I'm about to homeless. Where do I go from here?

[Bella Swan]

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Commencement is next week. Lots of people cry out of happiness when they receive their college diploma. I've been crying all this weekend, but it hasn't been out of happiness.

This year has come as a bit of shock to me, from getting my scores back to rejections down the line of schools. I graduated as Salutatorian of my high school (one of the best academies), got a 2300 on my SAT with Verbal being my weak point that I could never bring above 700, and got accepted to nearly every Ivy I applied to except Harvard. I attended an Ivy League school, busted my tail to get the highest marks in my concentration, and worked hard to build a diverse background. Everyone's always told I would make a great doctor someday. It's sad to see everyone else around me going to big name MD and Phd programs next year, but I have nowhere to go.

I guess I would be the last person to believe that after a near 4.0 and numerous awards from one of the best schools in the nation, that I would be homeless by the end of the month. I have about $20,000 in my bank account and I have to find something to do as my apartment lease expires on May 31st.

I can't stay in New England anymore, I don't feel wanted here after all the medical schools that rejected me. I can't move back home because as much as I love my parents I'll loose my mind and honestly they are furious with me. Also, moving back home will make me feel like I'm no better than the kids that didn't make it through high school (which I do feel like now anyway).

I guess I can apply for research jobs (I have 4 years of experience and a publication with another just being accepted). I just don't know where to go? I've always wanted to go to Europe, but I'm afraid I'll never make it back to medical school if I leave the US. I'm afraid I'll forget what it is like to study.

I wish I hadn't have applied to medical school this year and just kept working on my application. I know I can't change that now and I have bigger problems looming.

For those of you who will ask where I applied to and what my resume looked like, I've posted in the WAMC before:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=883973

 

[Cinclus]

Find a job so you can pay rent somewhere. Take some time off from the med school application process. Study hard and possibly re-take the MCAT. Re-apply to more reasonable schools. Good luck. (The WAMC thread you linked to has some good advice, really.)

 

[hiyaman]

You got some good advice in the WAMC thread. Try to find a job and re-apply.

 

[Iso4ane]

Suck it up and just go home for the year. (It will help save money, med school isn't cheap )

Study your butt off get a better score on the MCAT, and reapply next cycle.

But, keep busy somehow back home, working, volunteering, shadowing....

 

[Remy LeBeau]

1. Get a job.
2. Retake the MCAT
3. ???
4. Profit!!

Try to realize you do have a lot of things going for you. There are worse places to be than having $20K in the bank and an Ivy education.

 

[Caprica6]

You have money in the bank, and parents that would likely welcome you back if you had no other choice. Take a breath because you aren't going to end up on the street. Have you retaken your MCAT yet? If not my advice is to wait a cycle or two and reapply. Get a research job. Look for postings in your area, or if you have no geographically limits start contacting PI's in your field of interest, someone is bound to need a PRA, with your CV (and no PI is going to care about the MCAT score) finding a research position should not be that difficult, especially if you are willing to move for one. Also, I think you should meet with someone (not sure who) about strategies to bring up your verbal section since you mentioned a learning difficulty there. When it comes time to reapply, you will have more full time research experience and a higher MCAT, and you should be okay. You can even keep some of those top schools on your list, just be sure to include a bunch of safeties as well.

 

[tiedyeddog]

1. Retake MCAT.
2. Get a job in the gap.
3. Apply more broadly next time, maybe consider dropping the MD/PhD applicant and going MD only.

 

[WhizoMD]

very melodramatic thread title.... you have $20,000, an Ivy League degree, research experience, and a home to go to. The suggestion that you're going to be homeless borders on insulting.

Put bluntly, you applied like an idiot last cycle (very late submission, and to a whose who list of US med schools). If you apply early (June submission) and broadly, you'll get in. Just do some research or something like that while you reapply.

 

[deleted103644]

In all honesty, you should have applied MSTP. For someone with your background, it would have actually been easier.

Your MCAT is far too low for the schools you applied to, and it sounds like you had to retake it multiple times (a definite red flag if you still can't crack 30 after multiple retakes).

