Accepted but taking a year off

[JoeGator86]

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I was accepted into a top 10 school but I need to take a year off for personal reasons. I will ask for a deferment but I doubt I will get it as I was pulled off the waiting list. I plan on applying again, as I very much would like to start medical school in 2010. I know I very well might not get another acceptance at a top ten.

Does anyone have any experience on applying a second time, when you've had an acceptance? Should I mention it in my personal statement? Will schools look extremely disfavorably on this?

Does anyone have any suggestions on asking for the deferment?

 

[glamqueen]

Um...you may not get an acceptance at all the second time. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. It's well known you don't turn down an acceptance to reapply again because you don't feel like going to medical school for the original year you applied for. Wow.

Although, rescinding an acceptance like this does open up your spot for someone who wants to be in medicine probably more than you. In that case - do it!

 

[witness23]

just ask for deferment and see first

 

[Yoyomama88]

the only school that asks whether or not you've been accepted before to a medical school in its secondaries is AECOM. AMCAS asks if you have matriculated. I think you will be fine...

 

[MedStudentWanna]

the only school that asks whether or not you've been accepted before to a medical school in its secondaries is AECOM.

Unless you've applied to every single med school, you don't know that.

 

[Yoyomama88]

x

 

[JoeGator86]

Am I going to be significantly hindered by refusing this acceptance, like the first poster implies? If so I will attend and deal with what I need to while I am there, however, I really don't think I should go until I am fully ready, 1 year is a drop in the bucket and I feel it will be invaluable to me as a person and physician.

How should I go about asking for deferment?

3.9 GPA
39 O MCAT

 

[scarletgirl777]

Am I going to be significantly hindered by refusing this acceptance, like the first poster implies? If so I will attend and deal with what I need to while I am there, however, I really don't think I should go until I am fully ready, 1 year is a drop in the bucket and I feel it will be invaluable to me as a person and physician.

How should I go about asking for deferment?

3.9 GPA
39 O MCAT

If they reject your deferment, you could also go for a year and request a leave of absence if your personal situation gets too difficult to manage. I think it's a lot harder for them to say no at that point.

 

[Compass]

Best of luck to your deferral request. I'm sure the med school will be nice enough to let you do so if you can defend it.

 

[DrJosephKim]

If you really have a compelling reason to defer, then I think most schools will be gracious to hear your story. Personal reasons can be very substantial and I don't think you're making the wrong decision - just as long as those reasons truly are substantial. I wish you the best and I hope you'll be able to keep us informed about your journey.

 

[JoeGator86]

What is the best way to contact them about this? Just call them up and tell them Iwould like to defer acceptance for a year, and them tell them specifically my reasons when they ask?

 

[JamesBond15]

What is the best way to contact them about this? Just call them up and tell them Iwould like to defer acceptance for a year, and them tell them specifically my reasons when they ask?

Tell them why, otherwise they will really quickly just say no.

 

[radi0headfan]

What is the best way to contact them about this? Just call them up and tell them Iwould like to defer acceptance for a year, and them tell them specifically my reasons when they ask?

Write an email to the admissions office describing your situation. Title the email "Accepted student requesting deferral" or something of the sort. If they don't grant you a deferral, I would just go ahead and enroll in school. Maybe you can talk to someone once you've got your foot in the door and see if they'll let you take a one year leave. I'd advise against applying again, and since your circumstances seemed to have recently changed, i'd guess someone would at least listen to what you have to say. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Beta Cell]

What is the best way to contact them about this? Just call them up and tell them Iwould like to defer acceptance for a year, and them tell them specifically my reasons when they ask?

Out of curiousity, did you just graduate from UF?

Edit: I looked at some of your old posts and you mentioned applying to state schools in Florida and you mentioned BSC2011, so you're probably a Gator. Did anyone ever ask you about why you took 12 credits a semester?

 

[BrainBuff]

Beta Cell, thinking critically....the OP's name is JoeGator86. I would not expect him to be a Cane..

But, I digress. JoeGator86, ask for the deferment and I am pretty sure you will get it. Most schools have some type of delayed admissions and I have never heard of anyone being refused.

I know several people who have exercised that option. Call first and try to speak to the admission's officer or secretary. But make sure you have accepted their offer off the waitlist first !!!! They will tell you to write but call first!!

 

[OpalOnyx]

Um...you may not get an acceptance at all the second time. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. It's well known you don't turn down an acceptance to reapply again because you don't feel like going to medical school for the original year you applied for. Wow.

