Second Look Conflicts

[Bearhugs]

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The Second Look Events for the two schools I have been accepted to are scheduled for the same weekend. A third school that I am very interested in (although I am currently waitlisted at) also has their Second Look that same weekend.

I really was hoping to use my experiences at Second Look to help me make my final decision, but how do I decide which one to go to??

Thanks for your help!

 

[Lollygag]

I probably wouldn't go to the one that I'm wait-listed at unless I have heard that their wait-list moves a lot and am high priority on it, or if that is by far your number 1 choice of all 3.

As far as the other two, you're just gonna have to pick the one that either

1) you are the most interested in or
2) the one you know the least about and thus a second look is more necessary. Like say you absolutely love X school from interview and are sure you would be happy there, but Y school you feel conflicted about and never got a good feel of the school--- it may be better to go to Y school for second look to remove any doubts from your mind.

just my $0.02

 

[Bearhugs]

Thanks for your response.

I wasn't planning on going to the second look at the school I'm waitlisted at unless I get in. But what I was getting at was if I do get accepted off the waitlist, then that leaves me with all 3 second looks on the same weekend.

anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[scribe89]

I am very concerned about this as well. My top two schools I am deciding between are on the same weekend. Does anyone know how accomodating schools are to visiting a different weekend/ if that would be useful?

Thanks!

 

[alpinism]

With the exception of a few schools, most don't start pulling students from the waitlist till May (after 2nd look).

If you can't decide which one you like better I would suggest:
a. emailing current students from both schools (who you met at the II) to get more info and answer any questions about the curriculum/atmosphere/location.
b. If you're not too far away you can also ask to shadow a student for a day at one and attend the 2nd look at the other. The shadowing would be scheduled on a weekday so it wouldn't conflict w the other 2nd look.

There is usually only one 2nd look so you couldn't visit on another weekend.

 

[Geebeejay]

With the exception of a few schools, most don't start pulling students from the waitlist till May (after 2nd look).

If you can't decide which one you like better I would suggest:
a. emailing current students from both schools (who you met at the II) to get more info and answer any questions about the curriculum/atmosphere/location.
b. If you're not too far away you can also ask to shadow a student for a day at one and attend the 2nd look at the other. The shadowing would be scheduled on a weekday so it wouldn't conflict w the other 2nd look.

There is usually only one 2nd look so you couldn't visit on another weekend.

I have been wondering about this for a while - is a pre-med shadowing an MS3 or MS4 for a shift acceptable/encouraged? Does this sort of thing happen often if at all? I think this would be a great way to gauge schools in addition to second look.

 

[penguinism]

I am very concerned about this as well. My top two schools I am deciding between are on the same weekend. Does anyone know how accomodating schools are to visiting a different weekend/ if that would be useful?

Thanks!

You can certainly try to visit on another weekend, but you likely won't get any sort of official program. The best thing to do would be to call the admissions office and see if they can offer you anything (even if it's just some sort of "guest pass" to get you through security so that you can walk around and tour the facilities yourself).

Shadowing an M1/M2 might be possible at certain schools. I doubt that any school would let you shadow an M3/M4 in the hospital (paperwork/liability issue).

 

[MilkIsGood]

go to both by attending one day at each. thats what people did last year at one of the 2nd looks i went to

 

[Ismet]

Contact each school's admissions office and explain your situation. Ask them if it would be possible to set something up at an earlier or later date with an M1/M2 and maybe an appointment with someone in admissions, a financial aid officer, etc, so you can get a taste of what they'll be getting at Second Look. Some schools will be more willing to do this than others, which is why you should ask both schools what would be possible, and then go to the actual Second Look at the school that is less accommodating to an individual day.

go to both by attending one day at each. thats what people did last year at one of the 2nd looks i went to

What, were they neighboring med schools or something?

 

[Bearhugs]

Thanks for the responses guys! Guess I'll be in contact with the schools soon!

 

[MilkIsGood]

What, were they neighboring med schools or something?

Nope. One school was in Boston and the other was in Chicago.