Can you use acceptances as leverage?

[mdavid]

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Is it worth applying to big name schools that you wont go to, so that if you get accepted you can use it as leverage in another school (like to get a scholarship) ? For example, is it worth applying to Harvard even though I wont go there (assuming I get in) so that I can tell Einstein that I will go to them over Harvard if they give me a scholarship. My friend told me that they do this in Law schools and I was wondering if the same applies to medical schools.

 

[tigress]

lol, they do it in law schools. My parents, both lawyers, are convinced this will happen with me. Very silly. I doubt it actually ever happens.

 

[mdavid]

lol, they do it in law schools. My parents, both lawyers, are convinced this will happen with me. Very silly. I doubt it actually ever happens.

Would you try it if it did or does it sound too pretentious?

 

[Supadupafly]

lol, they do it in law schools. My parents, both lawyers, are convinced this will happen with me. Very silly. I doubt it actually ever happens.

Yeah, medical school is a whole other ball game. They want you there if YOU want to be there. You're more likely to get an Einstein scholarship by going on and on about how much you want to go to Einstein and not anywhere else EVAR.

If you threaten to go to Harvard, chances are, Einstein will let you go to Harvard, forget you forever, and accept one of the other 7000 people who really want to be at Einstein. If you didn't really get into Harvard, why then you'd be in a fix, eh?

Threat games are for bourgious lawers & managerialists; you wanna be a DOCTOR. (we're better at being full of ourselves and not worrying enough about money)

 

[tigress]

Would you try it if it did or does it sound too pretentious?

Well, if I had scholarship money at one place but really wanted to go to another, I might mention the other money just to see what happened. I certainly wouldn't push it, though. Of course I'd love to be in a position with multiple acceptances and that choice to make.

 

[GiantGiantsFan]

Is it worth applying to big name schools that you wont go to, so that if you get accepted you can use it as leverage in another school (like to get a scholarship) ? For example, is it worth applying to Harvard even though I wont go there (assuming I get in) so that I can tell Einstein that I will go to them over Harvard if they give me a scholarship. My friend told me that they do this in Law schools and I was wondering if the same applies to medical schools.

It can be done. My friend earned an all-tuition scholarship at a top-20 med school by suggesting that he might withdraw and attend a state school that had already offered him a scholarship. Pitt tends to offer their all-tuition scholarships to those who also have an acceptance at a prestigious school. I tried a similar thing at my own school and definitely gained the favor and attention of the dean, but in the end it didnt work.

Med school admissions is not a passive process; it's a ****ing game. Play the game. Talk to professors; gain their favor, and get them to talk to the admissions committee on your behalf. But, also be cautious - dont take it too far, or it will backfire.