Need Advice- Urgent

[dsk89]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I applied to MD schools this past cycle, but only received 1 interview and did not get off the waitlist from it. I am currently about to attend SGU in the caribbean. Classes+white coat ceremony begin in a week. I am having second thoughts about coming to the Caribbean, primarily after I've gotten here. I just don't feel like I'm in an environment where I'm happy and comfortable like I would be in the US, and obviously that affects my ability to do well academically. Only problem is I have already paid tuition for first semester (which they will refund me if I choose to leave now). I have not yet checked in/registered or attended any classes yet. If I choose to leave now and just reapply in the US next year (not this coming year), would I have to say I have matriculated at another med school and then withdrew? Does this basically end my chances to get acceptance to a US school even after improving my application? If it does, I obviously would rather just stay here with no other options, but if it doesn't, I would really like to look at other options. Thanks for your advice everyone

 

[Violagirl]

I would say that if you are having second thoughts about going to medical school in the Caribbean now, that it would be worthwhile to listen to your gut feelings if you feel you wouldn't be as happy as you initially pictured yourself being as you are now physically there. I'm only a premed student and can't fully comment on how it would work to reapply at a US medical school on whether or not you matriculated but I would imagine no since you have not registered for classes and you are still able to receive a refund on any paid tuition thus far. I wish you the best of luck with everything, whatever you decide!

 

[qavaler]

I delayed my education by two years just to get better credentials. I uped my MCAT by 9 points, attended extra shadowing, and got a research grant. I did this because the quality of education was important to me and I wanted a good ROI. I applied this year, and it feels good because I feel I did the right thing. Are you willing to put down your head and work 1, 2, or more years as a pre-med to be more competitive for MD program? That is the question.

 

[Goro]

On the AACOMAS application form, it's going to ask if you've ever matriculated at a medical school.

In your case, the answer is "yes".

And, therefore, your chances at my school, and I believe any other DO school, is now zero. For me, you've shown an inability to follow up on your decisions, ie, you're a poor choice maker. Secondly, if you didn't try the DO route, it says to us you're not interested in osteopathy, only the MD after your name. We don't like applicants like that. Don't know what AAMCAS asks.

I believe that if you withdraw and improve your qualifications over the next two years, then you might get more interviews, but then it's on you to give a good explanation.

I applied to MD schools this past cycle, but only received 1 interview and did not get off the waitlist from it. I am currently about to attend SGU in the caribbean. Classes+white coat ceremony begin in a week. I am having second thoughts about coming to the Caribbean, primarily after I've gotten here. I just don't feel like I'm in an environment where I'm happy and comfortable like I would be in the US, and obviously that affects my ability to do well academically. Only problem is I have already paid tuition for first semester (which they will refund me if I choose to leave now). I have not yet checked in/registered or attended any classes yet. If I choose to leave now and just reapply in the US next year (not this coming year), would I have to say I have matriculated at another med school and then withdrew? Does this basically end my chances to get acceptance to a US school even after improving my application? If it does, I obviously would rather just stay here with no other options, but if it doesn't, I would really like to look at other options. Thanks for your advice everyone

 

[dsk89]

On the AACOMAS application form, it's going to ask if you've ever matriculated at a medical school.

In your case, the answer is "yes".

And, therefore, your chances at my school, and I believe any other DO school, is now zero. For me, you've shown an inability to follow up on your decisions, ie, you're a poor choice maker. Secondly, if you didn't try the DO route, it says to us you're not interested in osteopathy, only the MD after your name. We don't like applicants like that. Don't know what AAMCAS asks.

I believe that if you withdraw and improve your qualifications over the next two years, then you might get more interviews, but then it's on you to give a good explanation.

Thanks for the feedback. So I'm assuming then that the act of "matriculating" at a medical school is NOT enrolling and attending classes? It is in fact, paying a tuition fee to that school before I even started attending?