As for housing, you need to find work or lean on your parents while reapplying. It sounds like the latter is not an option, so see if you can find a paid research gig (might require a 2 year commitment) or something like healthcare consulting.

And you may need to swallow some pride, both in considering other healthcare paths like your parents suggested and in any future medical school interviews. (It's just an Internet forum so this may not be your actual persona, but you're coming across as a little arrogant and entitled, which would not come across well in interviews.)

Good luck.

 

[Bella Swan]

Thank you everyone. Yes, the advice I had been given was very helpful.

I promise you, I'm not being over dramatic with this. I should have been more blunt before, I really can't go home. I have to get all my stuff out of my current apartment and move somewhere by June 1st. I can't stay in the North East, it just doesn't feel like home anymore. It just reminds me of all the failures of this year and I want to forget that this year ever happened.

I will apply for jobs, but where? I'm taking the MCAT over in July, but verbal still haunts me. Yes, this will be my 3rd time taking the MCAT and it will be looked down upon. If I have to go for a fourth MCAT I may give up at that point. I may wait out another cycle also.

Edit: Also my parents won't pay for any more applications or MCATs, I have to use the sum I have. I'm essentially on my own.

 

[kautionwirez]

20k, I can survive off of that for like 2 years if I was very frugal.

You can always move to California/SD. There are plenty of places in SD you can rent for 500/month with randoms. There are a ton of research/premed jobs here as well.

 

[Conflagration]

I wouldn't suggest moving to California unless you're interested in medical schools there. The cost of living is high, so it would be silly to go there if money's a concern unless you want in-state advantage.

You'd be golden for any DO school under the sun. If you want a high-tier MD school, you need to retake the MCAT. However, your MCAT isn't terrible. I think you were a victim of a top-heavy list. Apply to some safety schools and you should be solid.

 

[deleted103644]

Plenty of research jobs in the big East coast cities too, particularly Boston and NYC.

You will be living in a shoebox though...

 

[WhizoMD]

You could move to Florida or Texas and get a research job to establish residency. Both have low costs of living and a bunch of in state Medical schools that heavily favor residents. Also, it would be drastic change in scenery without the culture shock you could get from other southern states.

 

[ReptarBar]

i'm not exactly sure how your mcat is so low considering your SAT score was great. you should be doing excellent in the BS and PS sections. something is telling me that you either didn't try very hard, or you completely studied the wrong way.

for verbal, just read everyday if you want to really score high. i'm talking about reading difficult books, newspaper articles, anything. you need to improve your reading speed and retention. even though i am decent/below average in verbal, i completely understand when people say they think verbal is the easiest. the answers are all in front of you, and it's just basic reading comprehension.

study hard.

 

[theseeker4]

Thank you everyone. Yes, the advice I had been given was very helpful.

I promise you, I'm not being over dramatic with this. I should have been more blunt before, I really can't go home. I have to get all my stuff out of my current apartment and move somewhere by June 1st. I can't stay in the North East, it just doesn't feel like home anymore. It just reminds me of all the failures of this year and I want to forget that this year ever happened.

I will apply for jobs, but where? I'm taking the MCAT over in July, but verbal still haunts me. Yes, this will be my 3rd time taking the MCAT and it will be looked down upon. If I have to go for a fourth MCAT I may give up at that point. I may wait out another cycle also.

Edit: Also my parents won't pay for any more applications or MCATs, I have to use the sum I have. I'm essentially on my own.

You really can't go home and you really can't stay in the northeast? You have 20k in the bank? You are so absorbed in your self pity you really think you are on the verge of being homeless? Snap out of it, grow up and do what you have to do. You are an adult, adults don't whine about their parents not paying for them to apply or retake the MCAT when they have that much money sitting in the bank. Suck it up and take some responsibility for yourself. Apply at least somewhat intelligently this time and you can get in without a retake.

 

[Roguelyn]

very melodramatic thread title.... you have $20,000, an Ivy League degree, research experience, and a home to go to. The suggestion that you're going to be homeless borders on insulting.

