accepted to your nightmare school

[gsmithers68]

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So what if you got accepted to a school that you know would drive you clinically insane if you had to attend for four years, but that is your only acceptance. Lets say it is also going to cost you nearly 60,000 to go a year.

Do you...

A. go and just grind it out

B. withdraw and reapply the following year

And would withdrawing an acceptance to a school look really bad if you applied again the following year?

 

[eerapido]

So what if you got accepted to a school that you know would drive you clinically insane if you had to attend for four years, but that is your only acceptance. Lets say it is also going to cost you nearly 60,000 to go a year.

Do you...

A. go and just grind it out

B. withdraw and reapply the following year

And would withdrawing an acceptance to a school look really bad if you applied again the following year?

N/T

 

[braluk]

Why did you apply to said school if it was going to be a nightmare? I know we all have safety schools, but even then, I think theres still a limited range of where we would choose to go if indeed it came down to it. However so, Id go with option A. If you reapply, schools will want to know/will find out if you were accepted anywhere in a prior cycle. Knowing that you had an acceptance on hand and then rescinded it brings upon the committee the impression that you're all about looks and not about becoming a doctor.

 

[Misfit!]

So what if you got accepted to a school that you know would drive you clinically insane if you had to attend for four years, but that is your only acceptance. Lets say it is also going to cost you nearly 60,000 to go a year.

Do you...

A. go and just grind it out

B. withdraw and reapply the following year

And would withdrawing an acceptance to a school look really bad if you applied again the following year?

if there are factors which make you absolutely sure that you'll hate it, and cost is an issue and you feel that if given some time you will have a shot at getting into your cheaper state school, then DON'T GO.
I think that "wasting" a year is far better than enduring four years of misery. What's the rush? (I wish I had known all this before undergrad..ha).

 

[dutchman]

All medschools are nightmares, go with the cheapest.

 

[BellyDancingDoc]

N/T

What does N/T mean? 😕

 

[MadHopsMD]

if there are factors which make you absolutely sure that you'll hate it, and cost is an issue and you feel that if given some time you will have a shot at getting into your cheaper state school, then DON'T GO.
I think that "wasting" a year is far better than enduring four years of misery. What's the rush? (I wish I had known all this before undergrad..ha).

you also have to evalute the fact that you might not get accepted EVER again 😉 So is the PAIN of going through 3 years of hell (4th year doesnt count cause you can do away rotations) > never getting an acceptance ever again.

If it is not greater than my friend go to the school.

 

[braluk]

And if you really hate it, you can always petition for a transfer. Granted its ridiculously hard to transfer out, but then again, its probably ridiculously hard to get accepted into medical school twice- at least once in each cycle.

 

[gsmithers68]

Why did you apply to said school if it was going to be a nightmare? I know we all have safety schools, but even then, I think theres still a limited range of where we would choose to go if indeed it came down to it. However so, Id go with option A. If you reapply, schools will want to know/will find out if you were accepted anywhere in a prior cycle. Knowing that you had an acceptance on hand and then rescinded it brings upon the committee the impression that you're all about looks and not about becoming a doctor.

Well it was more like... school X looked good on paper... then I visited and was like... holy **** this is expensive and wow... ghetto.... no thanks mmhmm... but then got accepted a week later. Drat.

Would it really look that bad? I feel that if I had a legitimate case. (i.e. financially impossible) Then how can adcoms hold that against you. I don't have 20,000 extra sitting around to cover the additional costs since you can only take about 40,000 in federal loans a year.

 

[braluk]

I can guarantee you that no med student will have to pay out of the pocket when it comes to med school tuition. There are more methods for loans than federal loans (gradplus, perkins, private bank loans). Cost shouldn't be a concern if you're holding only one acceptance, given that it might end up hurting you that you withdrew your only acceptance in the next cycle when schools find out- kind of like , "man what will it take to make this kid happy???Certainly not an acceptance. Why bother?"

Why dont you accept the invitation, matriculate, file your loans and test the waters and if you really loathe it, file for a transfer (of course this is heavily dependent on how many students in the school you want to transfer into have dropped out in the first year, how strong your reasons are, and under what circumstances)

 

[lilnoelle]

I can guarantee you that no med student will have to pay out of the pocket when it comes to med school tuition. There are more methods for loans than federal loans (gradplus, perkins, private bank loans). Cost shouldn't be a concern if you're holding only one acceptance, given that it might end up hurting you that you withdrew your only acceptance in the next cycle when schools find out- kind of like , "man what will it take to make this kid happy???Certainly not an acceptance. Why bother?"

