Will withdrawing and reapplying ruin my chances?

[bmcd]

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Hello and thank you for the advice in advance.

Here is my situation: I've applied this cycle and got two interviews which I went on at the end of January. I haven't heard back yet, but might soon. I'm still in school in my senior year and I have been trying to do it all, but I'm feeling over worked. On top of that, my family is having a lot of financial troubles right now. With all of that, I've decided to take a year off, work full time (my research mentor said he will hire me full-time) and save money and help out my family.

But I'm scared now because there are posts on this forum that say its ridiculously harder to re-apply.. like you have a mark against you right off the bat as a reapplicant. I'm wondering if I should buy into the hype. I have decent stats and EC's, so I would try again for good (research) schools. Ultimately, I could hold out and just take an acceptance if I do get one, but it would mean me leaving the state and my family in a really tough time when I just don't feel comfortable leaving.

Do you think that if I make improvements to my application and also explain my motivations for taking time off (and withdraw from those schools right now before a possible acceptance) that I would still have the same shot in my re-application?

 

[Barcu]

Hello and thank you for the advice in advance.

Here is my situation: I've applied this cycle and got two interviews which I went on at the end of January. I haven't heard back yet, but might soon. I'm still in school in my senior year and I have been trying to do it all, but I'm feeling over worked. On top of that, my family is having a lot of financial troubles right now. With all of that, I've decided to take a year off, work full time (my research mentor said he will hire me full-time) and save money and help out my family.

But I'm scared now because there are posts on this forum that say its ridiculously harder to re-apply.. like you have a mark against you right off the bat as a reapplicant. I'm wondering if I should buy into the hype. I have decent stats and EC's, so I would try again for good (research) schools. Ultimately, I could hold out and just take an acceptance if I do get one, but it would mean me leaving the state and my family in a really tough time when I just don't feel comfortable leaving.

Do you think that if I make improvements to my application and also explain my motivations for taking time off (and withdraw from those schools right now before a possible acceptance) that I would still have the same shot in my re-application?

Withdrawing and reapplying has it's risks, but probably is doable, especially if you have a good application. How many schools did you apply to? Even though you said you had decent stats and EC's, getting only two interviews is a slight concern, unless you only applied to a few schools or applied late. If you think you could reapply to good research schools, I would expect you would get more than two interviews this cycle (unless due to the things I mentioned). Maybe if you share your stats (or a general idea) and your EC's, we could better comment on if you would be a good applicant for reapplying.

If you do get in this cycle, you could ask the school if you could defer for a year and start in the fall of 2012. Schools will let you do this if some unforeseen obstacles come up. I'm not sure if family financial troubles would count, but it is worth a shot.

 

[addo]

well its more of a problem when you have been accepted, decide to turn the offer down, and reapply the next cycle. So if you are sure you need to take a year off, withdraw before a potential acceptance.

In your case, i dont think it would be any problem. Many people apply, dont get in and reapply with good results.

Another option is see if you get in somewhere and try to defer... i know at a&m that wouldnt be a problem. ok bad joke.

 

[deleted357625]

well its more of a problem when you have been accepted, decide to turn the offer down, and reapply the next cycle. So if you are sure you need to take a year off, withdraw before a potential acceptance.

In your case, i dont think it would be any problem. Many people apply, dont get in and reapply with good results.

Another option is see if you get in somewhere and try to defer... i know at a&m that wouldnt be a problem. ok bad joke.

i don't understand why idiots do that.

 

[denco88]

Yeah I think if you do get in, you should try to defer... It seems like the financial difficulties are something that came up after you applied. It seems like you could make a pretty good case for deferral

 

[bmcd]

Withdrawing and reapplying has it's risks, but probably is doable, especially if you have a good application. How many schools did you apply to? Even though you said you had decent stats and EC's, getting only two interviews is a slight concern, unless you only applied to a few schools or applied late. If you think you could reapply to good research schools, I would expect you would get more than two interviews this cycle (unless due to the things I mentioned). Maybe if you share your stats (or a general idea) and your EC's, we could better comment on if you would be a good applicant for reapplying.

If you do get in this cycle, you could ask the school if you could defer for a year and start in the fall of 2012. Schools will let you do this if some unforeseen obstacles come up. I'm not sure if family financial troubles would count, but it is worth a shot.

The reasons I think I got very few interviews is because I did apply quite late into the application cycle (and I hadn't done extensive shadowing yet).

