Reapplying after acceptance

[Petrichor1]

Hi SDN. I'm an MD applicant this year, and I'm currently one year out of college, doing research. I got in to one medical school, and I got two waitlists. Over the past year of research, I have come to realize just how much I want to pursue a career in academic medicine. However, the school where I was accepted is an unranked state school with a larger focus on primary care. Additionally, from my interview, I got a strong feeling that it wasn't a good match on a personal level. I felt very out of place relative to the medical students currently there. I certainly haven't come to any conclusion yet, but in the interest of keeping all options on the table, I'm considering turning down this medical school and applying again next cycle.

I was wondering:
1. Can medical schools in the next cycle see that I was accepted to a medical school this cycle?
2. How would they feel about it if they can see it? Would they consider it a valid reason to reapply?
3. Would it further validate my decision if I applied to MD/PhD programs this next cycle? This is also an option I've really been wrestling with.

Applying again, I would send my secondaries immediately (finishing by mid-July-ish) rather than waiting to between early august-early october like I stupidly did this time around. I also have three publications to add 'til my app (one first-author), as well as a substantial amount of clinical exposure that was lacking from my previous application.

In the end, I realize I'm so so so fortunate to have even received one acceptance from a medical school. I feel pretty ungrateful even contemplating this option, which is why I wanted others' input. I'd really appreciate constructive advice over inflammatory commentary, but I realize it's the internet.

I'm a bit tipsy on giving advice for this one but I will say this: You are not there to make friends. You may get to know your classmates for 2 years but come rotation, you guys will be in your own world and regardless of what they are like as a whole, you will find atleast 1 person who you would get along and would make your education fun. If the weather, locale, and basically teaching facility is what you don't like, then maybe it may need further examining and you could probably get away by waiting out the cycle and applying again. I for one do not want to apply to many certain regions due to weather and expenses. I also randomly took a trip to some of these places and absolutely disliked the weather, even my family now wishes me to apply around the place. While I hate to admit that they are right, they are right. Some places are just not worth the hype even though the rest of the world around you may say otherwise.

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[tl3tc]

n=1, I shadowed a primary care doctor who applied to medical school and got accepted... but not to the one school that she realized (a little too date) she really wanted to attend. She ended up declining the acceptance(s?) and applying only to her #1 choice the next year. Obviously, it turned out well for her. Moral of the story? Challenging, perhaps, but not impossible.

 

[lalarubies]

n=1, I shadowed a primary care doctor who applied to medical school and got accepted... but not to the one school that she realized (a little too date) she really wanted to attend. She ended up declining the acceptance(s?) and applying only to her #1 choice the next year. Obviously, it turned out well for her. Moral of the story? Challenging, perhaps, but not impossible.

man this is tough. On one hand, there's an overwhelming response on SDN of people saying "it's the dumbest decision possible!" or "all schools will definitely pass over you next round." but also a few people have posted stories of successes

 

[Mad Jack]

Does anyone know how exactly medical schools are able to see your acceptances from previous cycles? Is it from the Multiple Acceptances Report sent out in the initial cycle? If so, if you withdraw from said acceptance before that report is released, then the medical schools wouldn't know that you are reapplying w/ a previous acceptance correct?

I'm not certain, but I believe it us reported to AMCAS in a not entirely transparent way. We do know that once an acceptance is garnered, it is generally considered visible and nothing more- that information and its specifics is privileged to adcoms alone.

 

[WedgeDawg]

man this is tough. On one hand, there's an overwhelming response on SDN of people saying "it's the dumbest decision possible!" or "all schools will definitely pass over you next round." but also a few people have posted stories of successes

Just because it works out for some people doesn't mean it's a good idea. People will generally give advice that supports the least risky path.

 

[GrapesofRath]

I'm not certain, but I believe it us reported to AMCAS in a not entirely transparent way. We do know that once an acceptance is garnered, it is generally considered visible and nothing more- that information and its specifics is privileged to adcoms alone.

I believe it's actually pretty transparent and schools can see it rather readily. If a school by some chance decides to take a chance on you after you already turned down an MD, it wont be because they didnt know you have already turned down an acceptance.

