Turning down my only acceptance?

[beeny]

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[Pancakesteve]

Hi everyone. Here's my dilemma:

I completed undergrad at a very large state university and while it was a good experience, I thought I wanted to attend a smaller, perhaps more personal, pharmacy school. I was accepted to a few schools and put down a deposit for one school last November. This school is rather new and has just gained accreditation.

I've always known that I wanted to work in a hospital and perhaps specialize. Now I am even entertaining the idea of doing clinical research. So, after several months of agonizing over this I'm planning to turn down my acceptance and reapply to more established, research-intensive schools. Of course, nothing is certain but I'm fairly confident that I can get accepted somewhere if I apply far and wide.

Does anyone know if schools can find out whether an applicant has been accepted before and does turning down an acceptance reflect poorly on re-applicants?

Second, has anyone turned down an acceptance after putting down a deposit? How did you go about it? Did you write a formal letter or telephone, etc?

Thanks in advance!

As with any potential "black mark" on one's application -class repeats, withdrawals, etc.- if you have a valid reason, it most likely won't reflect poorly on you. However, this is completely subjective. Each school may look at this differently, and each interviewer may look at it differently as well. And honestly, at this point, does it matter? If it DID reflect poorly on you would you change your mind?
As for the last bit, I'd assume the school will want either a letter or an email -something tangible for them to have record that you are rescinding your acceptance. But you should probably check with the school.


Good luck to you when you re-apply in the coming application cycle.

 

[MiataMike]

I think it's silly to turn down an acceptance just because the school isn't research intensive. You can always pursue a residency afterwards and specialize that way (not to mention there are plenty of specialties that don't require residencies). A PharmD is a PharmD and by wasting another year, you're basically throwing $100k away.

 

[ttopping]

I think it's silly to turn down an acceptance just because the school isn't research intensive. You can always pursue a residency afterwards and specialize that way (not to mention there are plenty of specialties that don't require residencies). A PharmD is a PharmD and by wasting another year, you're basically throwing $100k away.

Although I agree with you that at every school you will get the same degree, you absolutely won't get the same opportunities at each program. Especially if you want to go into something as specific as research, the program you choose can be a huge advantage in getting into residencies and so on. It obviously depends on how hard you work and you can make opportunities for yourself, but an established program certainly can help.

OP: it sounds like you put a lot of thought into it and although I'm sure it would be tough to turn down any acceptance, it wouldn't be the end of the world to decline, especially if you really don't want to go there. You don't want to spend the next 4 years being miserable wishing you were somewhere else. Obviously at some point you have to take what you can get (if your top choice doesn't work out) but that will be up to you.

 

[rxlea]

Although I agree with you that at every school you will get the same degree, you absolutely won't get the same opportunities at each program. Especially if you want to go into something as specific as research, the program you choose can be a huge advantage in getting into residencies and so on. It obviously depends on how hard you work and you can make opportunities for yourself, but an established program certainly can help.

OP: it sounds like you put a lot of thought into it and although I'm sure it would be tough to turn down any acceptance, it wouldn't be the end of the world to decline, especially if you really don't want to go there. You don't want to spend the next 4 years being miserable wishing you were somewhere else. Obviously at some point you have to take what you can get (if your top choice doesn't work out) but that will be up to you.

This.

OP, don't just settle if you really think ytou have a good shot of getting into a school that suits you more.

 

[MiataMike]

Certainly don't go to a school if you hated it. I wouldn't want to spend 4 years in misery, either. I just wouldn't make a decision based solely on a school's research background, is all.

If you do intend on rejecting your acceptance, just send them an email stating such.

 

[chemguy79]

Completely agree on all accounts! I can understand your trepidation about going to a school which doesn't seem to fit your motivations towards Pharmacy.

I applied uber-late this year, was accepted to a school that I wasn't really interested in attending, so I passed on the acceptance and am reapplying for this fall's application cycle. You always run the risk of not being accepted, but it would be worse to attend a school that you didn't like, accuring debt and subsequently leaving school because you're unhappy with the situation.

 

[beeny]

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[Monalyce]

I just wouldn't make a decision based solely on a school's research background, is all.

Unless you may go into research in the future...in which case, this is a very valid reason to hold out for a school that is a better fit.

 

[samuricool]

Hi everyone. Here's my dilemma:

I completed undergrad at a very large state university and while it was a good experience, I thought I wanted to attend a smaller, perhaps more personal, pharmacy school. I was accepted to a few schools and put down a deposit for one school last November. This school is rather new and has just gained accreditation.

I've always known that I wanted to work in a hospital and perhaps specialize. Now I am even entertaining the idea of doing clinical research. So, after several months of agonizing over this I'm planning to turn down my acceptance and reapply to more established, research-intensive schools. Of course, nothing is certain but I'm fairly confident that I can get accepted somewhere if I apply far and wide.

Does anyone know if schools can find out whether an applicant has been accepted before and does turning down an acceptance reflect poorly on re-applicants?

Second, has anyone turned down an acceptance after putting down a deposit? How did you go about it? Did you write a formal letter or telephone, etc?

Thanks in advance!

Is there a possibility that your school might grant you a deferment until next year? That way you can still keep your acceptance, take your time off from school, and reapply to the other schools that you actually want. Should you not get the schools you want, you still have your deferred acceptance to fall back on.

 

[jung1]

You can also look into transferring into another program. Sounds risky but it's an option.