Mentioning declining DO acceptance in AMCAS P.Statement?

[cho15]

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I am currently sitting on 2 allopathic school waitlists in my 2nd time applying so I'm preparing to apply a 3rd time. As I'm re-writing my personal statement, I was wondering if I should refrain from mentioning any osteopathic school and foreign med school acceptances that I had turned down (during my first cycle). I realized I really want to go to an allopathic medical school and wanted to try again for it so I declined both acceptances to a DO school and foreign MD school. I'm writing about my first allo cycle and how I was offered 1 interview, was waitlisted and then eventually not accepted and I don't know whether I should mentioned the other school acceptances. Advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Edit: And by mentioning, I mean not flat out stating I declined a DO school offer. More like, having them read between the lines and realizing that I had to have if i'm not in medical school. I think if I mention the DO offer & other then i would have to explain too much and it would detract from my p.statement.

 

[ThaliaNox]

Mentioning it can do absolutely no good and might hurt you. Saying "Iz 2 gud for DeeOh skoolz" doesn't make you look very intelligent, humble or grateful. How does the school know you won't decide only Harvard is good enough for you this time? Never act like you're too good for any school because you don't know how the pins may fall.

 

[cho15]

Mentioning it can do absolutely no good and might hurt you. Saying "Iz 2 gud for DeeOh skoolz" doesn't make you look very intelligent, humble or grateful. How does the school know you won't decide only Harvard is good enough for you this time? Never act like you're too good for any school because you don't know how the pins may fall.

I didn't decline because I felt I was too good for DO school. I just wanted to go to an allopathic school more and wanted to try again for what I really want. But I do see what you mean because it can totally come off that way and I'd have to explain it if I didn't want it to be and that would just ruin the whole p.statement. I'll most likely leave it out. any other suggestions/insights?

 

[runawayclock]

I didn't decline because I felt I was too good for DO school. I just wanted to go to an allopathic school more and wanted to try again for what I really want. But I do see what you mean because it can totally come off that way and I'd have to explain it if I didn't want it to be and that would just ruin the whole p.statement. I'll most likely leave it out. any other suggestions/insights?

You're better off not mentioning it at all, but really, you can still get into a US residency with a DO, you can take the USMLE from a foreign school (shouldn't be too hard if it's Canada and you have US citizenship... more understandable if it's a carib school though) - what is it about MD that you want so badly? Be a good idea to think about that at least.

 

[Bacchus]

Nothing good will come of it. Don't mention it. It doesn't make you look more loyal.

 

[JMK2005]

...you can still get into a US residency with a DO...

Don't mention declining the DO schools.

The question is what type of residency. US MD school offers more opportunities.

 

[rkaz]

Personally, I don't think declining a DO school was a bright idea... especially as there is a good chance you might be going through a 3rd application cycle. I would have taken the DO opportunity and run with it the first time around. Considering how difficult it is to get into medical school, and since DOs and MDs are equal physicians, I truly don't understand the logic in turning down a DO school, as we all learn the same things (with the exception of OMM).

That being said, I realize it doesn't help to berate you over the past. However, I would definitely recommend you not mentioning it at all in your application. Otherwise, there is a very good chance that the admissions committee would be also questioning your judgment, just as I was doing. If you had the chance to become a physician and you turned it down, it doesn't show that you are truly interested in medicine, but rather about initials. I am being blunt with you, but this is how I perceive the admissions committee would see your application. I don't see anything that would impress them about you previously turning down the chance to become a doctor.

 

[ronaldo23]

I didn't decline because I felt I was too good for DO school. I just wanted to go to an allopathic school more and wanted to try again for what I really want. But I do see what you mean because it can totally come off that way and I'd have to explain it if I didn't want it to be and that would just ruin the whole p.statement. I'll most likely leave it out. any other suggestions/insights?

Definitely don't mention it. You're lucky AMCAS and the DO application system is separate, so they can't find out you declined the DO acceptance. At best, mentioning this does nothing positive for your allopathic applications and at worst it makes you look ungrateful and the school blacklists you...

edit: out of curiosity, what would you theoretically say regarding why you turned down the DO?

 

[JaggerPlate]

I'm going DO, but if you want US Allo ... go for it, you know?? However, keep in mind that this is the third time you've applied ... that's a lot of time and money. You may want to apply very broadly this time (MD and DO) and go where you get in, period. It may come to a point where unless you make very significant changes to your application (raising MCAT 5 pts, doing a post bacc, peace corps, etc,) you're gonna need to simply take any offers and become a physician.

