Only 11 days to decide?

[Erok]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I got a post-bacc acceptance letter yesterday and my decision is due the 20th (of March) for a program that doesn't start until fall. I haven't even heard from any other programs yet, and my top choice (which starts in the summer) doesn't send out decisions until the first of April. This seems crazy to me and I am not sure what to do. If I sign the letter of intent and then find out I got into my top choice, will there be financial/legal issues if I try to get out of attending the first school? I don't want to deny the first school and then have end up not getting in anywhere else.

Any advice/similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DrMidlife]

Pay the deposit to hold your seat.

If you get into a better school, give up the other seat and give up that deposit.

Awesome problem to have: losing a deposit because you get into a better school.

Don't count the nickels and dimes on the way to a $250k+ medical education.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Tyler15]

Accepted to Tufts MS BMS, Tulane Pharmacology Masters and Tulane Masters in Anatomy. Waiting to hear from Rosalind Franklin. Agree about paying deposit to hold the seat. Which program would be best?

 

[DrMidlife]

Accepted to Tufts MS BMS, Tulane Pharmacology Masters and Tulane Masters in Anatomy. Waiting to hear from Rosalind Franklin. Agree about paying deposit to hold the seat. With GPA in the 3.4 overall and 3.2 in sciences, with an MCAT that needs to be improved, which path would you go for the best chance for allopathic, if Rosalind Franklin comes in. Thanks

Home state?

 

[Tyler15]

NY. Thanks Dr. Midlife. Would appreciate your view,

 

[DrMidlife]

NY. Thanks Dr. Midlife. Would appreciate your view,

Personally I'd go w/Tufts, and don't apply until you finish the 1 yr MS.

RFU is the fastest path to an MD acceptance, but I personally can't fathom spending 5 years in North Chicago.

I like Tulane a lot - go with that option if you're just dying to live in NOLA. Pharm & the anatomy MS aren't going to carry more weight than Tufts, and that's a long way to move.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Tyler15]

Thanks very much.

 

[DrMidlife]

Thanks very much. Greatly appreciate the time you take to help so many people. Would your opinion about not applying until after the first year be different if I can achieve an MCAT of 30+ in July?

No different. Take the MCAT when you can get a 32+. Worth postponing to maximize your chances.

Try really, really hard to get into a SUNY. Try $150k worth of hard, because that's what you'll save if you get in.

 

[ewax]

Personally I'd go w/Tufts, and don't apply until you finish the 1 yr MS.

RFU is the fastest path to an MD acceptance, but I personally can't fathom spending 5 years in North Chicago.

I like Tulane a lot - go with that option if you're just dying to live in NOLA. Pharm & the anatomy MS aren't going to carry more weight than Tufts, and that's a long way to move.

Best of luck to you.

Lol, North Chicago isn't that bad 🙄 On the plus side, there is a Popeyes (open until 3AM on most days) less than a mile from school.

 

[Tyler15]

Thanks very much.

 

[rexis6157]

Hi 🙂 I saw an answer above for something similar to my question, but rather than try to generalize to myself I was hoping you can provide an opinion on my situation?
I am a FL resident graduating from a New England state school with a 3.5 gpa and a high 20's mcat, which I am retaking at the end of April and expect to do much better. I got a couple interviews this app cycle but so far haven't heard anything. I just got accepted into Tufts MBS and Tulane Masters in Anatomy and I haven't decided which one yet, but I'm also waiting to hear back from USF IMS and Georgetown GEMS. Tons of volunteering, leadership and research, excellent rec letters, etc.
Assuming I will attend either Tufts or Tulane which don't have the linkages like USF or Gtown, do you suggest waiting until I complete the program to apply again, or do you think I could get in somewhere if I apply this summer?
Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[DrMidlife]

Hi 🙂 I saw an answer above for something similar to my question, but rather than try to generalize to myself I was hoping you can provide an opinion on my situation?
I am a FL resident graduating from a New England state school with a 3.5 gpa and a high 20's mcat, which I am retaking at the end of April and expect to do much better. I got a couple interviews this app cycle but so far haven't heard anything. I just got accepted into Tufts MBS and Tulane Masters in Anatomy and I haven't decided which one yet, but I'm also waiting to hear back from USF IMS and Georgetown GEMS. Tons of volunteering, leadership and research, excellent rec letters, etc.
Assuming I will attend either Tufts or Tulane which don't have the linkages like USF or Gtown, do you suggest waiting until I complete the program to apply again, or do you think I could get in somewhere if I apply this summer?
Any input is greatly appreciated!

