Can you decide to un-commit to a school after April 30?

[Premedneedsadvice]

A friend of mine who doesn't have an SDN account was wondering if he commits to a school, if he can change his mind before matriculation. I guess the only thing he would lose is his deposit but is there any other things he is not thinking about? Essentially, he would just not go to medical school that year.

This is different than committing then getting off a waitlist somewhere elese

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[deleted930295]

Uncommitting means turning down an MD acceptance which means blacklisted for future cycles. They can’t force you to matriculate, but doing so if you’re not going to a different school is application suicide

 

[Premedneedsadvice]

Ok, so he should be OK as long as he decides to never apply again?

 

[NeuroticButCute]

IF he's doing it because he never wants to pursue medical school again and has totally changed his mind, then it's fine.

 

[LizzyM]

If he thinks he might want to go to medical school later (e.g. a year from now) and he has a good reason for not going this year, he could ask for a deferral.

I think that the "black list" is a bit of an exaggeration and aside from the school he ditches, without the list from AAMC of who was admitted where, I don't know how other schools would even know to blacklist him going forward.

 

[subdermallight]

If he thinks he might want to go to medical school later (e.g. a year from now) and he has a good reason for not going this year, he could ask for a deferral.

I think that the "black list" is a bit of an exaggeration and aside from the school he ditches, without the list from AAMC of who was admitted where, I don't know how other schools would even know to blacklist him going forward.

I’d say about 1/3 to 1/2 of my secondaries asked if I have ever been accepted to medical school in the past. Something like “Have you ever been accepted into an allopathic medical school in the United States?”

I take it they are screening for people who got expelled and reapplying? I suppose it also screens for people who rejected all their acceptances in a previous cycle. I don’t know, what’s that question getting at?

 

[LizzyM]

I’d say about 1/3 to 1/2 of my secondaries asked if I have ever been accepted to medical school in the past. Something like “Have you ever been accepted into an allopathic medical school in the United States?”

I take it they are screening for people who got expelled and reapplying? I suppose it also screens for people who rejected all their acceptances in a previous cycle. I don’t know, what’s that question getting at?

Sure, they can ask but that doesn't mean that they'll blacklist someone who responses in the affirmative and gives a good reason for not having accepted the offer of admission sometime in the past.

 

[Kodite]

You don’t have to select commit to enroll after April 30th; you can remain on the plan to enroll setting. If you’re not sure, then just don’t commit on April 30th and stay on your waitlists, but you do need to narrow it down to one acceptance by April 30, per the applicant protocol, so plan v. commit to enroll is sort of a formality (because you’re holding only one acceptance either way). This allows students to remain on waitlists. I believe the deadline for commit to enroll (and withdrawing from all waitlists) is school-specific and happens sometime after April 30. As for the actual question, I don’t think you could accidentally commit to enroll (if it is like the process of selecting your plan to enroll, you have to answer affirmatively with the school’s name in 30-pt font like three times), and I don’t think it is reversible. I would just plan to treat it as a permanent decision.

 

[subdermallight]

but you do need to narrow it down to one acceptance by April 30

I don’t think we have to.. this is all voluntary participation. It’s a good idea to narrow it down and I will anyway but technically I don’t think we have to? It’s all school specific

 

[Kodite]

I don’t think we have to.. this is all voluntary participation. It’s a good idea to narrow it down and I will anyway but technically I don’t think we have to? It’s all school specific

It’s per the AAMC applicant protocol; you agreed to it when you decided to submit an AMCAS application. The voluntary portion is deciding whether or not to apply—you’ve decided to participate in this application. The applicant protocol applies to all AMCAS applications, and it is not school-specific. You agreed to hold only one acceptance by April 30th. As applicants, we’ve all agreed to behave professionally and abide by the rules of the application. Have integrity and keep your agreements. Further, an application process that runs smoothly is in the best interests of all of us.

 

[subdermallight]

It’s per the AAMC applicant protocol; you agreed to it when you decided to submit an AMCAS application. The voluntary portion is deciding whether or not to apply—you’ve decided to participate in this application. The applicant protocol applies to all AMCAS applications, and it is not school-specific. You agreed to hold only one acceptance by April 30th. As applicants, we’ve all agreed to behave professionally and abide by the rules of the application. Have integrity and keep your agreements. Further, an application process that runs smoothly is in the best interests of all of us.

