Should I apply or take out the loan. HELP!!!

[wakeboader]

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Hi I am in a bit of a dilemma; I have just graduated college and am scheduled to begin DO school this fall. The only problem is the price, I would much rather attend a state allopathic program ($250,000 vs. $80,000 estimate). Therefore I retook the MCAT and am in the process of applying for the second time. Here is where my problem lies my senior year of undergraduate school the fraternity I was in, was charged with hazing and was kicked off campus. I was investigated by the university and found not guilty of all charges I obtained a letter of recommendation from the head of misconduct and have multiple people willing to write me character references letters. Although, I was found not guilty (as I mentioned earlier) the investigation for hazing activity's still is on my record.

Should I apply again or just suck it up and take out the loan.

GPA 3.90 First MCAT 28 Second MCAT 32, shadowed a MD for over 100 hours and volunteered at a medical examiner's office for over 100 hours. Additionally, completed over 250 hours of research in a lab.

 

[cjl08k]

That is a big difference! I'm not sure how there is such a large tuition difference if both options are in the US, but if those numbers are correct, $250,000 is a much larger obligation. After interest is piled on, that can be quite a burden. I personally know a doctor who is 41 years old and still has a substantial loan debt and he graduated med school at 26. So I would say that is a huge factor worth considering, but another thing to consider is the time difference if you choose to reapply. You're talking about starting Fall 2013 versus reapplying Spring 2014 with a start date of Fall 2015. That's a two year difference!! Personally, that's a long wait. I'm not sure if it's much help, but you just need to prioritize things: 2 year wait with an incredibly less significant debt but also 2 long years of waiting, stressing, and reapplying which also costs more money versus $170,000 more in debt but start immediately and get out 2 years younger. Sorry for the ambiguity. Hope it helps!

FYI, if it was me, I'm impatient and would choose to start DO in the Fall with the larger debt. But I also haven't had the best approach when it comes to finances either. I'd value starting and getting out 2 years early over the extra debt.

 

[annawmc]

Hi I am in a bit of a dilemma; I have just graduated college and am scheduled to begin DO school this fall. The only problem is the price, I would much rather attend a state allopathic program ($250,000 vs. $80,000 estimate). Therefore I retook the MCAT and am in the process of applying for the second time. Here is where my problem lies my senior year of undergraduate school the fraternity I was in, was charged with hazing and was kicked off campus. I was investigated by the university and found not guilty of all charges I obtained a letter of recommendation from the head of misconduct and have multiple people willing to write me character references letters. Although, I was found not guilty (as I mentioned earlier) the investigation for hazing activity’s still is on my record.

Should I apply again or just suck it up and take out the loan.

GPA 3.90 First MCAT 28 Second MCAT 32, shadowed a MD for over 100 hours and volunteered at a medical examiner’s office for over 100 hours. Additionally, completed over 250 hours of research in a lab.

I'm assuming you mean you're reapplying now for entrance in the fall of 2014, right? The money is a huge issue for sure, but I would be mainly concerned about actually getting in to an allopathic state school this time around. There's no guarantee that you'll get in - would you apply a third time around if that was the case? If it were me I'd go this fall and take on the extra debt. You're already in with no guarantee of another acceptance this cycle. You just have to weigh the loan money against the time lost in at least one, if not a second, reapplication cycle. If money is more important, wait. If your time is more important, go this fall.

 

[wakeboader]

Yes I am applying for the 2013-2014 cycle now. I guess what my main question is will my chances of getting into allopathic medical school be greatly diminished due to this investigation being on my record.

 

[DokterMom]

Yes I am applying for the 2013-2014 cycle now. I guess what my main question is will my chances of getting into allopathic medical school be greatly diminished due to this investigation being on my record.

Yes - This investigation could very well hurt your chances.
And, turning down a DO acceptance will reduce your MD acceptance chances also if they find out about it. (Scuttlebutt seems mixed as to whether they will find out or not.)

 

[mybubbles627]

What is your state of residency? If something like California don't reapply because it is very hard to get into one of those schools even for in state students. If Florida or a state with a lot of options/very friendly for in state then I say you should reapply.

 

[LizzyM]

Could you live with yourself if you never get into any medical school and you have to turn to your alternate career plan? If yes, then reapply. If not, take the offer you have and run with it.

 

[wakeboader]

Thanks everybody for the input, the state of residency is NY.

 

[survivordo]

Bird in hand is worth two in the bush but damn that is a lot of money. I assume you applied MD this time around and were unsuccessful. It looks like the only change in your application is a change in MCAT score from 28 to 32. A nice increase but certainly not going to put you into the "auto accept" category... One thing you could do is call around to state schools you were rejected to this time around and see what the reason was if they all say "mcat score" then I might risk re-applying. If they say "hazing" then take your acceptance and run with it!

Survivor DO