Class of 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members do not see this ad.
so guys... i'm really, seriously considering withdrawing from columbia. i just don't think i want to be put in the position where i'd have to choose-- i don't trust myself to choose the school that's better for me instead of the one that sounds better.
 
bleargh said:
i just almost died.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/2012-Olympics-Logo-Looks-Like-Lisa-Simpson-Giving-Head-/294723558969

17950_294723998969_294723558969_3458098_5307455_n.jpg

2012 Olympics Logo Looks Like Lisa Simpson Giving Head.
Click to expand...

wtf is that even supposed to be? britain on the left and the olympic torch on the right?

it seriously does look like bart and lisa simpson.
 
lstone13 said:
Okay guys and gals, I need your opinion. I'm looking into options for things to do next year if I don't get into medical school (now is the time to start planning for this), and here are a few ideas of things I want to do so far. I want to know what you think all about them.

Note 1: These options are not listed in any particular order.

Note 2: Despite which option I choose, I plan to continue volunteering and shadowing.

Option A) Attempt to get a job as a lab helper/research assistant. However, this is really job-specific as to what I might even qualify for, but I am currently applying for a job at a communication disorder lab, which I do actually qualify for. If I could manage to get a job like this, it would help pay the bills but still give me some more science-y experience and also real world experience.

Option B) Go back to school and finish a science degree. I would be able to finish this in 2 semesters based off of the science courses I've already taken and the fact that I've completed all core subject areas already. It would be a nice way to get a solid scientific foundation to prepare myself for medical school. Alsoif I do this, I would be able to continue the part-time job I had throughout undergrad. This option is also kinda neat because I might be able to continue some of my Speech Communication research as well as do scientific lab research as part of the degree program.

Option C) Apply for City Year or some other one-year full-time community service position. This option would be really nice because I think I would find it particularly fulfilling. Also, these type programs typically do pay a stipend of some sort.
Click to expand...

jobs are fine...pay the bills. i'm bored w/ mine.

honestly, option c. i really wanted to do americorps but the timing wasn't going to work. my friend did this and taught health education to inner city kids. she had a great time, met really cool people, and had a life-changing experience all at the same time. you're only this young once, take advantage of it. do something out of your comfort zone.

apparently i am feeling adventurous this morning...
 
Thanks everyone for your opinions!! I'm just trying to figure all this out. I'm thinking if A and C don't work, then B. B isn't so much about GPA or anything for me. It's more so a way to get a solid science foundation and help to prepare me for medical school. I definitely agree though that timeliness of my application is the most important thing.
 
Stone,

i'd go with option A for no other reason of working a simple 9-5 before you start working hard for the rest of your life.

now of course you should get some 9-5 that would boost your CV, but you'll have time to do things you enjoy. it pays off soooo much. you'll have tons of free time for yourself and it will help in the long run.
 
ack, i know this has been asked a million times (and yet nothing good pops up for me when i search...): what's the proper way to withdraw an acceptance? email? phone call? i finally got some financial aid packages so i can start narrowing it down and i just realized i have no idea how to actually do it 😳 thank you! (i reeeeally didn't want to start a new thread for this)
 
dw2158 said:
so guys... i'm really, seriously considering withdrawing from columbia. i just don't think i want to be put in the position where i'd have to choose-- i don't trust myself to choose the school that's better for me instead of the one that sounds better.
Click to expand...

i totally understand that-i'm really just ready to be like "i'm going to school x for medical school". i think i'm going to withdraw from wake forest and einstein this week, then sit on my temple and vermont waitlists for a week or two but probably withdraw from them soon too. then i'll just have 3 possible waitlists plus wherever i choose out of penn state/evms after this weekend's second look. i think i'll hold on to then until slightly after may 15th then if nothing happens just withdraw from all wl's and make a final decision because i'm sooo ready to know for sure where i'm going. so ya, i'm rambling but i think i'd probably withdraw from columbia if i were you too. a school you love + a scholarship to it is just hard to beat!
 
dw2158 said:
so guys... i'm really, seriously considering withdrawing from columbia. i just don't think i want to be put in the position where i'd have to choose-- i don't trust myself to choose the school that's better for me instead of the one that sounds better.
Click to expand...