Why dont you accept the invitation, matriculate, file your loans and test the waters and if you really loathe it, file for a transfer (of course this is heavily dependent on how many students in the school you want to transfer into have dropped out in the first year, how strong your reasons are, and under what circumstances)

I can't say for certainty, but I'm pretty sure no schools will allow transfers between first and second year. Transfers can be done between third and fourth year if an individual has a decent USMLE score and has a VERY good reason for transferring i.e. to be with a long distance spouse or a dying parent.

 

[gsmithers68]

Why dont you accept the invitation, matriculate, file your loans and test the waters and if you really loathe it, file for a transfer (of course this is heavily dependent on how many students in the school you want to transfer into have dropped out in the first year, how strong your reasons are, and under what circumstances)

I already accepted the invitation and put down my deposit to hold my spot. But until May I could still withdraw couldn't I? Or does that just make the case even worse if I were to apply again. Bleh. I am sure I'll go if it is my only acceptance but still it's crap situation. 🙁 🙁

 

[MadHopsMD]

I already accepted the invitation and put down my deposit to hold my spot. But until May I could still withdraw couldn't I? Or does that just make the case even worse if I were to apply again. Bleh. I am sure I'll go if it is my only acceptance but still it's crap situation. 🙁 🙁

as long as you have not attended class, you are fine. what school is this? Temple? I heard good things about that school...why do you hate it so?

 

[gsmithers68]

as long as you have not attended class, you are fine. what school is this? Temple? I heard good things about that school...why do you hate it so?

Money.... 72,000 a year... ugh... talk about a hard check to write.

 

[braluk]

It happens, but dont forget that students have been accepted all the way up to August for many reasons.

Also, I always thought that you can transfer after M1 given considerable circumstances. And also, because after M1, you'll know if you have any vacancies because of dropouts.

http://services.aamc.org/tsp_reports/

Schools have different polciies

this one lists the current number of transfer students in each year (m1, m2, etc..etc..) The list mainly starts with year 2 so im assuming some schools will allow, somedont but is a case by case basis

 

[braluk]

DId you get accepted to University of Colorado Out of state? thats the only school i can imagine being that high.

 

[MadHopsMD]

DId you get accepted to University of Colorado Out of state? thats the only school i can imagine being that high.

braluk,

tuition + health care comes to 47 at the school he said he was going to. I presume 25Gs on living expenses.

All schools OOS are that expensive. Unless you have a high probability getting into your in-state school, there is no point bringing money into the equation when choosing schools. because all of them are ridiculously expensive.

This is a bit off topic, but I heard that U of Colorado brought down their tuition to 40ish K for OOS, but students have to pay that for 4 years. Before you pay 72K for a year and then you could have applied for colorado residency, which brought your tuition price down for years 2+

 

[sendwich]

is it wayne state? if you're OOS, tuition+living costs $73K.

 

[braluk]

braluk,

tuition + health care comes to 47 at the school he said he was going to. I presume 25Gs on living expenses.

All schools OOS are that expensive. Unless you have a high probability getting into your in-state school, there is no point bringing money into the equation when choosing schools. because all of them are ridiculously expensive.

This is a bit off topic, but I heard that U of Colorado brought down their tuition to 40ish K for OOS, but students have to pay that for 4 years. Before you pay 72K for a year and then you could have applied for colorado residency, which brought your tuition price down for years 2+

Ahh good to know. Thanks 🙂

 

[sprinkibrio]

There is another thread about this... it's very good.

The consensus was: if you didn't want to go there you should have never applied or withdrawn after the interview because it looks VERY BAD to reapply turning down a prior acceptance. No one wants someone who is so immature they didn't really think about the schools they applied to. Plus they'll think you don't want it enough.

My friend did this with the excuse that he wanted to do a year of research to reasess whether or not he should do MSTP instead of just MD. That still looks immature because you could have done all that without applying twice. As far as I've heard he's got two interviews and nothing else.

 

[gsmithers68]

My friend did this with the excuse that he wanted to do a year of research to reasess whether or not he should do MSTP instead of just MD. That still looks immature because you could have done all that without applying twice. As far as I've heard he's got two interviews and nothing else.

Scary

 

[Disinence2]

Yeah but i believe U of Colorado added 30-40K in "Mandatory fees" For out of state students to compensate for their drop in "tuition"

its still as expensive. ...dirty trick

Oh and to the OP i was almost in that situation...Its only 4 years, do u really want to choose to go through this process again... theres another couple grand right there, and 1 year less of making a physicians salaly!