Personally, I think it's very, very difficult to turn down an acceptance, anywhere, but to each his own. Good luck.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I definitely would not include that in your PS. In fact, I seriously doubt I'd even bring it up in conversation with anyone who knows anything about the medical field.

 

[NickNaylor]

I only read the title of this thread... bad idea. Don't do it.

 

[STAT EKG]

Don't mention it.

Also, I think you should have been applying to SMPs (and possibly still doing so if it's not too late).

...Maybe you're already doing this and I'm preaching to the choir, but it really irks me when people apply multiple times - with essentially the same app every time - and expect different results.

I think people are being too harsh with you on your decision to withdraw from DO and Caribbean... As JaggerPlate said, do what you want. If you want US allopathic, then that's what you want... However, you should definitely be buffing up your app/interviews/etc. because something isn't working (Hence why I mentioned SMP).

I can see why it might sound like you're committed to allopathic and you want schools to see that, but I still wouldn't mention it unless specifically asked, and then if you have a cogent and succinct reason for making that decision, I don't see why it would be seen as a bad thing.

 

[Poliscidoc]

You could already be done with two years if you would have applied DO the first time. Hope MD comes with something special that can make up for all that money and time lost...

 

[willen101383]

I'm going DO, but if you want US Allo ... go for it, you know?? However, keep in mind that this is the third time you've applied ... that's a lot of time and money. You may want to apply very broadly this time (MD and DO) and go where you get in, period. It may come to a point where unless you make very significant changes to your application (raising MCAT 5 pts, doing a post bacc, peace corps, etc,) you're gonna need to simply take any offers and become a physician.

Personally, I think it's very, very difficult to turn down an acceptance, anywhere, but to each his own. Good luck.

Yeah wow...the lengths some people go to...

 

[JJMrK]

I am currently sitting on 2 allopathic school waitlists in my 2nd time applying so I'm preparing to apply a 3rd time. As I'm re-writing my personal statement, I was wondering if I should refrain from mentioning any osteopathic school and foreign med school acceptances that I had turned down (during my first cycle). I realized I really want to go to an allopathic medical school and wanted to try again for it so I declined both acceptances to a DO school and foreign MD school. I'm writing about my first allo cycle and how I was offered 1 interview, was waitlisted and then eventually not accepted and I don't know whether I should mentioned the other school acceptances. Advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Edit: And by mentioning, I mean not flat out stating I declined a DO school offer. More like, having them read between the lines and realizing that I had to have if i'm not in medical school. I think if I mention the DO offer & other then i would have to explain too much and it would detract from my p.statement.

I wouldn't mention any of that. You want the PS to include positive things only. Writing about how you did not get in and how you declined a medical school acceptance is not something positive.

 

[christina30]

I'm going DO, but if you want US Allo ... go for it, you know?? However, keep in mind that this is the third time you've applied ... that's a lot of time and money. You may want to apply very broadly this time (MD and DO) and go where you get in, period. It may come to a point where unless you make very significant changes to your application (raising MCAT 5 pts, doing a post bacc, peace corps, etc,) you're gonna need to simply take any offers and become a physician.

Personally, I think it's very, very difficult to turn down an acceptance, anywhere, but to each his own. Good luck.

At this point, I think he's burned that bridge. I highly doubt that any DO school would take him at this point, knowing that he turned down an acceptance already.

Can you blame them? I sure don't!

 

[MrCheetah]

I am currently sitting on 2 allopathic school waitlists in my 2nd time applying so I'm preparing to apply a 3rd time. As I'm re-writing my personal statement, I was wondering if I should refrain from mentioning any osteopathic school and foreign med school acceptances that I had turned down (during my first cycle). I realized I really want to go to an allopathic medical school and wanted to try again for it so I declined both acceptances to a DO school and foreign MD school. I'm writing about my first allo cycle and how I was offered 1 interview, was waitlisted and then eventually not accepted and I don't know whether I should mentioned the other school acceptances. Advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Edit: And by mentioning, I mean not flat out stating I declined a DO school offer. More like, having them read between the lines and realizing that I had to have if i'm not in medical school. I think if I mention the DO offer & other then i would have to explain too much and it would detract from my p.statement.

The real question here is why you're not busting your ass, trying to get off either of those two waitlists. Send in your LOI's, updates, extra LOR's, throw in the kitchen sink, man. This is the rest of your life we're talking about. Grow a pair and make it known to both of these schools how badly you want it. Be smart about it, though.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I wouldn't mention any of that. You want the PS to include positive things only. Writing about how you did not get in and how you declined a medical school acceptance is not something positive.

