Important Poll!!! PLEASE READ VERY CONTROVERSIAL

[BlackPuma]

HAHAHA tricked you..no it ain't related to news....it's about deferring from medical school...you had to peak didn't you, even though you hate me, come on admit it :wink: hehe

I don't know about you guys, but this year with AMCAS was like an additional burden..and sometimes I ask myself if I want to defer...but this is the problem...3 months is too short of a vacation and 12 months is waaaaay too extreme!! like 5 months would have been nice...but it ain't an option...so please answer the poll....have you thought about deferring...do u want to defer....

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[Doctora Foxy]

Personally, I want to finish ASAP so I can start having cute little babies

I'm a little younger than the average applicant who applies after graduation (I just turned 21 in December), so I figure if I get in this year, I could be done right around or before age 30. I don't know at what age people start families, but I imagine it would be easier when you're done with it all.

If I deferred, I would definitely work to save up some money, so it wouldn't really be like a vacation for me. I think the vacation they give us is enough time.

 

[SMW]

I have already requested a deferral from Columbia.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

why SMW? (if I may ask)

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by SMW:
•I have already requested a deferral from Columbia.•••••so if I apply again next year...maybe I will be lucky to meet someone as wonderful as you in my classmate <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

 

[THE instiGATOR]

I'm completely burned out. I need a break. I think med school will be easier for me than chemistry, though. I guess I can chug along. Why on earth did I choose this major!?!

 

[brandonite]

I'm trying to understand this insane ass't in atomic physics right now, so I can completely understand, Swampman. Anything that's not math or physics will seem like a vacation to me. Bring on med school! The sooner the better.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[Doctora Foxy]

hey brando, I'll trade you your math and physics for the 20 pages I have to write in Spanish by Wednesday!

 

[brandonite]

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

I don't speak Spanish, though, so it might not be that good. I speak French, that's almost Spanish, right? I could write it in French... :wink:

Hey, should I chance my SDN name to just 'brando'? It seems to be my nickname. Not too sure if I want to be associated with Marlon Brando, though... :wink:

 

[Doctora Foxy]

sorry I'm too lazy to type "nite", but no need to change it and sorry, but French is unacceptable! Necesito espan~ol!

 

[Epi]

I am just curious, what is Columbia's policy on allowing students to request a defferal? Do they just allow anybody who requests one to defer for a year, or do you have to write them a letter telling them what you will be doing in the year off??

 

[brandonite]

You're not the only person that calls me brando, so I was just curious... No biggie.

So, now that we've established that I can't do your homework, how much do you know about atomic physics??

 

[I got in]

Any takers for the two neurobio/psyc lab reports and 5-6 hrs of roach dissections.
I hate (truly) hate cockroaches. Surgery was cool at first now I detest it. Yuuuuuucckkk. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
I feel the pain...
ooowww

 

[brandonite]

Ya know, I don't think I've ever used a scalpel... So, I would be a poor choice to do your dissections.

I've only taken 1st year bio, and we were about six people to a fetal pig during dissection time, so I just sorta watched others.

Wow, med school is going to be interesting... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[Bnd4RENT]

Dear God, get me out of O-Chem! Bring on med school!

 

[I got in]

We dont use scalpel. wWe use an ugly-ugly microscope and super tiny tweezers to pull the gut and crap associated with it (literally). Indeed, if accepted, I will most certainly have an interesting time ahead.
But I truly think that atomic physics must at least be fun. As an aside, prior to my fascination with the bio-med sciences, I was very much a physics nerd (with the glasses, graphing calculator, Stephen Hawkings' brief history of time and that certain tweak to the voice).

 

[brandonite]

Ah. Well, I'm not that good with microscope's either. The little things you miss as a Math/Physics major... :wink:

I didn't mind Math/Physics for the first couple years. Junior year it started to get a bit annoying, and this year it's pure evil. The nice thing is that there's not a lot of work to it, even now. I have friends who are life sci majors, and they have labs like five days a week. I just have an assignment every couple of weeks... Very relaxing.