Although, rescinding an acceptance like this does open up your spot for someone who wants to be in medicine probably more than you. In that case - do it!

do you know what personal reasons are making the OP turn down the acceptance??? I think it's stupid to gage someone's desire to go to med school based on the idea that they want to defer for a year, for reasons which are entirely unknown to any of us.

OP, try to get a deferral. If it's turned down, do your best to not lose the acceptance and go to school in the fall. I guess it depends on what exactly your reasons are for needing the deferral and how pressing those reasons may be.

 

[Perrotfish]

My vote is that you go to the best school that will give you a deferal. If you have legitmate personal reasons (rather than wanting to travel, or something) I suspect that even the top 10 school will work with you, but failing that I'm sure you have an acceptance to a less prestigous school that will defer someone with a 3.9 and a 39O for a year. If/when (but not until) your dream school has rejected your petition start sending Emails to other admissions departments explaining your situation and seeing if they're willing to work with you.

If they all turn you down then start the year at the top 10, wait until you really need to leave, and then take a leave of absence. As previous posters have said, they almost definitely won't say no then.

 

[airplanes]

Um...you may not get an acceptance at all the second time. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. It's well known you don't turn down an acceptance to reapply again because you don't feel like going to medical school for the original year you applied for. Wow.

Although, rescinding an acceptance like this does open up your spot for someone who wants to be in medicine probably more than you. In that case - do it!

Why so bitter?

Try and get the deferral. If it's a legit reason, I see no reason why they wouldn't grant it. As far as leverage goes...if you withdraw or they rescind the acceptance, they'll end up taking an extra person off the waitlist. If you get deferred, they end up taking that same extra person off the waitlist. There's really no difference to them if you won't be going to school there either way.

 

[Nevadanteater]

I was accepted into a top 10 school but I need to take a year off for personal reasons. I will ask for a deferment but I doubt I will get it as I was pulled off the waiting list. I plan on applying again, as I very much would like to start medical school in 2010. I know I very well might not get another acceptance at a top ten.

Does anyone have any experience on applying a second time, when you've had an acceptance? Should I mention it in my personal statement? Will schools look extremely disfavorably on this?

Does anyone have any suggestions on asking for the deferment?

Ask for your deferral. If you genuinely need one you'll probably be granted one. I called my first acceptance to explain my situation and they were very helpful with sorting out all the details of deferral. Another school I explained my situation at the interview and again, they were sympathetic. When I explained my situation it was enough to get the deferral (PM me for details if you're interested). Just be clear and concise. This isn't a secondary question or PS.

Out of the schools I was accepted to all except one offered me a year for deferral. I don't know what your situation is, but explain it in clear terms that you need this year off. If they say no, then cross the bridge of re-application when you get there, but wait until then.

Keep in mind that waitlist or no, you've got an acceptance - THIS MEANS THEY WANT YOU.

 

[tdittyx2x3]

Depending on the nature of your request for deferral, you might want to speak with a psychiatrist or even your PCP. If it's something related to your mental health, emotional status, general wellbeing, etc than it can't hurt to have a professional on your side that agrees with your decision to defer.

I have no real evidence to back this up, but it just seems like you saying you need an extra year is less powerful than a trained professional from their field saying you need an extra year. Just a thought.

 

[longhorn09]

If you have to take a year off no matter what, then do it. You can still get into med school, if not top 10, and med school is med school.

 

[Bacchus]

Definitely apply for the deferral. I would contact the admissions office by phone and possibly speak to the Director of Admissions or the Dean of Enrollment. Schools realize that problems occur that weren't around at the beginning of application season. Also, I would see schools honoring the deferral of admission versus losing a student and thousands of dollars in resources that go wasted.

 

[Beta Cell]

Beta Cell, thinking critically....the OP's name is JoeGator86. I would not expect him to be a Cane..

But, I digress. JoeGator86, ask for the deferment and I am pretty sure you will get it. Most schools have some type of delayed admissions and I have never heard of anyone being refused.

I know several people who have exercised that option. Call first and try to speak to the admission's officer or secretary. But make sure you have accepted their offer off the waitlist first !!!! They will tell you to write but call first!!

I know people who go to schools that aren't big on sports (like Harvard) and still support the teams (The Gators) from their home state. My name is Beta Cell, but I surely am not one.

 

[Penguick]

Beta Cell, I took 12 credits my second to last semester. No one ever asked about it.