No need to get on such a high horse. Technically it’s voluntary and I’ve read as such. One of my school’s adcom told us they don’t agree with the changes and emphasized to us that our participation was voluntary.

That said I don’t know why anyone would need to hold on to more acceptances after April 30th, that should be enough time to decide. But if you had to for whatever reason, like spouse is waiting on a job to see what city they will be in, I think it is allowed is what I’m saying to hold more than one acceptance after April 30th. It’s good to have honor and not be an dingus holding spots you don’t need but it’s also important to know the actual rules.. you seem to be blending these together

 

[subdermallight]

Lets clarify this before the above misperception becomes the accepted rumor. You cannot, repeat, cannot hold more than a single acceptance after April 30th. Every school, repeat, every school, has regulations or policy that can rescind your acceptance if you hold more than 1 acceptance after April 30. Since the AMCAS enroll tool will show any school that you hold an acceptance if you hold other acceptances, this puts you at risk for being immediately rescinded nor would a school have to notify you prior to taking this action. And what happens if both schools decide to rescind? You would have no legal recourse.

Example of policy from Tufts

On April 30th applicants who have been admitted to Tufts University School of Medicine will have two options: ‘plan to enroll’ or ‘commit to enroll.’ All applicants admitted to Tufts University School of Medicine must make one of these selections by/on April 30th. Admitted applicants who do not select Tufts University School of Medicine for either of these options must decline their offer/withdraw their application from Tufts. If they do not, Tufts University School of Medicine has the right to rescind their admissions offer.

• Applicants who select ‘plan to enroll’ by April 30th must decline all other admissions offers but may remain on other school’s waitlists. (They may remain at ‘plan to enroll’ [with Tufts University School of Medicine selected] until they select ‘commit to enroll’)
• Applicants who select ‘commit to enroll’ must decline all other admissions offers and withdraw from all waitlists. Selecting ‘commit to enroll’ means that you are committed to enrolling at Tufts University School of Medicine and no other school. It represents a final decision.

All applicants admitted to Tufts University School of Medicine must select the ‘commit to enroll’ option no later than 21 days prior to matriculation (this deadline is dependent on an applicant’s specific program start date). Again, when an applicant selects ‘commit to enroll’ they must decline all other offers and withdraw from all waitlists. If an applicant has not selected Tufts University School of Medicine as the ‘commit to enroll’ option 21 days prior to matriculation, Tufts University School of Medicine has the right to rescind their admissions offer.

Well, I apologize. I definitely was confused. What I actually was told was that deciding to "commit to enroll" over "plan to enroll" was voluntary and not necessary and/or school specific. What I didn't understand is that even if you decided "plan to enroll" instead of commit, that you necessarily must drop any other acceptances by April 30th. I thought you only had to do that if you "commit to enroll". Thanks gonnif and sorry @Kodite

Follow up question, why would anyone voluntarily drop their waitlists to "commit to enroll" when they could just say "plan to enroll"? Is it just for applicants who don't have waitlists or decided they don't want to go to waitlisted schools?

 

[realitysickness]

Is there any precedent for personally emailing two schools to ask for an extension on the 4/30 deadline - a little bit more time to make a decision?

 

[Lucca]

Is there any precedent for personally emailing two schools to ask for an extension on the 4/30 deadline - a little bit more time to make a decision?

