Need Advice... NOT another "My chances" thread

[concerned]

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ok so here's the deal.

and to not offend/disrespect anyone, i won't be using school names.

I'm accepted at a school that is a solid school when it comes to good board scores. The only problem is i don't like the location of the school (the area, the town, the cultural life, etc.) I'm from a city, and always have been and this will be a BIG switch and change of pace.

I am also wait-listed at another school that I would love to go to. and another interview to go. My grades are average and my MCAT scores are just ok (maybe on the low side).

So here's my question and where i need the advice.

Worst-case Scenario. If i don't get off the wait-list and the other interview doesn't go well, should i just suck it up and be happy with my acceptance and go OR should i just reapply next cycle as I am currently in a post-bac program so I will have graduate Science GPA's to boost my file.

 

[DrBowtie]

First, 4 years of living in a not so good city is going to make you a doctor faster. Before turning down that acceptance, know that you just gave away a 150K minimum paycheck.

However, the best way to boost your file if you do decide to just reapply is to retake the MCAT since you said it was on the low side.

 

[DoctorMom78]

I think that if you only get one acceptance, (even if it is not your first choice), you have to take it. I think it is too much of a gamble to wait and hope for something better next time. Remember that you do not have to stay in the area forever. A lot of people will not get accepted anywhere, so be proud that you are.

 

[rub1003]

from the sound of it, you're not in much of a hurry to get into med school. so if you think you can do better on the mcats, then why not? but you are risking the chance of getting a comparable or lower score this next time around...
if i were you, i would accept it. there was a reason as to why you applied to that school in the first place, right? plus, you're going to med school because you want to be a doctor. and if this school has a solid education then you would be going for your goal. a few years at this place wouldn't be so bad.

 

[concerned]

Call me again when you have more than two posts. I'll be tempted to believe that you are a real person. Very few people are stupid enough to apply to places that they don't want to attend. Even fewer are stupid enough to turn down an acceptance and wait until next year when the cycle has barely begun.

First of all, i have 3 posts now. and secondly, that's probably one of the most arrogant things i've ever heard. We're all terribly sorry that we're not as smart as you i guess. I never knew that post counts determined how important and significant you are on SDN.

For everyone else, thank you. I applied very broadly to increase my chances. I never got the chance to check out the location until my interview and found that its not everything i expected.

I haven't turned down the acceptance yet. I just wanted everyone's opinion and advice. and still would like anyone else's if they're willing to give it.

just no more posts like the one above. i can do without the sarcasm.

 

[NjD00]

Medical school is hard to get into. Like someone else said, be proud that you got in somewhere, as some people would give an arm to have a chance anywhere.

Don't forget that the applicant pool is a strong factor in your chances year in and year out, and that next year, it could be harder, whether or not you improve your scores.

Say you improve you GPA 0.1 or 0.2. Worst case scenario is that you apply next year with that minimally improved GPA against a stronger applicant pool, don't get in anywhere, and kick yourself for the rest of your life for not taking that acceptance.

p.s. - check out some threads about the school in question to find positive points, or maybe even tell us here so people can help alleviate some of your fears. I think people here are mature enough to not be offended if someone isn't sure they want to attend their choice school.

 

[Depakote]

I understand you would like to live in a city, but keep this in mind...

You are going to be living in the library for the next 2 years of your life. You aren't going to have much time for recreation... and even small towns have some stuff to do for the rare weekend you do get.

Now if you only get into on place, it would be tremendously arrogant to turn this acceptance down in the hopes that you get in again. There age n gurantees in this process.

 

[lainy105]

No...this is the most arrogant thing you've ever heard:

You're an f'n fake. Go pick another name and ease yourself into things. It's actually not too late for you to turn into a good guy. Which way will you choose???

dude, chill, he just wanted advice...

to the OP, i would NOT turn this acceptance down. i completely understand where you're coming from, since i'm also a big city girl and would love to be some place like chicago or new york. but keep in mind that where you spend the first 2 years of med school isn't really that important, since you'll be studying the whole time anyway. and during your 3rd and 4th years you can choose to do some rotations in a city (that's what i plan to do if i don't get into NYCOM) where you want to apply for residency. so keep your mind open, because do you REALLY want to reapply and waste a year? good luck!

 

[CatsandCradles]

I understand you would like to live in a city, but keep this in mind...

You are going to be living in the library for the next 2 years of your life. You aren't going to have much time for recreation... and even small towns have some stuff to do for the rare weekend you do get.

Now if you only get into on place, it would be tremendously arrogant to turn this acceptance down in the hopes that you get in again. There age n gurantees in this process.

Good advice.

But perhaps the OP would like to have rotations in a big city. Even if you went to a school out in the country, you could still do rotations in a big city hospital on your 3rd and 4th years, but you will have to travel...