Also, I did apply DO last year, but did not gain admission. I am very interested in Osteopathy and its philosophy, yet above all my goal is to become a doctor. Thus, thinking of time, I went to the caribbean. The letters after my name in the future are just that...letters after my name. If I can be a doctor, then I have achieved what I wanted. Was it wrong for me to have decided before school started that this was not the environment I wanted to go to medical school in and that I wanted to spend more time applying to US schools? While I agree with you in that I am at fault for my own decision making, I genuinely don't understand why something like this should kill my chances at any US school. I t wasn't like I couldn't handle the workload or that I failed out and that now I'm looking for a US school to pick up the pieces. I just decided the place wasn't for me and chose to pursue a place that was. What is wrong with that?

 

[Goro]

ma·tric·u·late verb \mə-ˈtri-kyə-ˌlāt\
ma·tric·u·lat·edma·tric·u·lat·ing

Definition of MATRICULATE

transitive verb
: to enroll as a member of a body and especially of a college or university


Thanks for the feedback. So I'm assuming then that the act of "matriculating" at a medical school is NOT enrolling and attending classes? It is in fact, paying a tuition fee to that school before I even started attending?


I would like to point out that unless you applied really late in the cycle(s), there's a reason you're not getting acceptances. Maybe the AdComs are trying to tell you something?

I suggest that you reassess your career goals very carefully.

If you withdraw from SGU, why do you think you could magically do better at DO or MD schools here (again)? Did you get any feedback as to why you were rejected?



Also, I did apply DO last year, but did not gain admission. I am very interested in Osteopathy and its philosophy, yet above all my goal is to become a doctor. Thus, thinking of time, I went to the caribbean. The letters after my name in the future are just that...letters after my name. If I can be a doctor, then I have achieved what I wanted. Was it wrong for me to have decided before school started that this was not the environment I wanted to go to medical school in and that I wanted to spend more time applying to US schools?

Poor choice making IS a factor as to whether people get accepted or not. ie, you go through this entire process and then at the last minute, now it's not for you? What if you get accepted to my school and then you say the same thing right before orientation? Your actions generate a concern that it's not worth taking a chance on you.


While I agree with you in that I am at fault for my own decision making, I genuinely don't understand why something like this should kill my chances at any US school. I t wasn't like I couldn't handle the workload or that I failed out and that now I'm looking for a US school to pick up the pieces. I just decided the place wasn't for me and chose to pursue a place that was. What is wrong with that?[/QUOTE]

 

[dsk89]

ma·tric·u·late verb \mə-ˈtri-kyə-ˌlāt\
ma·tric·u·lat·edma·tric·u·lat·ing

Definition of MATRICULATE

transitive verb
: to enroll as a member of a body and especially of a college or university


Thanks for the feedback. So I'm assuming then that the act of "matriculating" at a medical school is NOT enrolling and attending classes? It is in fact, paying a tuition fee to that school before I even started attending?


I would like to point out that unless you applied really late in the cycle(s), there's a reason you're not getting acceptances. Maybe the AdComs are trying to tell you something?

I suggest that you reassess your career goals very carefully.

If you withdraw from SGU, why do you think you could magically do better at DO or MD schools here (again)? Did you get any feedback as to why you were rejected?



Also, I did apply DO last year, but did not gain admission. I am very interested in Osteopathy and its philosophy, yet above all my goal is to become a doctor. Thus, thinking of time, I went to the caribbean. The letters after my name in the future are just that...letters after my name. If I can be a doctor, then I have achieved what I wanted. Was it wrong for me to have decided before school started that this was not the environment I wanted to go to medical school in and that I wanted to spend more time applying to US schools?

Poor choice making IS a factor as to whether people get accepted or not. ie, you go through this entire process and then at the last minute, now it's not for you? What if you get accepted to my school and then you say the same thing right before orientation? Your actions generate a concern that it's not worth taking a chance on you.


