People with multiple acceptances...

[Handy388]

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I don't literally mean drink myself stupid- I am saying relax and not worry about where I'll be next year. They have more of a right? Why? Because they went to a bigger school, or are a URM, or did better on the MCAT? I beat them on the SAT's and that is a measure of aptitude so who is to say I shouldn't have the "right" to know. Do the extra two months really help the decision making that much? I bet a lot of people don't change where they go in that time- they just let it swirl around their heads. But I suppose you're right- they were better applicants so they have more rights in the process, that's a good point from a future doc.

No, I mean they actually need the time to CHOOSE between two schools, where if you are just looking at one acceptance, you don't need to do anything. Sure, finding out 2 month earlier is nice, but they have more right to time because they need to actively make a decision, and find out now vs. two month later does not change the outcome for you.

 

[ButImLETired]

I'm actually kinda with Hurryupandwait on this one. I don't feel like I have any more of a right to hold my acceptances than anyone. Sure, deciding takes time, but it really doesn't take as long as it seems to for a lot of people. At some point you just gotta sit down and decide. Does 10k from one school outweigh all the cons? Do you like the location enough to deal with the debt? Does school A's PBL curriculum sound better than school B's system-based lecture curriculum? These aren't questions that take weeks of mulling over. Once you have financial aid packages from the various schools, you really just need to suck it up and withdraw from all but one, and this isn't really a lengthy process, just a daunting one. Rip the bandaid off! Go with your gut! I promise, 2 extra months aren't going to make the prospect of picking the wrong school to go to for 4 years any easier, so just do it.
Anyway, indecisive people stress me out 😳

 

[Handy388]

I'm actually kinda with Hurryupandwait on this one. I don't feel like I have any more of a right to hold my acceptances than anyone. Sure, deciding takes time, but it really doesn't take as long as it seems to for a lot of people. At some point you just gotta sit down and decide. Does 10k from one school outweigh all the cons? Do you like the location enough to deal with the debt? Does school A's PBL curriculum sound better than school B's system-based lecture curriculum? These aren't questions that take weeks of mulling over. Once you have financial aid packages from the various schools, you really just need to suck it up and withdraw from all but one, and this isn't really a lengthy process, just a daunting one. Rip the bandaid off! Go with your gut! I promise, 2 extra months aren't going to make the prospect of picking the wrong school to go to for 4 years any easier, so just do it.
Anyway, indecisive people stress me out 😳

decision making isn't easy for many when their cheapest option is not the best fit (my best fit also happened to be the cheapest, and it sounds like the case for you as well, Let)

they may need a lot of time to call up their family member and gauge their ability to support a more expensive option, money situation will be analyzed, questions will be asked about students, it may not be something that can be resolved in an instant.

 

[HrryUpNwait]

decision making isn't easy for many when their cheapest option is not the best fit (my best fit also happened to be the cheapest, and it sounds like the case for you as well, Let)

they may need a lot of time to call up their family member and gauge their ability to support a more expensive option, money situation will be analyzed, questions will be asked about students, it may not be something that can be resolved in an instant.

If you can have a family member you can't get ahold of for two months then fin aid is the least of your worries.

I think you are missing my point here. If a student doesn't hear back b/c someone had to decide for two months then there is more kickback then just "not having time to enjoy and savor my one acceptance."

Hypothetically- I am on a waitlist. May passes and I don't get it. I have to re-take the June MCAT. That's a lot of studying/time/money. Then I fill out AMCAS and re-apply in June. Spend time getting LORs, writing a PS, going to interviews for the class of 2014. In August I get accepted to the class of 2013!! Now that's a big waste so someone can deliberate for two months longer instead of two weeks- which is ample time. I agree that good applicants shouldn't be penalized for the convienence of us mere mortals, but it shouldn't be so cushy where they get two months so a waitlister has to jump through extra hoops. Let that marinate for a while, think about being in someone elses shoes, then get back to me.

 

[HrryUpNwait]

No, I mean they actually need the time to CHOOSE between two schools, where if you are just looking at one acceptance, you don't need to do anything. Sure, finding out 2 month earlier is nice, but they have more right to time because they need to actively make a decision, and find out now vs. two month later does not change the outcome for you.

Hate to beat a dead horse, but reapplying is different than not doing anything. I think reappyling is (get this) harder than deciding which school to go to- when they are both/all obviously good options for you if there is even a debate.

