Don't know what to do....

[smrdoc15]

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Hey everyone...


So I've received 2 acceptances from 2 DO schools. The schools weren't my top choice and I have yet to hear from my top choice DO schools. The timing is really bad on these acceptances because I have interviews at my 2 MD state schools that I really want to go to. The deposits are due at the 2 DO schools later this week. My MCAT is the downfall of my application and am willing to retake and reapply next year if I don't get in. My question is... if I reapply DO next year... will all DO schools look down/ auto reject me next year since I had 2 acceptances and didn't take them? Will they know that?


Thanks for the input...

 

[rugger14]

Do you mean you'd retake the MCAT if you didn't get into the MD schools? How much are the deposits? If you really are set on going somewhere this year maybe you could put down a deposit at an accepted school and see if you get into the state schools. You would then lose the deposit, so it depends if you are able/willing to do such a thing. Another factor to consider is how much room on your MCAT you have for improvement. I'm not sure if the other schools would find out if you reapply,but if it is to their own school, most likely? The only other way they would find out about the other schools is if they ask in an interview..correct me if i'm wrong anyone

 

[smrdoc15]

I'd honestly rather sit out a year and try to see my chances for getting into my state school than go to these specific DO schools... just wondering if I've shot myself in the foot for all DO schools in the future if I decide this?

 

[JaggerPlate]

I posted in the pre-allo thread. If you're thinking about reapplying DO as well in the next cycle though, then this would be super pointless to pass up an acceptance. Imagine if you put a deposit down, don't attend, don't get into the MD school, then reapply, get in DO again, and go DO. You'll have wasted a grand, a year of your life, and still didn't get the program you wanted. If you are going to retake the mcat and reapply, only apply MD.

 

[smrdoc15]

.

 

[Econ2MD]

If you like the two DO schools equally, pay the least expensive deposit and hope for an acceptance from your state school(s). Consider it a matriculation insurance policy.

If you didn't want to attend the school, why did you apply there?

I think you will be blacklisted if you don't accept an offer and reapply, but others might have more insight into this aspect.

Why would you want to forgo a year of physician salary and using your skills to help others? Just so your title says MD and not DO?

 

[JaggerPlate]

If you didn't want to attend the school, why did you apply there?

I'll never understand that. I get it if you attend the interview and it's not what you thought err something, but just knowing you wouldn't go there, below backup, etc, makes no sense to me.

 

[smrdoc15]

For me it's less about DO vs MD than about where I will be happy. One of the schools I have been accepted to was not what I thought it would be (i.e. I did not like it post-interview). The other school I did like but is far far away from my home base. I thought I could deal with that but now I'm not so sure. It's been a hard decision but it would make me happier to sit out a year, beef up my MCAT score and go somewhere closer to home. No DO schools close to me have gotten back to me... this is why I am in my current situation.

 

[scummie]

If you like the two DO schools equally, pay the least expensive deposit and hope for an acceptance from your state school(s). Consider it a matriculation insurance policy.

If you didn't want to attend the school, why did you apply there?

I think you will be blacklisted if you don't accept an offer and reapply, but others might have more insight into this aspect.

Why would you want to forgo a year of physician salary and using your skills to help others? Just so your title says MD and not DO?

Yeah, pay up the money for one of the schools to hold your spot. Go to your MD interviews. Losing a few hundred bucks isn't worth it in the grand scheme of things.

 

[marke]

my question for OP... if you had no intention in attending a DO school, why did you apply for them at the first place? my second question, if you had no intention in attending a DO school, why would you apply to DO schools AGAIN next year? if u think u would end up in DO school next year, then why waste a year....?

 

[jm192]

Hey everyone...


So I've received 2 acceptances from 2 DO schools. The schools weren't my top choice and I have yet to hear from my top choice DO schools. The timing is really bad on these acceptances because I have interviews at my 2 MD state schools that I really want to go to. The deposits are due at the 2 DO schools later this week. My MCAT is the downfall of my application and am willing to retake and reapply next year if I don't get in. My question is... if I reapply DO next year... will all DO schools look down/ auto reject me next year since I had 2 acceptances and didn't take them? Will they know that?


Thanks for the input...

I dealt with a similar situation.

My GPA was above average for the Allo schools I applied to, my EC's were great, but my MCAT was a 25.

I got accepted into the 1st DO interview. Then I was offered an interview at an allo school on the 28th---with the Deposit for my acceptance being due on the 30th.

