Turning Down II's?

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2electrontransportchainz

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Hey guys,

Has anyone ever regretted turning down an interview invite? I have already been accepted to my top choice, UCSF. Unexpectedly, New Years eve I received an invitation to interview at Duke. I was super excited but am really feeling interview burnout ($$$). Also to be honest I have never done an MMI (interview style at Duke) and am kind of intimidated. It was a relief to have a better idea of what my future is going to look like, but I would also hate to regret not exploring all of my options. Any input on the differences between these schools? Pros and cons to either? Thank you and happy New Years!
 
What if Duke (hypothetically) offered you a full ride? Would UCSF still be your top choice?
 
If you can afford to go, then go. Unless you're 100% sure about UCSF and you're happy paying full tuition (not sure if you've heard back about any scholarships yet), then there's little reason to not attend another interview. Don't be nervous, you're already in at a fantastic school. This is the icing on the cake that you've worked hard for, and you should enjoy it! Even if you don't attend anywhere else, interviews can be a great time to get to know other schools and cities that you may want to do residency in. Both are great schools, it's all about which you like more, what your financial package looks like, and which location you like better. Also, pay attention to any curriculum differences and research opportunities that may swing you one way or the other. I interviewed in some cities I loved, but chose not to attend those schools since I disliked their curriculum. You can find that info on their respective websites.
 
emergencycat said:
If you can afford to go, then go. Unless you're 100% sure about UCSF and you're happy paying full tuition (not sure if you've heard back about any scholarships yet), then there's little reason to not attend another interview. Don't be nervous, you're already in at a fantastic school. This is the icing on the cake that you've worked hard for, and you should enjoy it! Even if you don't attend anywhere else, interviews can be a great time to get to know other schools and cities that you may want to do residency in. Both are great schools, it's all about which you like more, what your financial package looks like, and which location you like better. Also, pay attention to any curriculum differences and research opportunities that may swing you one way or the other. I interviewed in some cities I loved, but chose not to attend those schools since I disliked their curriculum. You can find that info on their respective websites.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks for the advice! I don't have any financial aid information so far. If I go in with the right mindset i think it could be a really valuable experience
 
How much would it cost to go on this interview? $500 at the very most, more realistically $300 or so?

I have a hard time imagining a world in which you look back on this decision 15 years from now and say "dang, wish I had kept that money and not gone on the interview". It's very easy to imagine a world in which you are pleasantly surprised or get a big scholarship and end up actually attending Duke.
 
Gurby said:
How much would it cost to go on this interview? $500 at the very most, more realistically $300 or so?

I have a hard time imagining a world in which you look back on this decision 15 years from now and say "dang, wish I had kept that money and not gone on the interview". It's very easy to imagine a world in which you are pleasantly surprised or get a big scholarship and end up actually attending Duke.
Click to expand...

That is a lot of money for many of us lol..
I get your point though; I couldn't just think of that much money as just 500 or just 300..
I have worked full time and I didn't even make 500 in one week.
That is me sweating and working hard and not even making 500.
 
Are you instate or out of state for UCSF? Out of state will still be less than Duke, and in state would be significantly less. Not sure how Duke is with aid. I know UCSF can be rather stingy with aid...although everyone gets some $$$ for housing. BUT...housing in SF is ridiculously expensive...I would expect Duke to be very inexpensive by comparison in that area. If Duke is generous with $$$, then it could end up being considerably less than UCSF once housing is factored in.

If UCSF is your absolute#1 choice and the cost of living in SF is not going to be an issue for you, then skip going to Duke. BUT...if $$$ are a concern in the big picture, then spending a few $ to check out Duke might not be a bad idea.
 
Hmmmm, it's definitely a difficult decision because you have that top choice acceptance and finances may be an issue. Anybody know if Duke tends to interview their most competitive applicants early on and extend late IIs to less competitive applicants? Hard to see this since you were competitive enough for UCSF but it's all a mystery to me.
 
I also received a random call at the end of the year last year to interview at Duke. I strongly considered not going - I was broke, exhausted, and I had a couple acceptances under my belt. I ultimately decided to attend and I absolutely did not regret it. I interviewed on the last possible day and loved it, it was my favorite interview day by far. Ultimately got accepted and they were quite generous with financial aid, but I ended up getting a better offer at another school, but I am definitely glad I went on that interview, I don't feel like it was a waste of time or money at all.

Duke is non-rolling, so everyone gets accepted on the same day so you have just as much of a shot as getting in as those kids who interviewed on Day 1. Their need-based financial aid is quite generous and they do offer merit scholarships. The condensed preclinical curriculum is also awesome (I'm not familiar with UCSF's curriculum but if it's not condensed, you should absolutely go to Duke then). Even if UCSF is your number 1 choice, Duke might pleasantly surprise, I recommend going. Good luck with your decision 🙂
 
Threads like these kind of make me glad I am on the east coast. I could reasonably drive to many of the schools

Within a 5 hours I believe I have like 15+ med schools of all tiers?
 
