After almost an entire cycle of waiting, I finally got 4 interviews, the earliest being in February. Of those, I was alternate listed at three places. Today, five minutes ago, I just received a call by Western University for a spot in their 2015 class.
Now here is where you can tell me I'm stupid. The thing is, I've been preparing to reapply and already had in my mindset that I am going to have to reapply. I've written my personal statement, asked for letters, mailed transcripts--the only reason I haven't hit the reapply button is because I'm still waiting for a transcript to be delivered. With this in mind, I'm actually considering not accepting the spot at Western, mostly for two reasons:
1) It's not necessarily the school I was picturing to go to medical school. I had a great first impression of it, but after seeing some other schools after that interview, I definitely realized I would prefer to go to other schools, such as a school with a hospital attached to it and with a wider variety of residency placements (this is just going off memory from my interview date, but I seem to remember SOME complaints about being able to get into residency programs through Western). Also, does anyone have any experience with the kind of doors Western opens? I want to do things like Doctors Without Borders and other programs where I maybe go provide medical care abroad. Is this easy to do through programs like Western? I'm assuming yes, I just need to look into it again. Finally, I was hoping to specialize, maybe be a radiologist or orthopedic surgeon. Obviously, this is VERY possible with a DO program, though I know it will take a little more effort on my part (which I'm willing to do).
2) I have already put in a TON of effort to reapply this year and by accepting my spot at Western, that will be throwing that away. Of course, I still have to deal with secondary applications, interviews, possibly doing a post-bac program if I get into it, etc. These will all be tons more money, but I would expect that through them, I could get into the medical program of my choice for next year if I really worked on beefing up my application this year. Of course, this is a HUGE maybe anyway.
The more I think about it and after writing the above reasons, I think I'm going to accept the spot. However, if any of you could maybe give your input on the ups and downs of accepting vs not accepting, that would be appreciated. Sorry in advance if this post offends anyone or if I appear unappreciative! I am mostly in shock I think and just want some advice before I make a huge decision that may or may not be a bad one.
Again, remember: I want to specialize, I want to be able to take advantage of many opportunities (such as working abroad as a doctor), and I don't want my choice in medical school to be the limiting factor in these things (NOT THAT I HAVE A CHOICE RIGHT NOW, but POSSIBLY in the future I could).
Please, maybe check out this forum if you want to see my stats and changes I've made to my application over the year and tell me if you think I'd be better off just reapplying:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...t-really-a-wamc-thread.1140351/#post-16537219
Maybe Goro and gyngyn could give me their opinions? I am pretty sure you guys are both DO school administrators, correct? And you have given me great advice in the past which I really appreciate. So POSSIBLY one last time, give me a little more advice, please. I have to accept the spot by tomorrow afternoon! I would appreciate it!
Now here is where you can tell me I'm stupid. The thing is, I've been preparing to reapply and already had in my mindset that I am going to have to reapply. I've written my personal statement, asked for letters, mailed transcripts--the only reason I haven't hit the reapply button is because I'm still waiting for a transcript to be delivered. With this in mind, I'm actually considering not accepting the spot at Western, mostly for two reasons:
1) It's not necessarily the school I was picturing to go to medical school. I had a great first impression of it, but after seeing some other schools after that interview, I definitely realized I would prefer to go to other schools, such as a school with a hospital attached to it and with a wider variety of residency placements (this is just going off memory from my interview date, but I seem to remember SOME complaints about being able to get into residency programs through Western). Also, does anyone have any experience with the kind of doors Western opens? I want to do things like Doctors Without Borders and other programs where I maybe go provide medical care abroad. Is this easy to do through programs like Western? I'm assuming yes, I just need to look into it again. Finally, I was hoping to specialize, maybe be a radiologist or orthopedic surgeon. Obviously, this is VERY possible with a DO program, though I know it will take a little more effort on my part (which I'm willing to do).
2) I have already put in a TON of effort to reapply this year and by accepting my spot at Western, that will be throwing that away. Of course, I still have to deal with secondary applications, interviews, possibly doing a post-bac program if I get into it, etc. These will all be tons more money, but I would expect that through them, I could get into the medical program of my choice for next year if I really worked on beefing up my application this year. Of course, this is a HUGE maybe anyway.
The more I think about it and after writing the above reasons, I think I'm going to accept the spot. However, if any of you could maybe give your input on the ups and downs of accepting vs not accepting, that would be appreciated. Sorry in advance if this post offends anyone or if I appear unappreciative! I am mostly in shock I think and just want some advice before I make a huge decision that may or may not be a bad one.
Again, remember: I want to specialize, I want to be able to take advantage of many opportunities (such as working abroad as a doctor), and I don't want my choice in medical school to be the limiting factor in these things (NOT THAT I HAVE A CHOICE RIGHT NOW, but POSSIBLY in the future I could).
Please, maybe check out this forum if you want to see my stats and changes I've made to my application over the year and tell me if you think I'd be better off just reapplying:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...t-really-a-wamc-thread.1140351/#post-16537219
Maybe Goro and gyngyn could give me their opinions? I am pretty sure you guys are both DO school administrators, correct? And you have given me great advice in the past which I really appreciate. So POSSIBLY one last time, give me a little more advice, please. I have to accept the spot by tomorrow afternoon! I would appreciate it!
