How long would you go until giving up?

[deleted74029]

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I'm just wondering how many application cycles yall would go through until giving up on medical school. At this point I would say 3 but I really can't say cause I may go for more than that if it comes down to it. Its just that in my college career I have encountered so many pre-meds that seem to apply to medical school one time (and half-heartedly at that) not get in then just go on their merry way and get some kind of job not even affiliated with the medical field. Its like they have that degree for nothing......I just refuse to be one of those.

 

[Bacchus]

I have said 3, but realistically I can only afford to be a reapplicant once so 2 times total. The lesson to learn from this is that you should apply wisely.

 

[Margaux1985]

I'm just wondering how many application cycles yall would go through until giving up on medical school. At this point I would say 3 but I really can't say cause I may go for more than that if it comes down to it. Its just that in my college career I have encountered so many pre-meds that seem to apply to medical school one time (and half-heartedly at that) not get in then just go on their merry way and get some kind of job not even affiliated with the medical field. Its like they have that degree for nothing......I just refuse to be one of those.

You could conceivably apply as many times as you want although most people seem to believe that if you apply from the time you graduate until you're in your early 30s and you still haven't gotten in, you should probably find an alternative career or apply to a different medical program (such as DO or go the Carribean route).

 

[ChubbyChaser]

total of 3times...I figureif I dont get in by then...Its just not meant tobe.

 

[not so calm now]

Never having applied before, I'm going to say two. Unless I have some sort of drastic realization what was wrong with my app and how to fix it, I don't know what else could be done for a third time.

 

[iA-MD2013]

total of 3times...I figureif I dont get in by then...Its just not meant tobe.

if chubs gives up after 3, then I will give up after 4. This is because tweeties are better than cabana boys.

 

[silverhorse84]

My dad was one of those that didn't get in the first time so he went for a different career...although he later admitted that he wouldn't have liked being a doctor, so I guess it was a good thing.
I think I would apply a second time if I don't get in this cycle, but I doubt a third. It's just so expensive, I don't think I could justify spending the money a third time...unless I knew what was wrong, and could fix it and get into my dream school without having to apply to a dozen other schools. 😉

 

[cpants]

If you want it badly enough, you will be a doctor. If you aren't competitive for MD, you can be a DO. If you aren't competitive for DO, you can go international and bust your butt to get a residency.

 

[Sparda29]

If you want it badly enough, you will be a doctor. If you aren't competitive for MD, you can be a DO. If you aren't competitive for DO, you can go international and bust your butt to get a residency.

Nowadays, people who go to the Caribbean really don't have a hard time getting a residency. Sure, you might not get it at your dream hospital, but a lot of schools have affiliated hospitals.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Nowadays, people who go to the Caribbean really don't have a hard time getting a residency. Sure, you might not get it at your dream hospital, but a lot of schools have affiliated hospitals.

with more US medical schools and graduates and hardly anymore residency spots....thismight change...Right?

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

Probably two cycles. I'm pathetic enough as it is and don't need to collect rejection letters.

 

[Margaux1985]

I'd apply as long as I have a steady source of income. I mean, you could apply to a bunch of schools every year until you get in somewhere. All you have to do is spend about $2000 on the application fee and retake the MCAT every 3 years. If you have a steady job and you think medicine's for you, it's a small price to pay in the overall scheme of things.

 

[DieselD]

I'm about to head into my 3rd app cycle. I'm on some waitlists this time, but it's always best to have a backup plan. The nice thing is that I applied pretty broadly round 2. So now I can narrow my list to my state schools(4 schools, with 2 new ones opening up), schools that interviewed me (4 schools), and a few other schools that screen secondaries and told me I was in the "interview pile". This time around I'm also going to apply to some HBCs and a PR school.

One of my state schools told me exactly what to fix this time, so that was nice.

But yes, if I dont get into med school on the third time, I'll try to caribbean route and maybe just apply to my state schools. In the meantime, I'd be forced to get a real job during the 3rd cycle. Part-time tutoring wont cut it.