Are you on the WL? I would just stick it out. No harm done.
 
Jolt21 said:
equality fail....

BIMO0.jpg
Click to expand...

😆

chickensandwich said:
ack, i know this has been asked a million times (and yet nothing good pops up for me when i search...): what's the proper way to withdraw an acceptance? email? phone call? i finally got some financial aid packages so i can start narrowing it down and i just realized i have no idea how to actually do it 😳 thank you! (i reeeeally didn't want to start a new thread for this)
Click to expand...

meh, just email. and ask for a confirmation.
 
chickensandwich said:
ack, i know this has been asked a million times (and yet nothing good pops up for me when i search...): what's the proper way to withdraw an acceptance? email? phone call? i finally got some financial aid packages so i can start narrowing it down and i just realized i have no idea how to actually do it 😳 thank you! (i reeeeally didn't want to start a new thread for this)
Click to expand...

i have emailed mine. just make sure to get a confirmation. a few schools asked for written and mailed withdraw letters. i'd say start w/ email and if they want something else they will tell you.
 
chickensandwich said:
ack, i know this has been asked a million times (and yet nothing good pops up for me when i search...): what's the proper way to withdraw an acceptance? email? phone call? i finally got some financial aid packages so i can start narrowing it down and i just realized i have no idea how to actually do it 😳 thank you! (i reeeeally didn't want to start a new thread for this)
Click to expand...
email to the admissions office has worked for me. include amcas number for their convenience.
 
chickensandwich said:
ack, i know this has been asked a million times (and yet nothing good pops up for me when i search...): what's the proper way to withdraw an acceptance? email? phone call? i finally got some financial aid packages so i can start narrowing it down and i just realized i have no idea how to actually do it 😳 thank you! (i reeeeally didn't want to start a new thread for this)
Click to expand...
i think email is ok. if you don't get a response confirming it, you can call them and/or write them
 
dw2158 said:
so guys... i'm really, seriously considering withdrawing from columbia. i just don't think i want to be put in the position where i'd have to choose-- i don't trust myself to choose the school that's better for me instead of the one that sounds better.
Click to expand...

did you go to columbia's revisit? how do you know it's not better for you?
 
dw2158 said:
meh, just email. and ask for a confirmation.
Click to expand...
RunningDiva said:
i have emailed mine. just make sure to get a confirmation. a few schools asked for written and mailed withdraw letters. i'd say start w/ email and if they want something else they will tell you.
Click to expand...
Jolt21 said:
email to the admissions office has worked for me. include amcas number for their convenience.
Click to expand...
bobsmith said:
i think email is ok. if you don't get a response confirming it, you can call them and/or write them
Click to expand...
we're so helpful on this thread!

and no responses mocking the question, either!
 
dw2158 said:
yeah, but i so badly want to be done with all of this.
Click to expand...

haste can make waste. i do, too, but you never know what could happen with columbia. my preference is to wait out my waitlists (haha) to see where the chips fall. i have also set an end date for my waiting (for housing, fin aid, etc reasons). i don't want a school that bad to get pulled off on july 17th, for example, and then have to deal w/ changing schools, moving plans, etc 2 weeks before schools starts.
 
Jolt21 said:
did you go to columbia's revisit? how do you know it's not better for you?
Click to expand...

because i attended the institution for undergrad? and because i know tons of people who go/work at P&S? and because many helpful SDNers have given me inside info?
 
i would just pretend the waitlist was a rejection and not think about it and get psyched about sinai for now

and then if it works out, you can figure it out then. and if not, then you're all psyched up about sinai anyway
 
dw2158 said:
because i attended the institution for undergrad? and because i know tons of people who go/work at P&S? and because many helpful SDNers have given me inside info?
Click to expand...

fair enough. if that's the case then no point wasting time. sounds like you used all the resources you could to make a rational decision. no harm in withdrawing. (i don't get all the ?'s though...)
 
