Turning down an acceptance to apply again next year?

[DVMorBust]

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Feces aren't supposed to come out of there. Hope this helps.

Then I must have one heck of an earwax problem...

 

[BlacKAT33]

Blackat - just to clarify for anyone else thinking of VMRCVM, you can NOT do your entire 4th year at another school. If you track small animal, you have just two away blocks to go to other schools/practices/whatever and if you track public/corporate you have 5 away blocks to schedule. The other tracks fall someplace in between, but you will be in Blacksburg at least part of 4th year.

oo ok i guess i misunderstood my grad student, she probably made it seem like i could have more time away because i did say i wanted to track public/corp

 

[Jakesmom]

I find myself in a somewhat similar situation as the OP. I moved back home recently after being away from my family for 10 years (I'm a non-trad). I want to go to my IS, Ohio State, because it is 1) closest to my family and 2) financial reasons. I don't really want to apply elsewhere , but my concern is how schools respond if you only apply to just that one school. Do you think they consider someone who only applies to one school to "not want it bad enough" because they aren't willing to move/pay OOS tuition?

 

[BlacKAT33]

Do you think they consider someone who only applies to one school to "not want it bad enough" because they aren't willing to move/pay OOS tuition?

no way. everyone has their own personal reasons for only applying to one school. IMO financial reasons are good enough on their own. Besides the extreme debt all of us will have after graduation, just the apps themselves are a lot!!! if my parents weren't supporting me, i probably would have only applied to 1 school. I think applying to 1 school looks WAY better than applying to 20 schools.

 

[Shanomong]

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[GeeQued]

Moving instate my give you a better chance at an interview but it doesn't mean that a lesser instate application would get accepted over a better out of state. With the exception of a few schools (Davis) I really don't see becoming an instate applicant benefiting you anymore than decreased tuition.

Here are some things to ask yourself: How have you improved your application since October? More Hours? new experiences? Higher grades? Masters? etc etc. When you think about reapplying you have to realize application pools are going to get harder and harder each year, you will have all the new applicants, those who didn't get accepted and have drastically improved their application and then those who are reapplying without doing much to change themselves? Which of the latter two will you fit in with? You have 8 months to make big changes now if you haven't been doing anything and when you look at the logistics is 8 months long enough to get an amazing LOR from your new experiences, not usually but it depends on the hours your working.

I can honestly say every school I applied to last year I would have ended up going to if that was the only one that chose me. Honestly I hated WSU but if that had been my only acceptance I would be freezing my ass of in Washington right now. People have reapplied before, most have regretted it (from who I have talked to), while some made themselves better applicants and got into their more preferred school the 2nd time around.

I would think LONG and hard about it. There are HUNDREDS of people who just want a chance at going to vet school, and really if your program is on the weaker side for the school where are you really going to get your clinic experience? Summer externships, fourth year externships, internships, residencies, etc. Your first 3 years are going to be the books, I'm large animal/more so just equine and I can tell you I have had a whole maybe 5 lectures on large animals and about a billion relating to small animal, but no matter what your dealing with whats the real difference, its all applies, in reality when you look at the number of things you learn, and the differences between species, they are more alike than they are different.

If you are going to be ABSOLUTELY miserable at the other school then no don't go but you have to be miserable enough to not go that you are willing to take the chance that you may be giving up your one and only (I hope not but it could happen) chance at doing this. I highly recommend looking into if the other school accepts transfers and also realize that just because you have one track in mind right now once they throw you into the pool of everywhere you can go in vet med, you never quite truly know what your going to come out as. I thought I'd hate neurology and radiology and both those areas have intrigued me so much just in my first year that its something I've been considering as a specialty which is far different from when I went in just planning on going repro.

Ok sorry for the essay my brain is sludged from cardio studying 🙂 Good luck with your decision

 

[Angelus9]

my concern is how schools respond if you only apply to just that one school. Do you think they consider someone who only applies to one school to "not want it bad enough" because they aren't willing to move/pay OOS tuition?

I don't know; if it was me I'd apply to at least 2 schools, because it's been discussed on here before that if you only apply to one school, that school knows they won't lose you to another school, because you didn't apply anywhere else, so they can easily not admit you because they know you'll be back to apply again the next year, and they can take someone else that they might lose to a different school. You they know will have to reapply again.

