Choice of Medical School Affect Residency?

[Dog2442]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,

I have been accepted into an MD school (very honored to say the least) but it is what would be considered a lower tier school. I have people telling me that any medical school is a good school (which I agree with) but I have others telling me you need to go to a good school to get a good residency. I don't think I will receive any other acceptances this cycle so I would have to wait another year. Anyone have any thoughts\suggestions?

 

[dsailer]

do you want to be a doctor? Take the offer or give up your spot to someone who actually wants to be one.

 

[thankthegodsforbessie]

if you decide to apply again you will have to disclose your prior acceptance and this will make medical schools seriously questions your judgment. if you do not attend this school your chances of acceptance to another MD school are zero

 

[getdown]

You know what else effects your residency chances? Being a med school graduate, which you won't ever be if you decline this acceptance and choose to apply again.

 

[freelancePsychic]

The chief of neurosurgery at Boston University graduated from KU. Even ‘low tier’ schools produce physicians in hyper-competitive specialties. Capitalize on your acceptance, work hard, and you’ll make it.

 

[Lucca]

Don’t turn down an acceptance for this reason. It’ll be OK. Med school matters, as discussed in other threads, but it’s not the most important thing by any means.

 

[DokterMom]

Do you have any reason to believe that you'd be admitted to a significantly better medical school next year? Bearing in mind the 'reapplicant discount' and the very significant bias against an applicant who has turned down an acceptance?

In short, the circumstances where re-applying would be advisable are very, very rare.

Congratulations on your acceptance. Take it and run, knowing that whatever specialty you want, you can get there from any US MD school.

 

[curbsideconsult]

I have others telling me you need to go to a good school to get a good residency

10:1 says these "others" are not physicians nor in med school.

 

[NicMouse64]

Being at a low tier MD school makes it harder than if you went to harvard, sure. Pedigree matters, but so do Step1, research, connections. If you have the other 3, then you can make up for pedigree easily.

Being at a low tier school I actually like. My classmates are chill, my school teaches to STEP1, we have good clinical rotations but not malignant, and everyone is just thankful to be here.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

1) A long thread on this very recently "Reputation" as a means to get into a "top" residency
2) Turning down an acceptance, by far, is the the biggest mistake any premed can make

Well, there are bigger mistakes; these are usually called "felonies". A medical student that turns down an acceptance might be able to redeem themselves 5-10 years later with a stellar MCAT and something like Peace Corps or military service...but a felon is usually DOA unless it's been expunged or they've received a pardon. The goose isn't quite cooked but it is in intensive care, in the burn unit, and would need heroic measures to have a chance of flying again.

 

[Pharaoh95]

Hello, I am a second time applicant hoping to attend an MD school. My GPA is a 3.7 and I have taken the MCAT twice. First score was 500 and second was a 509. I'm hesitant of my chances getting into medical schools for two reasons. First, I have that first, low MCAT score. Second, I only just now submitted my application which is late in the season (8\22\18). I am a Texas resident so I feel Texas schools are the most likely, but Texas apps open even sooner in the season so I am later to submit relative to AMCAS. I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on my chances of getting into medical school this year. I am applying to schools with average MCAT scores in the 507 to 511 range so nothing too crazy. All comments are appreciated!

There are no "thoughts/suggestions" to provide, this is very straight forward. Take your acceptance and don't look back or likely never become a doctor. As a re-applicant with a 500 MCAT score, you should thank the heavens that you managed to get an MD acceptance.

 

[puahate]

Dude just go into medical school so you can start life. The premed life blows. Get into medical school and start killing it

 

[ClimbsRox]

Find rock or particularly hard section of wall. Place head on it vigorously. Repeat until you start thinking clearly again. Seriously, you made it. Congrats. Enjoy your victory.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Let us suppose that the OP commits a considerable act of folly and turns down his acceptance.

Would he be redeemed if he applied four years later, after having served in the Peace Corps, brought his GPA up to 3.7 with 45 credits of 4.0 postbacc, and earns a 523+ MCAT? Yes, a miracle would have to occur...but @Goro, would you accept this individual? How about if he served in the military and earned an honorable discharge? Would he need a full decade of truly exemplary behavior: military service, followed by several years of full-time productive research and several first-author pubs and a 523+ MCAT to be considered once more for MD schools?