I HATE to be out 2,000$. I'm getting an interview, so I at least have something that they like. Maybe I just don't pay the deposit, bank on the MD school accepting me, and then if not, better MCAT and reapply.

Here was my end thought process: Read all before you get annoyed and close lol


#1. Do you want to be a doctor or an MD? I DID NOT bust my rear end for the last 3 and a half years to have MD after my name. I didn't go to office hours 3 times a week for Organic Chemistry just so I could be an MD. If you're the opposite, then you already know what to do. There's nothing wrong with that. Regardless of what anyone else says, you've gotta do what makes you happy.

#2. Do you REALLY want to sit out a year? You're already looking at being 25, 26ish at youngest when you graduate med school. Then Residency on top of that. I don't want to be a year older. I want to be a doctor, that's ONE MORE year I get to practice. And what do you do with all that free time? Get more of a "grown up" job? Post bac work? I don't even know how financial aid works after you graduate. Are you paying 3-400$ a credit hour?

#3. What's the worst case scenario IF YOU SIT OUT. You do whatever you can to make your MCAT dramatically better. Maybe you're even getting 35+ on your practice tests. Then test day, or the night before something could go wrong. What if you do get an outstanding score, and something goes wrong with the interview? Or maybe they find something they don't like about your application. Can you imagine if you sat out a year, and then did everything right, got the MCAT up, and STILL didn't get into your choice MD school? And THEN if you do reapply DO, you've truly wasted a year. I can't imagine schools that had accepted you overlooking that during the interview. I'm sure it'll come up. And I'm not saying you're a jerk that looks down on DO. But the situation could easily be spun into that by an ADCOM.

#4. You're going to be a doctor! This is the dream. There are so many people that got to this point and haven't been as fortunate as you. In many cases smart, compassionate people.

I sent in my deposit, and I'm interviewing at the other school. To each his or her own.

 

[Everglide]

my question for OP... if you had no intention in attending a DO school, why did you apply for them at the first place? my second question, if you had no intention in attending a DO school, why would you apply to DO schools AGAIN next year? if u think u would end up in DO school next year, then why waste a year....?

:|

For me it's less about DO vs MD than about where I will be happy. One of the schools I have been accepted to was not what I thought it would be (i.e. I did not like it post-interview). The other school I did like but is far far away from my home base. I thought I could deal with that but now I'm not so sure. It's been a hard decision but it would make me happier to sit out a year, beef up my MCAT score and go somewhere closer to home. No DO schools close to me have gotten back to me... this is why I am in my current situation.

Should be an obvious statement but if you decide to reapply, make sure you seriously consider your school choices before checking away at the boxes on your primaries. Good luck with your decision, you definitely have a tough one. Maybe the MD interview will pull through and you'll get an acceptance there.

 

[yollom]

Not to interject too much, but the deposits for some of these schools are ridiculous (2000 dollars!?!). I guess they have the desired effect of forcing a decision, but as more DO schools open up the AOA should really look into its guidelines and lower the recommended deposit. For four schools I paid 50, 50, 100 and 0 dollars as deposit respectively (all MD).

To the OP - the most practical decision is to pay the deposit and wait out your state schools interview/acceptance process. Like others have said, it really isn't worth waiting it out a year if you already have acceptances even though I can't talk to any "blacklisting" process. Unfortunately, with the ease of the AMCAS/AACOMAS/Interfolio process many people apply to schools outside of where they really want to go - I did this too and ended up turning down interviews once I realized that I didn't really want to go to these schools (i.e. the cost/benefit analysis of airfare/hotel vs reality of actually attending the school was not positive).

 

[Econ2MD]

For me it's less about DO vs MD than about where I will be happy. One of the schools I have been accepted to was not what I thought it would be (i.e. I did not like it post-interview). The other school I did like but is far far away from my home base. I thought I could deal with that but now I'm not so sure. It's been a hard decision but it would make me happier to sit out a year, beef up my MCAT score and go somewhere closer to home. No DO schools close to me have gotten back to me... this is why I am in my current situation.

I think you need to chill just a bit, OP.

First of all, congratulations! You're going to be a physician.

PLEASE don't mess that up by declining an offer of admission.

Second, the cycle is far from over. People get accepted much later than today. Pay the deposit and be patient. Contact schools you prefer and see what you can do to move the process along (letter of intent, maybe let them know you've been accepted elsewhere but really want to attend their school).

