should i stay or should i go

[mjohn7wy]

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Soo i am trying to make a decision on attending school this year or waiting one year and could use some advice from the SDN world

I have been accepted to LECOMs class for this year(also accepted to VCOM but withdrew my application), i was put on the wonderful hold at umaryland(my state school), Illinois and western. Denied at the rest pre interview.

Lecoms APAP program and umaryland were my top choices, i was waitlisted for the APAP program(likely no movement) and am still on hold at maryland.

I am deciding if i should go this year to LECOM (4 year program) or re apply next year(my application was not complete until September this cycle) with hopes of getting into the APAP program or one of my other top choices.

Other factors:

I cant really improve my GPA, c3.37, grad gpa 3.85, MCAT 29(10/9/10)

I will have two new publications by next application cycle and I have added volunteer hours(weak spot on my initial application)

I am a assistant professor, teaching physician assistant students

I am a working PA(5000 plus hours at this point), thus the idea of working for another year to save and then starting the APAP program and graduating the same year sounds great.

Any advice/experiences would be greatly appreciate. My obvious concerns are that i would not get in next year or I would end up in the same program and have simply delayed matriculation.

 

[xBODOMx]

Honestly your stats and ECs sound great for the APAP program. It's actually a tough choice. The thought of working another year and saving money is nice. Did you apply late to the APAP program? Sounds like if you got an interview early you should be set.

 

[IncuriousGeorge]

I don't know if you should go or stay but I know you should change your photo if that's you.

 

[s5260205]

It seems to me you were put on hold or rejected at all MD schools. Are there advantages of APAP beyond the three year duration? If not, you should just matriculate this year since you aren't close to being competitive for MD schools and you are unlikely to be accepted by LECOM again if you reject their offer.

 

[mjohn7wy]

Thanks for the quick responses, I did apply late(I interviewed at the end of October) and the program was already filled.

The major advantage is the three year duration, but for me thats a huge benefit(loss of salary and additional tuition)

would the generally feeling be the addition of research and volunteering not help me over the hump at my state school(my current clinical appointment is at my state school)

 

[s5260205]

Thanks for the quick responses, I did apply late(I interviewed at the end of October) and the program was already filled.

The major advantage is the three year duration, but for me thats a huge benefit(loss of salary and additional tuition)

would the generally feeling be the addition of research and volunteering not help me over the hump at my state school(my current clinical appointment is at my state school)

You likely have more clinical experience than most other applicants, and the probable reason for your rejections and hold at MD schools is your low GPA. I doubt any additional extracurriculars would help you. I should reiterate that if you reject your offer at LECOM, you may not even be considered for APAP program, or other DO schools, in the next cycle. Choosing not to attend but to re-apply is a big red flag for the admissions. Your only choice is to matriculate at LECOM this fall, or re-apply to MD schools and risk not being accepted again.

 

[xBODOMx]

You likely have more clinical experience than most other applicants, and the probable reason for your rejections and hold at MD schools is your low GPA. I doubt any additional extracurriculars would help you. I should reiterate that if you reject your offer at LECOM, you may not even be considered for APAP program, or other DO schools, in the next cycle. Choosing not to attend but to re-apply is a big red flag for the admissions. Your only choice is to matriculate at LECOM this fall, or re-apply to MD schools and risk not being accepted again.

No other schools would even know that he rejected the LECOM offer. Being a re-applicant in his position won't matter as he is a PA currently. It sounds like he just applied way too late. If you really want APAP. Then apply immediately in June. As far as the MD question, then I think yes it would help, although I'm not 100% familiar with your state schools stats.

 

[IncuriousGeorge]

I don't know if you should go or stay but you changed your photo to the Bears??
You are from Baltimore, MD! Shame on you!

 

[mjohn7wy]

I live in baltimore, born and raised in Chicago!!!(not that i dislike the ravens)

 

[Stagg737]

No other schools would even know that he rejected the LECOM offer. Being a re-applicant in his position won't matter as he is a PA currently. It sounds like he just applied way too late. If you really want APAP. Then apply immediately in June. As far as the MD question, then I think yes it would help, although I'm not 100% familiar with your state schools stats.

Seeing as you have to check off whether or not you've previously been accepted/matriculated to a school in previous cycles, other schools would know. It would also be a huge red flag.