As a general point to me these people who turn down MD acceptances to reapply are the "riskiest" applicants of all. Not the ones with low stats who you fear might struggle/flunk medical school, it's the ones who were indecisive enough about medicine to turn it down once already for whatever reason. Those are the ones who are the biggest risks in many ways not to graduate if you take them. So I can certainly why there would be so much hesitation to indulge in an applicant like that.

 

[avgn]

Does anyone know how exactly medical schools are able to see your acceptances from previous cycles? Is it from the Multiple Acceptances Report sent out in the initial cycle? If so, if you withdraw from said acceptance before that report is released, then the medical schools wouldn't know that you are reapplying w/ a previous acceptance correct?

I think the name pops up in the system so they can see it somewhere in your electronic file. Not sure

 

[GrapesofRath]

I believe that this may now be associated with the AMCAS/AAMC Master Data File. That is, there is a field in the data for every applicant that includes acceptances This is what they use in National Acceptance Report. Since virtually every school uses either 1) AMCAS-based primary processing (AMCAS does the initial processing for the school); 2) AMCAS-tools (AMCAS provided software); or 3) third party software that is AMCAS compliant; this can be "grabbed" by the school at processing time and show up in a file.

There is the National Acceptance report as well as questions on secondaries at some schools

In sum, you must assume schools can/will know if you have been previously accepted.

I have met only a few people (single digits) who have done this

Above all else in regard to the bolded, there are so many schools in their secondaries will ask about previous application cycles and the results of them that it wont even get to the AMCAS master file in many cases

Were there any particular types of characteristics most likely to be apparent in people from your experience who are able to get acceptances in later cycles after turning down ones in previous cycles?

My guess is it would be reserved for very unique situations such as a) unforseen circumstances like a severe illness/family emergency where the initial school that accepted you wont grant you a deferral for a year b) rare candidates schools really crave and are willing to overlook something like this for(ie URMs with 3.8+/34+'s, military vets etc) c) people with significant gaps between the time they are applying and their previous acceptance(ie 10+ years) who did something very significant in that gap and still can yet convince schools medicine is what they are most passionate about.

 

[cyang]

my cousin turned down an acceptance and reapplied this year. four interviews to top 10 schools (including harvard). go figure.

 

[bararaboi]

Would I be able to defer an acceptance at a medical school for one year and apply at the same time?

 

[gyngyn]

Would I be able to defer an acceptance at a medical school for one year and apply at the same time?

The contract will usually have a clause that precludes re-application as a condition of the deferral.

 

[haaaaaaaaaaveyoumetted]

My PI is one of the most respected PIs (and just people in general) at our institution. She's an MD, practiced internal medicine for 20 years with some research as opportunities came to her, and now works full time in research. And gets some nice grants for what it's worth

 

[haaaaaaaaaaveyoumetted]

(What I'm saying is, getting into academic medicine through your state MD is very reasonable and do-able)

 

[nRomaleos]

how does the old saying go again?

something about birds & bushes...

 

[avgn]

my cousin turned down an acceptance and reapplied this year. four interviews to top 10 schools (including harvard). go figure.

Bet s/he didn't tell them she was accepted last year. Or she lied to you and actually didn't get in anywhere last time

 

[Nietzschelover]

1) Do not apply anywhere that you would not be OK with attending.

2) As they say in football after a made field goal when the other team is offsides on the play....don't take points off the board....at least partly because you could throw a pick-six on the next play.

 

[Goro]

Outliers always occur. Yes, it's not impossible, but it is extremely foolish.

n=1, I shadowed a primary care doctor who applied to medical school and got accepted... but not to the one school that she realized (a little too date) she really wanted to attend. She ended up declining the acceptance(s?) and applying only to her #1 choice the next year. Obviously, it turned out well for her. Moral of the story? Challenging, perhaps, but not impossible.

 

[Doug Underhill]

Honestly, there are enough people on SDN who have posted success stories of this to make it seem at least plausible. You will be blacklisted at the school you were accepted at, but other schools may take interest.

However, keep in mind that you are wasting 1 year of attending physician salary + reapplication fees by doing this. Given that the average specialist salary is $285k, that's a VERY expensive reapplication.

 

[justadream]

goes beyond that: AMCAS prevents it as when you defer in one year, the next year you fill out AMCAS again and file under "deferred " with 1 school you deferred from. They do this to track acceptances, matriculation, and deferments across cycles. From a processing standpoint, you can't reapply while simultaneously trying to start on a deferred acceptance.

