Decline Acceptance to take time off?

[ILikeJuice123]

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Hey guys,

I know that this is an insanely stupid situation to be in but I was wondering if some of you could give me your opinions. Basically I've been lucky enough to be accepted to a school this year, but I've recently realized that I really want to fulfill some other aspects of my life before truly devoting my life to medicine. Would it be irrational to decline and reapply in a year after I've satisfied other aspects of my life? I would obviously do things to strengthen my application like retake my MCAT as well as pursue some other clinical and shadowing opportunities. IDK, I like the school and think I'd be a good fit, but I would really love to take time off. I just don't want to burn my bridges to the school completely by doing so. Just so you know deferring is not an option for me for my reasons.

I also realize this is sort of a ****ty thing to ask of given how lucky i am to receive an acceptance at all and that it's a pretty big gamble... which is why any thoughts would be appreciated! For reference I need to send in my final depposit on MAY 31 if I want to matriculate this year.

Thanks!!!!

 

[0dee]

If you do not matriculate this year then you're most likely not going to matriculate into a US DO program ever again. It's up to you, your life, your call. If taking this year off is that important to your well-being and happiness then go for it, just realize that you're definitely burning bridges.

 

[Roscoe11]

Judging by your choice of words you already know it would be a bad idea to decline the acceptance but are looking for some random person on the internet to tell you to make one of the worst decisions of your life.

Do yourself a favor and send that deposit in as soon as possible...Don't make getting accepted into med school again exponentially harder by becoming a re-applicant who already had an acceptance...

 

[Dr. Death]

This is much more binary than you think it is
If you want to be a doctor, go to medical school.
If not, decline your acceptance.

 

[costales]

Obviously you will have to apply to a different school - with hopefully a new amazing MCAT score to mitigate your opportunity cost.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Hey guys,

I know that this is an insanely stupid situation to be in but I was wondering if some of you could give me your opinions. Basically I've been lucky enough to be accepted to a school this year, but I've recently realized that I really want to fulfill some other aspects of my life before truly devoting my life to medicine. Would it be irrational to decline and reapply in a year after I've satisfied other aspects of my life? I would obviously do things to strengthen my application like retake my MCAT as well as pursue some other clinical and shadowing opportunities. IDK, I like the school and think I'd be a good fit, but I would really love to take time off. I just don't want to burn my bridges to the school completely by doing so. Just so you know deferring is not an option for me for my reasons.

I also realize this is sort of a ****ty thing to ask of given how lucky i am to receive an acceptance at all and that it's a pretty big gamble... which is why any thoughts would be appreciated! For reference I need to send in my final depposit on MAY 31 if I want to matriculate this year.

Thanks!!!!

I get that you want to take some time for yourself to mature as a person, but once you've committed to a cycle, your journey through the medical school pipeline is inexorable.

Because of how admissions in our country is set up, you are at a marked disadvantage as a reapplicant. Don't play yourself, fellow student doctor.

 

[68PGunner]

LOL go ahead and decline that acceptance to get another shot at MD schools. Just know that the Caribbean MD is in your future if you can't get a USMD next year.

 

[22031 Alum]

Why don't you ask to defer? You wouldn't be able to apply to a different school, just in case going somewhere "better" is part of your motivation.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Defer your acceptance!

 

[costales]

If you do not matriculate this year then you're most likely not going to matriculate into a US DO program ever again.

It depends on the question they ask, i.e. whether it's the typical "Have you ever matriculated in or attended any medical school?" (OP can honestly say no), or "Have you previously matriculated or received an offer of admission to a medical school?" (OP is screwed).

 

[Ho0v-man]

Just defer. It's not terribly uncommon for late accepts to do that. If they won't then just go, then just go.


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[DrMikeP]

Don't go and give up DO and maybe medicine or not. If you don't like DO that much then I'd recommend you don't accept and gun for MD next cycle. Don't apply to any DOs. Last thing I want is to sit next to someone in class who for 2yrs regrets being there. Give it to someone who would love and die to be there and everyone will be much happier.

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Also deferring your acceptance for a year takes a really good reason, like you have testicular cancer or something.

 

[FourniersGreenGang]

Yeah I agree, ask yourself what are your true reasons for wanting to decline. To me, and granted I have no knowledge of your personal situation, but it sounds like you want to try for a "better" school or an MD program. Both of those are foolish reasons if you are sitting on an acceptance. Think: you will be losing a year or more of attending salary and at the end of the day, you will have one (or more) fewer year(s) to practice medicine in your life if it is indeed your true passion. The old saying a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush applies here, but I have to say that if you are honestly willing to consider not going for the above stated reasons, then do not go and let someone who would love the opportunity and is currently sitting on the waitlist go in your stead. If you are just considering declining the acceptance because you want to travel the world or try to be an actor or something, I say go for it but just be aware that you may not get another shot at medicine.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Maybe you should tell us what you plan on doing instead of going to medical school... Honestly it sounds a little childish like a "I want to see the world" type thing.

 

[IslandStyle808]

If you do not matriculate this year then you're most likely not going to matriculate into a US DO program ever again. It's up to you, your life, your call. If taking this year off is that important to your well-being and happiness then go for it, just realize that you're definitely burning bridges.

There was a thread several years back that had 3 people who turned down DO acceptances, but got in the next time they applied. Extremely risky, but it does happen more often than stated on SDN.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Don't go and give up DO and maybe medicine or not. If you don't like DO that much then I'd recommend you don't accept and gun for MD next cycle. Don't apply to any DOs. Last thing I want is to sit next to someone in class who for 2yrs regrets being there. Give it to someone who would love and die to be there and everyone will be much happier.

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Also deferring your acceptance for a year takes a really good reason, like you have testicular cancer or something.

Depends on the school, read the threads and you will see many have had reason such as pursuing more research, or some educational enrichment thing (I have seen some pretty bogus reasons that still got them the deference). Some schools are totally fine with these reasons and some not.

 

[cabinbuilder]

That's not a valid reason to defer.

 

[mathnerd88]

There isn't any anonymity on here. OP I would be a little bit careful what you post on here. It might be very easy to figure out who you are if a UNECOM adcom is on here.

In any case scenario, don't defer your acceptance. It sounds pretty unprofessional to do so. You've had some bad prior experience with a summer internship...Wanting to "explore the world" sounds like an immature excuse and that you shouldn't have planned to apply to medical school in the first place if you weren't ready. If you do decline your acceptance, then you will have definitely burned bridges.

 

[DrMikeP]

Depends on the school, read the threads and you will see many have had reason such as pursuing more research, or some educational enrichment thing (I have seen some pretty bogus reasons that still got them the deference). Some schools are totally fine with these reasons and some not.

There are also posts from people freaking out because they declined one cycle and didn't get an acceptance in the next and those who tried for a deferment and were told no. Is it worth risking one's future? Only the OP can say if it's worth the risk, but thinking the risk is small is as foolish as applying and getting accepted into a DO school and then wanting to do something else instead.

That said, I have seen some who come to their senses and decide med school isn't for them after being accepted or even during the first term. It's not for everyone.

 

[dfgdfgdsfgdsfg]

Way to make it easier for schools to know... not once did the OP mention the school he got accepted to

You also posted his residency and where get graduated from. None of that was your business to repost

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[mathnerd88]

Way to make it easier for them to know...

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It isn't rocket science. I'm sure those adcoms know how to use the search function on sdn unlike many premeds.

But I did remove his stats and residency, although it is very easy to find out.

 

[Alienman52]

This is much more binary than you think it is
If you want to be a doctor, go to medical school.
If not, decline your acceptance.

Lol strongly concur