 

[Shanomong]

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[GeeQued]

That's not statistically true.
If they only have 5 or 10 or even 50 OOS spots, then that's all they have. So if 51 *perfect* OOS applicants apply, in addition to the other 1,000 OOSers that last perfect one is not getting in (in addition to the rest of the large OOS applicant pool). And of the 50 or 60 spots they offer to IS applicants, and 200 people apply for those spots, they're designated for IS applicants, and will be filled by the best among those 200 who applied, even if they're not technically as nice on paper as that 1 *perfect* applicant and large number of equivalent OOS apps they had to reject.

State funding regulates how many spots can be offered to OOS applicants, and regardless of how many outstanding OOSers apply, they're only filling a predetermined number of spots with them. So the ISers have a much higher acceptance rate in general everywhere. Except maybe my school now 😛

ETA: I also moved to the state of my school to reapply as an IS applicant (and got in), and recommend it if you're a second time applicant and it's possible.

Yes but how many schools are that way. KSU takes about 40% OOS, UMN the same, It all depends what school they are talking about. If they were talking about Davis, WSU, etc that only take a few then yeah it might help, but if you have an acceptance elsewhere you have to be willing to jeopardize not going at all because you may not even get an interview the next year. I can completely see doing it if you didn't get in the first year, moving to your preferred school's state to reapply but to give up an acceptance is beyond risky

 

[parietal]

Yes but how many schools are that way. KSU takes about 40% OOS, UMN the same.

Yes, but even though Minnesota accepts a large number of OOS students, the acceptance rates are much different. In the class of 2013, for example, 219 IS residents applied for about 58 seats for an acceptance rate of 26.5%. But 864 people applied for about 40 OOS seats, for an acceptance rate of 4.6%. BIG difference.

Pretty much every other school I have looked at has similar differences in acceptance rates. (Western, of course, is the exception.)

But if you have an acceptance elsewhere you have to be willing to jeopardize not going at all because you may not even get an interview the next year. I can completely see doing it if you didn't get in the first year, moving to your preferred school's state to reapply but to give up an acceptance is beyond risky.

Totally agree with this, GeeQued.

I wonder how schools really look at students who have moved there recently just to become residents. Are they given equal consideration with students who have lived in the state their whole lives?

 

[jmcgintee]

Yes, but even though Minnesota accepts a large number of OOS students, the acceptance rates are much different. In the class of 2013, for example, 219 IS residents applied for about 58 seats for an acceptance rate of 26.5%. But 864 people applied for about 40 OOS seats, for an acceptance rate of 4.6%. BIG difference.

Look at the Stats...26.5% is much better than 4.6% but is still not even close to 100%. Just because you are IS doesn't mean you will definitely get in. So, if you get into this school why would you pass up a 100% chance of going to vet school for a 26.5% chance???😕

 

[sumstorm]

Sumstorm - I disagree that you don't know, of course...this has nothing to do with the fact that I've got GI phys coming out my ears...

hmmm...mine's cardio phys...completly understand 😀. Just giving you a smidge of a hard time. for all we know, this is a moot point, since the OP hasn't gotten in yet! I'm in the middle of studying cardio phys (taking a break obviously) and trying to resist the urge to order pizze & breadsticks (need to eat healthy, dang it, I am too old to fuel myself on junk!)

 

[dgm]

I'm in the middle of studying cardio phys (taking a break obviously) and trying to resist the urge to order pizze & breadsticks (need to eat healthy, dang it, I am too old to fuel myself on junk!)

Hah, my sweet tooth keeps diverting my thoughts to "What sugary thing do I have all the ingredients for in my kitchen right now?!" Chocolate chip cookies? Nope, no chocolate chips. No-bake cookies? Darn, no PB. Frosting? Uh oh, I do have everything I need for that. Must...resist...

 

[sumstorm]

Hah, my sweet tooth keeps diverting my thoughts to "What sugary thing do I have all the ingredients for in my kitchen right now?!" Chocolate chip cookies? Nope, no chocolate chips. No-bake cookies? Darn, no PB. Frosting? Uh oh, I do have everything I need for that. Must...resist...

I love baking. now I dont even keep enough ingredients on had to do anything....just because I know I would if it was here.

 

[gilch]

I don't know; if it was me I'd apply to at least 2 schools, because it's been discussed on here before that if you only apply to one school, that school knows they won't lose you to another school, because you didn't apply anywhere else, so they can easily not admit you because they know you'll be back to apply again the next year, and they can take someone else that they might lose to a different school. You they know will have to reapply again.

