What are the "I didn't get in anywhere else," schools?

[Deuce 007 MD]

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Have you noticed, as you guys/gals go on interviews and you ask the students there why they choose that school they respond "I didn't get in anywhere else"? I was just curious as to which schools(U.S.) are more known for this sentiment? There is this one school I really liked, and have been lucky enough to have been accepted to, but I get that feeling from everybody I talk to there.

 

[cipher]

It was harvard, right?

 

[tBw]

you should try not to care what a few random people you met felt. You should care about how you felt about the school, as it is your preferences in location, curriculum, atmosphere and opportunities that will determine your happiness.

i say that you got accepted somewhere you think you would be happy - don't overanalyse it! 😉

 

[Joe Joe on da Radio]

drexel, finch, nymc?

i got that feeling at drexel/nymc...didn't apply to finch.

although, it's funny to think that there are some MS's at UC's who only got into that one UC. go figure.

 

[lola]

i felt that way about nymc. my student host had only one interview and got accepted but did not seem enthused about the school. i know it's only one person, but it sort of shed a bad light on the school for me, especially when the tour guides were asked why they went there & basically it was b/c they didn't have other choices (except one who had 1 other choice). i'll let you know about drexel in a couple of weeks. although vermont is considered one of the lower tier schools, i didn't come away feeling like students were only there b/c they couldn't get in other places. it had a really good feel to it -- at least i thought it did. finch seems to have a really bad reputation. i'm not sure why. it can't be THAT bad.
in the end, all that really matters is if you like the school. even if it's the only place people got into, if they like it then it doesn't matter.

 

[X]

Why is Drexel considered that way? out of all the schools I interviewed at I felt they had the best resources available. Which I feel is important. The cost is a little prohibitive, but factoring that aside what is everyone's impression of Drexel. If it is the name recog. thing, will it help that now the are Drexel instead of MCP. If I get in, I plan to seriously consider this school.


X

 

[Adcadet]

One med student I talked to at GW said that GW was the only school he got into. But then again, I'm sure there are people who have choosen GW over other schools.

Personally, I'm only going to get into the U of MN - since I pulled my apps to other places after getting accepted there.

 

[tryingagain]

I got this from three different students during my interview at University of Louisville. I chose UK 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[X]

Those were the most prophetic words I have ever said. So a few minutes ago, I posted the post above. Then I went to check the mail and woila, I just got into Drexel. They weren't supposed to get back to me for another month, but they did. Wahoooooo....my first acceptance.


X

 

[Adcadet]

I think this type of question is important. When buying something, I always try to find people with experience with the product to tell me about it's shortcomings. But this is really hard with medical schools, since there are a number of schools that certain people will hate, and they don't apply. For me, this would be Loma Linda. I didn't think I'd be happy there, so I didn't apply.

Perhaps a better way of asking this question is "what school that you've seen (i.e.-interviewed at) did you really not like, and why?"

My answer would have to be GW. I thought the facilities for the first two years were pretty mediocre, and the students I saw, while not unhappy, did not seem to be totally excited to be there. There seemed to be no emphasis on medical students doing research, which turned me off. And cost also seemed to be way too high, even for being in DC.

 

[maugham]

Elitism is rampant in the medical world--it's just part of the culture. This fixation on reputation is just another aspect of that, and actually pretty silly in my opinion. For some reason Drexel frequently gets knocked. I'm really not sure why that is... the school seems fine to me. Maybe bashing it makes people feel better about their own school. I find it to be a very supportive, student-focused kind of place. Its status as the successor to Woman's Medical College..the first and last of its kind--also gives it some significance in the medical landscape. Most of the students I know here went to Ivy League or similar calibre schools and impress me as intelligent and hardworking. I know students in my class who got into BU, Temple, and other schools but decided to got to Drexel.

Also, dont put too much stock into comments like "I'm here because it's the only school I got into." This is actually true for many students. AAMC released some stats awhile back...it reported that something like 40% of matriculating students got accepted to only one school. It's no disgrace.

 

[lola]

about drexel... i actually really liked it! the students i talked to seemed very nice/down to earth and also happy. the area is pretty suburban, but it is nice/safe, and it seems very easy to get into the city. it seemed a little more non-traditional friendly than nymc, but maybe that was just my experience. the campus did not feel as isolated as nymc's either, and it seemed as though students could have a home/life outside of school. the facilities were great, although the fact that not many of the ifm people go to class was a bit of a turn off. the pil program seemed wonderful (in theory anyway) and truly unique.

as for the "it was the only school i got into comments"... i know a lot of people only get into one school. i guess i just felt like the students i talked to at nymc who only got in there did not necessarily want to be there while the students i talked to at drexel who only got in there seemed pretty stoked on the school. this is of a sample of like 4 or 5 students, though, so it may have just been the ones i talked to.

 

[aquaboy]

I would have to say SLU. When I interviewed there most of the students said that was the only school they were accepted at. For the price, location, etc. you have to really love St. Louis and have some rich parents to really want to go there. Also, I would say that this goes for D.O. schools because I asked a question in their forum a while back about anyone who turned down an MD accpetance to go DO and one person had. I'm sorry to burst any DO bubbles out there but that is the case in the majority of cases and most applicanst who apply to both will take the crappiest MD accepteance over any DO acceptance.

 

[MD-2007-Gal]

I don't know if this is a normal situation, but I met students at NYMC and Tufts where that was the case. I've heard it happens a bit more than usually at state schools from states with smaller populations, especially those that rarely take out-of-state applicants.

