Accepted - Now What?

[redrok]

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Okay, I spent a few hours looking around the forums for some ideas to a few questions I have now that I have been accepted, but can't really find anything that really answers my questions:

1) Is it recommended that I still go to some of my other scheduled interviews? I have been accepted into TUCOM-NV, which is also my first choice, so I am reluctant to spend the time and money traveling, but if it is a good idea to go to my second, third and even forth choices, I would like to hear those reasons from someone else.

2) Should I be doing anything now (ie from now until school starts), or just wait until I hear more from the school? I paid the deposit and received an email confirming the payment and also informing me I would receive more info in Feb, but that seems like such a long time from now. Other than looking for apartments, financial aid, etc, is there anything else? I feel like I should be doing something, but maybe it is just that feeling you get after being so busy then suddenly not having all the stress.

3) My final question, which is a school specific question (may need to have its own thread somewhere else) - TUCOM-NV requires 8 hours of behavioral science, I listed Interpersonal Communications (3 cr), Philosophy (3 cr), and a general Social Science class (3 cr) in AACOMAS as behavioral science, which they kept that way after verification, now the question is, does anyone know if TUCOM-NV has a list of classes they will accept, or do they just go by the AACOMAS application, which shows me having completed that requirement? I called TUCOM-NV and they said they will look over transcripts, but not until spring - that means that I would only have the summer before school starts to take any behavioral science classes if mine don't qualify for some reason. Totally possible to do, but if I need to take them, I would much rather do it during winter semester rather than cramming during the summer.

One other thing, if anyone who is attending TUCOM-NV sees this, could you let me know what you did from the time you were accepted to the time you actually were sitting in classes. What kinds of interactions did you have with the school during that time or any other info that you thing would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[n618ft]

1) Plenty of people choose to cancel the rest of their interviews. I plan on doing that hopefully next week. However, make sure your application is 100% in check.

2) Relax. Have some fun.

3) I'll leave this one for someone else.

 

[DrMcKittrick]

Make sure your financial aid is in check.

 

[NPEMTIV]

1) Plenty of people choose to cancel the rest of their interviews. I plan on doing that hopefully next week. However, make sure your application is 100% in check.

2) Relax. Have some fun.

3) I'll leave this one for someone else.

👍

 

[lawyerdoc2b]

Okay, I spent a few hours looking around the forums for some ideas to a few questions I have now that I have been accepted, but can't really find anything that really answers my questions:

1) Is it recommended that I still go to some of my other scheduled interviews? I have been accepted into TUCOM-NV, which is also my first choice, so I am reluctant to spend the time and money traveling, but if it is a good idea to go to my second, third and even forth choices, I would like to hear those reasons from someone else.

2) Should I be doing anything now (ie from now until school starts), or just wait until I hear more from the school? I paid the deposit and received an email confirming the payment and also informing me I would receive more info in Feb, but that seems like such a long time from now. Other than looking for apartments, financial aid, etc, is there anything else? I feel like I should be doing something, but maybe it is just that feeling you get after being so busy then suddenly not having all the stress.

3) My final question, which is a school specific question (may need to have its own thread somewhere else) - TUCOM-NV requires 8 hours of behavioral science, I listed Interpersonal Communications (3 cr), Philosophy (3 cr), and a general Social Science class (3 cr) in AACOMAS as behavioral science, which they kept that way after verification, now the question is, does anyone know if TUCOM-NV has a list of classes they will accept, or do they just go by the AACOMAS application, which shows me having completed that requirement? I called TUCOM-NV and they said they will look over transcripts, but not until spring - that means that I would only have the summer before school starts to take any behavioral science classes if mine don't qualify for some reason. Totally possible to do, but if I need to take them, I would much rather do it during winter semester rather than cramming during the summer.

One other thing, if anyone who is attending TUCOM-NV sees this, could you let me know what you did from the time you were accepted to the time you actually were sitting in classes. What kinds of interactions did you have with the school during that time or any other info that you thing would be helpful.

Thanks

You should also contact the financial aid office at the school. Ask for the froms/information packet and submit it as early as you can. Also, fill out the FAFSA, the federal student aid application on-line.

