Anybody taking a year off just because you didnt get in to your first choice?

[pixie424]

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anybody in this situation, or know anybody who's doing this?

I got rejected from my first choice school, and now I'm debating whether I should just take a year off and apply again next cycle. The reason I really want to go to that particular school is because they're the only one with the kind of research I want to do. But I have been accepted into others; my second choice school is actually better (pharmaceutical care-wise) but its in a tundra, and plus I'm realizing I want to stay in my area. I know this sounds stupid bc it would mean adding an extra year, but it might be better than wishing I went somewhere with a different program/city/weather for 4 years...

Anyway I know I was rejected solely bc of my interview 😡- it was my first one and I *completely* f-ed it up. If I do take the year off I may try to tutor or teach for a testprep class just to show them I'm not communicationally ******ed. So what do you all think, is it worth it??

 

[evilolive]

anybody in this situation, or know anybody who's doing this?

I got rejected from my first choice school, and now I'm debating whether I should just take a year off and apply again next cycle. The reason I really want to go to that particular school is because they're the only one with the kind of research I want to do. But I have been accepted into others; my second choice school is actually better (pharmaceutical care-wise) but its in a tundra, and plus I'm realizing I want to stay in my area. I know this sounds stupid bc it would mean adding an extra year, but it might be better than wishing I went somewhere with a different program/city/weather for 4 years...

Anyway I know I was rejected solely bc of my interview 😡- it was my first one and I *completely* f-ed it up. If I do take the year off I may try to tutor or teach for a testprep class just to show them I'm not communicationally ******ed. So what do you all think, is it worth it??

I thought about it until I realized what my first choice really was. I've had feelings of starting all over and reapplying to San Francisco because I realized too late that I really like it there. Ultimately, I think everything happens for a reason, and you'll rationalize it either way - whatever makes you the happiest, take that option. Do you think that you'd be able to do better a second time around? One area of research might be what you think want, but if another school can offer you something comparable (as in both are both research oriented schools rather than one having a huge focus towards community pharmacy for example), I'd take your second choice.

It's also entirely possible -- and rather likely -- that your desires will change once you enter pharmacy school. Everyone has a focus as to what they originally wanted out of pharmacy school. My dream was always to be a clinical specialist, but I'm now open to what life might be like in the pharmaceutical industry and clinical trials or perhaps in pharmacy administration. I'm not ruling out my original sights in mind, but I can definitely explore other areas of pharmacy that I had not previously considered. I'm so far pretty happy with my decision to go to Michigan, and though it is a tundra, the people I've met have warmed up this community far more than any lousy $30 heater I bought ever could.

 

[Pharmpills]

anybody in this situation, or know anybody who's doing this?

I got rejected from my first choice school, and now I'm debating whether I should just take a year off and apply again next cycle. The reason I really want to go to that particular school is because they're the only one with the kind of research I want to do. But I have been accepted into others; my second choice school is actually better (pharmaceutical care-wise) but its in a tundra, and plus I'm realizing I want to stay in my area. I know this sounds stupid bc it would mean adding an extra year, but it might be better than wishing I went somewhere with a different program/city/weather for 4 years...

Anyway I know I was rejected solely bc of my interview 😡- it was my first one and I *completely* f-ed it up. If I do take the year off I may try to tutor or teach for a testprep class just to show them I'm not communicationally ******ed. So what do you all think, is it worth it??

I got a few interviews and acceptance but i still havnt heard from my #1 pick and there's a strong chance i will wait another year but go next year without a doubt. What i realize is that money isnt everything compared to what will make u happy bc 4 years is a long time to be somewher u dont want to and wish u were somewhere else. its a tough and insanely difficult decision and it can feel as though ur wasting ur life but do what makes u happy and if u decide not to go this year then make sure u go 110% next year to anywhere u get in next year. i havnt graduated yet so i can work on my gpa much more and get a degree. gluck

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

anybody in this situation, or know anybody who's doing this?

I got rejected from my first choice school, and now I'm debating whether I should just take a year off and apply again next cycle. The reason I really want to go to that particular school is because they're the only one with the kind of research I want to do. But I have been accepted into others; my second choice school is actually better (pharmaceutical care-wise) but its in a tundra, and plus I'm realizing I want to stay in my area. I know this sounds stupid bc it would mean adding an extra year, but it might be better than wishing I went somewhere with a different program/city/weather for 4 years...

Anyway I know I was rejected solely bc of my interview 😡- it was my first one and I *completely* f-ed it up. If I do take the year off I may try to tutor or teach for a testprep class just to show them I'm not communicationally ******ed. So what do you all think, is it worth it??

Location counts for a lot. You will be busy in pharmacy school but still have plenty of time to do things outside of school and if you are in an area that you hate with weather you can't stand you are not going to have a happy 4 years and it will probably reflect in your performance.