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

Originally posted by aquaboy
Also, I would say that this goes for D.O. schools because I asked a question in their forum a while back about anyone who turned down an MD accpetance to go DO and one person had. I'm sorry to burst any DO bubbles out there but that is the case in the majority of cases and most applicanst who apply to both will take the crappiest MD accepteance over any DO acceptance.

Don't let those OMM purest hear that. They'll get their panties all bunched up. About SLU some people I talked to liked it their, looking at their numbers it's not easy to get in, 3.65 gpa, and 31P mcat. Okay I admitt I'm bias.

 

[manicmaven]

Many of the people I talked to at Albany said that it was their only acceptance.

 

[UCLA2000]

Originally posted by Joe Joe on da Radio
drexel, finch, nymc?

i got that feeling at drexel/nymc...didn't apply to finch.

although, it's funny to think that there are some MS's at UC's who only got into that one UC. go figure.

I'd remove Drexel from that list....

 

[Yogi Bear]

heard some 'it was only school i got into' while interviewing at creighton in omaha, nebraska.

 

[pathdr2b]

Originally posted by Adcadet

My answer would have to be GW. I thought the facilities for the first two years were pretty mediocre, and the students I saw, while not unhappy, did not seem to be totally excited to be there. There seemed to be no emphasis on medical students doing research, which turned me off. And cost also seemed to be way too high, even for being in DC.

I liked the "feel" of GW, but I think your're right about the lack of emphasis on research. The truth REALLY hurts in this case🙁

 

[Adcadet]

Originally posted by pathdr2b
I liked the "feel" of GW, but I think your're right about the lack of emphasis on research. The truth REALLY hurts in this case🙁

I actually arranged to meet with a researcher at GW who is doing research in my area and we met before my interview to discuss research at GW. I thought this would be a big plus when I went for my med school interviews, but my interviewers seemed a bit turned off by this. I got the impression that they think med students should focus on clinical med rather than research. Oh well. Scratch that school off my list.

 

[jayvee]

Drexel probably is one of the most misrepresented schools in terms of its reputation. The facilities are all brand new. The administration has committed itself to staying cutting-edge -- the whole campus is wireless and all the students have laptops with wireless adaptors. The divesrity of clinical exposure afforded by it's network of (I don't know the exact number -- but 6+) hospitals around the NJ/PA region is really unparalleled.

So why does it get a bad name? Nearly exactly a decade ago, the med school hospital was bought up by a mega-HMO. When the HMO (Allegheny) collapsed, it left the school without financial resources. Within the course of a few years the school regained it's footing and is now with Drexel (hence the name change from Spring 2002's MCP Hahnemann. I agree with a few of the other posters around here that in the next few years the school will more aptly reflect in reputation what it is on the inside.

Goodluck!
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drexel med '06.

 

[Saluki]

Originally posted by Yogi Bear
heard some 'it was only school i got into' while interviewing at creighton in omaha, nebraska.

Weird, that's one of my top choices. Of course, I've heard people say about my top choice, that if you're breathing, you can get in, and that's not positive either...

 

[ScreamingTreesRule]

Originally posted by mashce
Weird, that's one of my top choices. Of course, I've heard people say about my top choice, that if you're breathing, you can get in, and that's not positive either...

I heard a few people on this board say that about Creighton, but all in all, I think they have a fairly decent reputation.

The public opinion of non-med people (not that any opinions matter) is even higher. They're a very well-thought of school.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

Originally posted by ScreamingTreesRule
I heard a few people on this board say that about Creighton, but all in all, I think they have a fairly decent reputation.

The public opinion of non-med people (not that any opinions matter) is even higher. They're a very well-thought of school.

For what its worth, Creighton is in my top three and I will probably be attending next year. I have withdrawn most of my applications elsewhere, leaving only a couple outstanding apps. The match list was impressive and the students were very happy.

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

I liked Creighton too, it has a very good rep. I would of loved to go there if only it wasn't in Omaha, NB.

 

[MD-2007-Gal]

Originally posted by mashce
Weird, that's one of my top choices. Of course, I've heard people say about my top choice, that if you're breathing, you can get in, and that's not positive either...

From what I've heard, where you're from makes a big difference on how hard it is to get into Creighton. If you're from Nebraska, it's much easier than if you're from urban LA or NYC, or other types of areas.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

Originally posted by MD-2007-Gal
From what I've heard, where you're from makes a big difference on how hard it is to get into Creighton. If you're from Nebraska, it's much easier than if you're from urban LA or NYC, or other types of areas.

I think that the adcom is trying to create to admit students who will mix well with the other students and who want to go to Creighton. If an East or West coaster can demonstrate that they really want to go there and they are cool with Omaha, then I would assume they have as good a chance as anyone else.

I'm OK with Omaha, its the tuition!?!?

 

[Saluki]

I went to high school in WI; I love the great white North. Besides, when I apply next year I'm going to be applying to Creighton and UAMS; other than the snow, there isn't a big difference between Omaha and Little Rock. Of course UAMS is definitely more in my price range...

 

[wolferman]

I heard this at Howard. In fact, one girl said Howard was the only school to which she applied.

 

[CatsAreKillers]

Originally posted by JBJ
For what its worth, Creighton is in my top three and I will probably be attending next year. I have withdrawn most of my applications elsewhere, leaving only a couple outstanding apps. The match list was impressive and the students were very happy.

JBJ,
I've heard this too about creighton's match list. It's supposed to be pretty darn good.

 

[shake well]

I have to agree that Creighton may not be as bad as some of you are projecting. I have a cousin that goes there and two things that he can't stop raving about is the community/network among the students that forms and the great match (he was also accepted to his state school and Loyola). I stayed with a few undergrads that I knew and all of them love the school also...(even the ones that weren't from small towns in Nebraska or Iowa).