 

[stiffany]

So based on the OP's other posts, I feel like you still have a shot elsewhere dude. As of December you were still waiting on 15 schools and had 6 interviews. Perhaps another one of the 15 will get back to you or another acceptance will land in your lap?

Ultimately, yes, Temple is in a crappy part of Philly all things considered. But it's still a med school which will provide you with an education to get to the next step on the road to becoming a doctor. Plus, it's not like you have to actually live up there. I have friends who live in the same area of Center City Philadelphia (which is a relatively nice fru fru area compared to some other cities) I do and just commute. So really it's just class time. Clinical rotations are away for parts of third year and fourth year so that's even less time at the actual school (and you can volunteer for away rotations if you want to flee badly enough!)

All and all, keep hoping for some other options. Perhaps you can even defer a year and then reapply? There was someone on this board that did that with another school to try and get closer to a spouse and their accepted school (think it was Case Western?) supported that. But, I wouldn't decline an acceptance knowing that the next one may never come.

 

[MadHopsMD]

The OP has yet to hear decisions from 5 different schools. He PMed me his stats, and they extremely good. I would just wait it out OP. I bet you a million dollars that you will get acceptances elsewhere...just be patient and concetrate on your other interviews...

 

[soeagerun2or]

Cry me a river. Everyone pays too much in medical school. Take out your full Stafford and then a private loan like everyone else.

 

[lilnoelle]

I bet you a million dollars that you will get acceptances elsewhere.

Hey, even if the Op doesn't get in elsewhere, he'll come out on top. 1 mil-30x4! (Guestimating that a state school would be about 30 less a year) You're in great shape.

 

[8744]

So what if you got accepted to a school that you know would drive you clinically insane if you had to attend for four years, but that is your only acceptance. Lets say it is also going to cost you nearly 60,000 to go a year.

Do you...

A. go and just grind it out

B. withdraw and reapply the following year

And would withdrawing an acceptance to a school look really bad if you applied again the following year?

Just go. First of all, if you only got into one medical school this year you might not get into any next year when you reapply as you are obviously lacking something in your application. In this case, a bird in the hand is definitely worth a couple of probably non-existant ones in the future bush.

Second, I don't know what you mean by "nightmare school" (Unless it is all PBL and then I can sympathise with you). Does it really matter where you go? You probably got such a brief view of the school during interviews that you have no real idea whether or not you will like it except for the shallowest of reasons (the cafeteria was too far away from the library, it hasn't been remodeled since the 1970s. etc). If it's a prestige thing then you deserve to not get admittted next year if you give up your spot this year.

As for the money, well, there is a huge difference between a typical state school and a private school but you will make money as a doctor and I'd say just don't worry about it. Your differential between going to a state school and going to a private school is not that catastrophic and not worth potentially missing out two years (if you don't get in next year) or maybe not getting in at all (although to be honest there are times when I wish I hadn't been accepted).

 

[psipsina]

1) If you have other interviews and good stats then it is early in the game to even be thinking about this
2) If you didn't want to pay 73k/year then why did you apply to this school? It looks imature that you didn't do your research before applying.
3) If you only do get this one acceptance then why do you think you would have a better result next time even if withrawing from an acceptance didn't permanently damage your application (which it will)
4) If its an accreditied US allopathic school then you have done far better than many who never get an acceptance at all, quit your whining and start focus on everything you have instead of the world not being perfect for you. There are so many things that can happen to you that are worse than only getting into an expensive medschool (which is what happens to everyone who doesn't go to their state school or get a scholarship aka most people) and not being madly in love with that medschool (which you probably wouldn't be after a few months at any school because frankly medschool sucks alot of the time even when you aren't in a ghetto or your cafeteria is really pretty).

 

[FenderHM]

as far as finances go, look at it this way: the sooner you start school the sooner you'll finish and be making the $150,000+ of an attending somewhere... so even tho in another year you might be able to get into a school that costs $150,000 for 4 years instead of $250,000, that $100,000 is offset by the fact that you will be making $150,000 per year a year sooner, u can use that to pay off your loans...

med school is kinda similar everywhere..you study a lot and don't have time for your gf/bf/parents/other friends/daily exercise/laundry/proper diet etc.... so unless you absolutely HATED the school, just suck it up

 

[notdeadyet]

if you didn't want to go there you should have never applied or withdrawn after the interview because it looks VERY BAD to reapply turning down a prior acceptance.

Agreed. Folks always jump down the throats of people saying "Why didn't you research it?". But I think it's totally valid to go to an interview and discover that the school just isn't for you.

Then you withdraw. Immediately. And bob's your uncle. If you wait until you're accepted, you're hosed.