That seems unlikely to me. I would think that it would be far worse to deny an acceptance w/o a good explanation--huge illness, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, unexpected baby (?)--than to apply to two schools with the intention of only going if accepted to one. Add me to the list that thinks that the OP should withdraw the app or suck it up and go IF the OP gets in to the undesired school. A cart before the horse situation if I ever saw one. Good to think about and decide this now, but there may never be a problem.

Plus, adcoms don't know for sure all the schools to which one applies, right? I'm thinking Tufts, Tuskegee, and Missouri (optional) all have applications that are not through VMCAS. Don't a lot of the overseas schools use their own apps? Would those schools even show up on the VMCAS portion of concern? I'm a first time applicant so I skipped that part! If the school specific app does not ask this question, you'd be home free, ish...


To contribute to the most recent off topic--

I like lace cookies and pralines!!!!!!! Mmm...brain food...

 

[Angelus9]

I meant apply to at least 2 schools and GO if you get in one! (LOL) I just remember this topic coming up here before, and people getting the feeling that, if they only applied to, say, OSU, OSU could pass them by for another applicant they didn't want to lose to another school, because they knew the first person had no where else to go.

And yes, Adcoms know where you applied. I know people who interviewed at Tufts and they were simply asked where else they applied. Want to lie to an Adcom? I think not.

 

[gilch]

I meant apply to at least 2 schools and GO in you get in one! (LOL) I just remember this topic coming up here before, and people getting the feeling that, if they only applied to, say, OSU, OSU could pass them by for another applicant they didn't want to lose to another school, because they knew the first person had no where else to go.

And yes, Adcoms know where you applied. I know people who interviewed at Tufts and they were simply asked where else they applied. Want to lie to an Adcom? I think not.

Okay...get it now! That makes some sense, but I can see plenty of reasons to apply to just 1 school--spouse/family and can't move, spouse/family and can't/don't want to pay OOS, applying as a junior in college to IS with realistic expectation of reapplying and broadening options, ect.

As for lying to an adcom--definitely . But do you think it comes up at every school, in every app or interview? Maybe or maybe not. Would I be willing to take that chance? NO. Would someone else be willing to make a more informed decision? Maybe.

To me, the adcom point is moot. I think it's silly to apply to a school if you are not +95% sure you would be thrilled to go. I know a lot of us can't afford to travel to many schools to see the atmosphere prior to interviewing or even acceptance if no interviews. Some of that is unpredictable.

 

[kiki1983]

So hopefully my post will be useful to the OP... I got accepted to 3 schools for the c/o 2013 cycle (Western, RVC in london, and UCD in ireland)....for the past 3 application cycles I have been in love with OSU's vet school. I was convinced it was now or never and I was going to start school at one of those 3...until I found out that I missed an acceptance to OSU by only 3 points. I like to refer to last spring/summer as my "dark period"... the decision of whether or not to turn down my acceptances for another shot at OSU almost drove me mad. It was the most stressful and nervewracking thing I have ever had to decide on.
I think it is important to realize a few things if you do want to try again next cycle for your dream school: a)Talk with the school and do a file review to find out how close you were. If you weren't even close, then I would be warry of thinking you will get in next year. b)Are there other factors beside "the vibe" that really don't make this other vet school appealing? For me personally, cost was an issue; I'm depending on loans 100% for all of vet school, and the 3 schools I got accepted to came with a pricetag between $250k-$350k. and c)Is there a backup plan, or 'Plan B'? I was not going to turn down vet school, and then sit around another full year out of school. I had gotten an email from OSU about a master's program they had; I called them up and got more info on the program and saw how an MPH degree could really benefit me (with or without a DVM).
I ended up making the biggest gamble of my life (at least that is how it felt)...I turned down my three acceptances to vet school...accepted my acceptance into the MPH program at OSU...and reapplied to only OSU vet school for the c/o 2014. As good as the plan sounded and felt, I was really doubting myself and my decision when the interviews and decisions started rolling in this winter....Luckily for me, my gamble paid off. I will graduate in 2014 and walk away with two degrees for the price of one (and, at nearly half the cost of the other schools).
Just go through all of the possible scenarios with your decision...there are a lot of things to take into consideration...I'm living proof that it can be done with awesome results...but it was definitely terrifying having to go through it... good luck!

 

[Jakesmom]

So pretty much what I'm getting here is I'm kinda screwed either route I take. 🙁 If I only apply to Ohio State, they could easily pass me by, thinking that I'll just apply next year. But if I do apply to a 2nd school and happen to get into that 2nd school but not Ohio State, I'm in the same hypothetical situation as the OP. This sucks.

