Should I withdraw from schools I'm 99% sure I won't attend?

[ByTheSkinofMyTeeth2020]

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I've recently been accepted into a school that I'm very satisfied with attending. There are still a bunch of schools to which I've applied but haven't received interview invites or flat out rejections. Some of these schools are much lower in prestige than the one I've been accepted and so my question is whether or not I should withdraw from these other schools or just wait to see what happens. My logic goes that there may be a chance that I receive outstanding scholarships from one of these schools which will influence my decision. This, however, is weighed against the morality of potentially taking a spot away from another candidate. For those with a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of the admissions process, is it wrong to wait like this and see where the chips fall? Am I really taking a spot away from another individual or preventing them from planning their life? Will medical schools not eventually fill up all their spots anyways?

If anyone else is in this situation or can shed some light on my dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

 

[deleted480308]

I've recently been accepted into a school that I'm very satisfied with attending. There are still a bunch of schools to which I've applied but haven't received interview invites or flat out rejections. Some of these schools are much lower in prestige than the one I've been accepted and so my question is whether or not I should withdraw from these other schools or just wait to see what happens. My logic goes that there may be a chance that I receive outstanding scholarships from one of these schools which will influence my decision. This, however, is weighed against the morality of potentially taking a spot away from another candidate. For those with a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of the admissions process, is it wrong to wait like this and see where the chips fall? Am I really taking a spot away from another individual or preventing them from planning their life? Will medical schools not eventually fill up all their spots anyways?

If anyone else is in this situation or can shed some light on my dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

If you got into an MD school, cancel the DOs, cancel high tuition schools or ones in locations you hate. Go to the rest

 

[KnightDoc]

I've recently been accepted into a school that I'm very satisfied with attending. There are still a bunch of schools to which I've applied but haven't received interview invites or flat out rejections. Some of these schools are much lower in prestige than the one I've been accepted and so my question is whether or not I should withdraw from these other schools or just wait to see what happens. My logic goes that there may be a chance that I receive outstanding scholarships from one of these schools which will influence my decision. This, however, is weighed against the morality of potentially taking a spot away from another candidate. For those with a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of the admissions process, is it wrong to wait like this and see where the chips fall? Am I really taking a spot away from another individual or preventing them from planning their life? Will medical schools not eventually fill up all their spots anyways?

If anyone else is in this situation or can shed some light on my dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

No -- there is no morality and you are not taking anything away from anyone by waiting to see what happens. Every seat at every school will ultimately be filled, regardless of where you decide to attend and when you make a final decision.

You spent the time and money to apply; if you have any interest at all in seeing if you receive an A or what a scholarship might look like, do not withdraw. On the other hand, if you have a full ride to HMS and it's been your dream school since you possessed the ability to have conscious thought, then there is no reason to prolong your decision. 🙂

Since you haven't heard from these schools, you are certainly not taking anything from anyone, but even if you were holding As, you still wouldn't be hurting anyone. The schools all have WLs with people who will be called whenever you happen to withdraw. An earlier withdrawal will just cause a call to come sooner rather than later.

My advice -- absolutely do not feel guilty doing whatever happens to be in your best interest. Every other party in the process (schools as well as fellow candidates) is doing exactly the same thing.

 

[bengalsix]

You've paid the application fees, so you've earned the right to attend any interview that you are offered. Maybe you'll fall in love with something you find on an interview day that could sway your decision to the new school? And if you end up with multiple acceptances, you could use that as leverage to ask either school for a scholarship.

With that said, if you get an interview for a school you could never see yourself going to, then you may choose to decline the interview invite so that it may go to someone who could use it.

 

[deleted994889]

If you got into an MD school, cancel the DOs, cancel high tuition schools or ones in locations you hate. Go to the rest

I like this advice. Unless money is super tight right now, travel expenses won't add up to much in the grand scheme of things. On the flip side, you get more interviewing practice (for residency), see new things, meet new people, eat different foods, and maybe be pleasantly surprised by how much you like another program. You are very fortunate to have the luxury of choosing. It seems a waste to not try to make the most informed decision you can about where you want to spend the next 4 years.

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise: you earned those spots.

 

[DNAJB6]

I've recently been accepted into a school that I'm very satisfied with attending. There are still a bunch of schools to which I've applied but haven't received interview invites or flat out rejections. Some of these schools are much lower in prestige than the one I've been accepted and so my question is whether or not I should withdraw from these other schools or just wait to see what happens. My logic goes that there may be a chance that I receive outstanding scholarships from one of these schools which will influence my decision. This, however, is weighed against the morality of potentially taking a spot away from another candidate. For those with a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of the admissions process, is it wrong to wait like this and see where the chips fall? Am I really taking a spot away from another individual or preventing them from planning their life? Will medical schools not eventually fill up all their spots anyways?

If anyone else is in this situation or can shed some light on my dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

There is no moral issue. A candidate from the wait list would replace you be it in January or April. You paid the secondary fees, I'd see what happens unless it is so far away it would be costly to attend any prospective interview.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

So being friends with people whose only acceptance came from a waitlist, with some of them not getting in until May, I can tell you that the stress of that is super real and withdrawing earlier so someone in that position can get a spot would be great.

