Go to my remaining interviews?

[djsbaseball2014]

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So I was accepted to UCR yesterday and this acceptance is particularly special because of my dad's VA benefits that cover my tuition at any UC for undergrad and medical school. However, I also interviewed at UCF and have been put on the "waitlist" but told that I am in a position to receive an offer. I REALLY liked UCF and while it is expensive the location and overall mindset of the school appealed to me.

That being said, I still have 3 more interviews in January at Tufts, Hofstra and Drexel. These schools are higher ranked than the previous 2 but at my other interviews early on (MCW, U of A Tucson) I just found myself comparing every school to UCF and am afraid ill do that on the east coast. I would probably attend Tufts or Hofstra but the high cost of living along with the high tuition compared to UCF is a bit nervewracking. If i give up free tuition at UCR i want to try and minimize costs wherever I go.

Any input helps, really conflicted and am probably thinking too narrowly

 

[daw05]

I think it is incredibly useful to compare your options to your acceptance, but I'd be wary of comparing them to your waitlist, regardless of how sure of thing you expect it to be. Either before you go to the interview or during it, compare that school to your acceptance, and it will make the decision easier. Might you go to Tufts, Hofstra, or Drexel above UCR? If so, go to the interview and then you can see for yourself. If not, save the airfare.

 

[HomeSkool]

Would you go to any of those three schools over UCR? If so, go to the interview(s). If not, decline so the schools can give other candidates a shot. Don't consider UCF as you decide since you have no offer from them yet.

 

[jarednogeek]

Free tuition? Go with that option.

 

[djsbaseball2014]

@HomeSkool Am I being delusional by even considering the options that are going to cost full price? All of the physicians I have spoke with at my job have told me that the financial freedom that is awarded by not having massive amounts of debt is 100% worth it. My only concern is UCR for their 2 graduating classes has not matched anybody into anesthesia and as of now thats the path I want to head down. Is this a valid enough concern?

 

[Goro]

UCR all the way.

That their grads didn't go into Gas represents personal choices over not being able to match.

 

[HomeSkool]

@HomeSkool Am I being delusional by even considering the options that are going to cost full price? All of the physicians I have spoke with at my job have told me that the financial freedom that is awarded by not having massive amounts of debt is 100% worth it. My only concern is UCR for their 2 graduating classes has not matched anybody into anesthesia and as of now thats the path I want to head down. Is this a valid enough concern?

The "no debt" perk is certainly important and should factor prominently in your decision-making process. However, I'm not sure where your data came from about UCR not having matched anyone into anesthesiology. The 2018 match list I found indicates they put three students into the field this year.

If it were me, I'd almost certainly go with the free tuition option and decline the other interviews. Just because I'd go that route doesn't mean it's the right answer for you, though. The way to determine your own right answer is to consider the most significant pros and cons of UCR and then ask, "Would I honestly entertain an offer from anywhere else?"

Congrats on your acceptance!

 

[Catalystik]

So I was accepted to UCR yesterday and this acceptance is particularly special because of my dad's VA benefits that cover my tuition at any UC for undergrad and medical school. However, I also interviewed at UCF and have been put on the "waitlist" but told that I am in a position to receive an offer. I REALLY liked UCF and while it is expensive the location and overall mindset of the school appealed to me.

That being said, I still have 3 more interviews in January at Tufts, Hofstra and Drexel. These schools are higher ranked than the previous 2 but at my other interviews early on (MCW, U of A Tucson) I just found myself comparing every school to UCF and am afraid ill do that on the east coast. I would probably attend Tufts or Hofstra but the high cost of living along with the high tuition compared to UCF is a bit nervewracking. If i give up free tuition at UCR i want to try and minimize costs wherever I go.

Any input helps, really conflicted and am probably thinking too narrowly

Avoiding the stress that comes with educational debt is huge. Go to UCR.

 

[djsbaseball2014]

The "no debt" option is certainly important and should factor prominently in your decision-making process. However, I'm not sure where your data came from about UCR not having matched anyone into anesthesiology. The 2018 match list I found indicates they put three students into the field this year.

If it were me, I'd almost certainly go with the free tuition option and decline the other interviews. Just because I'd go that route doesn't mean it's the right answer for you, though. The way to determine your own right answer is to consider the most significant pros and cons of UCR and then ask, "Would I honestly entertain an offer from anywhere else?"

Congrats on your acceptance!

Now i feel stupid lol i could have sworn on interview day they showed us their match list and nobody was in anesthesia. Part of me wants to get out as I went to UCR for undergrad and have lived in the area for most of my life. But i also understand the huge financial freedom that this would give me later on post residency. And i can also go to residency somewhere else

 

[MyOdyssey]

So I was accepted to UCR yesterday and this acceptance is particularly special because of my dad's VA benefits that cover my tuition at any UC for undergrad and medical school. However, I also interviewed at UCF and have been put on the "waitlist" but told that I am in a position to receive an offer. I REALLY liked UCF and while it is expensive the location and overall mindset of the school appealed to me.