Put bluntly, you applied like an idiot last cycle (very late submission, and to a whose who list of US med schools). If you apply early (June submission) and broadly, you'll get in. Just do some research or something like that while you reapply.

You really can't go home and you really can't stay in the northeast? You have 20k in the bank? You are so absorbed in your self pity you really think you are on the verge of being homeless? Snap out of it, grow up and do what you have to do. You are an adult, adults don't whine about their parents not paying for them to apply or retake the MCAT when they have that much money sitting in the bank. Suck it up and take some responsibility for yourself. Apply at least somewhat intelligently this time and you can get in without a retake.

I agree with these two. Why all the drama? You have so many more options than the vast majority of Americans. Next you'll be telling us you can't decide between the cute furry guy or the cute pale guy. What to do???

 

[Ashley1989]

I'm sorry, but with $20000 in the bank, an obviously smart head on your shoulders, an ivy education, and the only thing keeping you from moving back in with your parents is because they would drive you insane and won't pay for any more applications... I think you need a wake up call!

My dear, there are many who truly are on the verge of being homeless, and I'm sure that they are lucky to have $50 in the bank account if that. You will not be homeless, everything will turn out okay, and buck up!

 

[TriagePreMed]

Oh cry me a f-ing river you spoiled brat. You have 20k in your bank account and the ability to go home or travel through Europe. Chances are you haven't even tried to get a job. You're not homeless. You're just awakening to reality that your entitled little world doesn't extend to the real world. I hope something actually bad happens to you so that you learn some maturity.

And seriously, you applied (almost) exclusively to top 20 schools and are disappointed when your 29 didn't get you in?

 

[Ashley1989]

With that money, take the year and study for the MCAT for several months, then go off to Africa or south America and spend several months in a hospital out in the middle of nowhere, or go work in the inner city soup kitchens or shelters and see what homelessness or suffering honestly looks like.

I'm not trying to be mean I'm really not, but this can help you see just how lucky you really are.

 

[DavetheMD]

very melodramatic thread title.... you have $20,000, an Ivy League degree, research experience, and a home to go to. The suggestion that you're going to be homeless borders on insulting.

Put bluntly, you applied like an idiot last cycle (very late submission, and to a whose who list of US med schools). If you apply early (June submission) and broadly, you'll get in. Just do some research or something like that while you reapply.

This precisely quantifies the OP's situation. This is your sweeping invitation into the real world, and it's better to get a kick in the ass before the rigors of med school.

It sounds like you did not apply broadly, this was a mistake. Take the necessary time to bring up the relevant portions of your app as others have said. Following this, have some humility and apply to schools that you think are beneath you. Chances are, the schools that may have accepted you were written off this cycle.

 

[Godric]

If you want an answer to your problems its simple,

1. Your list was too top heavy
2. If you need work, apply everywhere and anywhere, I am sure your school has some sort of office that can help you
3. Get over the fact that the east reminds you of your failures, this is just pointless. It just serves to hold you back. You mean to tell us that you will never do anything again in the east because of a few rejections? Thats just stupid.

Take a deep breath, look for places to apply to, anything that can earn you a salary. At the same time start looking for apartments, nothing fancy just cheap. If you cant find a job then its time to move back to your parents house. It might suck but if your not capable of finding a job and an apartment then thats all you can do.

You didnt hit rock bottom, you just had a minor set back. Get back on your feet, you'll do fine.

 

[MiracleforMD]

Is it April's fools again? I am having a hard time believing some of the threads that were created recently.

 

[CodeRedDew]

It's crazy how you believe that you will be "homeless" with 20K sitting in your bank account.

Take the advice that people have given you and you'll be back on your feet in no time. Your world is FAR from over.

I just find it amazing how money can shelter people now a days. This reminds me of one of those "My Sweet 16" episodes, where the birthday girl was mad because she got a Mercedes instead of a Bentley.

 

[jcpenny]

Oh cry me a f-ing river you spoiled brat. You have 20k in your bank account and the ability to go home or travel through Europe. Chances are you haven't even tried to get a job. You're not homeless. You're just awakening to reality that your entitled little world doesn't extend to the real world. I hope something actually bad happens to you so that you learn some maturity.