 

[dnagyrase]

i think there are factors that will affect this number right? i mean if you improve dramatically on your mcat after applying for a second cycle, that would obviously push you towards applying for a third time. whereas if you don't improve on MCAT, you might wait to even apply for a second cycle. Other degrees, life experiences, publications, jobs, connections you make, etc., all that will affect your decisions.

There really is almost no point to applying again with the exact same application.

 

[Dave_D]

Well speaking as someone who's tossed in the towel I had to think 3 tries was best for me although I can afford to continue if I wanted to do so. (Went back to programming for what it's worth.) Although I think alot of it had to do with my situation over the past few years. I mean honestly, when you put your life on hold for a couple of years, go through illness, take care of a dying parent and then find out your interviewer thought you weren't serious and had no idea what you were doing I think you can only come to one conclusion. That is my interviewer is a drunk and that those dirtbags in admissions are the ones who are not serious. (Maybe if I hadn't gone through all of that I'd keep trying but don't make me laugh now.) Oh well, I'm meeting with the premed advisor soon, I am still curious if I can make a go of it and get a phd in bio, chem, or biochem so I figured I'd ask about it. (Hell, I'd still be a "Doctor")

 

[LikeClockWork]

I'd probably say 3 since I'm officially on my second cycle now. I know someone who got in their 3rd try, but was all set to go for law school if that didn't pan out.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I'm not really sure how long it would have taken for me to give up. I would have gone at least one more cycle, but It would've been very difficult for me to put my life on hold any longer than that. If I had to apply again, I would've gone for the gusto and applied all over the place, including the Carib.

 

[Pedsbro]

i think there are factors that will affect this number right? i mean if you improve dramatically on your mcat after applying for a second cycle, that would obviously push you towards applying for a third time. whereas if you don't improve on MCAT, you might wait to even apply for a second cycle. Other degrees, life experiences, publications, jobs, connections you make, etc., all that will affect your decisions.

There really is almost no point to applying again with the exact same application.

One exception: Becoming a state resident in a state with schools that mostly, if not almost exclusively, take their own residents (like Texas or Florida...even Ohio). I know a surprising number of people, including a pathologist I recently worked for, that established Texas residency by moving there and working for a year, and then applied to only Texas schools and got multiple acceptances. In case you don't know, Texas has a state law that its new medical school classes must be made up of at least 90% state residents. Agreed, that's a drastic measure, but no more so than moving down to the Caribbean for school IMO.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'm one of those who was only going to apply once, but fortunately I got in.

I applied to over 20 well chosen schools, my application was as strong as it could possibly be and I did the best I could. If all 20 had turned me down I was going to go NP or PA instead. In my mind, if 20 schools turned me down when I was at my strongest then there was something there and for some reason I wasn't meant to be a doctor.

I don't necessarily think its a waste of a degree or horrible to "give up" like that. I do not have unlimited resources and my parents will need my help in a few years when they're both retired so I don't have the luxury of repeating a ridiculously time consuming and expensive process over and over. Or the luxury of starting my career in 10 years. There are lots of reasons to only do it once.

I have great respect for those who keep trying, its admirable to be so adamant about your goals. I know someone who had to try for years just to get into a post-bac so he could get to a point where he could apply. Thats incredible stamina and ambition.

But don't assume that there is something wrong with someone who only applies once, different people have difference circumstances and there are lots of reasons people wouldn't reapply.

 

[Margaux1985]

i think there are factors that will affect this number right? i mean if you improve dramatically on your mcat after applying for a second cycle, that would obviously push you towards applying for a third time. whereas if you don't improve on MCAT, you might wait to even apply for a second cycle. Other degrees, life experiences, publications, jobs, connections you make, etc., all that will affect your decisions.

There really is almost no point to applying again with the exact same application.

I think that it's absurd that some people would turn around and apply right away after they were rejected without doing anything substantial (retaking the MCAT, working on a research paper, or getting a publication) to improve their application. I mean, you could go and apply to more schools or make changes to your personal statement, but I think that the wisest approach is to revaluate your application and find out where the weaknesses are and address them, even if it takes two or more years. Even if you show determination and zeal, medical schools don't award brownie points for reapplicants.

 

[tdsbird2]

i am heading into round 3...i am starting a SMP program so hopefully I will get in and not have to even think about re taking the MCAT