 

[notdeadyet]

And another question: Why are folks so hung up on the neighborhood a medical school is in?

If you don't like the neighborhood, don't go clubbing there. Don't skateboard in the park. Don't buy real estate.

The nice thing about bad neighborhoods is that they tend to be located in cities. The nice thing about cities is that they have many neighborhoods.

 

[gujuDoc]

Just remember no school is a nightmare when you compare it to the the islands.

 

[KaraKiz]

And another question: Why are folks so hung up on the neighborhood a medical school is in?

If you don't like the neighborhood, don't go clubbing there. Don't skateboard in the park. Don't buy real estate.

The nice thing about bad neighborhoods is that they tend to be located in cities. The nice thing about cities is that they have many neighborhoods.

notdeadyet.. as usual, the epitome of practicality.. bless you.. 🙂

Very good point. I concur. Going to a school that costs 72K is not ideal if you get into a cheaper school that you like better. But it is ideal if its the only school you get into. Take your acceptance, drop down on your knees, and thank whomever it is that you pray to that you are going to be a doctor. Then pray that you get another acceptance at a school that you liked better. 😀

Even if this is your only acceptance, are you really thinking about turning it down and applying again? Did you forget how much applying really really sucked? The money, filling out all of those stupid forms, trying to sell yourself in 3000 characters or less without whoring yourself out in about 25 essays that each have to be just a little different, the waiting, the stress, the interviews, more money, more stress, disappointment? Do you really want to put yourself through that again? Plus, "Well I just didnt want to go there" is not going to fly when, if you are lucky enough to interview next cycle, they ask why you turned down your only acceptance.

I understand that its less than an ideal situation for you. If your stats are as good as everyone says they are, it will probably work itself out (i.e. you will get accepted somewhere else). If it doesnt, I recommend that you do not turn down your only acceptance to reapply. Philly is a cool city, they have great cheesesteaks, and Eagles games are quite the "experience" to have, if you are not a Redskins, Giants, or Cowboys fan. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[psipsina]

And another question: Why are folks so hung up on the neighborhood a medical school is in?

If you don't like the neighborhood, don't go clubbing there. Don't skateboard in the park. Don't buy real estate.

The nice thing about bad neighborhoods is that they tend to be located in cities. The nice thing about cities is that they have many neighborhoods.

I've always thought this was odd too. When I'm at school we have great security and walkways so you don't ever have to leave the controlled access campus. When I'm not at school I get in my car and go to my 'hood which I love and got to pick. The last thing I want to do with my free time is hang around nearby my medschool, even when we pass it on the highway the looming buildings just remind me silently of all the studying I could be doing. Blech.

 

[sprinkibrio]

The nice thing about bad neighborhoods is that they tend to be located in cities. The nice thing about cities is that they have many neighborhoods.

LOL, I love this!

 

[dutchman]

Money.... 72,000 a year... ugh... talk about a hard check to write.

WHAT!!!! You are right. That is going to be a nightmare.

 

[Steiner]

Steal a bunch of OxyContin, Vicodin, & Methadone and sell it on the side! We're supposed to be problem solvers here people.

 

[gujuDoc]

Steal a bunch of OxyContin, Vicodin, & Methadone and sell it on the side! We're supposed to be problem solvers here people.

Hey Steiner,

Gotta question for you. If you get into the MD school that has given you an interview invite are you gonna go there over the DO schools? Or will you look at all the schools accepted and then decide?

 

[Chulito]

If an applicant were to turn down an acceptance and reapply the following year, would schools have any way of knowing that he or she turned down an acceptance from a different school the previous year? This is a sincere question, not provocation--I really don't know.

 

[Steiner]

Hey Steiner,

Gotta question for you. If you get into the MD school that has given you an interview invite are you gonna go there over the DO schools? Or will you look at all the schools accepted and then decide?

I would go to the MD school mainly because it would save me ~20000/year. With a family, I have to think about $$, so it's a big factor in my decision.

 

[smq123]

So what if you got accepted to a school that you know would drive you clinically insane if you had to attend for four years, but that is your only acceptance. Lets say it is also going to cost you nearly 60,000 to go a year.

Do you...

A. go and just grind it out

B. withdraw and reapply the following year

And would withdrawing an acceptance to a school look really bad if you applied again the following year?

I'm assuming that you're talking about Temple. I'm sure you don't want to offend anyone, but, come on - if we're going to talk about your options, you have to be specific about which school it is.