And seriously, you applied (almost) exclusively to top 20 schools and are disappointed when your 29 didn't get you in?

+1000
Welcome to the real world. I find it hard to sympathize with your situation. Woe is me, I am rich, highly educated blah blah blah. Fortunately, medical school class is full of your type, you will fit right in, don't give up on medicine yet.

 

[Osakhomen]

If I were you I would HIGHLY consider moving back with your parents if they allow it. You'll save a lot of money, and will be to study for the MCAT....

If you are really serious about moving, move to somewhere where the cost of living is cheap like Texas... Find a part-time research job or any job and start studying hard for the MCAT. You can get out of this funk...I know how you feel, like you're being left behind while your friends go on to do better things, but you have to stop comparing yourself to other people... run your own race. Sounds cheesy, but it's the truth. One year or two does not make much of a difference in the grand scheme.

 

[Gut Shot]

Thank you everyone. Yes, the advice I had been given was very helpful.

I promise you, I'm not being over dramatic with this. I should have been more blunt before, I really can't go home. I have to get all my stuff out of my current apartment and move somewhere by June 1st. I can't stay in the North East, it just doesn't feel like home anymore. It just reminds me of all the failures of this year and I want to forget that this year ever happened.

Last week I had to call an oncologist and inform him that one of his patients has a highly malignant, essentially incurable type of cancer. The oncologist took it like they always do, as someone realizing that he has some terrible news to give. THAT person, the patient, is having a bad week. The rest of us are just negotiating a few bumps in the road.

Your situation is unfortunate, but it's also the opportunity to grow a spine/pair of gonads, which is sounds like you could use. You strike me as a kid who is very smart and works hard, but has also never really been kicked in the teeth. You might as well get used to it, because it won't be the last time.

Vince Lombardi said "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up." That statement rings true here. You don't need to move out of the northeast in hysterics, and you don't need to retake the MCAT. You need to calm down, find a job, find a place to live, and reapply early to some schools with a higher likelihood of accepting you.

 

[startswithb]

1. Get a job.
2. Retake the MCAT
3. ???
4. Profit!!

Try to realize you do have a lot of things going for you. There are worse places to be than having $20K in the bank and an Ivy education.

Umm..yeah.

You are in a much better position than I was when I graduated.

 

[ljpm8224]

..... I've been crying all this weekend, but it hasn't been out of happiness.
....
This year has come as a bit of shock to me, from getting my scores back to rejections down the line of schools. I graduated as Salutatorian of my high school (one of the best academies), got a 2300 on my SAT with Verbal being my weak point that I could never bring above 700, and got accepted to nearly every Ivy I applied to except Harvard. I attended an Ivy League school, busted my tail to get the highest marks in my concentration, and worked hard to build a diverse background. Everyone's always told I would make a great doctor someday. It's sad to see everyone else around me going to big name MD and Phd programs next year, but I have nowhere to go.
......

I can't stay in New England anymore, I don't feel wanted here after all the medical schools that rejected me. I can't move back home because as much as I love my parents I'll loose my mind and honestly they are furious with me. Also, moving back home will make me feel like I'm no better than the kids that didn't make it through high school (which I do feel like now anyway).

I get the sense that you've been working super hard, you're a little high strung and WAY hard on yourself. You're super young and have this awesome freedom, no ties and a nice financial cushion.

Why not take some time to ENJOY yourself and have FUN. No research job. Go travel, bum around, become a freaking ski bum or liftie for a season (or three).

Decompress, unplug and chill out for a year. I recommend Jackson Hole: ski liftie in the winter, yoga instructor/kyack guide in the summer.

At least, that's what I'd do. 😀 Oh, and flyfishing. Lots of flyfishing.

Alternatively, you could move to a cool city (NYC) and work interesting jobs like cheesemongering or fashion industry stuff. Do something unusual and fun that interests you. If you don't like anything fun, try enough stuff to see what catches your fancy and then do that.

After said break, you'll come back to this with renewed vigor and something actually interesting to talk about in interviews. 😛 Good luck!