 

[Exalya]

You should also contact the financial aid office at the school. Ask for the froms/information packet and submit it as early as you can. Also, fill out the FAFSA, the federal student aid application on-line.

Can you fill out next years' fafsa this early? I was always told that it opens on January 1st, but then, I know nothing of professional school aid and such. I'm not accepted yet so it doesn't matter to me at the moment... but I am curious.

 

[DocHomer]

Can you fill out next years' fafsa this early? I was always told that it opens on January 1st, but then, I know nothing of professional school aid and such. I'm not accepted yet so it doesn't matter to me at the moment... but I am curious.

I didn't think you could either. The website only allows you to choose the 2009-2010 year.

 

[AMEHigh]

Once I got accepted to PCOM, my 1st choice, I canceled my other interviews. The 2 other interviews I had at the time I had already been on open houses and tours on, so I felt confident in not going on them. If I hadn't seen the other schools previously, I probably would've considered going on the interviews anyway. However I'm happy with my decision and glad I chose PCOM.

 

[DocHomer]

Celebrate. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Chill out (knowing you'll be busting your a** for the next few years).

 

[rashneeva]

I didn't think you could either. The website only allows you to choose the 2009-2010 year.

You have to be able to file your taxes for 2009 before you can submit your FAFSA for 2010. The FAFSA requires information from the previous year's tax forms.

 

[JanikeyDoc]

If you are definite about the school, notify the other schools to cancel your interview and withdraw your application from other schools, so that they can consider other students.

 

[redrok]

Okay, here is an update to my questions if anyone wants to help me out further:

1) I have not actually visited any of the other schools, but to be honest, I have my top choice (which I am so happy I got into) and so all the other schools are 2nd choice.

I have noticed a lot of people in the forums that will go interview at a school, then post that they interviewed, got accepted and will turn the acceptance down (sometimes for what I consider stupid reasons). But they do this at several schools, so am I missing something here; why would you want to spend hundreds of $$ going around the USA to just turn down a bunch of schools unless either there is a good idea, or to just boost your own ego about how many schools you got accepted to (possibly at the expense of someone else)?

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

2) As far as financial aid, I have found out that there is pretty much nothing I can do about that now as I will need to file 2009 taxes first. Oh, and the interest rates on the Stafford loans SUCKS!! How could stafford loan interest rates be 6.8% considering both the economic situation, and that they are actually supposed to be a low interest rate option? Are there any other feasible options out there that are lower than that? I know that years have gone by, but I was just talking to a couple in my area that got student loans for like 1.8% about 10-12 years ago - where do you get loans like that? (believe me, I plan to ask them the next time I see them, as they told me that before I saw the interest rates on the stafford loans).

3) TUCOM-NV no longer requires any behavioral science (I emailed and asked about this). They just have not updated their "old" website as it is being replaced by this new website: http://tun.touro.edu where the new admissions information is listed.

 

[MN premed]

1) I have not actually visited any of the other schools, but to be honest, I have my top choice (which I am so happy I got into) and so all the other schools are 2nd choice.

I have noticed a lot of people in the forums that will go interview at a school, then post that they interviewed, got accepted and will turn the acceptance down (sometimes for what I consider stupid reasons). But they do this at several schools, so am I missing something here; why would you want to spend hundreds of $$ going around the USA to just turn down a bunch of schools unless either there is a good idea, or to just boost your own ego about how many schools you got accepted to (possibly at the expense of someone else)?

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I've been accepted to AZCOM, but before going, I wasn't sure that I would like it because of the desert location, and I was bummed about getting waitlisted at DMU. The only time I'd been to the desert before was in the middle of CA and it was really ugly and dead-looking. So, to my surprise, I actually really liked AZCOM's campus and location, as well as its board scores, curriculum, facilities, etc. The reason I'm going to keep interviewing is because I've never been to any of the schools before, and I won't have any idea which one is my top choice until I've been there to see! Who knows if I'll like other schools more than DMU or AZCOM? I liked them both, but how can I compare them to others without having been to them? Especially when I didn't really expect to like AZCOM very much, but I gave it a chance and ended up loving it. I want to give myself options, if possible.

