may not seem that way, but as you get older you will realize what an incredibly valuable commodity it is. Hence, blowing off a year now to reapply may seem like no big deal, but I guarantee you will feel it on the other end. Medical training is like eating a **** sandwich; there is no point in going slow or taking small bites. If your goal is to become a physician, get in, work hard, get out, get on with your life.

As for the quality of training at WVU, I cannot specifically comment on it, but I would urge you not to dismiss any accredited allopathic school as being inferior. M1 and M2 years are largely standardized, and there are outstanding training opportunities available at every academic medical center in the country. WVU has a fairly large surgery department, complete with a cardiothoracic surgery residency. They are likely the most advanced referral center for all of West Virginia. Given the socioeconomic reality of much of the state, an education there will probably entail seeing no shortage of rare, bizarre, hitherto untreated conditions.

So my advice would be to take a deep breath, mentally commit yourself to WVU, and make the best of it. Chances are you will be very happy with your education and the opportunities it will provide.
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great advice.


OP seems to have his mind made up though
 
witness23 said:
great advice.


OP seems to have his mind made up though
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It is great advice.. But witness honestly? I never even insinuated that I had in any way made up my mind before now. It was the point of the thread. I will not be reapplying for next years cycle. If I am not accepted off the alternate list at wake forest I will attend WVU. You people should not be so quick in your assumptions.
 
People on this thread need a big ol'
chillpill2.jpg


Have fun at WVU OP -- but in any likelihood I'll be meeting you IRL at some point and I'll give you a big :slap: for entertaining the idea of reapplying.

Haha.
 
sarahl86 said:
People on this thread need a big ol'
chillpill2.jpg


Have fun at WVU OP -- but in any likelihood I'll be meeting you IRL at some point and I'll give you a big :slap: for entertaining the idea of reapplying.

Haha.
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IRL?! Update me on the lingo plz! 😕
 
jwrigh69 said:
ZERO debt coming out of school to having over $300K no matter where i go. I cant comprehend why thats so hard for some of you to understand..
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😱

Dang! Sorry, guys. But, that is A LOT of money. Apparently she/he is good enough to get in, so why worry about next year acceptances? Would the schools even know she/he declined admission? Plus, she/he might even like to relax before the big stuff. That's just my personal opinion. 🙂 (gosh, I'm an odd ball in this forum)
 
sarahl86 said:
People on this thread need a big ol'
chillpill2.jpg


Have fun at WVU OP -- but in any likelihood I'll be meeting you IRL at some point and I'll give you a big :slap: for entertaining the idea of reapplying.

Haha.
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If we're fortunate enough to meet I'll be ok with a slap and I'll even buy you a cup o coffee 😀
 
jwrigh69 said:
If we're fortunate enough to meet I'll be ok with a slap and I'll even buy you a cup o coffee 😀
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Fair enough, fair enough...I'm sure my boyfriend will make me go with him to some football games when I come to see him on weekends once in a while, since there's nothing else to do in Morgantown :meanie:

"Meat world" is an interesting way to put it.
 
I went to the university of Georgia for 2 semesters but graduated from Kennesaw state university (in Georgia) in december with a B.S in biology.
 
gujuDoc said:
It is not that it is a sin. It is that it is a RISK, and at that A VERY HUGE RISK!!! I caps for emphasis not

And that said, for every person who has given up an acceptance only to get in a school more of their choice there is also a person who has given an acceptance only to get none the following year or at least none to the top choice schools. You have to assess the situation in full and realize that you may get in another school but

1. would it be worth it to incur the cost of the lengthy and stressful process again?
2. What happens if you don't get in anywhere or get in places but again that are not to your liking? Do you keep dropping out of the cycle each year just for stupid reasons like this?
3. Can you say without a doubt that you won't get a good residency just cuz of where you went to school? Med school is different from law school in that where you go is not the biggest factor in deciding good residencies for people.

Edit: Also one more thing.

4. If you didn't want to go to a school in the first place cuz it was beneath you in terms of reputation and ranking, why did you apply there?

I will never understand people who give up acceptances. If you interviewed there and if you sent in a secondary and primary there, you must have considered it worth it at one point. How come that all changes. Why apply there if there is no real desire to go to the school??
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Guju, I answered number 4 earlier in the thread. The only reason is because of unforseen financial circumstances. Please go back and read.. In short tho I was planning on doing the armed forces health professions scholarship program at the time I applied and tuition was not something that concerned me.. Now it's an issue.
 
jwrigh69 said:
Guju, I answered number 4 earlier in the thread. The only reason is because of unforseen financial circumstances. Please go back and read.. In short tho I was planning on doing the armed forces health professions scholarship program at the time I applied and tuition was not something that concerned me.. Now it's an issue.
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Would you be devoted to take on the armed forces for like 7 years. I think you have to sign a contract right? If you must go to medical school right away, I would go with the WV because you would be more flexible with your future. Have you read some of the forums with the armed forces med school? Some people have to spend lengthy time there and they can't relocate for their spouses and such. But, this is really up to you.

One other tip, I wouldn't listen to a lot of people on SDN (no offense🙂). I would just take a break from everyone, even friends, and think about this for like a month or so. It is a big deal. And, you should figure it out for yourself. You have a lot of options and are still young. Don't worry so much about the time frame of things. Good luck!
 
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