 

[Perrotfish]

Come down to New Orleans and pick up an MPH at Tulane. Student loans for living expenses and tuition will let you save you bank account for your application. The extra degree will help a little with your next admission cycle and a little bit more when you inevitably apply to a competitive residency and then enter the cloistered world of academic medicine. You could get a real job for the year, but lets be honest a white collar job hunt takes 6 months and you don't sound like someone that's willing to work at the mall.

BTW I don't agree with everyone telling you to move back in with your parents. It doesn't sound like anything healthy is going on there. Get some distance.

 

[ravupadh]

You have a good chance to get into medical school since you went to an Ivy League school and have a good GPA. Here's the problem however. You only applied to extremely competitive top medical schools. You need to have "safety" schools in that list so you'll always have a backup acceptance. In your case, your MCAT is fine for schools like Drexel or your state schools. However no matter where you went to undergrad, a 29 is just not going to cut it for Harvard (granted you don't have legacy). You need to make a decision whether you want to go to a low-mid tier medical school or to one of the top tier ones. If you don't mind going to Drexel or a similar school, then your MCAT is fine. But if you do want to go to Harvard, then use the extra year to study for the MCAT and retake it ASAP.

In the meantime you can also easily find a job within the biotech and research field since you're Ivy League. You are in a much better position then other rejected applicants so just take some time to think all of this over.

 

[tankgunner]

fast forward 10 years... -->
"I'm about to homeless. Where do I go from here?
I have about $200,000 in my bank account and I have to find something to do as my condo purchase option expires on May 31st."

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Honestly OP, a habit of running from your failures and whatever makes you uncomfortable will do you no good.

Which schools are you hoping to apply to next cycle? If you plan to reapply to the schools you previously applied to, then honestly, staying in New England might be the best for you. If not, then as some other poster mentioned, states like Texas or Florida are your best bet.

And yeah, with $20,000 in the bank, you're in a better position than many people in this country. Stop thinking it's the end of the world.

 

[thesauce]

I can't stay in New England anymore, I don't feel wanted here after all the medical schools that rejected me. I can't move back home because as much as I love my parents I'll loose my mind and honestly they are furious with me. Also, moving back home will make me feel like I'm no better than the kids that didn't make it through high school

You AREN'T any better than them. Maybe this piece of humble pie wasn't such a bad thing.

 

[Starlightembers]

Thank you everyone. Yes, the advice I had been given was very helpful.

I promise you, I'm not being over dramatic with this. I should have been more blunt before, I really can't go home. I have to get all my stuff out of my current apartment and move somewhere by June 1st. I can't stay in the North East, it just doesn't feel like home anymore. It just reminds me of all the failures of this year and I want to forget that this year ever happened.

I will apply for jobs, but where? I'm taking the MCAT over in July, but verbal still haunts me. Yes, this will be my 3rd time taking the MCAT and it will be looked down upon. If I have to go for a fourth MCAT I may give up at that point. I may wait out another cycle also.

Edit: Also my parents won't pay for any more applications or MCATs, I have to use the sum I have. I'm essentially on my own.

First of all, you are [I assume] around 21-22 years of age and an Ivy League graduate. While the fact your parents are refusing to support your next application attempt is inconvenient, it is also not tragic. You have $20k in the bank, a desirable academic qualification and work [in research] experience to put on your resume -- you should be fine paying for it on your own and, as an adult, you should.

Second of all, while living with one's parents is less than ideal after living apart for four or so years, unless there is a toxic situation (family dysfunction, abuse, so on), it is not the end of the world (far from it). If they are allowing you to return home and the situation is non-toxic/safe, it is an option to consider. You will save quite a bit of money. And, speaking as a GED-holder, your attitude concerning those who never/only graduated high school is elitist; they are not somehow less than you and you are not somehow better than them.

If, however, you truly do not want to live with your parents, withdraw money from the 20k -- which you are incredibly fortunate to have -- and rent another apartment or look into room shares [depending on how much you want to spend and cost of living in the area]. As long as one lives semi-frugally, that is more than enough to live off of for at least a year, if not more. This should hold you over until you secure employment, reapply and so forth.