anonymoose1640 said:
Duke is non-rolling, so everyone gets accepted on the same day so you have just as much of a shot as getting in as those kids who interviewed on Day 1. Their need-based financial aid is quite generous and they do offer merit scholarships. The condensed preclinical curriculum is also awesome (I'm not familiar with UCSF's curriculum but if it's not condensed, you should absolutely go to Duke then). Even if UCSF is your number 1 choice, Duke might pleasantly surprise, I recommend going. Good luck with your decision 🙂
Click to expand...
That's not quite how it works
anonymoose1640 said:
Duke is non-rolling, so everyone gets accepted on the same day so you have just as much of a shot as getting in as those kids who interviewed on Day 1. Their need-based financial aid is quite generous and they do offer merit scholarships. The condensed preclinical curriculum is also awesome (I'm not familiar with UCSF's curriculum but if it's not condensed, you should absolutely go to Duke then). Even if UCSF is your number 1 choice, Duke might pleasantly surprise, I recommend going. Good luck with your decision 🙂
Click to expand...
Pretty sure it's 1.5 years preclinical
 
Toutie said:
Are you instate or out of state for UCSF? Out of state will still be less than Duke, and in state would be significantly less. Not sure how Duke is with aid. I know UCSF can be rather stingy with aid...although everyone gets some $$$ for housing. BUT...housing in SF is ridiculously expensive...I would expect Duke to be very inexpensive by comparison in that area. If Duke is generous with $$$, then it could end up being considerably less than UCSF once housing is factored in.

If UCSF is your absolute#1 choice and the cost of living in SF is not going to be an issue for you, then skip going to Duke. BUT...if $$$ are a concern in the big picture, then spending a few $ to check out Duke might not be a bad idea.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input🙂 I'm out of state for UCSF, but they will give you IS tuition after first year. And yes, cost of living in San Francisco is a concern.
 
anonymoose1640 said:
I also received a random call at the end of the year last year to interview at Duke. I strongly considered not going - I was broke, exhausted, and I had a couple acceptances under my belt. I ultimately decided to attend and I absolutely did not regret it. I interviewed on the last possible day and loved it, it was my favorite interview day by far. Ultimately got accepted and they were quite generous with financial aid, but I ended up getting a better offer at another school, but I am definitely glad I went on that interview, I don't feel like it was a waste of time or money at all.

Duke is non-rolling, so everyone gets accepted on the same day so you have just as much of a shot as getting in as those kids who interviewed on Day 1. Their need-based financial aid is quite generous and they do offer merit scholarships. The condensed preclinical curriculum is also awesome (I'm not familiar with UCSF's curriculum but if it's not condensed, you should absolutely go to Duke then). Even if UCSF is your number 1 choice, Duke might pleasantly surprise, I recommend going. Good luck with your decision 🙂
Click to expand...

Wow, it's good to hear from someone else who experienced such a similar situation, thanks! So pros of the condensed curriculum would be more time to pursue research, etc?
 
walloobi said:
That's not quite how it works

Pretty sure it's 1.5 years preclinical
Click to expand...

"Bridges Curriculum" structure "The 45 month curriculum is divided into three phases: Foundations 1 (60 weeks), Foundations 2 (48 weeks) and Career Launch (53 weeks)."

It looks like clerkships begin in Foundations 2 and Career Launch is an individualized year
 
2electrontransportchainz said:
Wow, it's good to hear from someone else who experienced such a similar situation, thanks! So pros of the condensed curriculum would be more time to pursue research, etc?
Click to expand...
Research or pretty much anything else you might want to do! Duke has a required research component (I'm pretty sure, not positive though) and you have plenty of time during third year to complete that project. Also you will have just finished your clinical rotations and ideally you'll have a decent idea of what field you might want to do your residency in, this allows you to tailor your research project to that interest which helps boost your residency app.

I'm currently at a school with a condensed curriculum and I have to say I'm really glad I'm here. Stuff moves quickly, don't get me wrong, but I'm learning and retaining as much as a I can now and I know I'll be prepared for the wards next year. Also taking Step 1 after doing your clinical rotations also helps because you've learned everything from sitting down in class and then you meet real patients with real problems, and it only helps you remember everything more clearly, in my opinion.

Of course, the traditional 2+2 medical school is absolutely great as well, I'm not trying to say one is better than the other, but if you were worried about a condensed preclinical at all - don't be! it's really great 🙂
 
Turned down Columbia and then got interview offers from Cornell and Sinai for the same week. Def regret not just lumping them all in one week and touring NYC.

Go if you can. See you at UCSF second look!
 
2electrontransportchainz said:
Hey guys,

Has anyone ever regretted turning down an interview invite? I have already been accepted to my top choice, UCSF. Unexpectedly, New Years eve I received an invitation to interview at Duke. I was super excited but am really feeling interview burnout ($$$). Also to be honest I have never done an MMI (interview style at Duke) and am kind of intimidated. It was a relief to have a better idea of what my future is going to look like, but I would also hate to regret not exploring all of my options. Any input on the differences between these schools? Pros and cons to either? Thank you and happy New Years!
Click to expand...

Absolutely, unfortunately. I received 10 II last year and I majorly regret at this point turning down two of them. The third one I realized the school just wasn't a fit so that was an easy decision, but I just wish I know I knew what the result would have been for me at VCU and EVMS
 
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