 

[BlacKAT33]

I think this whole "playing the system" thing is stupid. i dont mean to sound abrupt, but really, we have no clue what goes on in the adcoms mind. there is no reason to apply to a second school just so the first school thinks that they may lose you easier so they have more interest in you. jeez this mind game reminds me of why i hate drama queens lol If you really want to know if you will be "discriminated" against if you apply to one school just call the adcoms and see what they say. IMO, if they want you they will invite you. if they don't want you then you won't be invited. and i'd like to repeat that i also dont think you should apply to a school where you don't actually see yourself going to. even with the high OOS tuition rates, every school i applied to i would go to if that were my only option.

 

[rileyroo]

I think this whole "playing the system" thing is stupid. i dont mean to sound abrupt, but really, we have no clue what goes on in the adcoms mind. there is no reason to apply to a second school just so the first school thinks that they may lose you easier so they have more interest in you. jeez this mind game reminds me of why i hate drama queens lol If you really want to know if you will be "discriminated" against if you apply to one school just call the adcoms and see what they say. IMO, if they want you they will invite you. if they don't want you then you won't be invited. and i'd like to repeat that i also dont think you should apply to a school where you don't actually see yourself going to. even with the high OOS tuition rates, every school i applied to i would go to if that were my only option.

👍

couldn't have said it better myself BlacKAT

 

[Laur7114]

I haven't really posted much, but I had to throw a response out for this thread. Being in a somewhat similar situation myself, I agree with the majority here, and think that you would really be crazy to turn down an opportunity to go to an accredited school that accepts you.
I applied for the first time last year- interviewed, and waitlisted at a few US schools, and accepted at Glasgow and RVC. I wasn't really excited about going overseas, but I was SUPER excited to start vet school- regardless where it was. There are several reasons why I wouldn't be the happiest at a UK school –the number one reason: being away from the three things that matter most in my life- my dog (a pit bull and banned breed in the UK), my family and fiancé. Though the thought of moving to another country and leaving behind the ones that I love was terrible, Vet school is my dream and it would be crazy to pass up any opportunity to go.
At the beginning of last spring I found out that my mother was very ill, and I made the decision to defer enrollment at Glasgow for year. My plan was to stay close to home for the last year, and try to re-apply to some US schools- so I would at least only be a domestic flight away from my family if something were to happen. My application this year was definitely stronger than last year- and yet, I haven't even gotten any interviews. The whole application process is somewhat unpredictable, and you may be setting yourself up for disaster if you try and hold out for the perfect school.
Sorry for the long, life-story response, but my point is- This is what you want to do with your life and you've worked hard for it, so don't take a gamble with your dream. The 2nd vet school may not be perfect, but in my opinion, having an imperfect vet school experience is better than not having one at all.

 

[flyhi]

Great story Laur, althought I am sorry to hear about your mother. I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. Will you be going to Glasgow this year if you do not get a US acceptance?

 

[Laur7114]

Thanks Flyhi. Yes, I will be going to Glasgow in the fall if I don't get any US acceptances. Fortunatley my mother's situation has improved since last spring, but it's still going to be hard to leave the family at a time like this 🙁. I'm really lucky though, and my mother and the rest of my family are totally supportive and are really excited for me to start vet school- even if it is all the way across the pond.

 

[PigsRock]

Bumping this up because I'm curious...

So, what happened GreennWhite?

 

[GreennWhite]

Oh, haha - well I've definitely taken everyones advice into consideration and I've decided I will not turn down an acceptance.

I've been waitlisted at VMRCVM, my IS school that I'm not entirely sold on. I will just have to work extra hard to get my exotic/wildlife experience. Still waiting to hear from MSU and crossing my fingers.

However, I would not be entirely disappointed if I didn't get into vet school this year. Yes, vet school is the ultimate goal, but I'm still young and there are SO many opportunities out there. I have definitely realized that there is no one path to vet school/my future (if you would have asked me that even a year ago I would have thought you were nuts) And Yes, the applicant statistics may get even tougher as the years progress - but I certainly wouldn't be sitting on my butt doing nothing.

I have a whole list of ideas of things to do - just wish I would know a definite yes/no as to whether i'll be in vet school in 6 months (the waitlist thing is kind of a drag when you want to make plans!)

 

[Optimistic 13]

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