As for being unable to live in New England anymore, I must say that sounds incredibly childish. You applied poorly -- a mistake that, armed with more knowledge, you will hopefully not repeat -- and, unfortunately, are paying for it. It's OK to be upset about that -- to feel grief, frustrated, disappointed, discouraged, angry, sad -- however, running from an entire geographical region screams of self-pity and immaturity-fueled impulsiveness. Running from the area is not going to make this go away. That said, if you truly want to leave the area, that is your choice; especially if money is a concern, there are certainly cheaper areas of the country.

In terms of your MCAT score, it will not get you into a top 20 school; however, especially with your other credentials considered, it will likely get you into a low-mid tier MD school without a retake and will most certainly get you into DO schools (especially if you apply early, as you should). Take this gap time to thoroughly research schools that better fit your qualifications.

You've hit a bump in the road and, while that is not the easiest thing to cope with, you're, overall, doing pretty well in life: Ivy League degree, a list of academic awards, work [of the research variety] experience, acceptable MCAT score, enough savings to live frugally off of, a goal and a way of attaining them. I say this not to minimize anything you may be feeling; but to provide some perspective. Right now, it seems that your own pain and self-pity is keeping you stuck, unable to see the bigger picture and take the steps needed to move forward. Take a step back, breath, realize where you are at and where you need to be and keep on moving.

Finally, you have a home that, from what you have said, you can go home to without risking your health or safety [though it would be unpleasant]; enough money saved to live on your own without working, if the former truly was not an option; and qualifications to work, if need be. That is not being on the verge of homelessness and, to be blunt, as someone who has been homeless without a place to turn (though, thankfully, not fortoo long; my friends pulled through and gave me a spot on their couch), it's insulting to suggest that.

I wish you all the best.

Star

 

[235788]

Commencement is next week. Lots of people cry out of happiness when they receive their college diploma. I've been crying all this weekend, but it hasn't been out of happiness.

This year has come as a bit of shock to me, from getting my scores back to rejections down the line of schools. I graduated as Salutatorian of my high school (one of the best academies), got a 2300 on my SAT with Verbal being my weak point that I could never bring above 700, and got accepted to nearly every Ivy I applied to except Harvard. I attended an Ivy League school, busted my tail to get the highest marks in my concentration, and worked hard to build a diverse background. Everyone's always told I would make a great doctor someday. It's sad to see everyone else around me going to big name MD and Phd programs next year, but I have nowhere to go.

I guess I would be the last person to believe that after a near 4.0 and numerous awards from one of the best schools in the nation, that I would be homeless by the end of the month. I have about $20,000 in my bank account and I have to find something to do as my apartment lease expires on May 31st.

I can't stay in New England anymore, I don't feel wanted here after all the medical schools that rejected me. I can't move back home because as much as I love my parents I'll loose my mind and honestly they are furious with me. Also, moving back home will make me feel like I'm no better than the kids that didn't make it through high school (which I do feel like now anyway).

I guess I can apply for research jobs (I have 4 years of experience and a publication with another just being accepted). I just don't know where to go? I've always wanted to go to Europe, but I'm afraid I'll never make it back to medical school if I leave the US. I'm afraid I'll forget what it is like to study.

I wish I hadn't have applied to medical school this year and just kept working on my application. I know I can't change that now and I have bigger problems looming.

For those of you who will ask where I applied to and what my resume looked like, I've posted in the WAMC before:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=883973

your school list was unrealistic.... I'd try to get into a linkage program if you want to remain in school.

 

[music2doc]

Commencement is next week. Lots of people cry out of happiness when they receive their college diploma. I've been crying all this weekend, but it hasn't been out of happiness.

This year has come as a bit of shock to me, from getting my scores back to rejections down the line of schools. I graduated as Salutatorian of my high school (one of the best academies), got a 2300 on my SAT with Verbal being my weak point that I could never bring above 700, and got accepted to nearly every Ivy I applied to except Harvard. I attended an Ivy League school, busted my tail to get the highest marks in my concentration, and worked hard to build a diverse background. Everyone's always told I would make a great doctor someday. It's sad to see everyone else around me going to big name MD and Phd programs next year, but I have nowhere to go.

