Do you attend all the interview invites?

[igeak691]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm currently accepted into a medical school for the upcoming fall.. not my top choice, but can't say I'm not relieved since I am a reapplicant. I'm waiting to hear back from two schools which are my #1 and #2 choice. Thing is, the current school I got into would be the same as this school I just got invited to. Do I attend the interview?

My main gripe in trying to decide if I should attend is that financially, I would want to go to the cheapest MD school in the US. If I were to turn down this interview, I'd never know if I missed out a chance on a good scholarship. How often do people get money for medical school? Is it worth attending the interview for the possibility money? I would go to my #4 choice if it meant I save myself ~30k a year in tuition. And if it helps, these four schools currently in question are all state schools in NY. How much scholarship/grants do they give out?

Although my stats are nowhere near stellar, I will say that my GPA and MCAT are above average for all of the schools that I've mentioned.

 

[thegypsyqueen]

If you can swing it I would say interview. $300 versus potentially $30k a year is obviously a no brainer.

 

[yellowfish]

I'm currently accepted into a medical school for the upcoming fall.. not my top choice, but can't say I'm not relieved since I am a reapplicant. I'm waiting to hear back from two schools which are my #1 and #2 choice. Thing is, the current school I got into would be the same as this school I just got invited to. Do I attend the interview?

My main gripe in trying to decide if I should attend is that financially, I would want to go to the cheapest MD school in the US. If I were to turn down this interview, I'd never know if I missed out a chance on a good scholarship. How often do people get money for medical school? Is it worth attending the interview for the possibility money? I would go to my #4 choice if it meant I save myself ~30k a year in tuition. And if it helps, these four schools currently in question are all state schools in NY. How much scholarship/grants do they give out?

Although my stats are nowhere near stellar, I will say that my GPA and MCAT are above average for all of the schools that I've mentioned.

You should check with the individual schools in question about merit scholarships, because these vary on a school by school basis. Merit scholarships generally emphasize MCAT/GPA for selection criteria (although this is of course not the only criteria).

On the other hand, you won't really know about how generous schools are going to be with need-based grants until you submit your FAFSA etc... the amount of grants given versus loans is calculated differently by schools and can also be different from year to year depending on the financial status of the institution itself.

Bottom line (my opinion): if it isn't too much trouble, attend the interview.

 

[sfwtboy]

Also I'm asumming you live in New York so its not like you have to pay for a plane ticket or hotel why not interview?

 

[igeak691]

The trip would cost me travel as well as a night as the hotel. The school in question is Buffalo. I will be attending now, thank you guys are for the advice!

 

[volcomx]

You should go to it. It might not be your top choice now, but you'll learn a lot more about the school than you could from just the website. You'll also get to meet the current students. It might end up being your favorite school...who knows.

 

[zacharyw]

I went to half of my interviews already and my pre-interview personal ranking and post-interview personal ranking is vastly different.

 

[igeak691]

That's totally understandable but the only reason that I would leave my home is if I had financial incentives to. I know I'd be happy going to my alma mater which I hope I get an acceptance for soon.

 

[Espadaleader]

I just finished my 16th interview. I withdrew from 4 schools. I probably spent in total less than 1,000 dollars on all purpose expenses ( I only took megabus and greyhound and all my schools are in the northeast). I think it's important to go to as many schools as possible because you become more capable of discerning between bad, good, and great programs. Well none are "bad" but there is a huge difference between good and great. Also fit is sooo important too. And fin aid. Obviously, if you are flying back and forth between the east and west coast you have to be more conservative.

 

[igeak691]

Sounds like a good excuse to visit Niagara Falls with the family, even though I was just there last year. Oh well, Toronto isn't too far 🙂