pretty good stats...

[HappyNole]

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Okay, so needing advice on how to approach this reapplication thing. I'm about to be verified by AMCAS and will be starting secondaries in the next few days. I have a 34 MCAT and 3.8 GPA. Last cycle I got five interviews. I was waitlisted at NYU and UCLA. I turned down an acceptance from my state school for a couple reasons:
1. My fiance was accepted to a PhD program at Southern California (across the country).
2. I wasn't happy with the program at the school that accepted me. Maybe it sounds arrogant, but I wanted to go to a school with more opportunities for research and clinical involvement.
Since I didn't get my secondaries in until October last year, I'm hoping an earlier application will go better. I felt like last year, by the time of my interviews, the classes were already almost full.
I guess what I'm wondering is how to address my reapplication on essays and for interviews. I can't just blame it on the lateness, and I am worried about how I'll justify having turned down an acceptance.
Thanks!

 

[HappyNole]

Yeah, so I read some other posts on SDN. Turns out, turning down an acceptance usually means no interviews the next cycle. Now I feel like an idiot and I think I am going to throw up...

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Yeah, so I read some other posts on SDN. Turns out, turning down an acceptance usually means no interviews the next cycle. Now I feel like an idiot and I think I am going to throw up...

Easy killer...

No need to vomit yet.

I'm not sure this will even come up. First off, you don't need to mention it. You didn't matriculate anywhere (i.e. start classes), so you didn't need to mention it on your application. If that's already done, then so be it. How did you explain it in your app if you put it in there? I'd follow the line you used there. Emphasize that the situation with your fiance changed during the application cycle, and you really couldn't see yourself living across the country for 4 years. That will be fine.

If you didn't mention it on the app, have that explanation ready during interviews. If it never comes up, don't mention it.

PS: Please take threads here with a grain of salt. These people aren't adcoms (except for a few that are.) And even if they were, different committees are made up of different people. You'll get in somewhere with those stats.

 

[HappyNole]

Thanks Goodman. Yeah, I think what freaked me out was that people had also said that schools can see where you had been offered acceptances through AMCAS, so there's no avoiding it. I didn't mention it in my primary apps, but the secondaries ask about why you are reapplying.

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Thanks Goodman. Yeah, I think what freaked me out was that people had also said that schools can see where you had been offered acceptances through AMCAS, so there's no avoiding it. I didn't mention it in my primary apps, but the secondaries ask about why you are reapplying.

If it does have to come out, I reaffirm my advice to emphasize the change in your relationship over the course of the application cycle and how you decided that living across the country from your fiancee was something you couldn't do.

With that said, Cali schools are especially hard to get into, so best of luck!

 

[alwaysaangel]

Okay, so needing advice on how to approach this reapplication thing. I'm about to be verified by AMCAS and will be starting secondaries in the next few days. I have a 34 MCAT and 3.8 GPA. Last cycle I got five interviews. I was waitlisted at NYU and UCLA. I turned down an acceptance from my state school for a couple reasons:
1. My fiance was accepted to a PhD program at Southern California (across the country).
2. I wasn't happy with the program at the school that accepted me. Maybe it sounds arrogant, but I wanted to go to a school with more opportunities for research and clinical involvement.
Since I didn't get my secondaries in until October last year, I'm hoping an earlier application will go better. I felt like last year, by the time of my interviews, the classes were already almost full.
I guess what I'm wondering is how to address my reapplication on essays and for interviews. I can't just blame it on the lateness, and I am worried about how I'll justify having turned down an acceptance.
Thanks!

Where are you from? Florida?

I'm not so worried about them knowing you turned down an acceptance. You'll have to explain it and that will be that.

However, if she is at a PhD program for 3 more years that means you still want to get into a California school I presume? Your stats are very good but even so you are severely limiting yourself. California schools are very competitive and the UCs generally give preference to IS applicants (even if they don't outright say so).

So you need to decide what your strategy is this year. Are you just applying to schools in California? That will severely limit you.
Are you going to apply across the country again? Then definitely don't claim that you rejected the acceptance to be close to her...why would this year be any different? And DEFINITELY don't tell any school that you "didn't like the program at the school that accepted you." You don't badmouth other schools, ever...even politely.

Good luck.

 

[dragonfly99]

What's done is done. I agree that CA schools are HARD to get into. You had better apply to every one, and soon. You better also apply to all the private schools in California. If you get any interviews @California schools, esp. southern CA, you better lay it on thick about how much you want to go there, and also mention that your fiancee is there.

Also, for what it's worth, I've had some experience working w/students from Western U, which I think is a DO school in California, and I've been impressed with them. Despite some stereotypes of DO schools that some people still have, I thought they were all good interns (only N of 2 or 3 so far, but that's my impression). So that may be a school worth looking in to, if location is a priority more than history/name recognition.

 

[J ROD]

Never turn down an acceptance.....

I know as an admission member that would be the first thing I would ask. If you want to be a MD, then why turn an acceptance down.

I think you will have an easier time finding a new woman than getting into a Cali med school.....

 

[drizzt3117]

honestly I think this is very overblown. As an adcom, I couldn't care less about
this given the person was a good candidate and had a good reason for it.

Never turn down an acceptance.....

I know as an admission member that would be the first thing I would ask. If you want to be a MD, then why turn an acceptance down.

I think you will have an easier time finding a new woman than getting into a Cali med school.....

 

[J ROD]

honestly I think this is very overblown. As an adcom, I couldn't care less about
this given the person was a good candidate and had a good reason for it.

I dont think my chick is in Cali is a good enough reason.....MD comes first. If you chose MD, it has to come first due to the number of hrs it takes to do it during and after school as a career.