I believe most people continue interviewing for this reason. Not to boost their egos. The cost of travelling to a few interviews is nothing compared to how much the next 4 years of school will cost, so I better make sure I'm spending it at the best school for me!

 

[Bacchus]

Okay, here is an update to my questions if anyone wants to help me out further:

1) I have not actually visited any of the other schools, but to be honest, I have my top choice (which I am so happy I got into) and so all the other schools are 2nd choice.

I have noticed a lot of people in the forums that will go interview at a school, then post that they interviewed, got accepted and will turn the acceptance down (sometimes for what I consider stupid reasons). But they do this at several schools, so am I missing something here; why would you want to spend hundreds of $$ going around the USA to just turn down a bunch of schools unless either there is a good idea, or to just boost your own ego about how many schools you got accepted to (possibly at the expense of someone else)?

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

2) As far as financial aid, I have found out that there is pretty much nothing I can do about that now as I will need to file 2009 taxes first. Oh, and the interest rates on the Stafford loans SUCKS!! How could stafford loan interest rates be 6.8% considering both the economic situation, and that they are actually supposed to be a low interest rate option? Are there any other feasible options out there that are lower than that? I know that years have gone by, but I was just talking to a couple in my area that got student loans for like 1.8% about 10-12 years ago - where do you get loans like that? (believe me, I plan to ask them the next time I see them, as they told me that before I saw the interest rates on the stafford loans).

3) TUCOM-NV no longer requires any behavioral science (I emailed and asked about this). They just have not updated their "old" website as it is being replaced by this new website: http://tun.touro.edu where the new admissions information is listed.

You can get low interest loans in the form of private loans but its economic suicide if you have to carry the loan for its full life. The economy will rebound.

Read the boards for opinions on Touro. No fearmongering here, but you want a clear picture in your head considering rotation sites.

 

[JediZero]

I've been accepted to AZCOM, but before going, I wasn't sure that I would like it because of the desert location, and I was bummed about getting waitlisted at DMU. The only time I'd been to the desert before was in the middle of CA and it was really ugly and dead-looking. So, to my surprise, I actually really liked AZCOM's campus and location, as well as its board scores, curriculum, facilities, etc. The reason I'm going to keep interviewing is because I've never been to any of the schools before, and I won't have any idea which one is my top choice until I've been there to see! Who knows if I'll like other schools more than DMU or AZCOM? I liked them both, but how can I compare them to others without having been to them? Especially when I didn't really expect to like AZCOM very much, but I gave it a chance and ended up loving it. I want to give myself options, if possible.

I believe most people continue interviewing for this reason. Not to boost their egos. The cost of travelling to a few interviews is nothing compared to how much the next 4 years of school will cost, so I better make sure I'm spending it at the best school for me!

I agree entirely. I got accepted to Western, which I absolutely love. But I'm still going to my interviews at Georgetown and George Washington this week. Why? Because they might impress me even more than Western did. I don't think you really get to know a school until you visit, meet the students, talk with the faculty, see the facilities and really get a feel for what it would be like to be there for four years.

If you've already got one far-and-away favorite that you're holding an acceptance from, by all means, take it. But as for me, I'm reserving judgment until I've explored my options a little.

 

[xtina0]

The more interviews I go on the more confused I get, I have no clue which school I will choose. If your accepted and like the school save your time, money and energy. Fafsa doesn't open till 1/2010, unless you want to take out private loans theres not much you can do for your finances. Just relax and enjoy!!!

 

[Bacchus]

I agree entirely. I got accepted to Western, which I absolutely love. But I'm still going to my interviews at Georgetown and George Washington this week. Why? Because they might impress me even more than Western did. I don't think you really get to know a school until you visit, meet the students, talk with the faculty, see the facilities and really get a feel for what it would be like to be there for four years.

If you've already got one far-and-away favorite that you're holding an acceptance from, by all means, take it. But as for me, I'm reserving judgment until I've explored my options a little.