 

[pianola]

Ohhhh, okay.

I thought pianola thought I was attacking her or something. And she was responding to that.

I'm having a slow day...

*drinks another glass of red wine*

Sorry 🙁 I wasn't attacking. Just sayin'.

Pass me a glass? 😳

 

[Handy388]

Hate to beat a dead horse, but reapplying is different than not doing anything. I think reappyling is (get this) harder than deciding which school to go to- when they are both/all obviously good options for you if there is even a debate.

my bad, I did not factor in reapplying.

So you are right, waitlisters do need time to reapply.

 

[JennaQ]

I guess UMDNJ and Robert-Wood didn't give much love to the OP.

 

[slowbutsteady]

my bad, I did not factor in reapplying.

So you are right, waitlisters do need time to reapply.

I know this is controversial to say, but I think most, not all, reapplicants would be better served by waiting one year to reapply. Spend the time really doing some stuff to make you a better applicant. Coming off one app cycle and into another seems like beating your head against a wall.

Remember you have a long career ahead of you. In the grand scheme of things, one more year is nothing.

 

[Pedsbro]

I know this is controversial to say, but I think most, not all, reapplicants would be better served by waiting one year to reapply. Spend the time really doing some stuff to make you a better applicant. Coming off one app cycle and into another seems like beating your head against a wall.

Remember you have a long career ahead of you. In the grand scheme of things, one more year is nothing.

Only on SDN would you have to worry about that statement being labeled controversial by the few, but for some reason powerful neurotic sub-population that roams here.. That is very smart advice. I did that when I reapplied, and I personally know many many others who did the same. Depending on how your first cycle went, a year off may actually be required to improve your app enough to matter. If you received few to no interviews the first time, you need some major work. If on the other hand you received a number of interviews and some waitlists, then maybe you can get away with just applying again without waiting a year. So I agree, for some reapplicants, waiting a year is not just a good idea, but possibly a necessity. Shouldn't be anything controversial about it.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

If you are on a waitlist, you stand a chance of getting off during the May 15 movement but having your application ready for a resubmit is not a bad idea either especially if you are on one waitlist and you interviewed late in the season meaning that there are plenty of people in front of you.

Do most schools rank their waitlists based on when you were given a waitlist spot? I didn't get that impression from the schools I interviewed at.

 

[Pedsbro]

Do most schools rank their waitlists based on when you were given a waitlist spot? I didn't get that impression from the schools I interviewed at.

No, it's not first come first served when it comes to putting together a waitlist...at least at the schools I've applied to. They rank it based on much they liked you, to put it simply. (AMCAS + Interview scores) I would guess that most schools do it this way...

 

[HrryUpNwait]

Only on SDN would you have to worry about that statement being labeled controversial by the few, but for some reason powerful neurotic sub-population that roams here.. That is very smart advice. I did that when I reapplied, and I personally know many many others who did the same. Depending on how your first cycle went, a year off may actually be required to improve your app enough to matter. If you received few to no interviews the first time, you need some major work. If on the other hand you received a number of interviews and some waitlists, then maybe you can get away with just applying again without waiting a year. So I agree, for some reapplicants, waiting a year is not just a good idea, but possibly a necessity. Shouldn't be anything controversial about it.

I agree that if you got some interviews and some waitlists you really don't need a year off. Especially if the mistake you made was applying in Sept/Oct. I think in a subjective process like this reapplying right away is ok.

 

[pietachok]

Hello?! Taxes?! Not due til APRIL 15th.

You can't have financial aid packages presented until you until your parents have completed their taxes...even if you're a totally independent, working, common-law-married adult. BLECH.

Silly students who forgot about this teeny tiny logistical issue.

I hope you want to give your schools time to consider those forms they make you submit. More power to you and your family if your parents are able to file early or still can do a 1040EZ...life gets very complicated for the rest of us.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Hello?! Taxes?! Not due til APRIL 15th.

You can't have financial aid packages presented until you until your parents have completed their taxes...even if you're a totally independent, working, common-law-married adult. BLECH.

Silly students who forgot about this teeny tiny logistical issue.

I hope you want to give your schools time to consider those forms they make you submit. More power to you and your family if your parents are able to file early or still can do a 1040EZ...life gets very complicated for the rest of us.

By law you get your W2s and other tax documents by end of January. So 2.5 months to do taxes is enough....

Of course I procrastinated too!