How does this work? Does the student have to mark they there were deferred somewhere in AMCAS? Or, does AMCAS do it via matching names/DOBs?

I know someone (n=1) who deferred an acceptance for 1 year and has reapplied successfully (by focusing on different schools in the two cycles, I think the schools he's been accepted at during the 2nd cycle are not aware of his deferral from another school). Or, maybe those schools will find out later in the cycle (perhaps in the multiple acceptance report?) and then rescind the recent acceptances?

I thought AMCAS might try to block it too but it seems like it has not, at least in this case?

 

[avgn]

How does this work? Does the student have to mark they there were deferred somewhere in AMCAS? Or, does AMCAS do it via matching names/DOBs?

I know someone (n=1) who deferred an acceptance for 1 year and has reapplied successfully (by focusing on different schools in the two cycles, I think the schools he's been accepted at during the 2nd cycle are not aware of his deferral from another school). Or, maybe those schools will find out later in the cycle (perhaps in the multiple acceptance report?) and then rescind the recent acceptances?

I thought AMCAS might try to block it too but it seems like it has not, at least in this case?

Lies....there's no way he deferred and got in this year. He probably didn't get in at all last year

 

[cyang]

Bet s/he didn't tell them she was accepted last year. Or she lied to you and actually didn't get in anywhere last time

not at all actually. but i'm sure thats what you would rather believe

 

[Lucca]

Honestly, there are enough people on SDN who have posted success stories of this to make it seem at least plausible. You will be blacklisted at the school you were accepted at, but other schools may take interest.

However, keep in mind that you are wasting 1 year of attending physician salary + reapplication fees by doing this. Given that the average specialist salary is $285k, that's a VERY expensive reapplication.

I've only seen the one thread and that guy was a Texas applicant (different ball game). Who else on SDN has this story?

Regardless, nobody should give up an acceptance to US MD to reapply

 

[GrapesofRath]

I've only seen the one thread and that guy was a Texas applicant (different ball game). Who else on SDN has this story?

Regardless, nobody should give up an acceptance to US MD to reapply

That guy was also in all liklihood trolling out of his a**

 

[avgn]

not at all actually. but i'm sure thats what you would rather believe

Family members lie more than we'd like think they do. If we're talking DO and then MD, completely different. If you know for a fact that she actively disclosed to the schools she'd been accepted before, that's quite interesting. Maybe it works for snobby schools who would actually support turning down a lower ranked school for a powerhouse.

 

[cyang]

Family members lie more than we'd like think they do. If we're talking DO and then MD, completely different. If you know for a fact that she actively disclosed to the schools she'd been accepted before, that's quite interesting. Maybe it works for snobby schools who would actually support turning down a lower ranked school for a powerhouse.

Lies....there's no way he deferred and got in this year. He probably didn't get in at all last year

I've literally seen the acceptance and then saw the interview invites she got this year. Believe me I was surprised too but she had a good (not amazing) reason to turn down the school and reapply again and is something she explained in every single one of her apps. Would I recommend it? No. It is possible, from what I've seen? Clearly. Just letting OP know my n=1. Unsure why this topic is so sensitive to you but accusing everyone with a story that doesn't parallel with yours to be lying and categorizing all top 10 MD schools as "snobby" is pathetic.

 

[Windsors]

I've literally seen the acceptance and then saw the interview invites she got this year. Believe me I was surprised too but she had a good (not amazing) reason to turn down the school and reapply again and is something she explained in every single one of her apps. Would I recommend it? No. It is possible, from what I've seen? Clearly. Just letting OP know my n=1. Unsure why this topic is so sensitive to you but accusing everyone with a story that doesn't parallel with yours to be lying and categorizing all top 10 MD schools as "snobby" is pathetic.

May not be this case, but this reminded me of the genius girl who got accepted to a special dual-program from Stanford and Harvard University because both wanted her so badly

 

[Lucca]

May not be this case, but this reminded me of the genius girl who got accepted to a special dual-program from Stanford and Harvard University because both wanted her so badly

......who are you? That's like SDN circa 2001.

jk, remembered that this was also a news story lol.

