Medical Can I rescind offer of acceptance to a medical school after formally agreeing to matriculate?

[regvince]

Hello,

I applied to medical school for the 2020-2021 cycle. I only applied to 7 schools in total, and only programs I was absolutely passionate about. I was rejected from 4 schools, haven't heard back from 1, and was waitlisted by 2 (School 1 and School 2). One of the schools I was waitlisted at was my top choice of school (School 1) as everything about the school, the curriculum, the location, the environment, really appealed to me.

Last week, I was offered acceptance from the waitlist of School 2. I was elated at the acceptance, but also a bit disappointed as I was placed on a campus that didn't have many of the resources and programs that had drawn me to School 2 (they have several campuses). School 2 only gave me 7 business days to make my decision. So after taking the full 7 days to think over my decision, and seeing if I would get a response from School 1 (I sent them a Letter of Intent), and hearing nothing from them, I finally sent School 2 my response yesterday stating that I planned to matriculate. Well, this morning I received an offer of acceptance from School 1!

My question is would it be wrong to rescind my plan to matriculate from School 2 and accept School 1's offer instead? I know personally that School 1 will be a better fit for me than School 2, but I also don't wish to sour my relationship with School 2 (this is the institution where I earned both my BA and MS degrees). So, I don't know if rescinding after I just accepted the offer is a major faux pas or not, especially this late in the cycle.

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!

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[gyngyn]

Hello,

I applied to medical school for the 2020-2021 cycle. I only applied to 7 schools in total, and only programs I was absolutely passionate about. I was rejected from 4 schools, haven't heard back from 1, and was waitlisted by 2 (School 1 and School 2). One of the schools I was waitlisted at was my top choice of school (School 1) as everything about the school, the curriculum, the location, the environment, really appealed to me.

Last week, I was offered acceptance from the waitlist of School 2. I was elated at the acceptance, but also a bit disappointed as I was placed on a campus that didn't have many of the resources and programs that had drawn me to School 2 (they have several campuses). School 2 only gave me 7 business days to make my decision. So after taking the full 7 days to think over my decision, and seeing if I would get a response from School 1 (I sent them a Letter of Intent), and hearing nothing from them, I finally sent School 2 my response yesterday stating that I planned to matriculate. Well, this morning I received an offer of acceptance from School 1!

My question is would it be wrong to rescind my plan to matriculate from School 2 and accept School 1's offer instead? I know personally that School 1 will be a better fit for me than School 2, but I also don't wish to sour my relationship with School 2 (this is the institution where I earned both my BA and MS degrees). So, I don't know if rescinding after I just accepted the offer is a major faux pas or not, especially this late in the cycle.

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!

Was the 7 day limit based on the school's CTE date?

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Did you do PTE or CTE?

 

[regvince]

Was the 7 day limit based on the school's CTE date?

It looks like the CTE date is July 10th, so no. I haven't yet made my selection on AMCAS, however the school sent me a form with my acceptance letter where I could choose whether or not "I planned to matriculate in the Fall." This form I signed and submitted to them stating that I planned on enrolling.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm thinking that when you accept an offer of admission, you are permitted to stay on waitlists, which you did. So you said you plan to attend. Now your plans have changed.... tell them quickly so they can move along to someone else on their waitlist.

 

[gyngyn]

It looks like the CTE date is July 10th, so no. I haven't yet made my selection on AMCAS, however the school sent me a form with my acceptance letter where I could choose whether or not "I planned to matriculate in the Fall." This form I signed and submitted to them stating that I planned on enrolling.

That's no different than PTE. So yes, you can accept a WL offer.

 

[KnightDoc]

That's no different than PTE. So yes, you can accept a WL offer.

@regvince -- This^^^^^. You are totally fine.

What you signed is what EVERYONE returns when they receive an acceptance, unless they are immediately rejecting it. Yours is a little different because it is after 4/30, so you had to indicate you planned to enroll rather than just accepting the offer, but, it's the same thing. It does NOT imply or involve a commitment UNTIL you select CTE in the CYMS tool.

You apparently didn't even select PTE in the CYMS tool. You are totally fine, are doing nothing unethical, and are actually honoring the commitment you made in your LOI. School 2 will just move on to the next person on the WL with no hard feelings. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

 

[Stride]

It looks like the CTE date is July 10th, so no. I haven't yet made my selection on AMCAS, however the school sent me a form with my acceptance letter where I could choose whether or not "I planned to matriculate in the Fall." This form I signed and submitted to them stating that I planned on enrolling.

Although others have answered your question, I thought I would provide further confirmation as someone who rescinded an acceptance from a school that also made me sign a document stating "my intent to matriculate".

In short, it is meaningless unless you "commit to enroll" on your AMCAS. I think they do this in a desperate attempt to scare people into going there as some sort of yield helper? I am not sure. But, you are all good.

Congrats!

 

[regvince]

Thank you all very much for the help! I have decided to accept School 1's offer and withdraw my acceptance from School 2.