How do you know that it would drive you clinically insane? And I think that "nightmare school" is a little harsh. Yes, it's not a great neighborhood. But tons of students go to Temple Med, Temple podiatry, and Temple dentistry, and survive just fine. Plus, let's look on the bright side:
1) Temple is located near many public transportation options (subway, regional rail, buses). You can't say necessarily say that about Drexel, which is, I believe, only near the R2 line.
2) You can live in other neighborhoods if you're not comfortable living near Temple. Center city is easily (very easily) accessible by subway, and Manayunk/Roxborough is easily accessible by regional rail. This is a common practice for all the med schools in the area. Even at Jefferson, which has on-campus housing, some people choose to live elsewhere for a variety of reasons.
3) Temple has a very nice, integrated, systems-based curriculum. I think there is minimal focus on PBL. As PandaBear said, PBL is (in my mind) the only reason to call a school a "nightmare school." I hate, hate, hate, HATE PBL. I'd much rather be lectured at for 4 hours.

Sure, Temple is expensive for out of staters. That may be a factor, but you'll have to talk to the financial aid department about that. Or, ask to talk to a current Temple student who is from out of state, and ask how they manage financially.

Don't pass up this opportunity. You don't know that you'll be able to get in elsewhere next year. (P.S. I wouldn't bank on transferring between 1st and 2nd year. "I hated the neighborhood" is not a valid reason to request a transfer.)

 

[sunset823]

a) all med schools are expensive - they know how much you're gonna make coming out, so they're gonna suck it all of you going in

b) (almost) all med schools are in the ghetto - med students are on the bottom of the totem pole, they don't get to live on Rodeo Dr. - um, look at Hopkins

a + b = c - take whatever you get - it's probably your last shot

 

[TexasFool]

Well it was more like... school X looked good on paper... then I visited and was like... holy **** this is expensive and wow... ghetto.... no thanks mmhmm... but then got accepted a week later. Drat.

Would it really look that bad? I feel that if I had a legitimate case. (i.e. financially impossible) Then how can adcoms hold that against you. I don't have 20,000 extra sitting around to cover the additional costs since you can only take about 40,000 in federal loans a year.

hey man, pm me with what school it is I'd really like to know. There might be a reason you got accepted so fast, maybe other people hate the school also.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

And another question: Why are folks so hung up on the neighborhood a medical school is in?

If you don't like the neighborhood, don't go clubbing there. Don't skateboard in the park. Don't buy real estate.

The nice thing about bad neighborhoods is that they tend to be located in cities. The nice thing about cities is that they have many neighborhoods.

I never got that part, either. Sure, it'd be great to live a block from the school and walk every day, but if you can't, it's not a huge deal. I think the exact location of school in a city should be near if not on the bottom of your school priority list. School facilities are another vastly overrated thing on SDN.

About the $72k thing -- also financially feasible. You can borrow federal GradPlus loans for any amount certified by your school that goes over the Stafford max. Lots and lots of people are borrowing more than Staffords to go to med school.

 

[Dr.Inviz]

yea, how would anyone know you were accepted to a school UNLESS u tell them u were??

Also, w/e school u applied to and got into ... just dont re-apply there.

 

[freelove]

I still don't understand why the OP applied, but whatever. I say go. You're a human, you can adapt.

 

[omegaxx]

The OP has yet to hear decisions from 5 different schools. He PMed me his stats, and they extremely good. I would just wait it out OP. I bet you a million dollars that you will get acceptances elsewhere...just be patient and concetrate on your other interviews...

If I were the OP I'd withdraw my application from all the other schools and lie back on my 1 acceptance + 1 million😀 😀 😀

 

[Psycho Doctor]

(although to be honest there are times when I wish I hadn't been accepted).

yikes!!! why????

 

[Law2Doc]

So what if you got accepted to a school that you know would drive you clinically insane if you had to attend for four years, but that is your only acceptance. Lets say it is also going to cost you nearly 60,000 to go a year.

Do you...

A. go and just grind it out

B. withdraw and reapply the following year

And would withdrawing an acceptance to a school look really bad if you applied again the following year?

You can borrow the money. All med schools are rough and going to drive you insane if that is your temperment. You will be spending your 4 years inside of a library, a hospital, and some local pizza pub, so what's the difference what the neighborhood looks like. Crummy neighborhoods mean more hands on clinical experiences, as the hospitals tend to be less well staffed. Be happy you got in and start looking at the positives. I seriously doubt that the school you were accepted to is going to provide a substantially different educational experience to the one you consider your dream school.

 

[Wrigleyville]

I have no idea if anyone has said this before since I didn't bother to read the responses, but if you were totally unwilling to attend a school in the first place, you should not have applied there. All applicants should have a 100% willingness to attend any school they've applied to if it was their only acceptance. Anything else is asinine.