While I agree with you in that I am at fault for my own decision making, I genuinely don't understand why something like this should kill my chances at any US school. I t wasn't like I couldn't handle the workload or that I failed out and that now I'm looking for a US school to pick up the pieces. I just decided the place wasn't for me and chose to pursue a place that was. What is wrong with that?

[/QUOTE]

I believe my last application to DO schools did not pan out due to late submission. I have competitive stats and MCAT for DO schools and a variety of great EC's. I totally understand what you mean about taking a chance on me, I really do. I called AACOMAS and explained them my whole situation, and they told me that matriculation means enrolling and that if I didn't register then I didn't matriculate (as per the definition you also provided above). I never claimed that I will magically do better at MD or DO schools compared to here. My main point of withdrawing was environment. The Caribbean is a foreign environment that takes quite a bit of adjusting to, and I decided that these additional hassles and inconveniences in adjusting to a foreign country WHILE trying to focus on medical school was not conducive to my education. Going to a US school at least puts me in an environment that I'm familiar with, as I was born and grew up in this country. When applying, I also consider support system, which is MUCH farther away when you're in the Caribbean. Leaving the Caribbean has been one of the toughest/biggest decisions I've ever had to make, and I did it for the sake of my overall well-being and education. While I regret not having a chance at your institution anymore because of this, I sincerely hope other schools will see my reasoning behind this. Thanks again for your feedback, Goro, I really do appreciate it as I try to figure out the next step to becoming a doctor.

 

[Mr Avante]

I believe my last application to DO schools did not pan out due to late submission. I have competitive stats and MCAT for DO schools and a variety of great EC's. I totally understand what you mean about taking a chance on me, I really do. I called AACOMAS and explained them my whole situation, and they told me that matriculation means enrolling and that if I didn't register then I didn't matriculate (as per the definition you also provided above). I never claimed that I will magically do better at MD or DO schools compared to here. My main point of withdrawing was environment. The Caribbean is a foreign environment that takes quite a bit of adjusting to, and I decided that these additional hassles and inconveniences in adjusting to a foreign country WHILE trying to focus on medical school was not conducive to my education. Going to a US school at least puts me in an environment that I'm familiar with, as I was born and grew up in this country. When applying, I also consider support system, which is MUCH farther away when you're in the Caribbean. Leaving the Caribbean has been one of the toughest/biggest decisions I've ever had to make, and I did it for the sake of my overall well-being and education. While I regret not having a chance at your institution anymore because of this, I sincerely hope other schools will see my reasoning behind this. Thanks again for your feedback, Goro, I really do appreciate it as I try to figure out the next step to becoming a doctor.

I really hope you listen to Goro, he is very wise.
Now, pal, the environment change will be the same as in the US. A person from Oregon will feel very unfamiliar in Tennessee, as a person from Texas in the Caribbean; therefore, I believe your claim is not very valid after all. It is understandable because, after all, you will suffer very little from it, but not valid.
My advice is: if you chose to attend the medical school then commit to it, or face the consequences.

Blessings.

 

[QofQuimica]

Come home. Nothing against SGU specifically, because it's one of the few well-regarded Caribbean schools out there. But when it comes to getting into an American residency program, having a Caribbean degree would already be a huge disadvantage even if you were applying for residency this year. As someone who would be graduating four years from now, you'd be facing even more difficulty with being squeezed out of the residency running by a glut of American grads. It's going to keep getting worse for IMGs every year as American schools (both MD and DO) keep expanding their classes and new med schools keep on opening. As an example, eight years ago when I applied, we had four MD schools and one DO school in my home state (FL). Now there are twice as many FL schools of each type. That's a national trend.

Concerning the issue of applying as an ex-matriculant, I'm going to respectfully disagree with Goro about how serious of an issue it's going to be. I do think you'll have to do some explaining, and you're going to need to take the next 1-2 years to get your ducks in a row before you apply again. But speaking as someone who spent four years as a student adcom, I wouldn't hold it against you for a second if you got cold feet about attending a Caribbean school. In fact, I try to talk everyone who asks my opinion out of attending Caribbean schools, even one of the Big Four. First, it's expensive. Second, a lot of Caribbean students never even make it to the point of applying to residency; those schools have very high attrition. Third, of the ones who do make it to the residency app point, a significant number either end up in a specialty they didn't want or don't get a residency slot at all. Again, that is a problem that is only going to keep getting worse as US schools put out more grads and more IMGs get shut out.