However. One, you don’t know who the spot will go to, and it could go to someone who already has an acceptance or two. Two, if you think there’s a realistic chance you might get some money from them and that could influence your decision, then hold onto them. Med school is expensive AF. Your other spots will go to someone eventually.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

If you are absolutely sure you would not attend under any circumstances (full scholarship), I’d withdraw. Maybe you could use scholarship offers as leverage, maybe not. If you applied to any DO schools, withdraw.

 

[deleted849476]

I agree with most posters that you earned the right to hear what they have to say, and I wouldn't withdraw to any schools you have any interest in at all.

But, I'm shocked to see so much flak toward DO schools just over tuition. FWIW Whitecoat Investor cites plenty of stories with people from -100k to -600k in debt who became millionaires in less than a decade, based almost entirely on discipline and some financial savvy. You mention potential scholarships though so if money is your priority--OK, but in my case I applied to DO schools, attended interviews, and happened to be accepted to a DO school that I ended up falling in love with. I know docs who went there, the location suites me very well (and I didn't really expect that), and money matters to me as much as the next student but frankly this...

education in DO philosophy (personal preference) + location and school benefits - tuition burden

..still equates to a huge positive for me. That said--once accepted here I withdrew from many DO and MD schools, leaving only those schools that I would consider for comparatively minor reasons. It did feel nice thinking maybe someone got their first A because I withdrew, but I can't say I felt any obligation to do that. In fact it might feel kind of sadistically nice to make them constantly reconsider your app until they make a decision, even if you wouldn't accept 😈 Esp. if you interviewed and flew out, etc.

I can't really speak to the prestige aspect, like I said I'm more into location and other things like teaching styles, etc.

 

[ByTheSkinofMyTeeth2020]

Thanks for all the responses everyone, this put me a great deal at ease.

 

[deleted994889]

But, I'm shocked to see so much flak toward DO schools just over tuition. FWIW Whitecoat Investor cites plenty of stories with people from -100k to -600k in debt who became millionaires in less than a decade, based almost entirely on discipline and some financial savvy. You mention potential scholarships though so if money is your priority--OK, but in my case I applied to DO schools, attended interviews, and happened to be accepted to a DO school that I ended up falling in love with. I know docs who went there, the location suites me very well (and I didn't really expect that), and money matters to me as much as the next student but frankly this...

education in DO philosophy (personal preference) + location and school benefits - tuition burden

I'd say drop any high tuition schools regardless if MD or DO. Sure you'll pay the difference eventually, but that doesn't change that you're gonna pay for it (plus interest). I can think of a heck of a lot of things I'd rather spend $10k or more on

I advised the OP to drop specifically DOs because she/he has an MD acceptance. I also interviewed and was accepted at a DO school that I absolutely love (philosophy, atmosphere/culture, climate, proximity to family/friends). But at the end of the day, I think it's best that one chooses the MD acceptance 99% of the time. We don't know what specialty we will try to match for so it's best to avoid any possible discrimination, however unfair it may be.

Of course, it's up to each person, but that's my advice for people in these situations.

 

[deleted849476]

I'd say drop any high tuition schools regardless if MD or DO. Sure you'll pay the difference eventually, but that doesn't change that you're gonna pay for it (plus compounding interest). I can think of a heck of a lot of things I'd rather spend $10k or more on

I advised the OP to drop specifically DOs because she/he has an MD acceptance. I also interviewed and was accepted at a DO school that I absolutely love (philosophy, atmosphere/culture, climate, proximity to family/friends). But at the end of the day, I think it's best that one chooses the MD acceptance 99% of the time. We don't know what specialty we will try to match for so it's best to avoid any possible discrimination, however unfair it may be.

Of course, it's up to each person, but that's my advice for people in these situations.

Yea, I can totally agree with your POV from a cash perspective, and I guess I wouldn't want to feel limited by my school in terms of the match, but I'm also not convinced DO's are limiting.

 

[deleted994889]

Yea, I can totally agree with your POV from a cash perspective, and I guess I wouldn't want to feel limited by my school in terms of the match, but I'm also not convinced DO's are limiting.

You might be right; I just know what I've learned from SDN 🙈
But on the flip side, who knows what's gonna happen with the merger.
Interestingly, a division chief of a major hospital just told me there were a lot of DOs in ortho 😱

 

[deleted849476]

Interestingly, a division chief of a major hospital just told me there were a lot of DOs in ortho 😱

Yea, for example KCOM had graduates in at least 5 ortho spots last year: https://www.atsu.edu/pdf/kcom-postgraduate-positions.pdf

 

[Cornfed101]

You might be right; I just know what I've learned from SDN 🙈
But on the flip side, who knows what's gonna happen with the merger.
Interestingly, a division chief of a major hospital just told me there were a lot of DOs in ortho 😱

Yea, for example KCOM had graduates in at least 5 ortho spots last year: https://www.atsu.edu/pdf/kcom-postgraduate-positions.pdf

Ortho actually isn't terrible for DOs. Derm, ophtho, and neurosurgery are much more difficult.