Cal Northstate vs. Reapply

[xkitto]

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Hi all,

Posting on behalf of my friend applying this cycle. They are a ~518, 3.9 applicant from CA (ORM).
4 IIs (3 from T20s) total, all waitlists except CalNorthstate. Multiple councilors and a supervisor on alma mater's admissions committee have reviewed the app and stated the writing and ECs were strong, with a good narrative. I've also read the app and agree. Excellent LORs.

We're in a tricky situation debating reapplying in June vs. taking the CalNorthstate acceptance, assuming worst case they don't get off waitlists. I've read all the accreditation and administrative issues. Another issue is they'd need to take out private loans fully. They're also interested in continuing research with early interest in ophtho which CalNorthstate has limited support of. On the other hand, worried about "reapplicant bias" and whether to just take the MD and move on. Though I think their app is strong, and bad luck / late submission might be the main factor, there is a chance next cycle nets no acceptances at all. Any advisors able to weigh in on reapplication risks, or current CNUSOM students able to discuss their experience?

Very general summary:
Non-clinical volunteering w/ leadership (2000+)
Research (2000+) with posters and textbook chapter (no formal pubs but multiple under review).
Clinical Volunteering (600, though categorized this under "Leadership". MME did make it clear this was volunteering to the medically underserved. Perhaps this is on the lower end / should have categorized explicitly as clinical volunteering. Weakest part of the app imo)
Shadowing (200)
Other humanities & arts related activities.

Secondaries complete late (Most were after labor day ~September). Applied to 45 schools-- the CA schools + some T20s + mix of 20 schools "ranked" lower that don't have heavy IS bias against CA. Secondaries were not "copy + paste". They researched each school and really tried to tailor to mission and the geographical history of the school as their ECs allowed.

I'm at a loss... both humbled and frustrated by the application process. I truly do not see red flags in the app, as I went through the application process myself a few years ago, and believe it's competitive + bad luck + late submission.

 

[LelouchLamperouge]

I mean they have a good chance of getting off the WL at their other schools, but if they do have to decide whether they want to go to CNU, then I have personal experience with that school because I have two family members that went/goes to CNUCOM. The one that graduated scored >260 on step and matched PRS and the other is applying orthopedics and received 13 interviews last winter. In the last few years, one student has matched ophtho in each class. It doesn’t matter where you go, if you’re really “him/her”, you can find your way to where you want to go. Does CNU have its problems? Absolutely. Is the administration currently doing its job to make things better? Absolutely. I think the con of reapplying after receiving an A is detrimental and can hurt your friend if they reapply.

I understand the fear of private loans. My family had to take them on. However, if you learn to budget correctly, it will pay itself off once you’re an attending. Feel free to DM if you have any more questions.

 

[thiophorase]

late submission probably hurt, who knows how many interviews they would have received if they submitted earlier. 4 ii with 3 from t20s tells me that they had a very strong app and wrote well. there is still a lot of time to get off waitlists, I'd research how common it is for these schools to pull from their waitlists. if nothing else i would go to northstate given that there is a stigma towards reapplicants.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

It's not over yet, but at least take the offer so you don't second-guess yourself into becoming a reapplicant. If you get off a waitlist, you can switch until you finally commit to enroll.

 

[Goro]

I haven't heard anything bad about CNU since they got a real dean, and their accreditation SmackDown. I think it's worth taking the risk nowadays.

 

[IlDestriero]

Take what you can get and hope to get off a better waitlist.
They want to be a physician and have an acceptance. Medical school doesn’t matter as much as you think. Just be a star and shine. Work harder, better, more efficiently, and stand out. Every day, grinding. That’s how you get ahead.
Cream will always rise to the top, assuming they put in the work.
Back in the day my pre med advisor told me to forget medical school and apply to dental school. Yet here we are a couple decades later, a professor at 2 top 10 medical schools, lecturing all over, killing it every day taking care of patients others wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole.

 

[xkitto]

Agreed, that's reassuring at least.

The biggest issue now would be taking out private loans.