I also think that your point about having family close by for support is valid and realistic. In fact, it shows insight and maturity to have thought about these things. It also shows courage that you are willing to admit when you have made a mistake, take a step back, and put your effort in a more positive direction. Continuing down a path that you know is wrong just because you don't want to look like a "quitter" would be a bigger sign of poor judgment to me than not starting classes at SGU.

Finally, while some med schools might hold a mistake you made as a 21-year-old (assuming you're a trad) against you, others won't. I made some stupid career decisions when I was in my early 20s too. That's why I wound up going to med school at age 31. There are an awful lot of other nontrads out there who screwed up in their college years and are making good now. Fortunately for those of us who didn't have it all together as college kids, our med schools were willing to give us a second chance.

Just thought you should have a different viewpoint, because I agree with you that staying at SGU would be a mistake for so many reasons. Hope this helps, and best of luck.

 

[dsk89]

Come home. Nothing against SGU specifically, because it's one of the few well-regarded Caribbean schools out there. But when it comes to getting into an American residency program, having a Caribbean degree would already be a huge disadvantage even if you were applying for residency this year. As someone who would be graduating four years from now, you'd be facing even more difficulty with being squeezed out of the residency running by a glut of American grads. It's going to keep getting worse for IMGs every year as American schools (both MD and DO) keep expanding their classes and new med schools keep on opening. As an example, eight years ago when I applied, we had four MD schools and one DO school in my home state (FL). Now there are twice as many FL schools of each type. That's a national trend.

Concerning the issue of applying as an ex-matriculant, I'm going to respectfully disagree with Goro about how serious of an issue it's going to be. I do think you'll have to do some explaining, and you're going to need to take the next 1-2 years to get your ducks in a row before you apply again. But speaking as someone who spent four years as a student adcom, I wouldn't hold it against you for a second if you got cold feet about attending a Caribbean school. In fact, I try to talk everyone who asks my opinion out of attending Caribbean schools, even one of the Big Four. First, it's expensive. Second, a lot of Caribbean students never even make it to the point of applying to residency; those schools have very high attrition. Third, of the ones who do make it to the residency app point, a significant number either end up in a specialty they didn't want or don't get a residency slot at all. Again, that is a problem that is only going to keep getting worse as US schools put out more grads and more IMGs get shut out.

I also think that your point about having family close by for support is valid and realistic. In fact, it shows insight and maturity to have thought about these things. It also shows courage that you are willing to admit when you have made a mistake, take a step back, and put your effort in a more positive direction. Continuing down a path that you know is wrong just because you don't want to look like a "quitter" would be a bigger sign of poor judgment to me than not starting classes at SGU.

Finally, while some med schools might hold a mistake you made as a 21-year-old (assuming you're a trad) against you, others won't. I made some stupid career decisions when I was in my early 20s too. That's why I wound up going to med school at age 31. There are an awful lot of other nontrads out there who screwed up in their college years and are making good now. Fortunately for those of us who didn't have it all together as college kids, our med schools were willing to give us a second chance.

Just thought you should have a different viewpoint, because I agree with you that staying at SGU would be a mistake for so many reasons. Hope this helps, and best of luck.

I have withdrawn from SGU and will be coming home, ready to work my butt off for the next 1-2 years. It was without a doubt one of the toughest decisions I've ever made in my life. It was like exactly what you said (didn't want to look like a "quitter") that made it difficult. But I feel like I have made the right decision for my future and will be honest and forthcoming when I reapply. Thank you for these supportive and encouraging words, QofQuimica. I really appreciate it.