advise: reapplying with a strings-attached-acceptance

[WantToSucceed]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out what to do and I need some new feedback.

I have an acceptance to AZCOM and I'm debating if I should apply again, but only to MSUCOM this time. I'm debating it because

a) i'm considered at international student at AZCOM, meaning I have to show $330 170 before July 1st to get the visa papers issued. I've been wrestling with this requirement for the past few months. I'm still reaching out to get sponsors but I'm having trouble with my own bank to release the funds I need.

b) MSU is closer to home (Canada). MSU also has opp. to do research and I don't want to be limited to residency options because of a lack of research at the school. I know grades supersede research but both count right?

However, what worries me is this: my first mcat was better but is now expired. I wrote a second mcat 2 years ago but without sufficient preparation. Bad judgement on my part 🙁 It's a 23N. My aacomas gpa I think was a 3.7 last year with ECs, leadership awards, DO letter. As for research, I've done some clinical research (part-time and volunteering) and spent time doing lab based research for 1.5years. However, no publications/presentations which is frustrating because my goal was to have at least 1 before starting med school.

financing is an all consuming headache and provides fertile ground for depression. I'm also stuck in a woulda/coulda/shoulda cycle where each thought is a seed for this ground (i should've added MSU to my list of schools last year when my first, higher mcat was still valid, i should've not written the mcat even when i had a 6th sense that it was going to be horrible, should've applied earlier to MD schools because they focus more on research, etc etc.)

please advice as to next steps.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

absolutely not. you aren't competitive for MSU so no way. If you got accepted with a 23 MCAT take it an run.

 

[Kevin Baker]

With the research, I'm not too familiar with AZCOM but you aren't forced to only do stuff at the school. You're close to Phoenix and all of the major hospitals and research centers of a major metro area. If anything, I'd say the research opportunities you'll have by attending AZCOM are orders of magnitude better than those you'd have at MSU. Plus, MSU is so freaking expensive for OOSers. It's a great school and all, but if money and research are your priorities, I'd say take the AZCOM acceptance and run with it.

 

[patel2]

absolutely not. you aren't competitive for MSU so no way. If you got accepted with a 23 MCAT take it an run.

this. 23 is probably over a standard deviation below MSUs average. What makes you think you could get in? A single US acceptance with a 23 mcat is likely the best outcome you could have possibly achieved, so forget about the would have/could have/should have

IN regards to MDs, you would need to retake and improve your score by 7+ points (with 8+ on all sections)... not just apply earlier. And since its already june, that may mean applying as part of the class of 2017.

 

[RNwantDO]

With the research, I'm not too familiar with AZCOM but you aren't forced to only do stuff at the school. You're close to Phoenix and all of the major hospitals and research centers of a major metro area. If anything, I'd say the research opportunities you'll have by attending AZCOM are orders of magnitude better than those you'd have at MSU. Plus, MSU is so freaking expensive for OOSers. It's a great school and all, but if money and research are your priorities, I'd say take the AZCOM acceptance and run with it.

No offense, but MSU is considered a top 100 university in the world for a reason. They are no joke, and their research funding is orders of magnitude greater than AZCOM, and probably any other DO school. Also, he is not from this country and as such, employment issues may occur from his student visa status.

Other than that you are spot on. It is insanely expensive for out-of-state students, about 65k tuition alone. Not to mention it is a state school so it has a large in-state basis; somewhere around 80% of each class is in-state students. Other than that he might have a chance if he ups his scores to 26+. However, a chance vs acceptance and double the cost would make me pick the bird in the hand. Op, look at the match lists for AZCOM to see if it meets your goals. My vote go to AZCOM.

 

[WDeagle]

Dude with a 23N you're lucky to have an acceptance anywhere. Sorry to be harsh. You may not get another shot anywhere else, especially at MSU. I doubt a lack of research is going to be the limiting factor for you for residency.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

this. 23 is probably over a standard deviation below MSUs average. What makes you think you could get in? A single US acceptance with a 23 mcat is likely the best outcome you could have possibly achieved, so forget about the would have/could have/should have

IN regards to MDs, you would need to retake and improve your score by 7+ points (with 8+ on all sections)... not just apply earlier. And since its already june, that may mean applying as part of the class of 2017.

