Having trouble deciding what to do

[anhonestinquiry]

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Hi everyone, i'm struggling with a decision and could really use some advice. So last year I made a big mistake and missed an interview offered to me. Didn't see an email, didn't check the portal. Beat myself up over it for a long time. Long story short I spoke with management and they said they'd let me interview this cycle if I chose to reapply. It's honestly my dream school and I think I interview well. I do have a confirmed acceptance to a school for this fall though I'd honestly much rather not go to and my heart really isn't in it. Also I don't mind waiting another year and welcome it if I have to. With that said, I can't decide for myself if it is worth the risk. I'd like to give up my seat in this school to someone on the waiting list who truly wants it, but also don't want to fall into the trap of risking it and being rejected post interview. Not that it really matters but the one i'm accepted to is a DO school and the dream school is an MD. Help please :/

 

[Faha]

Is it really worth it to forego $250,000 of one year's income as a physician on the remote chance that you could receive an acceptance at that one MD school a year from now ?

 

[DoctorDragon22]

Is it really worth it to forego $250,000 of one year's income as a physician on the remote chance that you could receive an acceptance at that one MD school a year from now ?

How do you know he will be making $250,000? If he is doing primary care in a rural area he would be making much closer to 100K. Also, @anhonestinquiry I think you should take the DO acceptance tbh. Unless your stats are stellar you are taking a big risk for a very low reward in my opinion.

 

[curbsideconsult]

That is a huge risk. Does the MD school know you already have a DO acceptance? Most of the time I think people should go with what their heart wants, but I think in your case going with your heart's desire is going to lead to negative consequences. I agree that you should take the DO acceptance and run with it. Whatever you decide, I hope it all works out for you.

As for the salary: obviously Faha is right. Even if you do primary care, you'll be making at least $180k out of residency and more so if you go rural because rural areas are doing everything they can to entice people to work there. The only way you'd make $100k or so is if you chose to go part-time or if you hang out your own shingle. But even docs I know who work for themselves are making at least $175k.

 

[anhonestinquiry]

No, the MD school doesn't know I already have a DO acceptance. I honestly applied DO as a safety and it's killing me that I could potentially go to my dream school if I took the risk. I understand DO is 99% the same in the end but I can't shake it for some reason. From the online resources I found that the MD school has like a 70% acceptance post interview for OOS so thats why I was even considering this and I think I interview well. I don't mind losing a years salary to stop hating myself.

 

[DoctorDragon22]

No, the MD school doesn't know I already have a DO acceptance. I honestly applied DO as a safety and it's killing me that I could potentially go to my dream school if I took the risk. I understand DO is 99% the same in the end but I can't shake it for some reason. From the online resources I found that the MD school has like a 70% acceptance post interview for OOS so thats why I was even considering this and I think I interview well. I don't mind losing a years salary to stop hating myself.

What type of residency are you trying to get?

 

[anhonestinquiry]

What type of residency are you trying to get?

I was hoping to have the opportunity to shoot higher for something like neuro or anesthesia and want the most avenues open to me. I'm also big on international work and am concerned of the limitations of the DO.

To be clear, if it was a sure thing, I would happily forego the year to be happy with my end result.

 

[DoctorDragon22]

I was hoping to have the opportunity to shoot higher for something like neuro or anesthesia and want the most avenues open to me. I'm also big on international work and am concerned of the limitations of the DO.

To be clear, if it was a sure thing, I would happily forego the year to be happy with my end result.

It might be in your best interest to wait a year and go MD but without knowing your stats it is really hard to say whether or not to say if you have a good shot.

 

[anhonestinquiry]

It might be in your best interest to wait a year and go MD but without knowing your stats it is really hard to say whether or not to say if you have a good shot.

509 MCAT, 3.7 cGPA, 3.5 sGPA. 1700 hrs scribing, 300+ volunteer hours, 100+ shadowing hours, decent research exp but no publications.

 

[DoctorDragon22]

509 MCAT, 3.7 cGPA, 3.5 sGPA. 1700 hrs scribing, 300+ volunteer hours, 100+ shadowing hours, decent research exp but no publications.

In my opinion it is probably the MCAT, secondaries or interviews that most likely needs improvement. Once again, it could be just luck of the draw. You def should have mentors, current med students or residents that you know look over your secondaries. Also, do as many mock interviews as possible. After that it is in the hands of fate my friend.

 

[DrElliotReid]

I talked about this several years ago on SDN so if you go digging in my history you'll see it, but I turned down my acceptance one year, to a DO school that after interviewing there, I absolutely felt like I would be miserable if I went there..didn't research it before applying and ended up hating the location etc.. I was willing to risk it and apply again the year after for what I wanted, but I also was doing an SMP to improved my candidacy - mainly for the medical volunteering opportunities which was the weak part of my app... and to make up for my just ok MCAT score by taking graduate level courses and acing them. My undergrad GPA and other ECs were completely on par otherwise. I applied the next year, did my research and chose both MD and DO schools I felt like I would attend if offered an acceptance.

I do not regret my decision at all. Caveat is, if you really want that MD dream school, you have to be prepared for the chance you won't get it and have a plan B. I knew my chances at being accepted the next year at DO schools in general were high, and it was worth the risk for me. (Obvi, it should go without saying, if you plan on re-applying to both MD and DO schools, you shouldn't apply again to the one that offered you an acceptance that you declined).