That being said, I still have 3 more interviews in January at Tufts, Hofstra and Drexel. These schools are higher ranked than the previous 2 but at my other interviews early on (MCW, U of A Tucson) I just found myself comparing every school to UCF and am afraid ill do that on the east coast. I would probably attend Tufts or Hofstra but the high cost of living along with the high tuition compared to UCF is a bit nervewracking. If i give up free tuition at UCR i want to try and minimize costs wherever I go.

Any input helps, really conflicted and am probably thinking too narrowly

OP

Do you mean UCF (University of Central Florida) or UCSF (U Cal San Francisco)?

I assume the latter? You wouldn’t have free tuition to UCF, would you?

UCSF would be the highest ranked school of those you’ve mentioned by far.

 

[djsbaseball2014]

OP

Do you mean UCF (University of Central Florida) or UCSF (U Cal San Francisco)?

I assume the latter? You wouldn’t have free tuition to UCF, would you?

UCSF would be the highest ranked school of those you’ve mentioned by far.

University of Central Florida! lol if i got into UCSF i would have withdrawn from everywhere else in .2 seconds

 

[907914]

Go with the debt free option unless another school just REEEEAALLLLYYY appeals to you. In regards to rankings, the only people that care about that are medical students and medical school deans. In regards to matching in to anesthesia, don’t rely on the success rate of other students to estimate your own abilities.

 

[efle]

gas is not a hard match, you will be able to do that from any school. go with the free tuition unless UCR would somehow hurt your happiness more than a quarter million dollar debt burden will

 

[getdown]

As long as you have decent STEP1 scores and not aiming for only Stanford caliber programs you can easily match into Anesthesia.

 

[DameJulie]

So I was accepted to UCR yesterday and this acceptance is particularly special because of my dad's VA benefits that cover my tuition at any UC for undergrad and medical school. However, I also interviewed at UCF and have been put on the "waitlist" but told that I am in a position to receive an offer. I REALLY liked UCF and while it is expensive the location and overall mindset of the school appealed to me.

That being said, I still have 3 more interviews in January at Tufts, Hofstra and Drexel. These schools are higher ranked than the previous 2 but at my other interviews early on (MCW, U of A Tucson) I just found myself comparing every school to UCF and am afraid ill do that on the east coast. I would probably attend Tufts or Hofstra but the high cost of living along with the high tuition compared to UCF is a bit nervewracking. If i give up free tuition at UCR i want to try and minimize costs wherever I go.

Any input helps, really conflicted and am probably thinking too narrowly

WOW You have an amazing app cycle! Congratulations!!!

 

[Wahkoon]

I’m actually in the same position as you with CalVet and state schools. I’ve gotten a lot more selective with my interviews, but I am still going to about half of them. Personally, I dont think it’s delusional to attend interviews at potential fill-cost programs. I know I’m the kind of person that will wonder “what if,” so for me I feel like it makes sense. Plus, the money I’m spending on interviews now is negligible when compared to costs and future earnings.

That being said, UCR is a fine school at an amazing cost. No one will fault you for cancelling all your interviews and celebrating instead. You will have no problem matching in a specialty and your future self will be happily debt-free.

 

[initialize]

OP I'm assuming you have the GI Bill? Just curious, but how would that cover both your undergrad and medical school considering it only covers 36 months?

 

[Wahkoon]

OP I'm assuming you have the GI Bill? Just curious, but how would that cover both your undergrad and medical school considering it only covers 36 months?

OP mentioned their father’s VA benefits. This most likely falls under CalVet which offers free tuition to degree programs at any state university for the child of the veteran. There is no apparent limit in terms of length.

 

[OddNath]

Now i feel stupid lol i could have sworn on interview day they showed us their match list and nobody was in anesthesia. Part of me wants to get out as I went to UCR for undergrad and have lived in the area for most of my life. But i also understand the huge financial freedom that this would give me later on post residency. And i can also go to residency somewhere else

Free med school?! What an incredible opportunity! And, yes, you can definitely go to the east coast/somewhere different for residency, when they'll be paying you 🙂 Also, you could consider spending the summer after MS1 in a different part of the country, too.

 

[PickleRickelus]

As a UCR alum and current applicant, I can totally understand with you wanting to get away from the IE for a spell. However, it's free tuition dude. Either start a bidding war with another higher ranked acceptance to match UCR's offer or just be happy with the privilege to attend UCR. You definitely will not be at a disadvantage when it comes to matching somewhere. Besides, let's be real you may say anesthesia now but after going through rotations in the third and fourth years, I would bet money that you may end up changing your mind.