Briefly, my stats are: 3.96GPA overall, 3.95 science and a 39MCAT (12/13/14). Leader position into two school groups (one for 1 year, one for 3 years). 100 hours volunteering in a hospital, ~150 hours non-clinical volunteering, and I shadowed an oncologist for a week. And I've been doing research for a year and am in Honors. I also listed some things like my painting, etc as a hobby.

My updates if I did apply is that I am attending a national conference to present my research (very likely to be published after this summer, too) and I will be continuing my project for another year. I shadowed a family physician for about a week, and will be shadowing a pediatrician. And I went on a community service trip abroad for 3 weeks. I coordinated some cool, health awareness events on campus through the student groups I'm involved in. And I've continued the volunteering with the hospital

So its not like my application hasn't been improved from one year to the next. (AND I would apply way way earlier)

 

[Mr Hippopotamus]

Are you sure that "decent" is the word you want to use for your stats?

 

[Barcu]

The reasons I think I got very few interviews is because I did apply quite late into the application cycle (and I hadn't done extensive shadowing yet).

Briefly, my stats are: 3.96GPA overall, 3.95 science and a 39MCAT (12/13/14). Leader position into two school groups (one for 1 year, one for 3 years). 100 hours volunteering in a hospital, ~150 hours non-clinical volunteering, and I shadowed an oncologist for a week. And I've been doing research for a year and am in Honors. I also listed some things like my painting, etc as a hobby.

My updates if I did apply is that I am attending a national conference to present my research (very likely to be published after this summer, too) and I will be continuing my project for another year. I shadowed a family physician for about a week, and will be shadowing a pediatrician. And I went on a community service trip abroad for 3 weeks. I coordinated some cool, health awareness events on campus through the student groups I'm involved in. And I've continued the volunteering with the hospital

So its not like my application hasn't been improved from one year to the next. (AND I would apply way way earlier)

Late application must be it because you look like you have a really solid app.

Now it's your choice because it appears you would get in during a reapplication cycle (at least from what I can see). With all the things you've been working on, your app would be even better. If you want to reapply, withdraw now before any acceptances come out. You do not want to reapply after turning down an acceptance. The consequence of that may be over-hyped on SDN, but you don't really want to risk that.

Your other option would be to wait for an acceptance, and then try and defer for a year. You may want to call the two schools you are waiting on and ask about their deferral process and if your situation would qualify. If they say they would, this would probably be the safer option.

I think both options are possible but both have their risks.

 

[jadealer]

Also.. you might want to factor in the expense of reapplying.. applications/travelling costs thousands of dollars, which you will have to fork out again... it might be counter productive unless this job has some amazing pay benefits.. I know I work in academia... and it doesn't pay squat. Now if its an industry job.. that's another thing.

 

[raltima07]

Also considering deferring a year if accepted

 

[IlDestriero]

If you get in, you should be able to defer for a year due to family and financial problems. Keep in mind they might not get better.
I don't know what your major is, but the private sector will probably pay around 2x what your university job will pay. If you're wanting to help your family, look elsewhere for a job. It won't matter, you'll still get in with your scores/grades.

 

[bookfreak89]

But I'm scared now because there are posts on this forum that say its ridiculously harder to re-apply.. like you have a mark against you right off the bat as a reapplicant. I'm wondering if I should buy into the hype. I have decent stats and EC's, so I would try again for good (research) schools. Ultimately, I could hold out and just take an acceptance if I do get one, but it would mean me leaving the state and my family in a really tough time when I just don't feel comfortable leaving.

Well, if you have decent stats, maybe improving them for the next cycle might be an option....

The reasons I think I got very few interviews is because I did apply quite late into the application cycle (and I hadn't done extensive shadowing yet).

Briefly, my stats are: 3.96GPA overall, 3.95 science and a 39MCAT (12/13/14). Leader position into two school groups (one for 1 year, one for 3 years). 100 hours volunteering in a hospital, ~150 hours non-clinical volunteering, and I shadowed an oncologist for a week. And I've been doing research for a year and am in Honors. I also listed some things like my painting, etc as a hobby.

Look into deferment if you get an acceptance.

 

[bmcd]

Your other option would be to wait for an acceptance, and then try and defer for a year. You may want to call the two schools you are waiting on and ask about their deferral process and if your situation would qualify. If they say they would, this would probably be the safer option.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I'm going to check on the qualifications for deferring for a year, and decide from there.

Thanks again