Agree with this, and I'd add that failing to get into med school has nothing at all to do with why you want to be a doctor, which is what your PS should be about.

 

[jm192]

Seriously asking yourself what you would gain from that.

No one is going to see it as---"He/She wants to be M.D. so bad they turned down accepances." No one is going to see it as "He/She wants to go to MY school so bad, he sat out an entire year with offers on the table."

I think it only gets read as you're not fully dedicated to becoming a physician. Even if you ONLY want to be an M.D, Turning down acceptances=bad.

 

[cho15]

edit: out of curiosity, what would you theoretically say regarding why you turned down the DO?

Yes, I realized it was kind of a stupid question after I got my first response. I'm definitely not going to mention it. I know many of you are curious about the reason why I would turn down DO and it isn't about initials and it has nothing to do with how badly I want to be a doctor. Medicine is truly my passion and the acceptance I was offered was just at a school I did not like. I knew if I went there I wouldn't be happy. Yes, I'm sure some of you would say that if I want it bad enough I should just go where I am accepted. But my happiness is also important to me and if I can't see myself fitting in and excelling at that school, then I shouldn't be going there. I'd prefer not to subject myself to that misery. That was my reason for turning it down. Then after that decision, I realized that I would prefer attending an allopathic school so I focused my 2nd application on that (while in an SMP program). Since that hasn't garnered anything solid yet I now realize I should cast my net wider and will be applying to both MD and DO schools. I honestly have nothing against DO schools, but I applied really late and then only to three the first time and got in to one in an environment I did not like.

I understand how some of you feel I may be ungrateful or don't want it badly enough from my initial post, but I assure all of you that is not the case. I thought a lot about it before physically declining the offer. Maybe solely applying to MD schools this cycle wasn't the best decision, but that's just life and I can't do anything to change that now. But I have learned from this whole experience and I am now sure of what my goals are and about how I plan on reaching them.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Yes, I realized it was kind of a stupid question after I got my first response. I'm definitely not going to mention it. I know many of you are curious about the reason why I would turn down DO and it isn't about initials and it has nothing to do with how badly I want to be a doctor. Medicine is truly my passion and the acceptance I was offered was just at a school I did not like. I knew if I went there I wouldn't be happy. Yes, I'm sure some of you would say that if I want it bad enough I should just go where I am accepted. But my happiness is also important to me and if I can't see myself fitting in and excelling at that school, then I shouldn't be going there. I'd prefer not to subject myself to that misery. That was my reason for turning it down. Then after that decision, I realized that I would prefer attending an allopathic school so I focused my 2nd application on that (while in an SMP program). Since that hasn't garnered anything solid yet I now realize I should cast my net wider and will be applying to both MD and DO schools. I honestly have nothing against DO schools, but I applied really late and then only to three the first time and got in to one in an environment I did not like.

I understand how some of you feel I may be ungrateful or don't want it badly enough from my initial post, but I assure all of you that is not the case. I thought a lot about it before physically declining the offer. Maybe solely applying to MD schools this cycle wasn't the best decision, but that's just life and I can't do anything to change that now. But I have learned from this whole experience and I am now sure of what my goals are and about how I plan on reaching them.

So are you happy having lost 2 years of your life? I'm sorry your soo whiny that you got into medical school where less then 40% of applicants did. Honestly I try not to rationalize other peoples behaviors, but what are you going to do in 4 years? Turn down residency because you strongly believe that i'll impede on your attempts to achieve happiness? Because residency is going to be more then a hundred times more brutal then going to a medical school which you believe will be not a good fit.

Really now, get with the program and realize that life only gives you chances once in a while. If you don't take those chances, someone else will simply take it and you'll be left with nothing. I don't want to be mean here, but I'm simply being a strict realist. You have to put up with a lot of things to get what you want in life. If your not willing to put up with going to a bad fit medical school, then you seriously will have problems later in your life even outside of residency.

 

[Parts Unknown]

As I'm re-writing my personal statement, I was wondering if I should refrain from mentioning any osteopathic school and foreign med school acceptances that I had turned down (during my first cycle).

You should mention it right after you describe shoplifting in middle school, but before the part about the intractable gluteal warts.

Seriously, your personal statement is your only chance to outright sell yourself, in your own words, to an adcom member. Keep it strong and focused.

 

[cho15]

So are you happy having lost 2 years of your life? I'm sorry your soo whiny that you got into medical school where less then 40% of applicants did. Honestly I try not to rationalize other peoples behaviors, but what are you going to do in 4 years? Turn down residency because you strongly believe that i'll impede on your attempts to achieve happiness? Because residency is going to be more then a hundred times more brutal then going to a medical school which you believe will be not a good fit.

