Need Some Advice!!!

[bezerkeley]

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I am looking for some helpful information and honest feedback for a situation in which I currently find myself. I applied to several medical schools this past fall for the upcoming matriculation class and was blessed enough to be accepted at a school that I genuinely like. However, as the academic year has progressed, recent developments have me rethinking jumping into medical school next year.

For one, I will be finishing up with my Masters of Science degree this summer, and am suffering from "degree fatigue". Essentially, I have spent the past 6 years in academia, and have reached the point beyond burn out. To compound this issue, my degree program will not finish up until the end of the summer, one week prior to the start of the medical school I was accepted to. Obviously this means that I would be immediately having to move (cross country, mind you) to and start med school full time, without an opportunity for a break. Being as intellectually and physically drained as I am already, this is not all that appealing.

However, the main reason I am contemplating delaying entry is that I have had some personal/family issues come up recently that really require me to find a job and earn an income. To compound this even further, I have been offered a job that I would legitimately be excited about doing.

So, basically my question is this: How negatively would it impact me if I declined my admissions offer and reapplied in a year or two? Do medical schools know that you have had (or turned down) previous admissions offers? Does anyone here have any experience similar to mine, or know of anyone has has? Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[BigBlueBear]

Why not just request deferment for a year? If you don't get it then you can cross this bridge.

 

[gyngyn]

Ask for a deferral.

Someone who turns down an acceptance has one of the biggest red flags known.

 

[Mdtichen]

Yes, just like everyone has said, see if you can defer until next year.

 

[bezerkeley]

So here's the deal with the deferral. First, I do not know how long I will need to defer - it may only be a one year deferral or it may be a two year deferral. The job I would be accepting is funded by a grant, so its anyone's guess as to how long it will be funded for. The bigger issue with deferral though, is that the medical school that I was accepted at is a state school, and their offer is contingent upon the fact that I remain a resident of that state. The job is in a different state.

 

[gyngyn]

So here's the deal with the deferral. First, I do not know how long I will need to defer - it may only be a one year deferral or it may be a two year deferral. The job I would be accepting is funded by a grant, so its anyone's guess as to how long it will be funded for. The bigger issue with deferral though, is that the medical school that I was accepted at is a state school, and their offer is contingent upon the fact that I remain a resident of that state. The job is in a different state.

Explain to your school why this opportunity will give you value added when you matriculate. The odds are they will only give you a year's deferral, but that is way better than your alternative.

 

[bezerkeley]

Anyone else with any helpful insight?

 

[sinombre]

Anyone else with any helpful insight?

Listen to gyngyn. The words "biggest red flag known" should pretty much answer your question of whether or not to turn down an acceptance.

 

[Lollygag]

Don't turn down the acceptance, that is such a huge red flag, may as well add 20 WD's and a DUI and you'll be in the same boat.

(exaggerating, but you get the point?)