Actually as a Canadian he'd need an increase of at least 9 points to a 32 to be even close to being competitive for MD.

@OP, you got lucky this round, you really did...

 

[drgioiadds]

MSU will consider 25 Canadians as In state for tuition purposes for the next few years. However, If I had any acceptance, I wouldn't give it up.

 

[Dr Yiot]

god reading threads like this as a waitlisted applicant really sucks the big one. OP seriously? cmon, seriously? even if you have a 30 on the mcat with your 3.7.....seriously? azcom is a great school. your lucky to have been accepted anywhere. be greatfull for gods sake.

 

[Journey2become]

Just out of curiosity, what was the mcat score that expired?

 

[DrSBR]

god reading threads like this as a waitlisted applicant really sucks the big one. OP seriously? cmon, seriously? even if you have a 30 on the mcat with your 3.7.....seriously? azcom is a great school. your lucky to have been accepted anywhere. be greatfull for gods sake.

Yiot-maybe my 24Q will take?! haha

 

[WantToSucceed]

I think only Journey2become picked this up so to be clear, I didn't get into azcom with a 23N. I got in with a 27Q. This is the score that's expired and the 23N is what's valid for another year.

@ DrSBR I know you weren't sincere in your post when you poked at my 23N but maybe your 24Q will hold. no jokes. You won't know unless you've tried. I've read about it on the forums here (I've been a long time observer of SDN before I joined) which is why I posted to see if the 23N would make it as well this stage in the game.

@ Dr Yiot, I'm not being ungrateful. If my post depicts that, then I need to go back and rewrite it. The financing is what's been giving me a harder time than expected. I've been dealing with it since March (4 months now) and I'm still short.

My purpose in posting this was to get feedback because I have to show these funds in 15 days and I thought deferment would buy me more time. If I had the funds, of course I wouldn't give up an acceptance for a chance to get into MSU this year with a 23N. THAT's being ungrateful, let alone stupid.

 

[Everglide]

I think it would be silly to give up an acceptance... you never know what would happen next cycle and you can obviously forget about applying to AZCOM again.

I would try and work out things AZCOM first. If you have to reapply because of money issues then so be it but call AZCOM and try to work things out if at all possible. Also is that $330,170? If so - good luck with that 😵. Defer for a year if needed to get around the money issues.

Caveat: Something no one has mentioned because it's sort of "insiderish" news at MSUCOM and hasn't been pushed much but this upcoming cycle 25 Canadians are guaranteed to get admissions. For what it's worth, someone in our class has a 21 at MSU.

 

[Dr Yiot]

Yiot-maybe my 24Q will take?! haha

lol youll be ok my freind.

I think only Journey2become picked this up so to be clear, I didn't get into azcom with a 23N. I got in with a 27Q. This is the score that's expired and the 23N is what's valid for another year.
azcom saw both of your scores. even your more recent 23 N. most schools take either your most recent score or the best score. im not sure how azcom does it but your 23N was there and they did see it.

@ DrSBR I know you weren't sincere in your post when you poked at my 23N but maybe your 24Q will hold. no jokes. You won't know unless you've tried. I've read about it on the forums here (I've been a long time observer of SDN before I joined) which is why I posted to see if the 23N would make it as well this stage in the game.
the 23 N is about 3 points below average. do people get in with a 23 N. yes they do. there chances are much lower but there are some people our there. however, they have great science GPA's and good extracurriculars.
@ Dr Yiot, I'm not being ungrateful. If my post depicts that, then I need to go back and rewrite it. The financing is what's been giving me a harder time than expected. I've been dealing with it since March (4 months now) and I'm still short.