I guess I would be the last person to believe that after a near 4.0 and numerous awards from one of the best schools in the nation, that I would be homeless by the end of the month. I have about $20,000 in my bank account and I have to find something to do as my apartment lease expires on May 31st.

I can't stay in New England anymore, I don't feel wanted here after all the medical schools that rejected me. I can't move back home because as much as I love my parents I'll loose my mind and honestly they are furious with me. Also, moving back home will make me feel like I'm no better than the kids that didn't make it through high school (which I do feel like now anyway).

I guess I can apply for research jobs (I have 4 years of experience and a publication with another just being accepted). I just don't know where to go? I've always wanted to go to Europe, but I'm afraid I'll never make it back to medical school if I leave the US. I'm afraid I'll forget what it is like to study.

I wish I hadn't have applied to medical school this year and just kept working on my application. I know I can't change that now and I have bigger problems looming.

For those of you who will ask where I applied to and what my resume looked like, I've posted in the WAMC before:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=883973

Then go get a job somewhere. You have to pay the rent somehow, so get started on that. You may want to sit out a round or two to get back on your feet, since you need to get a job, pay some bills, and then restudy and retake the MCAT. Your 29 with that poor of a VR isn't going to cut it at even the low-end MD programs. You would honestly be looking at high DO/low MD as-is, but you applied to ALL top 40 programs. There are people I know that have MCAT scores 5-10 points higher than yours with insane ECs and they didn't do that. You have got to bring that MCAT up. That's really all there is to it. Good luck.

 

[lobo.solo]

Oh cry me a f-ing river you spoiled brat. You have 20k in your bank account and the ability to go home or travel through Europe. Chances are you haven't even tried to get a job. You're not homeless. You're just awakening to reality that your entitled little world doesn't extend to the real world. I hope something actually bad happens to you so that you learn some maturity.

And seriously, you applied (almost) exclusively to top 20 schools and are disappointed when your 29 didn't get you in?

This.....
WTF!!!!!! you are a college grad with 20k in the bank... use your brain, get a job and move on with your life.

 

[235788]

actually op, why not go to the caribbean!



I got an email the other day from trinity informing me that I can apply (fo freee!) to start in fall 2012 , no interview required.

 

[music2doc]

actually op, why not go to the caribbean!



I got an email the other day from trinity informing me that I can apply (fo freee!) to start in fall 2012 , no interview required.

Good point! S/he even has $20k for a downpayment on the first semester! ...Or a plane ticket. Or a house in the Caribbean so that s/he doesn't have to worry about coming back to the States to practice!

 

[galaxyx]

1. Relax, you have enough money to live off of through another application season/gap year.
2. Get started on your application.
3. You're retaking the MCAT in July? Find a place to live until then. Move back home, move in with a friend, rent a room, find a sublet for the summer. You're in a college town. Finding a room for the summer should be easy.
3.a. STUDY
4. AFTER you've reapplied/retaken MCAT, decide where you want to live for the next year. Don't try to move halfway across the country before you retake the MCAT. That'll just put you further behind.
5. Get some life experience! Jobs are good. You're already a step up on the finances, so you might as well keep it that way.

 

[ReInventor]

I promise you, I'm not being over dramatic with this.

Really?

This is the weirdest thread. Homeless? Give me a break--that's insulting to people who have actually experienced homelessness. Swallow your pride and find a freaking job, any job, if you are concerned about being "homeless." 😕

 

[JustMeditate]

Thank you everyone. Yes, the advice I had been given was very helpful.

I promise you, I'm not being over dramatic with this. I should have been more blunt before, I really can't go home. I have to get all my stuff out of my current apartment and move somewhere by June 1st. I can't stay in the North East, it just doesn't feel like home anymore. It just reminds me of all the failures of this year and I want to forget that this year ever happened.

I will apply for jobs, but where? I'm taking the MCAT over in July, but verbal still haunts me. Yes, this will be my 3rd time taking the MCAT and it will be looked down upon. If I have to go for a fourth MCAT I may give up at that point. I may wait out another cycle also.