That's why there is a admissions committee so that several opinions can be given. I would select someone with lesser stats and more commitment. I know plenty of folks that did not get into MD school that would go through hell and back to get an acceptance. So, yeah, OP would not get my vote.

 

[drizzt3117]

I dont think my chick is in Cali is a good enough reason.....MD comes first. If you chose MD, it has to come first due to the number of hrs it takes to do it during and after school as a career.

That must be why no doctors have families, why there's no maternity leave during residency or as an attending, or why there isn't a couple's match, huh?

The whole no acceptance after turning down an acceptance thing is a sdn myth perpetuated by premeds who are so obsessed with med school they can't understand why someone would turn down an acceptance. Like most things, there are no hard/fast rules.

 

[J ROD]

That must be why no doctors have families, why there's no maternity leave during residency or as an attending, or why there isn't a couple's match, huh?

The whole no acceptance after turning down an acceptance thing is a sdn myth perpetuated by premeds who are so obsessed with med school they can't understand why someone would turn down an acceptance. Like most things, there are no hard/fast rules.

I am just saying what I would think....

there are also alot of couples that do long distance relationships to get through their schooling and career objectives....

So, I know I would not give up an acceptance for a long shot chance. One thing I bet is the OP will not get back into FSU med school....

 

[drizzt3117]

I am just saying what I would think....

there are also alot of couples that do long distance relationships to get through their schooling and career objectives....

So, I know I would not give up an acceptance for a long shot chance. One thing I bet is the OP will not get back into FSU med school....

the other thing is that FSU starts really early, may or something, and you can't get off a waitlist if you've started school. I imagine with this particular school it's pretty common to turn down an acceptance even w/o any other ones.

 

[J ROD]

the other thing is that FSU starts really early, may or something, and you can't get off a waitlist if you've started school. I imagine with this particular school it's pretty common to turn down an acceptance even w/o any other ones.

from what I know...most schools have their class set for the most part by the end of May - first part of Jun.

 

[alwaysaangel]

from what I know...most schools have their class set for the most part by the end of May - first part of Jun.

Well they are all technically full by the middle of March.

But with waitlist movement after May and slow dropping down as people get off other waitlists. I've seen considerable movement late June and early July.

Look at any "Waitlist thread" on this website and you'll see that.

So he's not wrong about the strategy. I declined an acceptance to a school in KY the year I applied because they started early July (granted I had other later starting acceptances). Thank goodness I did since I was accepted off the waitlist in mid-July.

 

[J ROD]

Well they are all technically full by the middle of March.

But with waitlist movement after May and slow dropping down as people get off other waitlists. I've seen considerable movement late June and early July.

Look at any "Waitlist thread" on this website and you'll see that.

So he's not wrong about the strategy. I declined an acceptance to a school in KY the year I applied because they started early July (granted I had other later starting acceptances). Thank goodness I did since I was accepted off the waitlist in mid-July.

stand corrected....I would not give it up still though because I want to be a MD and could not give up what may be my only chance.

 

[knightstale4]

To OP: I know this is not a feasible option anymore, but did you consider transferring? I know the odds are small due to low attrition rates, but you would have had a compelling reason (in fact, I think spouse relocation is the typical reason), and with good board scores, you could've been in California in two years without losing this one.

Regardless, I wish you the best of luck and hope you don't have to reapply (from my understanding, there is hope for waitlists till the first day of classes ). If you do end up reapplying, I would suggest adding schools in neighboring Cali states to your list so you have a greater chance of acceptance at a west cost school, and can minimize commute time.

 

[ShyRem]

I think you would have to wait for transfer until you are married. Fiance' does NOT equal spouse. Lots of engagements break up.

 

[HappyNole]

First, thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate it.
Yeah, the early start was a real issue, because I was on some waitlists that I would have to lose my chances on.
I'm gonna be verified on AMCAS either tomorrow or Wed, and my letters are already in, so I should be able to be complete at several schools pretty soon. I realize the UC schools are tough, so I'll definitely be broadening my application. One thing that will help: I'll be a CA resident by next August. I looked up how to establish residency (as far as the schools are concerned), and am doing all the necessary stuff.
I also know living in the same city may not be possible, but living across the entire country was something I could not do. I do worry my commitment to medicine could be questioned, so that is what I am trying to prepare for. I know that I'm committed, I just have to persuade "them!"

 

[alwaysaangel]

First, thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate it.
Yeah, the early start was a real issue, because I was on some waitlists that I would have to lose my chances on.
I'm gonna be verified on AMCAS either tomorrow or Wed, and my letters are already in, so I should be able to be complete at several schools pretty soon. I realize the UC schools are tough, so I'll definitely be broadening my application. One thing that will help: I'll be a CA resident by next August. I looked up how to establish residency (as far as the schools are concerned), and am doing all the necessary stuff.
I also know living in the same city may not be possible, but living across the entire country was something I could not do. I do worry my commitment to medicine could be questioned, so that is what I am trying to prepare for. I know that I'm committed, I just have to persuade "them!"

Just remember - CA residency next August will help for tuition purposes but won't help you for admission this year. I think the suggestion to consider Western and Touro DO schools is something you may want to look into if location is the most important thing.

 

[HappyNole]

Just remember - CA residency next August will help for tuition purposes but won't help you for admission this year. I think the suggestion to consider Western and Touro DO schools is something you may want to look into if location is the most important thing.

Oh okay. Well thanks, I'll look into those.

 

[Lmcarroll20]

I turned down an acceptance last year and have 4 interviews at MD schools so far this season. Don't worry.