but you had to have known about the funds when applying right? you obviously did your research on azcom and knew that they would treat you as an international and that you would have to come up with tuition prior correct?
My purpose in posting this was to get feedback because I have to show these funds in 15 days and I thought deferment would buy me more time. If I had the funds, of course I wouldn't give up an acceptance for a chance to get into MSU this year with a 23N. THAT's being ungrateful, let alone stupid.

so you don't have the funds? did you plan ahead in case you DID get accepted to azcom. it sounds like you either didn't know that azcom would treat you as an international applicant, or that you did, applied anyways and now don't know what to do. sounds like you should have either done more homework, or really prepared yourself for what would happen if you DID get into azcom.

either way, your in a tough spot. i just think you could have been more prepared

 

[thegame11]

As far as I understand, you need to show the school that you have $330 in your bank account. I think someone posted something similar to what I am about to describe in the "DO for Canadians" thread:

You need to get credit lines with the help of your parents/family => Convert Canadian $ into US $ ==> Get the bank to give you a letter that you have $330k in your bank account ==> Convert US$ back into Canadian$

You can probably do this within a day or two. The hardest thing would be to borrow the money. Remember that currency rates fluctuate. If you buy 1 US dollar for 1.06 Canadian dollar and sell 1 US dollar for 1.02 Canadian dollar few days later, you will have to pay the difference ~$13,000. (Banks generally charge 1% for currency exchange. You maybe able to get a discount since you are converting large amounts.)

 

[DrSBR]

I think only Journey2become picked this up so to be clear, I didn't get into azcom with a 23N. I got in with a 27Q. This is the score that's expired and the 23N is what's valid for another year.

@ DrSBR I know you weren't sincere in your post when you poked at my 23N but maybe your 24Q will hold. no jokes. You won't know unless you've tried. I've read about it on the forums here (I've been a long time observer of SDN before I joined) which is why I posted to see if the 23N would make it as well this stage in the game.

I wasn't being sincere at all. I did legitimately become more hopeful though, until I found out about the 27Q. Good luck to you with the whatever you decide to do.

 

[VeeTeeHokies]

As far as I understand, you need to show the school that you have $330 in your bank account. I think someone posted something similar to what I am about to describe in the "DO for Canadians" thread:

You need to get credit lines with the help of your parents/family => Convert Canadian $ into US $ ==> Get the bank to give you a letter that you have $330k in your bank account ==> Convert US$ back into Canadian$

You can probably do this within a day or two. The hardest thing would be to borrow the money. Remember that currency rates fluctuate. If you buy 1 US dollar for 1.06 Canadian dollar and sell 1 US dollar for 1.02 Canadian dollar few days later, you will have to pay the difference ~$13,000. (Banks generally charge 1% for currency exchange. You maybe able to get a discount since you are converting large amounts.)

Sooo glad I'm not Canadian after reading this... Mad respect to all the Canucks that are willing to do all of this to go to med school.

 

[Journey2become]

I'm not sure how it works at AZCOM, but from other schools it seems that once you are excepted deadlines become a little more flexible. Have you tried talking to the school expressing your concerns about making these funds appear before July 1st? They might give you a little more time to try and work it out with your bank or whatever other options are available for funding for Canadians.

Also, I'm not familiar with international student acceptances - but you might be able to defer a year. So if they are hard set on the deadline you might want to ask about their deferring policy.

Good Luck!

 

[Kliffmeister]

If I were you, I would take mcat ASAP cuz with 23N it'll be very difficult. However, MSU would be a good option for Canadians.
Apparently one Canadian student got accepted at MSU and he was offered 20K scholarship as Canadian. However this is still high (50k) tuition. MSU has mentioned about reserving ~25 seats for Canadian students with reduced tuition fee to promote DO in Canada. And since their secondary is a ***** and annoying to fill out, this would discourage many good Canadian candidates to even try for MSU (cuz you can go get decent education elsewhere with lower tuition).
Better make a decision soon, but if you wanna reapply to MSU, I strongly advice you to take MCAT again

 

[SisterDisco08]

just to chime in--I just had a meeting with MSUCOM:

1. They confirmed the 25 Canadians thing
2. They said otherwise they're extremely partial to IS