I'm pretty sure geographic location will be less of a concern than you think. You'll be pretty busy with studying.

 

[smrdoc15]

Ok I realize some people would say that I am freaking out (and I kinda am, but it's a super stressful situation). But I have thought long and hard about this decision, and I believe that my state schools would be a better fit for me. I think geographical location is a huge issue for me in the sense that I will have my family/friends close to me. I am very close to my family so this is a VERY big deal. I also don't want to make connections in an area of the country I have no desire to practice in. I wasn't fully realizing this fact when I applied, but am glad I am realizing this before I head off to school. Some people may think I'm crazy if I don't take this DO acceptance this year, and yes it's a hard decision, but in the end I have to trust what my gut is telling me to do. What I really want to know is whether it would be possible for me to apply DO again and still have a shot? Obviously not the schools that I realized are far from home and not where I belong, but schools closer to home that might possibly reject me this year? If I don't take this acceptance will I be "blacklisted" as some say from all DO schools in the future? I have know idea if DO is where I will end up, but in my opinion if I don't accept this offer, don't get in to my state schools and have to reapply next year it is not the end of the world. All I have lost is money, and let me tell you that by working and living at home reapplying and retaking the MCAT will be much less than the $2000 deposit these schools want.

Thanks for all the info that has been given...

 

[rddoms]

Of the two DO schools, pay the deposit at the one you liked better. I understand that moving away from friends and family is a hard thing to do, but it is probably going to happen for residency anyway. If that is the only thing that is keeping you from going to a school, then get over it and pay the deposit. I am extremely close to my family, and moved 2k miles away for medical school. I understand why you would want to stay close, but being a doctor should be your first priority.

I definitely understand your reasoning for wanting to go to your in-state school. Go to the interviews, and take a spot if they offer one to you. If you don't get accepted to your state school, you have another spot waiting for you. If you decline an acceptance to a DO school, it will be VERY hard to get another DO acceptance later. It can be done, but it isn't worth the risk.

Also, what do you want to practice? If you want to practice in a field that is competitive, then you will likely be moving away from family and friends for residency.

In short:

-Pay the deposit to the DO school that you liked better (taking distance from home out of the equation).

-Go to the interviews you have at your state schools, and take a spot if they offer you one. You will lose the deposit, but it is the safest bet.

-If not, start medical school at the DO school.

You have a difficult decision, but the advice I'm giving to you is sound. You won't regret doing it as listed above. Good luck!

 

[beckhunter116]

I am 95% sure that if you re-aaplied next year to DO schools on the AACOMAS application you have to check if you have been accepted to medical school previously. If that is true (hopefully someone else will comment on this) then I don't think your excuse that you didn't want to be away from your family will be enough for them.

I'm not saying it's wrong that you want to be close to your family but a career in medicine has (some) sacrifices and if you can't make this then schools may not take you as seriously.

How far away from your friends and family is it? You couldn't work out where people come and visit? I mean with technology now you could have video chat every night with your loved ones.

 

[scummie]

I am 95% sure that if you re-aaplied next year to DO schools on the AACOMAS application you have to check if you have been accepted to medical school previously. If that is true (hopefully someone else will comment on this) then I don't think your excuse that you didn't want to be away from your family will be enough for them.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. If you've ever read the Re-Applicants forums, there are some people that had to give up an acceptance completely and reapply all over again, but it wasn't because they were necessarily waiting out for MD. A lot of the time, the circumstances were extreme family issues, extensive illness, etc.

 

[marshds]

I am 95% sure that if you re-aaplied next year to DO schools on the AACOMAS application you have to check if you have been accepted to medical school previously. If that is true (hopefully someone else will comment on this) then I don't think your excuse that you didn't want to be away from your family will be enough for them.

I cannot find anywhere on the application that asks whether you have ever been previously accepted. It asks whether you ever matriculated in or attended any medical school as a candidate for the D.O. or M.D. degree.

 

[scummie]

I cannot find anywhere on the application that asks whether you have ever been previously accepted. It asks whether you ever matriculated in or attended any medical school as a candidate for the D.O. or M.D. degree.

My bad, you're right. Idk, I feel like this is a question I've seen before though on secondaries...I could be wrong though.