If Maryland and the APAP program are your two main choices, I'd be writing letters, making phone calls, essentially doing anything you can to ensure they know they are your number 1. Turning down an acceptance to LECOM would likely kill your chances of matriculating to any of their programs at any campus in the future. I would make sure they know that the APAP program is the real reason you want to go there.

What you could potentially do is ask them for a year of deferral if you don't get off the APAP waitlist and try to reapply to that program the following cycle. If they allow that, then you could also reapply to MD programs as AMCAS doesn't communicate with AACOMAS. That way you'd have a second shot at both the APAP program and MD schools. If you defer and aren't accepted, you've still got a seat for next year, which is far better than declining an acceptance and not being able to get in at all next time. Either way, you'll have another year of PA salary that you can save up and put towards tuition and COA. Not a bad position to be in.

 

[67552931811]

Seeing as you have to check off whether or not you've previously been accepted/matriculated to a school in previous cycles, other schools would know. It would also be a huge red flag.

If Maryland and the APAP program are your two main choices, I'd be writing letters, making phone calls, essentially doing anything you can to ensure they know they are your number 1. Turning down an acceptance to LECOM would likely kill your chances of matriculating to any of their programs at any campus in the future. I would make sure they know that the APAP program is the real reason you want to go there.

What you could potentially do is ask them for a year of deferral if you don't get off the APAP waitlist and try to reapply to that program the following cycle. If they allow that, then you could also reapply to MD programs as AMCAS doesn't communicate with AACOMAS. That way you'd have a second shot at both the APAP program and MD schools. If you defer and aren't accepted, you've still got a seat for next year, which is far better than declining an acceptance and not being able to get in at all next time. Either way, you'll have another year of PA salary that you can save up and put towards tuition and COA. Not a bad position to be in.

This. You're basically rolling the dice for a MD, and only a MD, acceptance next round.

Fantastic profile pic, btw.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Don't be silly. You got accepted to medical school. DO NOT PASS UP THIS OPPORTUNITY. You may not ever get another one. Be the doctor you want to be.

 

[xBODOMx]

Seeing as you have to check off whether or not you've previously been accepted/matriculated to a school in previous cycles, other schools would know. It would also be a huge red flag.

If Maryland and the APAP program are your two main choices, I'd be writing letters, making phone calls, essentially doing anything you can to ensure they know they are your number 1. Turning down an acceptance to LECOM would likely kill your chances of matriculating to any of their programs at any campus in the future. I would make sure they know that the APAP program is the real reason you want to go there.

What you could potentially do is ask them for a year of deferral if you don't get off the APAP waitlist and try to reapply to that program the following cycle. If they allow that, then you could also reapply to MD programs as AMCAS doesn't communicate with AACOMAS. That way you'd have a second shot at both the APAP program and MD schools. If you defer and aren't accepted, you've still got a seat for next year, which is far better than declining an acceptance and not being able to get in at all next time. Either way, you'll have another year of PA salary that you can save up and put towards tuition and COA. Not a bad position to be in.

I wasn't aware of that. Thank you.

I agree with Stagg. If you really want APAP, you should try that option for your safest bet.

 

[ortnakas]

Don't be silly. You got accepted to medical school. DO NOT PASS UP THIS OPPORTUNITY. You may not ever get another one. Be the doctor you want to be.

I agree.

If you start this year, you'll be a DO in 2019.

If you wait a year to start APAP, you'll be a DO in 2019. IF you get accepted after turning them down once-- risky move.

 

[AM508]

I agree.

If you start this year, you'll be a DO in 2019.

If you wait a year to start APAP, you'll be a DO in 2019. IF you get accepted after turning them down once-- risky move.

This.

 

[Omppu27]

When are you expecting those papers to be submitted?

 

[mjohn7wy]

Thanks for all the replies,

I looked through the application on AACOMAS and AMCAS, The only questions i see asked is about matriculation. If i decided to defer, I would never have actually matriculated.

I expect the papers to be completed in the next month and sent for publication in the next two months

I would love to defer, however, from my understanding LECOM does not allow deferment. Does anyone have experience with LECOM deferral?

Matt

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[mjohn7wy]

No, never actually head back... my status page still say "application in progress"

 

[DocWinter]

Don't be silly. You got accepted to medical school. DO NOT PASS UP THIS OPPORTUNITY. You may not ever get another one. Be the doctor you want to be.

This.