Congrats on GWU, its hard to get an interview there!

 

[JanikeyDoc]

Okay, I spent a few hours looking around the forums for some ideas to a few questions I have now that I have been accepted, but can't really find anything that really answers my questions:

1) Is it recommended that I still go to some of my other scheduled interviews? I have been accepted into TUCOM-NV, which is also my first choice, so I am reluctant to spend the time and money traveling, but if it is a good idea to go to my second, third and even forth choices, I would like to hear those reasons from someone else.

2) Should I be doing anything now (ie from now until school starts), or just wait until I hear more from the school? I paid the deposit and received an email confirming the payment and also informing me I would receive more info in Feb, but that seems like such a long time from now. Other than looking for apartments, financial aid, etc, is there anything else? I feel like I should be doing something, but maybe it is just that feeling you get after being so busy then suddenly not having all the stress.

3) My final question, which is a school specific question (may need to have its own thread somewhere else) - TUCOM-NV requires 8 hours of behavioral science, I listed Interpersonal Communications (3 cr), Philosophy (3 cr), and a general Social Science class (3 cr) in AACOMAS as behavioral science, which they kept that way after verification, now the question is, does anyone know if TUCOM-NV has a list of classes they will accept, or do they just go by the AACOMAS application, which shows me having completed that requirement? I called TUCOM-NV and they said they will look over transcripts, but not until spring - that means that I would only have the summer before school starts to take any behavioral science classes if mine don't qualify for some reason. Totally possible to do, but if I need to take them, I would much rather do it during winter semester rather than cramming during the summer.

One other thing, if anyone who is attending TUCOM-NV sees this, could you let me know what you did from the time you were accepted to the time you actually were sitting in classes. What kinds of interactions did you have with the school during that time or any other info that you thing would be helpful.

Thanks

Oh yeah congratulations. Why not celebrate??!! Hire a few strippers, go on a trip to the Caribbean, do something to reward your success. Most people who apply to medical school never get to this point.

 

[redrok]

I scheduled most of my interviews after the TUCOM-NV for the end of Oct and early Nov. I have been spending a lot of my time lately really looking into the schools online and getting opinions from others who have been out to those schools. I have narrowed things down and cancelled all but two interviews.

1) ATSU/KCOM
2) TCOM

So, I do not have a single reason to cancel the ATSU/KCOM interview - maybe someone can give me one.

For the TCOM interview, I have few reasons to cancel, but I have one really big reason not to, which is the cost of tuition (even for OOS it is nearly half the cost of most other COMs). I have heard they only accept around 10-15 OOS applicants, but that the pain of the application process using TMDSAS only brings in around 250 OOS applications out of which some are selected for interviews. Maybe this means I have a good chance, but maybe the TCOM stuff I have heard is mostly rumor - it's hard to tell.

 

[Exalya]

I scheduled most of my interviews after the TUCOM-NV for the end of Oct and early Nov. I have been spending a lot of my time lately really looking into the schools online and getting opinions from others who have been out to those schools. I have narrowed things down and cancelled all but two interviews.

1) ATSU/KCOM
2) TCOM

So, I do not have a single reason to cancel the ATSU/KCOM interview - maybe someone can give me one.

For the TCOM interview, I have few reasons to cancel, but I have one really big reason not to, which is the cost of tuition (even for OOS it is nearly half the cost of most other COMs). I have heard they only accept around 10-15 OOS applicants, but that the pain of the application process using TMDSAS only brings in around 250 OOS applications out of which some are selected for interviews. Maybe this means I have a good chance, but maybe the TCOM stuff I have heard is mostly rumor - it's hard to tell.

TCOM is cheaper and it is true that they accept VERY few OOS. I 90-95% of their class is from Texas... and the program is awesome, I'm very excited at the possibility of an acceptance there. You might find that you fit in there, you never know. 🙂

 

[nikon]

It's a personal choice. For me the big put-off is the remoteness (3 hours to a major airport) and lack jobs in town. Lots of old houses. A handful business (well, actually a little more than that). People there get excited about a rumor of a Target store. There is a HomeDepot store though, and a Wal-mart. On the other hand, you get the small town feel and the safety and low crime rate.