Really now, get with the program and realize that life only gives you chances once in a while. If you don't take those chances, someone else will simply take it and you'll be left with nothing. I don't want to be mean here, but I'm simply being a strict realist. You have to put up with a lot of things to get what you want in life. If your not willing to put up with going to a bad fit medical school, then you seriously will have problems later in your life even outside of residency.

First of all, I didn't waste 2 years of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed the SMP program I attended and believe it helped me mature and grow as person and I think I am more ready for medical school than I was right out of undergrad. Everyone is different and they need time to figure out what they want in life. I'm trying my best not to be angry because I find your response very condescending and judgmental. You don't know me and perhaps you don't mind going somewhere you know you will hate but I need to find an environment that I can see myself succeeding in or else going to medical school will obviously be a waste if I can't succeed.

 

[SoulinNeed]

Yes, I realized it was kind of a stupid question after I got my first response. I'm definitely not going to mention it. I know many of you are curious about the reason why I would turn down DO and it isn't about initials and it has nothing to do with how badly I want to be a doctor. Medicine is truly my passion and the acceptance I was offered was just at a school I did not like. I knew if I went there I wouldn't be happy. Yes, I'm sure some of you would say that if I want it bad enough I should just go where I am accepted. But my happiness is also important to me and if I can't see myself fitting in and excelling at that school, then I shouldn't be going there. I'd prefer not to subject myself to that misery. That was my reason for turning it down. Then after that decision, I realized that I would prefer attending an allopathic school so I focused my 2nd application on that (while in an SMP program). Since that hasn't garnered anything solid yet I now realize I should cast my net wider and will be applying to both MD and DO schools. I honestly have nothing against DO schools, but I applied really late and then only to three the first time and got in to one in an environment I did not like.

I understand how some of you feel I may be ungrateful or don't want it badly enough from my initial post, but I assure all of you that is not the case. I thought a lot about it before physically declining the offer. Maybe solely applying to MD schools this cycle wasn't the best decision, but that's just life and I can't do anything to change that now. But I have learned from this whole experience and I am now sure of what my goals are and about how I plan on reaching them.

So, it wasn't the DO part that bothered you, but rather, the specific DO school that accepted you that you didn't like? That's honestly reasonable, but may have been a bad decision to not accept in hindsight, but whatever, the past is the past. Apply to both MD and DO, and go to whichever school accepts you.

 

[ensuii]

To each his own...do what makes you happy. If you would've HATED being at the DO school, then don't go. Definitely don't make it a part of your PS tho. There aren't really too many conceivable instances where I can imagine an admissions officer reading it and coming away with positive thoughts.

I also want to commend you for knowing what you want and going after it...if you know you won't be happy somewhere, then you won't be happy. It's a good thing that you have enough equilibrium in your life to make that kind of decision. However, you must realize that you gave up 2-4 years of your life (and costs of applying) for this. The opportunity cost of what you could have done with a medical degree over that amount of time is staggering. Even if it means being at a DO school in the middle of Alaska, is the difference from what you're pursuing worth that? I guess the issue is a little moot retrospectively...but I'd strongly encourage you to further investigate all DO schools you have a high probability of getting into and applying to them. After having just finished my first year, I can tell you from conversing with my other med student friends elsewhere, you spend most of your first few years listening to MP3s and studying; there's not truly a whole lot that one medical school can do for you that another cannot.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

First of all, I didn't waste 2 years of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed the SMP program I attended and believe it helped me mature and grow as person and I think I am more ready for medical school than I was right out of undergrad. Everyone is different and they need time to figure out what they want in life. I'm trying my best not to be angry because I find your response very condescending and judgmental. You don't know me and perhaps you don't mind going somewhere you know you will hate but I need to find an environment that I can see myself succeeding in or else going to medical school will obviously be a waste if I can't succeed.

Hmm I will apologize for being rude. I've been rather more aggressive then usual this week. Regardless, I understand that it's slightly reasonable to decline on the basis of not believing that it's a good school for you. However I went to a school for undergrad with the same mindset and ended up enjoying it a lot. I'm simply agitated because of the fact statistically so many will fail in getting into medical school and you cast it aside.
Anyways I digress, my point still remains. I think you need to realize that life's not going to always allocate you a perfect or pleasurable fit. You have to adapt to make it, and residency is probably going to be far from a good fit.

I'm going to say good luck with applications this cycle, hope you get in and apologize again for the rudeness.