You shouldn't apply again with an MCAT score that starts with 2. If you're getting interviews and not getting in, then assume you're not interviewing well. You need to be calling the schools where you interviewed, and you need to get info out of them about what was lacking in your app. That's basic reapplication common sense.

Meanwhile, you're asking "do I apply the same year as an SMP?" which is a completely different subject than "what do I do with multiple SMP acceptances when they all want deposits?"

Best of luck to you.

 

[sillyome]

Hi I'm also facing a similar problem. I got accepted to tufts mbs and they want a reply by april 19. I have close to an 3.8 gpa and a 28R for MCAT. Would it benefit me much to do an SMP or should I just save money and do a prep class?

 

[DrMidlife]

Hi I'm also facing a similar problem. I got accepted to tufts mbs and they want a reply by april 19. I have close to an 3.8 gpa and a 28R for MCAT. Would it benefit me much to do an SMP or should I just save money and do a prep class?

Yes, save about $48k and do a prep course. Good lord!

An SMP does nothing to help you with a below-average MCAT. Shame on Tufts for taking a 3.8.

Best of luck to you.

 

[brew]

Hi I'm also facing a similar problem. I got accepted to tufts mbs and they want a reply by april 19. I have close to an 3.8 gpa and a 28R for MCAT. Would it benefit me much to do an SMP or should I just save money and do a prep class?

I would think you can get in medical school with that GPA and MCAT score... Of course a higher MCAT score would be ideal, but I think you are already good to go...
https://www.aamc.org/download/270906/data

 

[deleted248403]

I would think you can get in medical school with that GPA and MCAT score... Of course a higher MCAT score would be ideal, but I think you are already good to go...
https://www.aamc.org/download/270906/data

These numbers do not take into account URM status or in-state status.

So you can't swear by them. A 28 is one standard dev below the average accepted student. Putting you in the bottom 15% of accepted students.

Never a good place to be when applying.

 

[brew]

I know the MCAT isn't the greatest score, but the person I quoted is in a really good situation.
I don't know the exact numbers, but I am sure his high GPA is above the average accepted applicant's GPA.

Also, looking at just those who classify themselves as white, it is a even higher % accepted than the one with all races. (the years don't perfectly overlap though)
https://www.aamc.org/download/321518/data/2012factstable25-4.pdf

 

[rexis6157]

You shouldn't apply again with an MCAT score that starts with 2. If you're getting interviews and not getting in, then assume you're not interviewing well. You need to be calling the schools where you interviewed, and you need to get info out of them about what was lacking in your app. That's basic reapplication common sense.

Meanwhile, you're asking "do I apply the same year as an SMP?" which is a completely different subject than "what do I do with multiple SMP acceptances when they all want deposits?"

Best of luck to you.

Okay thanks for your input, yeah I definitely know I have some calls/emails to make once the app cycle officially closes.

And fair enough, but do you have any advice on md app timing given my stats? or should I direct my question elsewhere?

 

[sillyome]

Yes, save about $48k and do a prep course. Good lord!

An SMP does nothing to help you with a below-average MCAT. Shame on Tufts for taking a 3.8.

Best of luck to you.

Thank you for your advice! I don't want to be 48k down in loans if I don't have to either.

 

[sillyome]

I would think you can get in medical school with that GPA and MCAT score... Of course a higher MCAT score would be ideal, but I think you are already good to go...
https://www.aamc.org/download/270906/data

Thank you for your advice! As I'm an asian applicant, I will really need to retake my MCAT to make myself competitive 🙂