 

[I got in]

both psyc and bio are as annoying as ever.
But its going to end soon (yay may)

 

[THE instiGATOR]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by j2001:
•Any takers for the two neurobio/psyc lab reports and 5-6 hrs of roach dissections.
I hate (truly) hate cockroaches. Surgery was cool at first now I detest it. Yuuuuuucckkk. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
I feel the pain...
ooowww•••••I should ship you some Florida roaches!!! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> Problem is, they fight back! Keep an eye on your sharp instruments!

If you haven't seen a FL roach, you probably don't understand. They're monsters and some fly at you (palmetto bugs...roaches...same damned thing)!!!

 

[LizardKing]

You bastard! You tricked me fool!

 

[Dr. Kermit]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•Personally, I want to finish ASAP so I can start having cute little babies

I'm a little younger than the average applicant who applies after graduation (I just turned 21 in December), so I figure if I get in this year, I could be done right around or before age 30. I don't know at what age people start families, but I imagine it would be easier when you're done with it all.
•••••The second year fellow in my lab right now had her first child the summer before she started medical school at 29. She then had another child her fourth year in school. She and many others have told me there's no "good" time to get married or have a child, you just do it and work it into your life and make ends meet. Fortunately, my boyfriend will finish law school in two years (he started this year) and we'll do whatever is convenient for the both of us. I could see myself having a child during residency if I go into primary care, but not if I choose to specialize.

Watcha- As for your question, I already took a year off to apply this year and like Foxy, I'm fairly young. I turn 23 late this summer. I saved up a fair amount working since I lived with my parents, but used a lot of money to pay for AMCAS and interviews. So, no I will not be deferring since I don't want to deal with AMCAS again!

 

[A. Caveman]

i didn't know you had to do the whole amcas again when you deferred. the same school accepts you the next year no problem right? there's no interview or anything right? so why do they require an AMCAS?? can't they just use last year's?

 

[sandflea]

no, not all schools require you to actually reapply if you defer. some just ask you to basically sign a contract saying that you will definitely attend that school in a year if you are granted a deferral. it depends on the school.

i've thought about deferring because i feel like i need a break and would love to have a year off before i dive into med school. but the main reason why i would never do it is because while i'm not old, i'm a few years older than a lot of you (i'll turn 25 this summer) and i'd really like to get the next leg of my education started. but if i had enough money to quit my job and become a ski bum for a year or something....i'd probably go for it.

 

[EpiII]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by SMW:
•I have already requested a deferral from Columbia.•••••so if I apply again next year...maybe I will be lucky to meet someone as wonderful as you in my classmate •••••WatchaMaCallit, are you saying that you have not yet been accepted, or that you are thinking about deferring at the school you have been accepted at and reapplying to get into a 'better' school?

I sincerely hope it is the former and not the later. The later scenario could get you kicked out of the deferred school and black listed at AMCAS, etc.

 

[EpiII]

I have already been out of school for 7-8 years, so I want to start NOW.

UCSD said it does grant 1 year deferrals fairly generously.

 

[liesie59]

Since I already took a year off after graduating, I really can't see the point in a deferring. As much as I enjoy what I'm doing right now (year of volunteer service), I'm ready to move on!

 

[oldman]

i too have taken a year off. i gave myself a deferal by not applying until this year. let me just say that I am so relaxed that I don't want to go to med school. i just wanna get done with it.

on the math stuff? i'd like to do more of that in med school. math is the only stuff i could get a decent grade in. science...ew!

right now i'm working in a hospital and volunteering. it's great!

 

[Future_Doc]

I deferred last year. This whole re-applying thing is a pain!

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Epi:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by SMW:
•I have already requested a deferral from Columbia.•••••so if I apply again next year...maybe I will be lucky to meet someone as wonderful as you in my classmate •••••WatchaMaCallit, are you saying that you have not yet been accepted, or that you are thinking about deferring at the school you have been accepted at and reapplying to get into a 'better' school?

