UPDATE RUSH vs Dartmouth (must cte Friday) vs Creighton Phx (and the chance of getting off more WLs

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What should I do

  • Go to Dartmouth and remove myself from all WLs

  • Choose Creighton PHX and wait to CTE till July 1st

  • Resutls

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Basalganglia4life

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Update 2: as I was about to commit to enroll to Dartmouth, Rush called me with an offer off the waitlist. This is craziness.

UPDATE: Geisel is giving me a 25k per year scholarship

Ok so wow. So I recently got off the WL to Geisel but they are requiring that I CTE and remove myself from all my wls by this Friday to secure my seat. I am currently PTE at CreightonPHx and don’t have to CTE enrolll there until July 1st. I am also on the waitlist at some amazing schools : UCR, UCLA, UCD, Rush and Mayo MN. I would probably go to any of those schools over Geisel being that I am a CA resident. That being said I am not planning on matching competitively and looking for a specialty with good work life balance. My wife also can work remotely and makes enough to cover cost of living. I am still waiting on Geisel financial aid package

Dartmouth
Pros:
- Small class size
- I love nature and outdoors
- P/F preclinical
- matches very well to CA where I would like to be
- undergraduate prestige — not sure how much of a pro this is

Cons:
- 75k per year in tuition alone (hoping fin aid package makes this easier to swallow)
- would probably need to buy another car
- in the middle of nowhere and may be isolating for my wife
- has AOA

Creighton phx
Pros
- Phoenix is a more vibrant and active city than Hanover
- closer to my wife's family in LA (5 hour drive)
- wouldnt need a car preclinical years
- has 9 affiliated residency programs
- brand new building in midtown Phx
- roation sites for clinical years are maximum of a 20 min drive
- 2 level 1 trauma centers and a pediatric hospital as rotation sites
- went to admitted students day and the students were super nice and welcoming
- July 1st CTE

cons
- ~74k in tuition per year (after insurance and various fees)
- not as well known and established as Geisel
- hot AF in Phx
- While Phoenix is decently diverse and progressive AZ in general isn't
- H/P/F curriculum and not true pass fail
- has AOA
 
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Geisel is the more established, reputable program but seems like you have a lot more to weigh than most premeds.

What are you and your wife’s priorities for school? Being as close to CA/family? Saving money? Best program to ensure you match back to CA?

It’s crazy they are making you CTE instead of changing the program you are PTE’d at.
 
Would you rather go to Dartmouth ignoring your WL? IMO always take the better guaranteed option over the possibilities.

Also maybe write letters of intent/interests to the other schools with the early CTE deadline. You could try calling and asking if the schools expect movement and maybe they'll be receptive to giving a helpful response due to your situation.
 
Basalganglia4life said:
Ok so wow. So I recently got off the WL to Geisel but they are requiring that I CTE and remove myself from all my wls by this Friday to secure my seat.
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The OTC said:
It’s crazy they are making you CTE instead of changing the program you are PTE’d at.
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It does seem a bit odd to require you to CTE this early. Most schools have CTE dates that are far later, if you look at this compilation of all AAMC school timelines. Even Geisel's CTE date is listed as June 9. My editorial comment would be that they should require OP to PTE.
 
I don’t think they can force you to come off of other waitlists, even if you CTE. Pretty sure you can withdraw at any point before tuition is due. I’d CTE at whichever program you prefer and remain on all waitlists.
 
Angler said:
It does seem a bit odd to require you to CTE this early. Most schools have CTE dates that are far later, if you look at this compilation of all AAMC school timelines. Even Geisel's CTE date is listed as June 9. My editorial comment would be that they should require OP to PTE.
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m1redsox said:
I don’t think they can force you to come off of other waitlists, even if you CTE. Pretty sure you can withdraw at any point before tuition is due. I’d CTE at whichever program you prefer and remain on all waitlists.
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It is pretty wild isn’t it? Below is what is in my
Offer letter. I even confirmed it over the phone with admissions. It feels a little coercive

“Please complete the Offer Response Form in the portal, withdraw any other acceptances and waitlist positions, and select “commit to enroll” in the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool (CYMS) within one week.“
 
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syrupedbacon said:
Would you rather go to Dartmouth ignoring your WL? IMO always take the better guaranteed option over the possibilities.

