Cooper (Rowan) vs Wait on Other Applications for Next Year

[sungecko2]

I just got a late acceptance to Cooper Med School at Rowan University. I’ve already submitted secondaries for the 2024-25 cycle and have plans for my gap year. Do I go to Rowan or see what schools accept me for next year? I plan on working/volunteering as an EMT if I take a gap year.
Some pros is Cooper is in state and I have no gap year. Some cons is I already spent time/money on my second application and am worried about matching into a possibly competitive specialties.

I would love to hear any reviews, comments, or concerns about Cooper!

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[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Go to Rowan. How is this even a question? You can't get into a competitive specialty if you're not in med school.

 

[LucidSplash]

I just got in the Cooper Med School at Rowan University (very late acceptance) to start in 3 weeks. This is my only acceptance for the class of 2028, but I’ve already submitted secondaries for the 2024-25 cycle and have plans for my gap year. Do I go to Rowan or see what schools accept me for next year? The big points on my application is I have a 512 MCAT, 3.86 GPA, biomedical engineering major, co president of my ice hockey team, multiples volunteer activities/service trips, physician shadowing, and a research & development internship. I plan on working/volunteering as an EMT if I take a gap year.
Some pros is Cooper is in state and I have no gap year. Some cons is I already spent time/money on my second application and am worried about matching into a possibly competitive specialty in the future and being prepared for board exams.

I would love to hear any reviews, comments, or concerns about Cooper!

It’s been almost 15 years since I graduated for medical school, and others who are closer to the admissions game can tell me if I’m wrong.

But it would seem exceedingly foolish to me, to turn down a medical school admission, especially with in-state tuition. You have zero guarantees of being accepted next year, if you didn’t receive other acceptances this year. I suppose part of this hinges on how you applied this year, if you were super selective and limited in where you applied, mostly to Ivy’s, for example. But if you had a reasonable moderately broad application strategy, then the following would be my advice.

Gap years are all fine and good, and I can see taking one in your situation if you could get a deferral for Rowan. However, Rowan is unlikely to give you a deferral because a late acceptance means they are trying to fill this year’s class. I’ve never met anyone who regretted taking a gap year. But all the people that I know of who took one, waited to apply until the gap year, they didn’t turn down an acceptance to take a gap year and hope for the best in the next application cycle. I myself took three years off to work. But to just turn down your only acceptance, when your goal is to get accepted to medical school, to me would seem the height of hubris.

 

[guytakingboards]

You plan to be an EMT for a year instead of being a medical student... no, that in no way makes sense.

If you plan to shoot for a competitive specialty, e.g. surgery/surgical subspecialties, you're looking at 9+ years of training between med school, residency, and +/- fellowship. To burn a year now when the tract is already so long, is crazy short-sighted.

That is to say nothing about the money, which became a much bigger deal to me further along the tract. 1 year burned now (on EMT, a healthcare job anyway) vs 1 full working year at peak attending earning level.... that could be a half million dollar or more decision.

 

[Goro]

I just got in the Cooper Med School at Rowan University (very late acceptance) to start in 3 weeks. This is my only acceptance for the class of 2028, but I’ve already submitted secondaries for the 2024-25 cycle and have plans for my gap year. Do I go to Rowan or see what schools accept me for next year? The big points on my application is I have a 512 MCAT, 3.86 GPA, biomedical engineering major, co president of my ice hockey team, multiples volunteer activities/service trips, physician shadowing, and a research & development internship. I plan on working/volunteering as an EMT if I take a gap year.
Some pros is Cooper is in state and I have no gap year. Some cons is I already spent time/money on my second application and am worried about matching into a possibly competitive specialty in the future and being prepared for board exams.

I would love to hear any reviews, comments, or concerns about Cooper!

If you want to be a doctor, go to Rowan.

Look, I'm trying to say this in the nicest possible way, but you're not God's gift to Medicine. Matching is on you, not the school.

Hope is not a strategy, and don't fall for the sunk cost fallacy.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Bruh!!! How did we get here? Debating whether to 100% attend med school vs turning it down and taking a gap year to try at a slim chance to attend med school. Make it make sense!

 

[operaman]

Agreeing with everyone else - take the acceptance. Turning it down burns that school for good, plus now you have to explain to other schools why you turned down an acceptance. And you better believe that many interviewers will ask about your last application cycle.

Take the acceptance and don’t look back. Yes you can match competitive fields from lower tier schools. I sure did and plenty of other people do too. Yes you have to hustle a bit more and distinguish yourself a bit more, but none of those doors are closed to you yet.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums. Enjoy med school.