Defering acceptance = binding??

[DrPhysician]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

If an applicant is accepted for the entering class of 2007 of University of Blah-blah's SOM, and wants to defer that acceptance by one year, is this a binding agreement to attend that school?

Here is the situation: That applicant didn't get accepted to her top choice med school, but did get accepted elsewhere. So she is wondering if she can defer that acceptance by one year so she can complete a 1-yr post-bacc program and re-apply to her top choice school to see if she can get accepted there. If she does get in, then she would no longer need the acceptance from the University of Blah-blah's SOM.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Robizzle]

I guess i'll say it before someone else does. If the applicant knew that that she only wanted to go to this dream school of hers, why did she even apply to the "other place" in the first place? Did she know that if she only got into this "other place" she wouldn't go anyway? Here's what i've read from a million threads over the summer: If you get accepted anywhere, you sure as hell better have an outstanding reason as to why you didn't choose to accept that offer and chose to reapply again. No med school will appreciate the fact that you are nit-picky with schools like that and think you're "too good" for some. I believe there is some box that will ask if you've been accepted to med school (might be wrong bout this), and if it's checked, good luck explaining that.

 

[alwaysaangel]

If an applicant is accepted for the entering class of 2007 of University of Blah-blah's SOM, and wants to defer that acceptance by one year, is this a binding agreement to attend that school?

Here is the situation: That applicant didn't get accepted to her top choice med school, but did get accepted elsewhere. So she is wondering if she can defer that acceptance by one year so she can complete a 1-yr post-bacc program and re-apply to her top choice school to see if she can get accepted there. If she does get in, then she would no longer need the acceptance from the University of Blah-blah's SOM.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Aside from this seeming fairly unethical to me there are logistical problems with it as well. You would really have to defer for 2 years or else you would be re-applying WHILE taking your post-bac and would have few new additions to your application and probably would fair no better than this year.

 

[SoCuteMD]

If an applicant is accepted for the entering class of 2007 of University of Blah-blah's SOM, and wants to defer that acceptance by one year, is this a binding agreement to attend that school?

Here is the situation: That applicant didn't get accepted to her top choice med school, but did get accepted elsewhere. So she is wondering if she can defer that acceptance by one year so she can complete a 1-yr post-bacc program and re-apply to her top choice school to see if she can get accepted there. If she does get in, then she would no longer need the acceptance from the University of Blah-blah's SOM.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

My deferral was binding.

Most are from what I hear.

 

[myleghurts]

My deferral was binding.

Most are from what I hear.

You can't defer then reappy... at least thats what the schools I was accepted to said in their offer.

 

[foofish]

You can't defer then reappy... at least thats what the schools I was accepted to said in their offer.

I agree with the other posters--not only is it unethical (and a little pathological), it's probably not practically possible. I don't know the details, but AMCAS is alerted in terms of matriculation--for instance, remember the photo we had to turn in with our MCAT ID card? AMCAS forwards that to your med school....so you can't really go under the radar and pretend not to have been accepted anywhere this cycle sicne you'd be reapplying through AMCAS...

 

[Law2Doc]

My deferral was binding.

Most are from what I hear.

I believe there are one or two midwest schools where they are not binding and you are not prohibited from reapplying, but they are exceptions to the rule -- most are. And FWIW, you don't always get to defer anyway -- you need a pretty good reason to defer for many schools.

 

[Skelfie]

I guess i'll say it before someone else does. If the applicant knew that that she only wanted to go to this dream school of hers, why did she even apply to the "other place" in the first place? Did she know that if she only got into this "other place" she wouldn't go anyway? Here's what i've read from a million threads over the summer: If you get accepted anywhere, you sure as hell better have an outstanding reason as to why you didn't choose to accept that offer and chose to reapply again. No med school will appreciate the fact that you are nit-picky with schools like that and think you're "too good" for some. I believe there is some box that will ask if you've been accepted to med school (might be wrong bout this), and if it's checked, good luck explaining that.

It seems that the application process is a little self-contradictory. First, unless you have really stellar stats/characteristics, people tell you to apply broadly and be happy if you get in anywhere. Thus, you apply to as many schools as you can and tell yourself that they all must basically be the same, so you will be happy just to get accepted.

If you're lucky enough to get an interview, the admissions committee folks start saying things like, "Our interview day is not just about whether we like you, but whether you like us," and, "Be sure that we're a good fit for you." You might believe them (since they're the all powerful Admissions Committee, etc.), and start organizing the schools you've seen into hierarchies ranging from "best fit/top school" to "yikes, no thank you".

What I'm trying to say is: maybe the OP originally thought that she would want to go to the University of Blah-Blah's SoM, but, when she went to an interview there, she realized that the school was not a good fit for her. I'm assuming this does happen. After all, it seems difficult to know whether a school is right for you unless you've had some experience there (something that seems difficult to do unless you are in rather close geographical proximity to the school and can visit there or are independently wealthy and can afford the travel expenses).

Hopefully that makes sense. (It's been a long day.) Anyway, if that scenario is the case: The OP has my sympathy, and I wish her the best of luck getting into her second-to-the-top choice school!! 🙂

 

[nekrogg]

well i have a question about deferring. how is it done and is it always accepted? say i randomly now have the urge to not go to med school and have a bit of fun and told the school i would like to defer. would a spot be held for me next year?

 

[alwaysaangel]

well i have a question about deferring. how is it done and is it always accepted? say i randomly now have the urge to not go to med school and have a bit of fun and told the school i would like to defer. would a spot be held for me next year?

My understanding is it depends on the school. Some are ok with deferals without too many questions, but most want a damn good reason.

 

[Law2Doc]

What I'm trying to say is: maybe the OP originally thought that she would want to go to the University of Blah-Blah's SoM, but, when she went to an interview there, she realized that the school was not a good fit for her. I'm assuming this does happen. After all, it seems difficult to know whether a school is right for you unless you've had some experience there (something that seems difficult to do unless you are in rather close geographical proximity to the school and can visit there or are independently wealthy and can afford the travel expenses).

There are ways to withdraw pre-acceptance, or certainly to not pay the deposit and hold a spot if you have no intention of going there. This is a system where MOST people aren't going to end up going to their first choice school. Half the people who apply are not even going to get into med school.
The notion that you can take a spot, defer and then apply elsewhere is the situation of trying to have your cake and eat it too. Doesn't happen much in real life. Better to never apply or quickly withdraw to the places that are not good fits or that you would never attend if you are going to have another go at the process.

 

[estairella]

What I'm trying to say is: maybe the OP originally thought that she would want to go to the University of Blah-Blah's SoM, but, when she went to an interview there, she realized that the school was not a good fit for her. I'm assuming this does happen. After all, it seems difficult to know whether a school is right for you unless you've had some experience there (something that seems difficult to do unless you are in rather close geographical proximity to the school and can visit there or are independently wealthy and can afford the travel expenses).

Hopefully that makes sense. (It's been a long day.) Anyway, if that scenario is the case: The OP has my sympathy, and I wish her the best of luck getting into her second-to-the-top choice school!! 🙂

Except the OP could REJECT her acceptance if she doesn't like the school. She's basically saying "well I think your school is crap, but I don't know if I'll get in anywhere else because maybe I suck as bad as you, so let me defer my acceptance for a year to see how crappy I am... If I'm better than I thought, eff you and your acceptance AND your deferral".

I too am in the "that's highly unethical" camp.

 

[Depakote]

As a 3 time applicant... I'm just going to sit back and laugh at this thread.