Medical Question regarding deferred admission

[Goro]

I just wanted some clarification regarding deferring admission one year. This cycle I was accepted to a school I liked but was certainly not my top choice and even before applying was planning on deferring admission for a year if I was accepted anywhere this cycle, and if not then just reapplying. I know turning down an acceptance and then reapplying can hurt you and possibly keep you from getting accepted by other schools the second time around. But, having deferred admission, could I then apply this next cycle to other schools and try again to get into one of my top choices, just to see what may come of it? Would I still be shooting myself in the foot or would it be looked upon differently since I did not simply turn down this school, but deferred admission and thus am still dedicated to going there, unless a much better opportunity presents itself?

You are engaging in self-sabotaging behavior and frankly, I am questioning your commitment to being a doctor with this type of thinking.

Deferrals are rarely given, BTW.

Med schools will also see that you were accepted and deferred, and this will be a kiss of death.

Only if your accept was at CMU or LUCOM would I even think of approval of your scheme.

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[MusicDOc124]

Why would you apply if you were already planning on deferring if accepted in the first place? I've only seen deferrals granted for military service obligations, death/illness in a family member, or other extenuating circumstance.

Asking for a deferral won't hurt, just don't expect them to say yes. If they so no, take your acceptance and run with it this year or risk not becoming a physician. If they say yes, take it and expect to matriculate there next year and NOT applying elsewhere as I believe there are ways that they can/will find out. I know they ask about previous matriculations, but I no longer remember whether or not they ask if you hold acceptances or anything. Not worth the risk in my opinion though.

 

[Goro]

I was advised to apply this cycle then seek deferral by advisors. I was told that as long as you had a specific plan of what you were doing during that time that it would almost certainly be granted. Thank you for your help.

The smart thing is not to listen to your advisor. The road to medical school is littered with the festering corpses of students who did and found out that the information they'd been given was lousy. The wise LizzyM

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Whatever advice you had from your advisor, the responsibility is up to you to check with admissions staff and current students. I would say congratulations on doing well enough to getting an acceptance, and yes, it would be very bad for you to take a deferral and then apply to a ton of schools during your deferral period. Not very professional. Even if you got bad advice, you have made your bed to sleep in.

 

[MusicDOc124]

"Deferrals are only granted when an accepted student is deployed by the military." - LECOM

"Such requests may be considered only if during the deferral year the student will be involved either in completing coursework leading to a degree, a specified research project, or a clinical activity in which he/she will receive a better understanding and appreciation for the delivery of healthcare. No other proposals qualify for deferral" - Einstein

"As is the case at most medical schools, the Committee on Admissions at BUSM has a general preference to avoid deferral of matriculation." - Boston University

"Accepted students have no "right" to a deferment. Only accepted applicants may request a deferment. Applicants may request a deferment for the following reasons: Illness or Military requirements. Other non-academic crises that will seriously impact the applicant's ability to succeed as a medical student will be considered. Applicants requesting a deferment will be expected to provide documentation of the condition for which a deferment is requested. The documentation should be sent to the Assistant Dean for Admissions." - RowanSOM

"Deferrals are highly discouraged, and will only be considered after acceptance on a case by case basis." - UCLA David Geffen

Your advisor is giving poor advice.

You can look up the information you need by going to the school's site that you're accepted to. With that said, it may not be specified on the site, but you'd likely have to do some paperwork for the deferral and there may even be an agreement that says you won't apply elsewhere, or that you lose your acceptance.

Do some homework, but you have two people above involved in medical school admissions and a medical student all telling you it's a bad idea without a legitimate reason.