Stoney:

I wouldn't do option B. The thing that med schools look for in reapplicants is how you've improved. By taking more classes, you won't be able to show much improvement at all since your GPA is already pretty high. You need to be able to reflect on why your application wasn't successful the previous year, and even though I think it's really just applying late and/or being unlucky, you can't use it as your main explanation.

I don't know how your activities are like, but you should identify where you're the weakest, and focus on that. Get a volunteer position if you have to, and use your remaining energy to make some money and make ends meet. You also have to focus a bit on the specifics, like did you hop from one activity to another? If so you may want to stick with one for a while to show sort of the quality of your work rather than just quantity.

Also, you'll need at least one new LOR if you have to apply the next cycle. It would be a good idea to get it from the place you've been focusing on.
 
isn't columbia the school that has people do second interviews and pledge it's undying loyalty before they're taken off the waitlist?

maybe it would be good to withdraw then. i dunno.
 
bobsmith said:
isn't columbia the school that has people do second interviews and pledge it's undying loyalty before they're taken off the waitlist?

maybe it would be good to withdraw then. i dunno.
Click to expand...

2nd interviews?!?! wow, intense. do you have to sign in blood?

its tough to decide. its been a long process for all of us (9 months now).
 
bbl, yea i havent heard anything from miami since dec, i suppose everythings still on.
 
RunningDiva said:
2nd interviews?!?! wow, intense. do you have to sign in blood?

its tough to decide. its been a long process for all of us (9 months now).
Click to expand...
yeah, it's kind of shady for them to straight up ask people to commit before they give out an acceptance to them. but i guess some people want to go there badly enough that it doesn't matter.
 
Scott Van Pelt is talking about this video right now....crazy

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d75YUJi1968[/YOUTUBE]
 
dw2158 said:
because i attended the institution for undergrad? and because i know tons of people who go/work at P&S? and because many helpful SDNers have given me inside info?
Click to expand...

dubs, share some of that inside info with me 🙂
 
bobsmith said:
yeah, it's kind of shady for them to straight up ask people to commit before they give out an acceptance to them. but i guess some people want to go there badly enough that it doesn't matter.
Click to expand...

true, they have probably found from experience that this tactic works. gosh, the shinanigans we deal with in this process.
 
DrYoda said:
I say go with option A (A>C>>B is my ranking unless your sci GPA is really low). I also agree with Brooklyn on applying to multiple jobs.
Click to expand...

this. exactly. 👍

bobsmith said:
isn't columbia the school that has people do second interviews and pledge it's undying loyalty before they're taken off the waitlist?

maybe it would be good to withdraw then. i dunno.
Click to expand...

yeah, columbs is cray cray like that.

RunningDiva said:
2nd interviews?!?! wow, intense. do you have to sign in blood?

its tough to decide. its been a long process for all of us (9 months now).
Click to expand...

yeah, 2nd interviews. and often times they offer you a place in the class on the spot at the interview. i've also heard at least one story of someone who was asked to commit in order to be admitted.

guyski79 said:
dubs, share some of that inside info with me 🙂
Click to expand...

eeeshk, not sure you want me to... i can PM you some stuff if you're really, really curious.
 
bleargh said:
oh man, now I'm curious
Click to expand...

some of these things were shared with me with the understanding that i wouldn't forward the info to anyone else, so i'm going to have to majorly edit/paraphrase if you're really curious. honestly, it's not all that drama-filled. there was some discussion of it in the mount sinai thread, believe it or not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

hommefatale
Elective Class Pass/Fail
Replies
3
Views
538
Goro
Goro
L
pass/no pass physical education class
Replies
4
Views
294
LizzyM
LizzyM
H
Not taking planned calculus class anymore
Replies
2
Views
560
holajola
H
aprilandaflower
Course classification of design courses
Replies
1
Views
337
wysdoc
wysdoc
A
Marking an audited class as a repeat?
Replies
1
Views
327
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top