Need some advice - deposit

[Falconclaw]

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So I was accepted to Touro Middletown today, and I have two weeks to pay a $2000 deposit. At my interview day, an admissions officer said we can ask for a two week extension, but then by May 15th, we have to pay another $1,000 deposit.

I am on the high priority wait list at Stony Brook, and the email that I got from them made it seem very likely that I would get in, based on their recent history of admission cycles. I'd rather go there, since it's just a much more established and well regarded institution. However, I probably won't find out until late May/early June.

So I could either play it safe and pay the non-refundable deposit (my parents are actually okay with this), or take a risk and save $3000. Any thoughts on what I should do? My parents floated the thought of calling Stony Brook and explaining the situation and asking if they could get back to me earlier, but this sounds like a horrible idea to me.

 

[ski89]

You're in a tough spot for sure, but the answer is pretty clear to me. You have to pay to deposit and hold your spot. You never know what could happen with the waitlist (unfortunately) and it could turn out for the worst. Imagine if that happens and you have to apply again!! What a nightmare. Just pay the money.

 

[prdv]

If your parents can help you make the deposit, do it and don't look back.

I didn't have that luxury and I'm still waiting around on this risk that I took.

 

[Falconclaw]

Yeah, my parents are quite willing to pay it. I guess I'll ask for an extension, but after that...to clarify, it wouldn't be a good idea to contact Stony (or Hofstra, I was waitlisted there as well, but on the regular list) and ask them how my chances are looking there, would it?

 

[ShowandTell]

I don't think there's a point in contacting the school ahead of time, just because all they could offer to you is an indefinite answer until the very day they may send you an acceptance. You would be betting on a slightly "higher" chance, but it's still just a maybe and by declining the DO acceptance, that option is eliminated for any additional cycles. In the event that you don't make it off the wait list at these two schools, do you have reason to think your MD application has improved in the past year?

 

[Falconclaw]

I don't think there's a point in contacting the school ahead of time, just because all they could offer to you is an indefinite answer until the very day they may send you an acceptance. You would be betting on a slightly "higher" chance, but it's still just a maybe and by declining the DO acceptance, that option is eliminated for any additional cycles. In the event that you don't make it off the wait list at these two schools, do you have reason to think your MD application has improved in the past year?

No, it hasn't improved at all, and since I haven't really done anything this year except finish my senior year at college, and I don't have plans to do anything next year really (other than go to med school) if anything I would probably be a weaker candidate next cycle than I was this one, with the exception that I'd be able to submit my app earlier (I wasn't able to get everything in until late Aug/mid Sept).
But anyway of course I would rather not have to re-apply, and would rather go to DO school than reapply to MD. This process has been stressful and taxing enough on the first go.

 

[Vain Brother]

there is no "choice" here -- you either pay the deposit and
1) do not get accepted by stony brook, which means you're going to DO school, or
2) get accepted off stony brook's wait list, at which point you then have a choice of whether to forfeit the 3 grand to go to MD school (which, obviously, you would do) or stick with your DO school

not paying the deposit and risking losing everything is obviously not an option!

 

[ShowandTell]

Good luck dude.