Also maybe write letters of intent/interests to the other schools with the early CTE deadline. You could try calling and asking if the schools expect movement and maybe they'll be receptive to giving a helpful response due to your situation.
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Ignoring all other WLs Geisel is certainly the better school. I think if the option were to simply PTE it wouldnt feel so difficult. It’s just a major change to go from ca to rural nh and only having a week to decide it.

I like your idea about reaching out to some of my other wl schools. I am so going to see if Geisel will grant me an extension to their deadline as well
 
This seems a little fishy. As @Angler noted, their documented CTE deadline is in June (both for this year, and even next year's cycle).

I would sleep on this decision for sure. Moving to Hanover would involve a major life shift, and they haven't even sent you a financial aid package before requiring you to CTE. If you feel your life would be better near your family and they are coercing you to make a snap decision for a major life choice (and you aren't planning on applying to very competitive specialties regardless), I likely wouldn't accept the offer.

Asking for them to honor their normal, documented CTE deadline of June 9th to assess a major life decision for more than 7 days is more than reasonable.
 
The OTC said:
Geisel is the more established, reputable program but seems like you have a lot more to weigh than most premeds.

What are you and your wife’s priorities for school? Being as close to CA/family? Saving money? Best program to ensure you match back to CA?

It’s crazy they are making you CTE instead of changing the program you are PTE’d at.
Click to expand...
The plan is to try to have a baby— as if med school isnt stressful enough. No one in her family unfortunately is really going to be able to help us with the kid so proximity to LA isn’t a deal breaker. My wife isn’t really super excited about either Phx or Hanover honesty, but she says she will move anywhere I get accepted. My biggest priority is that she be happy and her’s is that I get into a good school. I worry though that Hanover will be isolating for her

Cost is certainly a huge factor. My wife will ideally work and we hope to only borrow for tuition. Geisel is certainly the more expensive of the two options requiring that we get a second car in preclinical.
 
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Go with the Phoenix option and remain on all WL if Geisel says no to your extension request. Creighton matches very well to CA and they are an amazing community and school. UCR is extremely generous with need-based financial assisstance. UCLA would be a no brainer. You are in a very good position. GL.
 
MDMechEngr said:
Go with the Phoenix option and remain on all WL if Geisel says no to your extension request. Creighton matches very well to CA and they are an amazing community and school. UCR is extremely generous with need-based financial assisstance. UCLA would be a no brainer. You are in a very good position. GL.
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Certainly any of my wl schools would be amazing but there is no guarantee I would get off any of those wls. I’m curious if I didn’t have those wls would you still recommend Creighton over Geisel?
 
I am curious if anyone has any thoughts on whether it is worth writing to the schools I am waitlisted at to let them know about my early cte deadline.
 
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Basalganglia4life said:
Certainly any of my wl schools would be amazing but there is no guarantee I would get off any of those wls. I’m curious if I didn’t have those wls would you still recommend Creighton over Geisel?
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I would if being closer to home is important to you and your SO. Creighton will get you to what ever specialty you want in CA if you put in the work.
 
As a Geisel student: your financial aid package will be entirely dependent on your financial status. They give up to 60k/yr (80% tuition) scholarship for lower-income students, and the majority of students of middle-income backgrounds have some sort of tuition scholarship.

I'd say you will probably need a car but there is a large chunk of my (preclinical) classmates who do not own a car. The transit here is decent and will take you to-and-from home, school, DH (hospital), etc for free. Runs on a convenient 30 minute schedule.