 

[smrdoc15]

I cannot find anywhere on the application that asks whether you have ever been previously accepted. It asks whether you ever matriculated in or attended any medical school as a candidate for the D.O. or M.D. degree.

I looked it up today as well on my AACOMAS application. This may be a stupid question but what is the technical definition of matriculated? Does that mean you just got accepted somewhere or you actually put a deposit down and were enrolled in the school?

 

[rddoms]

If you are accepted, then you have matriculated in the broadest sense of the word.

I'm not sure if AACOMAS keeps records of acceptances for individual applicants, but I bet they do. If you were to reapply next year and say that you haven't matriculated anywhere, some might see that as dishonesty (and you can guess what that would lead to). It is definitely an unfortunate circumstance for you, but you ARE going to be a doctor at this point.

Put a deposit down at the DO school you liked better (distance from home shouldn't be part of that).

Let us know what you decide.

 

[marshds]

My bad, you're right. Idk, I feel like this is a question I've seen before though on secondaries...I could be wrong though.

Considering the DO schools to which the OP have been accepted are not his or her first choice, sitting out a year and retaking the MCAT sounds reasonable, assuming the MCAT improves. I would not do it though, because you could get lower or the same score on the MCAT and then be severely screwed. Top choice DO schools will still not want you, 2 MD state schools will not even interview you again, and both DO schools that did accept you will not want you either. Tough situation, but one in which many who have not been accepted anywhere probably wish they were in. Good luck!

 

[marshds]

If you are accepted, then you have matriculated in the broadest sense of the word.

Really? I thought it meant to enroll. It might count if you put a deposit down though. They may send an enrollment notification to AACOMAS when you put the deposit down, this is all speculative though.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

To reiterate other's question, why the heck did you apply to these schools? Someone who applied to these schools is on a waiting list, unsure of there future waiting for you to decline your spot. DECLINE YOUR SPOT ALREADY!

 

[rddoms]

Really? I thought it meant to enroll. It might count if you put a deposit down though. They may send an enrollment notification to AACOMAS when you put the deposit down, this is all speculative though.

I am going by the definition only. Here's what I'm saying: If AACOMAS keeps records of acceptances for each applicant, then you are screwed. If you apply DO next year, they will know. They won't like the fact that you declined an acceptance for the chance at an MD spot (I think this sucks, but that's the way it is).

Here is the bottom line: If you don't put a deposit down, you are taking a big risk. It's your decision, but most people would tell you to put a deposit down.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[indianjatt]

My viewpoint on this:

:

$2000 (mental security and medical acceptance assurance) > A whole year of re applying, countless hours of studying for the MCAT; paying $5000 to re apply, travel to interviews, buy a suit, etc.; the possibility of having complete rejections; and of course more mental stress.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

It's been a hard decision but it would make me happier to sit out a year, beef up my MCAT score and go somewhere closer to home. No DO schools close to me have gotten back to me... this is why I am in my current situation.

Pick the route that will make you happier

 

[Irishfan]

What are the 2 osteo schools...just out of curiosity?

 

[wannabeaDO]

can you defer?

 

[cleothecat]

If you are not accepted to an MD school this year, and then re-apply.....

You will lose out eventually one year professional salary (>100k) and add the risk of being shut out iof medicine next year and into the future.

The reality of acceptances now is that in this competitive envt, unless you are stellar in all acceptance criteria, limiting applications to your home state almos t guarantees you a shut-out. Not very kool if you really want to be a physician.

Put down the deposit as an insurance policy. And if you do not get into your desired MD or DO programs , suck it up and become a physician.

Cleothecat MD, MBA😀

 

[Econ2MD]

can you defer?

I think if you defer you agree not to apply to other programs while on deferment. You also need a good reason.

 

[jcrewtriathlete]

Just put down the deposits and go to the MD interviews. If you lose the deposits, you lose them, big deal. Better a stupid deposit than a year of physician income.

plus one.

do NOT count on a re-acceptance from the two schools you just turned down. the Ad Com dislikes rejection just as much as you do.

make that decision depending on how iffy your stats are, and how much you liked/disliked the DO programs themselves.

i was in a very similar boat, and i decided to go with the first DO school i was accepted into that i felt i would be happy at. haven't looked back since, and i haven't gotten any slack from my previous employers/advisors (all MD), and i fully expect to be able to be happy coming out of school & residency. after all, your career is going to be ~40 years, why make that only 39 by spending another year sitting in the application cycle?