I sincerely hope it is the former and not the later. The later scenario could get you kicked out of the deferred school and black listed at AMCAS, etc.•••••Epi buddy chill...I was just saying that to SMW to sound cute, and so she would give me a nice complement afterwards.... :wink:

after going through hell with AMCAS this year, there is no way in hellz that I am going to reapply again!!! not for any women, man or goddess on this earth! I already got an acceptance, no way in hell reapplying...but even if I did want to reapply, I would only do so, by not taking up an interview offer therefore, starting from scratch....

why, did u want me to get black listed.. :wink: come on tell the truth

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Future_Doc:
•I deferred last year. This whole re-applying thing is a pain!•••••that is another reason, I wouldnt even dare....I always thought about the re-applying part....

I heard even if u get accepted and defer..u still have to REAPPLY to the same school and get an acceptance again! yeesh....

 

[SMW]

Watcha, sorry I misssed your cute comment, which I can't believe I did, because I've been so happy to see you posting again!

I may have to reconsider this if Columbia says I have to reapply, which I have absolutely no desire to do. They're not AMCAS, though, so maybe it's different. They didn't say a thing about it when I called to inquire about deferring.

Dra. Foxy, I just feel I need another year off to lead a normal life instead of that of a "professional" medical school applicant. I was a young college graduate, and I've never really worked, either, so I feel like I need to get some real life experience before I dive into the "unreal" life of a med student. Plus, I've been working at a pretty fevered pitch since junior high school to get good grades, etc, plus fit in all the other stuff I felt I wanted to do. And this application year did not feel like a year off (despite all the time I've had to post on SDN!! :wink: ).
I just want to see what it feels like to a) relax and b) make money. I feel like one year's not that big a deal -- residencies are various lengths anyway. We could all end up in the same place at the same time.

But I may be reconsidering -- I'll let you know after I call Columbia back.

 

[Dr. Kermit]

Watcha-

I posted my response in another post, here's the gist of it. I know most if not all schools that grant deferrals require you to reapply EDP to that school through AMCAS. When you defer your admission, you basically "give up" your spot for that cycle and they grant you a position for the next falol. Therefore, you have to commit to them by applying EDP and thus need to go through AMCAS so that you hold a position in the next year's class. I don't believe you need to go through the interview again, but you may or may not need to complete a secondary. My friends at GW, Michigan, Cornell, and Penn State went through that process this year. (I know at GW you have to complete the secondary, but no interview and no additional deposit.)

Columbia and NYU are non-AMCAS and I believe NYU does not grant deferrals unless it's an extreme situation.

 

[BlackPuma]

couple of things...SMW ur more than welcome

Dr. Kermit, I was joking about the deferral part....I want to, but I really doubt I will dare take that option...I will probably have a nervous breakdown throughout the whole year about losing my spot...some vacation that would be!

and something that really is pissing me off according to this poll 11 people so far thing Watcha is very sneaky.....to all you people who picked the last option

oh by the way...the first vote given to watcha being very sneaky is none other than urs truly, mr. watcha

hehe...I am so machievalian...and you pple thought u were being so smart...u played right into my traps like little bunnies searching for carrots and getting their feet smacked....ok ok now back to reality... <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[brandonite]

SMW -

I can completely understand what you're saying, but I have the completely opposite thinking! I really want to get into med school and start working towards becoming a doctor! And there are enough things that I want to do in the future that I don't want to put things off any more! I want to take a year off after I've been working as a full fledged doctor to take a trip around the world, for example. And I want to have a family, etc... And all the residencies I'm interested in are five years long, so I feel almost like I'm working under the gun here... Anyway, I can't also think about what I'd do for a year! I've got more than enough research, and I don't know if I'd want to work minimum wage for a year doing something... And I don't have any money to travel, so I'd just end up sitting around the house for a year! And I'm more than eager to get away from home... :wink:

But, I have a friend who's going to England for a year next year before she starts Law school. So, I understand what you're saying. I just disagree, in my case.