Waiting a year...

[ericlemonster]

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So, SCCO is my top choice for school. I've been told I'm about 45 on the waitlist of 100. I've gotten accepted into ICO and am waiting to hear from NECO.

I am having some premature thoughts about declining my acceptances and waiting another year to reapply at SCCO. Anybody have experiences or heard stories related to this? Do schools often accept the student again, or have a change of heart? Do you think my chances at SCCO will improve if I spend more time shadowing (I was told my interview was what placed me on the alternate list)?

Here are my stats:
GPA: 3.2
Major: Sociology and Asian American Studies
OAT: 330

 

[xmattODx]

So, SCCO is my top choice for school. I've been told I'm about 45 on the waitlist of 100. I've gotten accepted into ICO and am waiting to hear from NECO.

I am having some premature thoughts about declining my acceptances and waiting another year to reapply at SCCO. Anybody have experiences or heard stories related to this? Do schools often accept the student again, or have a change of heart? Do you think my chances at SCCO will improve if I spend more time shadowing (I was told my interview was what placed me on the alternate list)?

Here are my stats:
GPA: 3.2
Major: Sociology and Asian American Studies
OAT: 330

Why do you want to go to SCCO? You'll get the same degree in the end. Think about the opportunity cost of waiting one year. If you wait a year you're basically saying that the education you would get at SCCO vs. ICO (IF you get in) is worth one year of an optometrist's salary. Is it?

 

[dragon1761]

i think you should wait a year since you do not want to attend ico, its just going to make your year a living hell. I think if you are truly happy about attending scco that you go for your goal. I had experience before and believe me it sucks to go to a school you dont want to go. Just spend the year relaxing and meeting the real world, getting a job and etc. Hopefully you'll get into scco best of luck.

 

[al-majhul]

i think you should wait a year since you do not want to attend ico, its just going to make your year a living hell. I think if you are truly happy about attending scco that you go for your goal. I had experience before and believe me it sucks to go to a school you dont want to go. Just spend the year relaxing and meeting the real world, getting a job and etc. Hopefully you'll get into scco best of luck.

Though what dragon is saying sounds quite logical, I have to ask: if that's the case, then why apply anywhere EXCEPT the school of your choice (SCCO)? The rest are all backups, no? So then if you didn't get into your choice, the backups are there so you don't have to wait another year -- otherwise, you've wasted a a whole lot of dollars on the apps. It should all go back to what your intention was in applying to ICO to begin with. Was it a backup? or was it just a mistake?

What xmattODx said makes more sense to me. Why waste a whole year waiting on one school, when you did in fact apply to other schools?

 

[organichemistry]

okay, keep in mind im pre-dental but here is my situation (somewhat similar i suppose)

i will be applying a year early to my top choice school, far and away... the university of alabama. if i get in, great! if not, the following year i will reapply to alabama, and then add 5 or 6 other schools, including 1 or 2 "safetys". that way if my application hasnt improved enough to garner an acceptance at my top choice, at least i have something.

 

[polkadot]

The thing about reapplying to SCCO is that they will make you address (in ANOTHER essay) what you've done to improve your application. So you should think about what will change over the next year for you. Will you be working in an OD office or something related to the field? Do you feel that far and away SCCO is the best school for you? If you think you'll always regret attending ICO, then I would wait. But ICO is a great program, too, and you may end up being just as happy there.

-p.dot

 

[ericlemonster]

Thank you all for your replies. Here is what is bubbling in my head:

I understand, in the end, an O.D. is an O.D. weather from ICO or SCCO or NECO, etc. I feel both schools will provide me a wonderful education and clinical experience, but to be honest, a great concern is where I will live and spend the next three/four years of my life.

I'm born and raised in southern california, and even went to college not too far away from home. My support network and life here feel very comfortable, and I'd love to have things as they are without a disruption like moving across the country.

If I reapply next year, I feel I will have a better chance of acceptance at SCCO. It seemed the biggest concern regarding my application was my interview, and the lack of a variety of modes of practice that I've experience; even though I've worked at Lenscrafters for about 9 months.

I have thought and am still thinking about delaying school (I've already been accepted to ICO). One year would give me a true year away from school. A time to relax, work, and enjoy life. Yet, it would put me behind a year in my long term goals. Yes, that will cost me a year's salary as an O.D. but in exchange, I'll get my first year of a true break from school, and live an enjoyable year still as a carefree youth.

To be frank, at the beginning of the application process, I didn't think I would be accepted to any school. I only started doing pre-reqs last January (2004). I'm so excited and grateful of how far I've come. I honestly proceeded with the application process to gain the experience and prepare myself for the next year. But fortunately, I was accepted.

Going to ICO outweighs waiting a year. I'm just giving it a thought. Does anybody know how school's react to students reapplying? Are there extra criteria they will hold toward the student, etc?

Thank you all again.

 

[cpw]

if you're going to apply next year and wait.. apply ONLY to SCCO. I doubt ICO will accept you twice when they can take another candidate who really wants to go there. In the long run you have to weight for yourself what's best for you: whether it be waiting and re-applying, or going to ICO. If you do reapply, you'll have to do something to change or "improve" your app from this year.

Good luck with your decision...

 

[stompy]

if you're going to apply next year and wait.. apply ONLY to SCCO. I doubt ICO will accept you twice when they can take another candidate who really wants to go there. In the long run you have to weight for yourself what's best for you: whether it be waiting and re-applying, or going to ICO. If you do reapply, you'll have to do something to change or "improve" your app from this year.

Good luck with your decision...

Could he also defer ICO a year and reapply to SCCO? At least he has ICO as backup, right? Would that work?