Edit: Also my parents won't pay for any more applications or MCATs, I have to use the sum I have. I'm essentially on my own.

Oh. My. God.

Seriously? The East Coast "just doesn't feel like home," because you were rejected at a few medical schools? You aren't honestly taking these rejections personally, are you?

Given that your parents have essentially been paying for your living expenses, college costs, and medical application costs, I can see how you might have developed a sense of entitlement. The high GPA, Ivy League status, and publication might have also added to that. But I don't care how "entitled" you are. You aren't going to get into medical school with a 29 MCAT, after a retake, if you exclusively apply to top 20 schools and wait until f*cking September to get your transcripts verified. You had an excellent application and blew it by being arrogant and applying neither broadly nor early

And now you have to reapply? The horror! The humanity!😱

Look, I am tempted to call troll, but if you are a real person, you need a reality check. You have a high GPA, good EC's, a decent MCAT, $20,000 in the bank, and parents you can live with if you can stand to get off that high horse of yours. You are by no means---what so ever---about to become homeless. OMG. You're a pre-med, surely you've worked with REAL homeless people as part of a clinical or nonclinical volunteer program? You can't honestly believe your situation is that bad, can you?

Here is my advice: First, unless your parents are abusive, go home. You can work part time to earn some more cash for the application cycle and/or for fun, but not having to work full time will give you the freedom to study hard core for the MCAT, do some nonclinical volunteer work, as it seems to be missing from your application ( maybe help some, you know, real homeless people out), and maybe add in some tutoring. I know you'd rather live away from home, but shouldn't you be focused on the big prize? Do you want to live away from your parents, or do you want to be a doctor?

Secondly, don't take the MCAT in July, unless you are consistently getting 30+ on practice exams. This is your last shot. Three times is bad enough, I've heard that four retakes is an automatic rejection at some schools unless the final retake is, like, 40+. So, spend another 3-5 months doing NOTHING but studying for the MCAT. I know you want the torture that is the MCAT to end, but shouldn't you be focused on the big prize? Do you want to be done with the MCAT, or do you want to be a doctor?

After a year of application building and MCAT prep, reapply early and broadly. Only a third of your selected schools should be top tier, at most. I know you want to go to Harvard and all, so you can keep feeling like a big shot, but shouldn't you be focused on the big prize? Do you want to be able to say "I went to an Ivy League," or do you want to able to say "I am a doctor?"

 

[09ine]

I think this is relevant:

http://youtu.be/ruhFmBrl4GM

 

[ReptarBar]

i would be mad too if my daughter got a 29. your parents must think you are a freaking idiot.

your ivy education got you a 10 and 11 in the science sections lmao. that is embarrassing.

i know exactly what type of person you are. you are a gunner, crazy pre-med girl who studies endlessly for tests without truly understanding the material, causing you to be unable to deal with novel problem-solving situations like those on the MCAT.

 

[MedPR]

Oh cry me a f-ing river you spoiled brat. You have 20k in your bank account and the ability to go home or travel through Europe. Chances are you haven't even tried to get a job. You're not homeless. You're just awakening to reality that your entitled little world doesn't extend to the real world. I hope something actually bad happens to you so that you learn some maturity.

And seriously, you applied (almost) exclusively to top 20 schools and are disappointed when your 29 didn't get you in?

Agreed. I legitimately almost was homeless 2 years ago when my parents kicked me out with <$500 in my bank account.

Threads like this are idiotic.

 

[Neurosis]

ivy league graduate...20k in the bank...homelessness...lol, girl, please.

 

[MedPR]

ivy league graduate...20k in the bank...homelessness...lol, girl, please.

Don't forget that she is choosing not to go home to her parents, who presumably would happily let her live with them again.

 

[Neurosis]

Don't forget that she is choosing not to go home to her parents, who presumably would happily let her live with them again.

I'm sorry but unless your parents are of the abusive kind, then this is just blatant stupidity...I don't even know what to say right now.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

You accidentally a word in the title.