Does anyone here not have a "first choice?"

[AStudent]

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I find the idea somewhat hard to comprehend but I was speaking to a friend today who said that he didn't have a particular school in mind when applying as long as he "got in somewhere."

Is this the exception or the norm?

 

[ellia08]

I've met a few people who were completely ambivalent but theyre rare.

As for first choices, well to put it in interview speak:

as my dreams have interfaced with reality I have modified my goals and future outlook yeilding positive impact with relatively little emotional cost.

In other words: umm,.. I had a few top choices and they paired themselves down as they realized that they didnt want me. But, hey, a few took a second look so I'm happy.

 

[Pembleton]

Right, maybe his first love wasn't reciprocated. Perhaps he's feeling desperate and is ready to accept love from anyone.

 

[AStudent]

He's white, 22, average MCAT, average GPA, no physicians in family, and middle class (grew up with me).

Right, maybe his first love wasn't reciprocated. Perhaps he's feeling desperate and is ready to accept love from anyone.

 

[Caesarsgrl]

Personally, I feel very confused about my "top Choice", I had about three preferred choices and have gotten into 2 of them so far, and now I have no idea where to go or how to choose between them It's not really cut and dry they all have different ups and downs. Before I got in I was certainly of the miond set of I'll go where I get in. Although being able to choose is nice, ultimately being a med student next year was most important, not where until such an option presented itself.

 

[akpete]

I had a top choice until they rejected me...now I'll take any school. 😉

 

[wyzeguy]

I find the idea somewhat hard to comprehend but I was speaking to a friend today who said that he didn't have a particular school in mind when applying as long as he "got in somewhere."

Is this the exception or the norm?

My first choice is any school that is stupid enough to take me considering my low gpa.... or any school that is insightful enough to realize that I would make a much better physician than most of the 4.0's out there.

 

[Jeffy]

At first, to be honest, my first choice was "any UC cause its cheap, but realistically, anything in California." To be honest it never really changed either. Since I'm gonna stay in California, that's more than what I expected and am perfectly content not hearing from any of my other 'top choices.'

In general, I don't think I coulda ranked the schools I applied to. Instead, they all kinda fell into tiered categories: perfect, great, will do, not my thing.

 

[lorelei]

I really didn't have a top choice when I started. At this point, I'd say there are three schools that all ended up about even, and if I get into all of them it's going to come down to financial aid and location probably. Since all the schools teach you essentially the same stuff, there's not a whole lot of room for differences. Yeah, there are distinguishing characteristics, but I find that whenever school A has X positive, school B has Y positive instead.

 

[MabdulD]

I don't have a first choice, though I did last year. I'm very much of the "whoever will take me" mindset.

 

[HrsNJ]

No first choice here, either.

I started with 11 schools--all places that I thought I could see myself attending. I was rejected one pre-secondary (thanks UCSF, but no big surprise there) and then opted to not send in a secondary for a second school. That brought me down to 9. I've had 4 interviews and each and every school has been one that I can easily see myself happily attending. Honestly, I almost wish I had one school that rose above the others so that my final decision would be a little easier. I really don't have a clue how I'll end up picking a place to go in the end.

 

[PBMaxx]

I have a few top choices, but no one in particular.

I think that many start with a "top" choice, but then either get rejected or visit and don't like it as much as they originally thought.

Also my list of top schools varies as to what stage I am in the app process and chance of getting in.

 

[GuyLaroche]

as my dreams have interfaced with reality I have modified my goals and future outlook yeilding positive impact with relatively little emotional cost.

I read a post about how you talked about creativity and emotion at HST. Then I read the quoted post. You must be a poetic writer or otherwise a very flowery person.

 

[bbaek]

my first choice is ucla. and i will do the best to reach it.

 

[Electrophys]

Personally, I've been really fortunate to have had several interviews at some great schools. I could easily see myself fitting in and doing well at a number of places...so I might not have a "first choice" but I definately have a list of schools that I would definately go to second look and decide afterwards if I get so lucky...

 

[ellia08]

I read a post about how you talked about creativity and emotion at HST. Then I read the quoted post. You must be a poetic writer or otherwise a very flowery person.

Naw, not really.

I joke about my personal statement/interview style but actually I'm usually concise. Maybe thats why I got the question though, to see if I'm a real human being or if I'm antisocial. It makes me laugh to think of myself as flowery though... I'll keep that one. 🙂

I've just been proofreading personal statements for friends and sometimes I cant help myself but have a little fun.

 

[muchlove]

So I guess my problem is that I applied to schools I could really see myself at. I had 9 interviews and thus far 5 acceptances so I'm in somewhat of a pickle. I'm honored to be accepted but now I really don't know where to go. I guess if I would have started out with a top choice it would be better. 😳

 

[Kazema]

I do have a top choice but after that it's not so clear. I've done a lot of thinking like, "Well, if I get into school A and school B, I think I'll go to school A, but maybe if my friend also got into school B I would go there, and maybe if I get into school C instead of school B I'll go to school C if so and so is still living there next year, etc etc."

And then I think, "This is silly, I'm not even in at any of those schools yet."

 

[DrDarwin]

Speaking of top choices, would you all prefer to be granted an interview at your top choice without being granted interviews at your next three top choices (i.e., choices 2-4), or vice versa?

 

[ucsb101]

yeah im like ur friend.....my gpa and mcats are ok...below a 3.5 and below a 30.....so wherever i get in...im going!.....having an ideal school or a first choice is just unrealistic at this point.