 

[pixie424]

thanks guys, I really appreciate your thoughts on this! I originally was going to go on the research track and had a pretty narrow area of research in mind, and it was only available at my first choice school. The research at my #2 school focuses on drug delivery, so going there would mean that I'd end up going in another direction. I agree that I could probably be happy either way, which is why I feel like this decision would basically dictate the way the rest of my professional life pans out.
My stats arent too bad so I could probably get in at least one of the other schools I got into this year, but I'm afraid the competition may have increased.

pharmpills - if you dont mind sharing, what are your reasons for wanting to go to your #1 choice?

 

[RNtoPharmD]

if you are in an area that you hate with weather you can't stand you are not going to have a happy 4 years and it will probably reflect in your performance.

Yeah.. Weather is big factor for me, too. I tend to be sick, lazy and have winter depression during winter, which might reflect on my performance. Almost every time I look at the bright sky and relatively warm weather at my home state, I start to question my decision to move up north for pharmacy school. However, you never know whether you will fit there until you move there. I might be better than you originally expect.

 

[4PharmD11]

I am in a similar situation. I got into my second choice school but am still waiting to hear back on my first choice. I considered just waiting another year and getting my bachelor's in the mean time. However, I realized that even with all my hard work over the next year and improving my application and interview skills, I still may not get into my #1 choice the second time around. Honestly I don't even know if I would get into my 2nd choice again. If I applied there a second time they might think, "Well, this person didn't come last year when accepted, why accept them this year?" I didn't choose my number one based on a specific area of research, though, which makes your decision a little tougher. It's all about what makes you happy...I decided to go for my second choice and not wait another year. But I haven't gotten a rejection from my #1 yet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! 😍

All the programs I applied to are 3 years and I know that I could do my 3rd year rotations at home. I'm not as concerned about the location/weather for those 2 years, but if I got into more than one school the location would definitely influence my decision on where to go.

Hope this helps...Good Luck!

 

[Allure]

Have you thought about what if you wont get into your first choice again next year?

I don't think I would ever consider applying again if my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or whatever choice accepted me. I just don't think I can go through the application process again. Getting LORs was a pain in the butt, not to mention wasting money on the application process. If you haven't already graduated, then MAYBE you can finish your degree and then reapply, but if you have already finished your degree, what are you going to do for that one year? If you have student loans, you might have to pay back. What if your 1st choice is not what you thought it would be? There are a lot of factors that you need to consider. Talk to the current students of both schools to weigh out the pros and cons.

 

[AggiePharmer]

anybody in this situation, or know anybody who's doing this?

I got rejected from my first choice school, and now I'm debating whether I should just take a year off and apply again next cycle. The reason I really want to go to that particular school is because they're the only one with the kind of research I want to do. But I have been accepted into others; my second choice school is actually better (pharmaceutical care-wise) but its in a tundra, and plus I'm realizing I want to stay in my area. I know this sounds stupid bc it would mean adding an extra year, but it might be better than wishing I went somewhere with a different program/city/weather for 4 years...

Anyway I know I was rejected solely bc of my interview 😡- it was my first one and I *completely* f-ed it up. If I do take the year off I may try to tutor or teach for a testprep class just to show them I'm not communicationally ******ed. So what do you all think, is it worth it??

Hey Pixie,

I was in a similar situation last year, but I deliberating between attending a grad school or waiting a year to apply to pharmacy schools. I'm a firm believer in perseverance, and can empathize with your situation. In my situation, I elected to decline a PhD position with a respectable pharmacogenomicist to apply to Pharmacy this year. In my case, I was lucky to have been considered by my top choice and recently admitted to UCSF, so anything is DEFINATELY possible if you set your heart to it!

You've alluded to being accepted to multiple schools. This is good news, where else have you been accepted? I know many applicants who would love to be in your shoes, with respect to having multiple admissions, so you're already lucky! On the flipside, consider whether the potential opportunities (at your overall top choice) and reapplication process outweigh the education benefits at the schools you've already been admitted at. I know it's a coined phrase, but one bird (admittances) in the hand IS worth two in the bush 😉

At the same time, your idea's not stupid, either. If you've discovered you want to stay in the same geographical area, then cool - you're just becoming more in tune with what you want in life. This is something that I'm glad to have had a year off to do. Similarly, taking a year off to discover what you want to do, in terms of research, may make you that much more of a competitive applicant when/if you apply next year to your top choice.

If you need inspiration, PM me.

In the meantime, look at things proactively. Some admissions committees thought you were a great applicant, so I'm sure you're great in some respects. If you're worried about becoming a more effective public speaker, perhaps some time off working at the local homeless shelters, spending time in community clinics, or elderly homes might help you better clarify your research goals in the end!

My two cents!