Now I don't know what to do I am waitlisted at LECOM-B and TUCOM but I am accepted for fall or Jan at AUC in St. Maarten. Any suggestions? Being 34 and having 2 kids to think about I really don't want to wait another year but I also don't want to shoot myself in the foot either.
DO waitlist & Caribbean acceptence
- Thread starter Baditude
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So many different things going on there.
First off, I always say you have to do what you have to do.
The phrase "one in the hand is worth two in the bush" is a great phrase.
A large thing though is that you have kids. This brings up a whole nother realm. Are you gonna leave them in the US or are you going to take them to the Caribbean? Daycare? Schools? Living environment? You may have looked into it but thats something I would think about. Not saying its not feasable but kids change things.
Now, if you don't think you will be pulled off the waitlist apply again now...if you get an acceptance to where you want to go...great! If not you still have most of the interview season available before Janunary. I dunno if you lose deposits or what but I'd play the odds.
Just so you know I seriously looked into SGU when I was starting to apply. I really wanted to stay in the US so when I got multiple interviews (MD&DO) I declined to pursue that route. They were pretty cool to me on the phone though. Anyway, as I get sidetracked....good luck getting pulled off the waitlist and keep fighting the good fight.
First off, I always say you have to do what you have to do.
The phrase "one in the hand is worth two in the bush" is a great phrase.
A large thing though is that you have kids. This brings up a whole nother realm. Are you gonna leave them in the US or are you going to take them to the Caribbean? Daycare? Schools? Living environment? You may have looked into it but thats something I would think about. Not saying its not feasable but kids change things.
Now, if you don't think you will be pulled off the waitlist apply again now...if you get an acceptance to where you want to go...great! If not you still have most of the interview season available before Janunary. I dunno if you lose deposits or what but I'd play the odds.
Just so you know I seriously looked into SGU when I was starting to apply. I really wanted to stay in the US so when I got multiple interviews (MD&DO) I declined to pursue that route. They were pretty cool to me on the phone though. Anyway, as I get sidetracked....good luck getting pulled off the waitlist and keep fighting the good fight.
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Since you've applied to caribbean school, it means you must have had interest in attending. How much is the deposit ? Pay the deposit to reserve your seat and wait for LECOM and TUCOM.
A few hundred to one thousand dollars is NOT much to lose if it can secure your future. What the other person said is true as well. Are your kids going with you ? How is your financial status ? If $$$ is not an issue, then I would do what I've mentioned above.
Also, SGU does have really nice people. I have friends going there and was going to go there myself, but decided not to. Not anything bad, but in the end, I preferred to stay close to home and family.
Goodluck.
A few hundred to one thousand dollars is NOT much to lose if it can secure your future. What the other person said is true as well. Are your kids going with you ? How is your financial status ? If $$$ is not an issue, then I would do what I've mentioned above.
Also, SGU does have really nice people. I have friends going there and was going to go there myself, but decided not to. Not anything bad, but in the end, I preferred to stay close to home and family.
Goodluck.
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Baditude said:
Man, the Carribean may be ok for single premeds who need a second chance and do not want to wait to improve themselves enough for a U.S. school, but from what I have heard and what I know, I would NOT take my family down there. It is not a very hospitable environment for kids. Figure out why you did not get accepted, fix it over the next year, and apply again. The well-being of your family will be worth waiting one more year. Besides that, your career will be much better off being a year behind and attending a U.S. school than starting a Carribean school now IMHO. If you care to post your stats and background etc, I am sure people here would be happy to offer advice on improving your application. I would also contact the schools that rejected you, and especially the schools that waitlisted you, and talk to them. Most schools are more than happy to tell you where your weak points are. Good luck!
They will be there and will accept you for the semester starting in January if you want to go then. So I would hold out for what you really want. If you are waitlisted at two schools, lean on them a little to let you in.
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As far as the January start time goes, I have been instructed by administrators that I know personally at caribbean schools to attend the fall start time. They told me there are many advantages to this, including more peer support and greater history of success (for whatever reason). I have also spoken to many practicing physicians that work side by side with foreign medical student physicians and say they are competent and often well respected because it shows them just how bad they wanted it!
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
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Think about your family first. As people have recommended above.. slap down a deposit if you can and hold a seat. St. Maartin is a beautiful island, but still.. you have to ask yourself if your kids will suffer in any way (tropical disease, education, friends) for your two years down there, plus God knows how your 3rd and 4th year rotations will turn out, where you'll be, and how you'll move your family with you (education, friends for your kids, stability).
Being a government brat myself and constantly on the move when I was a kid, I can say while I'm grateful for having been exposed to different cultures, I think I would've far appreciated havign a bit more stable childhood and friends. One moment I'd have to adapt to the British system, then back to American. Have to make new friends, then say goodbye.. it's a difficult life for a kid to move all the time.
So the best bet would be to wait for the DOs unless you can't.
Being a government brat myself and constantly on the move when I was a kid, I can say while I'm grateful for having been exposed to different cultures, I think I would've far appreciated havign a bit more stable childhood and friends. One moment I'd have to adapt to the British system, then back to American. Have to make new friends, then say goodbye.. it's a difficult life for a kid to move all the time.
So the best bet would be to wait for the DOs unless you can't.