 

[avgn]

I've literally seen the acceptance and then saw the interview invites she got this year. Believe me I was surprised too but she had a good (not amazing) reason to turn down the school and reapply again and is something she explained in every single one of her apps. Would I recommend it? No. It is possible, from what I've seen? Clearly. Just letting OP know my n=1. Unsure why this topic is so sensitive to you but accusing everyone with a story that doesn't parallel with yours to be lying and categorizing all top 10 MD schools as "snobby" is pathetic.

Ok so I'm wrong. Not sure why your panties are in a bunch after I already conceded I could have been wrong (a la "if you know for a fact...that's quite interesting")

Also idk where your single interview was but if you don't think top MD schools are snobby then you're reading US News the wrong way bud

 

[cyang]

Ok so I'm wrong. Not sure why your panties are in a bunch after I already conceded I could have been wrong (a la "if you know for a fact...that's quite interesting")

Also idk where your single interview was but if you don't think top MD schools are snobby then you're reading US News the wrong way bud

Someone is really bitter. You seem to rub a TON of people the wrong way on here. Keep it up!

 

[avgn]

Someone is really bitter. You seem to rub a TON of people the wrong way on here. Keep it up!

Heh whatever. @Goro rubs some people the wrong way, too. We help some, we argue some, we learn some, the world moves on and who the hell spends their day worrying about SDN posts anyway. I stand by my informed claim that some top schools (any field) are snobby. Good luck to you and your cousin!

 

[cyang]

Heh whatever. @Goro rubs some people the wrong way, too. We help some, we argue some, we learn some, the world moves on and who the hell spends their day worrying about SDN posts anyway. I stand by my informed claim that some top schools (any field) are snobby. Good luck to you and your cousin!

Difference is Goro gives advice and is helpful. Lying accusations and being condescending is in no way either of those things. But I appreciate what you have to say. I wish you the best of luck as well and I think we both have better things to do than be on SDN

 

[avgn]

I am helpful as well in many other places. We just don't interact much

 

[Goro]

Goro goes into dad mode now: OK, you two, fight nice!

I am helpful as well in many other places. We just don't interact much

 

[bararaboi]

Let's say I have a top choice school and that I don't get in there this cycle. Am I not able to apply again this next cycle if I have acceptances?

 

[Goro]

Let's put it this way. You apply to both Pitt and Temple. You get rejected at the former, and accepted at the latter. You turn down your acceptance and reapply the following year, hoping again to get into Pitt.

This means that you would rather not be a doctor, if you can't go to Pitt.

Adcom members don't want students like this.

Let's say I have a top choice school and that I don't get in there this cycle. Am I not able to apply again this next cycle if I have acceptances?

 

[Officer Farva]

OP, I have met respected laboratory PI's (MD only and MD/PhD) at top 20s who went to state schools and unranked programs. It's not the research you do in med school or your PhD that matters, but during fellowship I believe.

 

[tl3tc]

This means that you would rather not be a doctor, if you can't go to Pitt.

Some backstory for my anecdote that kind of agrees with this insight: the doc had already been a nurse for many years prior to making the decision to apply to medical school. She was happy at the current state of her life and probably much more comfortable passing up the opportunity the first time around than, say, a straight-out-of-college, spent-an-entire-life-preparing mid-20's applicant.

 

[bararaboi]

Let's put it this way. You apply to both Pitt and Temple. You get rejected at the former, and accepted at the latter. You turn down your acceptance and reapply the following year, hoping again to get into Pitt.

This means that you would rather not be a doctor, if you can't go to Pitt.

Adcom members don't want students like this.

I really think there shouldn't a problem with only wanting to go to Pitt. This whole med school admissions system is a mess.

 

[Glandzburg]

I really think there shouldn't a problem with only wanting to go to Pitt. This whole med school admissions system is a mess.

When there are more than 2x the number of applicants per medical school seat in the US, the schools can call the shots. Not to mention that fact that each individual school usually has ~5,000+ applicants vying for 200 or less seats in each class.

 

[lightblueelephant]

If you don't want the acceptance at temple Id be happy to take it off your hands

 

[HL8208]

Similar question- will schools know if one withdrew from a school where he/she was waitlisted before an acceptance decision was made?

 

[gyngyn]

I really think there shouldn't a problem with only wanting to go to Pitt. This whole med school admissions system is a mess.

Then just apply to Pitt...

 

[gyngyn]

Similar question- will schools know if one withdrew from a school where he/she was waitlisted before an acceptance decision was made?

No.