 

[Oculus Sinistra]

From what I hear, it's pretty vital you take the acceptance even if you don't like it. If you are accepted somewhere but don't go and apply again, that really makes adcoms believe you aren't seriously interested in doing whatever it takes to become a physician.

I would stay on the waitlist, especially if it's a DO school (which I assume it is based on where you posted this). I'm always always hearing people getting in off of waitlists to go to DO schools, so I'd be optimistic and keep in touch with the school you do want to go to.

Bets of luck to you!

 

[harrypotter]

This is a tough decision because there are just too many unknowns.

I really don't think life's about which school you go to but what you do at that school.

Plus it's a huge risk to to take the mcat again. I took it again and only marginally improved though I studied a heck of a lot! Plus, as a reapplicant you'll be asked why you're reapplying. Are you up to explaining why?

Maybe you can defer entering med school for a year and work full time. Trust me, that'll send you running to med school even if it's one in the middle of nowhere.

g'luck!

 

[MT4life]

bottom line: you want to be a doctor. i took a year off and since then, when people ask where i want to go to school, the answer is always, "anywhere. it doesn't matter. oh, the 7th layer of hell has a med school with good residency matches? sweet, i applied there."

however, i do believe you'll end up where you're meant to be and the results just may surprise you. good luck.

 

[concerned]

thank you everyone for your insight! much appreciated. 🙂

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

ok so here's the deal.

and to not offend/disrespect anyone, i won't be using school names.

I'm accepted at a school that is a solid school when it comes to good board scores. The only problem is i don't like the location of the school (the area, the town, the cultural life, etc.) I'm from a city, and always have been and this will be a BIG switch and change of pace.

I am also wait-listed at another school that I would love to go to. and another interview to go. My grades are average and my MCAT scores are just ok (maybe on the low side).

So here's my question and where i need the advice.

Worst-case Scenario. If i don't get off the wait-list and the other interview doesn't go well, should i just suck it up and be happy with my acceptance and go OR should i just reapply next cycle as I am currently in a post-bac program so I will have graduate Science GPA's to boost my file.

You're probably afraid that students from that particular school are reading the boards, but if you would reveal which schools you're talking about, someone may reveal positives about the area. With that aside, I think you should keep on the waitlist for as long as you can because there's always the possibility that you could be accepted. The problem that does arise is that you'll need to put in the deposit for the school that you did get into.

You may hold off and apply again, but mind you that you'll be competing with another round of applicants, you'll have to take the computerized MCAT, you'll be a year older, and in some cases may have to reveal that you did get accepted to medical school before (long sentence). I would come up with factors other than location to answer the question of, "So, you were accepted into medical school, why didn't you go?" Hope this helps and best of luck! Hopefully you don't have to go through the process again.

 

[scpod]

dude, chill, he just wanted advice...

Sorry about that, but apparently leaving your laptop unattended is not a good idea, especially when you are logged onto SDN. Some people like to leave nasty messages thinking it's funny. My apologies to everyone. 😳

 

[exigente chica]

I think that if you only get one acceptance, (even if it is not your first choice), you have to take it. I think it is too much of a gamble to wait and hope for something better next time. Remember that you do not have to stay in the area forever. A lot of people will not get accepted anywhere, so be proud that you are.

I agree 100%. I am at that point in my life where I don't want to wait any longer to start my career as a doctor and attend med school. Four years can go by really quickly..and at the end you will be a doctor.

You need to do some soul searching and decide what is important for you and if waiting a year is the best thing..you never know what may happen next cycle.

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

Sorry about that, but apparently leaving your laptop unattended is not a good idea, especially when you are logged onto SDN. Some people like to leave nasty messages thinking it's funny. My apologies to everyone. 😳

Yeah, kind of surprised me. Guess Bradenton is not immune to those "funny" comment writers, but safe enough to leave your laptop unattended. 🙂 Glad you're enjoying Bradenton.

 

[It'sElectric]

You're probably afraid that students from that particular school are reading the boards, but if you would reveal which schools you're talking about, someone may reveal positives about the area. With that aside, I think you should keep on the waitlist for as long as you can because there's always the possibility that you could be accepted. The problem that does arise is that you'll need to put in the deposit for the school that you did get into.

You may hold off and apply again, but mind you that you'll be competing with another round of applicants, you'll have to take the computerized MCAT, you'll be a year older, and in some cases may have to reveal that you did get accepted to medical school before (long sentence). I would come up with factors other than location to answer the question of, "So, you were accepted into medical school, why didn't you go?" Hope this helps and best of luck! Hopefully you don't have to go through the process again.

My first thought is that he/she was talking about KCOM. I could be completely wrong, so I apologize if I am. Just thought I'd throw that out there.