hypothetical question

[daisygirl]

How do you think med schools would react to this situation if one was to reapply: Say you get accepted to a med school and you really HATE that school, you then decide to decline an acceptance so that you may reapply (after improving your application)--Do you think that med schools would look down upon you? Even if you have an excuse--say that you wanted to stay close to home due to family reasons?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Trek]

Yes they absolutely will (direct from a director of admissions- i'm not, but spoke to one about this). Doing that really questions your desire to be a doctor. Plus, why would "you" apply to a school you hated? --Trek

 

[daisygirl]

I did not apply to a school that I hated. I applied to a school with the thought that the school was okay. I interviewed there and something was said to me during the interview that completely turned me off to the school (I am really serious about this). Also, I "think" that I may have a pretty decent chance of getting into this school (b/c of something else that was said to me during the interview).

 

[souljah1]

I agree with the "serious desire to be a doctor" reply. although med schools take pride in rankings, they also recognize that regardless of where you go you will learn good medicine. So, they are assuming that you are applying to schools that you are interested in attending. If you get accepted to a school and then turn it down (without getting any other acceptances) some adcoms might consider you to be more concerned about getting into a medical school of your choice than about becoming a doctor. I sympathize with you though. It is hard to get a "feel" for a school before interviewing. I've interviewed at schools and felt that I would be unhappy there (relatively). If you were to reapply you better have an excellent excuse for turning down that school. Although I understand what you saying daisy, I think it is risky.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[reesie0726]

I understand too, daisy. But it will look like you are not serious enough about becoming a doctor. I got into a school that I really did not like after I interviewed but if that was my only acceptance, I would go, because I want to become a doctor. I know of a girl who got into some PA school but turned it down with the hopes of getting into a TX school b/c she is TX resident. Anyway, guess how this story goes. She is not in anybody's school. It is not worth the risk.

 

[Wahoo]

It's unorthodox, but you could withdraw your application before you hear the final decision from the school, in case it is an acceptance... then it wouldn't show up on your record that you'd been accepted somewhere if you try applying again later on.
Just a thought.

 

[THE instiGATOR]

USF wouldn't look down on you! They'd be like, "Cool! We're so great, this woman sat out a year for us! The world revolves around us, doesn't it!". :wink:

<img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> USF <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[Trek]

Daisy- i hope you don't think i was makin a personal attack on you. It was a hypothetical question remember :wink: i'm just passing on what i heard. --Trek

 

[Dr. Kermit]

Hi Daisy-

I know your question was hypothetical, but I think I noticed in other posts that you had had interviews at Downstate and Buffalo. From your location, you're from the Bronx, so may I assume you didn't want to relocate across the state?

Like others said, ADCOMS may frown upon your turning down an acceptance and question your sincerity about being a doctor if that was your only acceptance. I think if you reapply, they ask about acceptances and why you didn't attend or why you are reapplying.

But, I also know how it is to attend an interview and absolutely hate the school. That being the case, had the school I disliked been my only acceptance, I would have attended despite the location, the atmosphere, and the cost and tried to transfer my second year. It's hard and it stinks, but if my happiness were on the line, I would attend the school as not to rub anyone the wrong way and the try to transfer.

Good luck with your decision and I hope you don't mind my asking about your hypothetical.

 

[daisygirl]

Trek I am sorry if I came off as being defensive. I guess I am a bit hyper-sensitive b/c of today's interview. Thanks for the info. By the way I will list the three reasons as to why I am really not hot on the school:

1-I really am very uncomfortable w/a comment that an interviewer made about me to me.
2-I am starting to get jittery about going to school so far away from home b/c my husband will be staying where we live now.
3-Has to do w/2: I am assuming that if I don't kick USMLE @ss, then I may have a really huge problem obtaining a residency in the NYC/lower westchester areas

Swampman, You are right..USF would probably love someone who would sit out a year for them <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> . Oh the arrogance of some med schools

 

[Dr. Kermit]

A friend at AE told me that 1/7 doctors in NY are trained in NYC, so you have &gt;14% chance of a residency in NYC/lower Westchester, regardless of where you go. There are lots of hospitals there

But, again I understand about the significant other factor. Mine is only a boyfriend of almost 3 years and we'll only be separated for at most 2 years.

How personal was the comment your interviewer made about you? Would it be possible to ask for a second interview or even withdraw your application before an acceptance is offered?

 

[souljah1]

Daisy,

Your being married and your husband's inability to relocate may make your situation very different than the typical applicant. In other words, you have a much better chance at explaining yourself with just reasons. When I read your post and realized that you were married I thought that you could use that to explain why moving somewhere far from him was difficult enough, but going somewhere were you felt you might put your own happiness and mental health at risk (not saying you'd go crazy but maybe depressed, etc) is not what you are looking for. I don't know, but I do think your situation is different than an unmarried/fresh out of college applicant.

 

[daisygirl]

Thanks Souljah 1 for your opinions/advice.

Dr. Kermit I pm'd you.

 

[Kimya]

Unfortunately, you can't count that being married/significant other relocation will make a difference. I got burned by this badly last year. They really don't care- they just want to see that you will do the work and commit to medicine. If you really didn't like the school withdraw before an acceptance is offered. Then it won't show up on the application next year. If you get accepted and turn it down, fair or not, it is a black mark on your record.