Your partner may feel isolated. There is a decent graduate family community for spouses of students at grad schools but it's nothing robust. I will say my classmates with spouses do many things with us, and the class generally tries to include them. If you can find an apartment in Sachem (follow the Sachem facebook) your spouse will have more support.

Good luck on your decision! Geisel is a great school with great match but you have to know what you're getting into. It can definitely be isolating. I'd caution you against choosing any school that isn't P/F preclinical, but I understand if there are other reasons pulling you towards Creighton.

Don't ignore your WL's. I would ask Geisel for an extension. Good luck!
 
I think you should go with a guaranteed admission rather than sit around waiting for a waitlist to maybe pan out. I'd take Geisel
 
penguins345 said:
I think you should go with a guaranteed admission rather than sit around waiting for a waitlist to maybe pan out. I'd take Geisel
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+1. thinking about the "what ifs" is risky and not one i would take personally in this case. if you prefer Geisel over Creighton Phx, go to Geisel.

Alternatively, you could email the schools youre hoping to get off the WL for and let them know that this is ur new situation but you would attend their school over Geisel to see if they can lyk ASAP.
 
As a fellow incoming student from CA with a spouse + planning to have kids, I’m leaning towards Creighton.

While Dartmouth undoubtedly has the advantage in terms of prestige and ranking, it seems like you and your partner aren’t thrilled about relocating to Hanover. And as the saying goes, “happy wife, happy life.” For CA residents, moving to Hanover represents a much greater cultural and lifestyle shift than Phoenix. I attended Creighton Phoenix’s Admissions Day, and the flight from California only took 56 min. There are also occasional cheap flights (<$60), making it easier to take advantage of long weekends to visit home. Proximity to CA offers greater flexibility for spontaneous trips, which will matter even more once you have children. By contrast, making those trips from Dartmouth would require far more planning and time.

As for your waitlist schools, if they tend to have good movement in May and June, it might be worth holding out hope. Personally, I think choosing Creighton Phoenix now with the possibility of moving off a waitlist to a preferred school, makes more sense than committing to Dartmouth and later wondering, “what if I had waited?” You’re clearly a strong applicant, with multiple interviews and acceptances, so I think you will have good chances of getting off at least one more waitlist (don’t quote me on this lol).

And even if don’t end up getting off the WL, you’ll still have an excellent chance of matching back into California at Creighton. Additionally, Creighton’s Friday exams schedule leaves your weekends more open, which is great for spending quality time with your family.

Congrats to you on a great cycle. The ball is in your court!
 
Just updated my original post with Geisel’s financial aid offer. They are giving me a $25k per year scholarship.
 
so I just got a call from Rush this morning, literally as I was committing to enroll, accepting me to their program. Honestly, I know Dartmouth on paper is a better school, but I think that rush is going to be better for me and my wife. Hoping they give me a scholarship though 😂
 
Dang haha! What a turn of events! I'll be just down the road from ya at NW. Come to Chicago! Especially if you wanna do ortho and enjoy a big city, Rush is a no-brainer. There's absolutely nothing out at Dartmouth.
 
The rush hospital system is highly regarded in chicagoland area. Out of these three options i would also go with rush — best city of the three, great opportunities/facilities, etc. Its been great seeing your journey and im glad you’ve found so much success 🙂 CONGRATS! ill just be up the road in milwaukee haha
 
Basalganglia4life said:
so I just got a call from Rush this morning, literally as I was committing to enroll, accepting me to their program. Honestly, I know Dartmouth on paper is a better school, but I think that rush is going to be better for me and my wife. Hoping they give me a scholarship though 😂
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When do you have to let them know by?
 
R2D2_ said:
I think Dartmouth might be better as a school but do what you think is right for your situation! Were you able to extend your Geisel deadline too?
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I was able to extend it another week for Geisel. today was their final deadline. I agree on paper probably Dartmouth is the better school. But for me and my family I think Chicago is gonna be a better fit for us.
 
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