Given that these rules are new this year there’s no precedent for anything. That said, you should have all of the info you need to decide between 2-3 schools by the end of April. If u don’t, I don’t think emailing to clarify the schools stance would hurt, worse they can do is tell you to please make a decision in the normal time

 

[subdermallight]

Given that these rules are new this year there’s no precedent for anything. That said, you should have all of the info you need to decide between 2-3 schools by the end of April. If u don’t, I don’t think emailing to clarify the schools stance would hurt, worse they can do is tell you to please make a decision in the normal time

Have you heard of there being an issue between “plan to enroll” and “commit to enroll” come April 30th. This part is confusing me, do any schools require you to commit? It seems plan is sufficient

 

[deleted930295]

Have you heard of there being an issue between “plan to enroll” and “commit to enroll” come April 30th. This part is confusing me, do any schools require you to commit? It seems plan is sufficient

Most schools set a date where you have to switch to commit to enroll (meaning you’ve withdrawn from waitlists) about three weeks before matriculation

 

[Lucca]

Have you heard of there being an issue between “plan to enroll” and “commit to enroll” come April 30th. This part is confusing me, do any schools require you to commit? It seems plan is sufficient

I can't speak for every school, but for the 2 acceptances I'm holding right now the schools both have dates where you must commit to enroll or you risk having the A rescinded

 

[subdermallight]

In the past, 4/30 deadline was where you were required to hold a single acceptance but could remain on as many waitlists as you like. This is now equivalent to “plan to enroll.” Most schools seem to take this policy BUT it is individual school policy so make sure you know yours

In the past, once you actually started school, AMCAS rules made it against rule for other schools to offer you a waitlist acceptance. Since AMCAS can no longer prohibit poaching, many schools are putting in a “commit to enroll” meaning you must drop all waitlists. this “plan/commit to enroll” tool now allows any school that you either hold an acceptance or on a waitlist to see if you have any other acceptance or waitlist (they cant see the name of any other school only the fact you have another acceptance or alternate spot), so schools are trying to prevent having last minute openings by “poaching” and thus will likely require acceptees to “commit to enroll” (drop all waitlists) 2-4 weeks prior to actual orientation or classes. Again, schools can set their own policy so you need to find out the policy for your schools

Wow that’s so helpful. Maybe I missed it but this information wasn’t easily found elsewhere

 

[M&L]

ok, so what if you choose "commit to enroll" three weeks prior to matriculation, and then one of the WL schools that you REALLY REALLY REALLY wanna go to calls, and offers you are spot... What do you do?

 

[subdermallight]

ok, so what if you choose "commit to enroll" three weeks prior to matriculation, and then one of the WL schools that you REALLY REALLY REALLY wanna go to calls, and offers you are spot... What do you do?

When you commit to enroll you simultaneously have to withdraw your app from all waitlists. No one will be calling you. If you don't drop the waitlists you violate the rules, probably grounds for the waitlist school to rescind their acceptance if they found you already committed elsewhere but I'm just guessing

 

[subdermallight]

In the past, 4/30 deadline was where you were required to hold a single acceptance but could remain on as many waitlists as you like. This is now equivalent to “plan to enroll.” Most schools seem to take this policy BUT it is individual school policy so make sure you know yours

In the past, once you actually started school, AMCAS made it against the rules for other schools to offer you a waitlist acceptance. Since AMCAS can no longer prohibit poaching, many schools are putting in a “commit to enroll” meaning you must drop all waitlists. this “plan/commit to enroll” tool now allows any school that you either hold an acceptance or on a waitlist to see if you have any other acceptance or waitlist (they cant see the name of any other school only the fact you have another acceptance or alternate spot), so schools are trying to prevent having last minute openings by “poaching” and thus will likely require acceptees to “commit to enroll” (drop all waitlists) 2-4 weeks prior to actual orientation or classes. Again, schools can set their own policy so you need to find out the policy for your schools

Given this new policy, and given that Commit to Enroll dates seem to be in early July, many many waitlist spots will be dropping out in July. The only people left on waitlists would be people that had no acceptances at all. Schools that need to fill their class in mid-late July will only be able to take people with no accepts. Would that mean that people on waitlists and no accepts will have a better outcome than in years past with these new rules? I feel like I'm missing something.. because the number of open spots don't change..

 

[wysdoc]

ok, so what if you choose "commit to enroll" three weeks prior to matriculation, and then one of the WL schools that you REALLY REALLY REALLY wanna go to calls, and offers you are spot... What do you do?

sounds like you need to research all your schools and know the dates by which they want a commitment.

 

[subdermallight]

Stop looking for signs in the tea leaves. The waitlist means just that: wait.

Decided to take a look anyway..