So, I do not have a single reason to cancel the ATSU/KCOM interview - maybe someone can give me one.

 

[danimjo]

I would only go on the other interviews for the following reasons:

If you're not 100% sure TUCOM NV is for you

If another school offers a unique format (I know some of the Erie schools do PBL so it may be interesting to see if you think PBL is a better fit for you)

If the school is generally considered to be a much better school than TUCOM-NV. Generally all medical schools give you a quality education but some schools will give you an advantage in seeking a competitive residency.

Also, cost there is a "Cost of DO Attendance" excel floating around SDN and they have TUCOM NV cost without living expenses to be upwards of $38,000 for next year. So, if there is a solid difference in cost between TUCOM NV and another one of these schools, then I would go to the interview and check it out.

I would definitely go to the TCOM interview, however if it were me I would probably cancel the AT Still/KCOM interview, I don't know if you've been to Kirksville, but there isn't much out there. I think it is a city of around 25,000 people. I realize in medical school you're going to be incredibly busy, but because of that I personally want to live somewhere where I can easily find fun things to do for a few hours on the rare occasion I have a break from studying. I went to undergrad in a city of around 20,000, and it got pretty boring when you had spare time you usually ended up driving a few hours away to do anything.

Ultimately, it's your decision and it's about where you think you'll fit best. I've been accepted to TOURO CA and I like it so much that I'm not going on any other interviews, unless I get offered an interview for my in-state MD schools b/c they have better pathways into oncology and the tuition is so cheap that it's worth it to try.

2) I know it's been said before but there's not much you can do to prepare for school at this point in time. I'm in the same boat, I've been accepted since September and it's nice to have it settled, but I'm anxious to get started. I've been out of school for a few years so one of the things I'm doing is putting myself on a student budget again. Trying to live on approx $2,000 a month which is about what I'll be able to take out in loans for living expenses. I'm trying to save as much as I can. And I'm debating getting a second job part-time in addition to my full-time job to save a little extra for moving expenses and what not. Overall, just take a deep breath and enjoy the fact that you're one step closer to achieving your goal!

 

[Bacchus]

I wouldn't cancel KCOM. Its a very, very well respected program.

 

[CopToEM]

okay, here is an update to my questions if anyone wants to help me out further:

1) i have not actually visited any of the other schools, but to be honest, i have my top choice (which i am so happy i got into) and so all the other schools are 2nd choice. enough said, then.

why would you want to spend hundreds of $$ going around the usa to just turn down a bunch of schools unless either there is a good idea, or to just boost your own ego about how many schools you got accepted to (possibly at the expense of someone else)?

i think some do this for the reason you've stated. However, i think others do it because money is not an issue and they might as well play all the cards in the deck and see how things go. Since you've not visited the schools you may find that although you have a top choice that choice could change. However, i gather money isn't disposable in your situation, so i think sticking with your acceptance from your top choice is the smart thing to do.

2) as far as financial aid, i have found out that there is pretty much nothing i can do about that now as i will need to file 2009 taxes first. Oh, and the interest rates on the stafford loans sucks!! How could stafford loan interest rates be 6.8% considering both the economic situation, and that they are actually supposed to be a low interest rate option? Are there any other feasible options out there that are lower than that? I know that years have gone by, but i was just talking to a couple in my area that got student loans for like 1.8% about 10-12 years ago - where do you get loans like that? (believe me, i plan to ask them the next time i see them, as they told me that before i saw the interest rates on the stafford loans).

1.8% seems incredibly low for any loan situation. The only places i've ever seen give out interest rates that low, even on $100,000+ are federal credit unions. Even then your credit report has to be almost immaculate and there's often stipulations (adjustable rates). Bottom line is that the 6.8% is fairly reasonable and given the leniency that you have with the loan it's hard to beat. You do have other options for loan forgiveness if you choose to seek them out.

 

[rc4ch]

This game is over for you. I suggest you take advantage of the off time between now and med school.

Because a different, and more difficult game is coming at you.