Withdrawing and re-applying next year

[fluff]

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I am an applicant hoping to matriculate in the fall 2010. Unfortunately, this application cycle has not been too hot... have had one interview but, after visiting the school, I have seriously thought about withdrawing and reapplying next year with better stats.

I have read on previous posts that, as long as you withdraw BEFORE getting an acceptance, medical schools will not put you on a 'blacklist.' Is there concrete evidence (i.e. in writing) that I can refer to about this? Will medical schools know I withdrew my application from school X?

Maybe I am just being anal, but I just want to make sure that I will not be at a disadvantage if I do decide to reapply next year.

 

[mangomadness]

if you decide to withdraw, when you apply next year, you have to mark whether or not you've applied to schools before. i was a re-applicant this year, and on my AMCAS, it asks, "previously applied", and i marked "yes" next to the schools. so schools will know that you're a reapplicant. idk if this is what you consider a "blacklist". now, if you get accepted and withdraw and reapply next year, that will NOT look good.

 

[mangomadness]

but if you don't apply to the same school next year, idk if the other schools will know about that one school or not.
what dont you like about the school? its still early and lots of people get interviews at the beginning of the year.

 

[fluff]

I am hoping to withdraw from the school before getting an acceptance. I guess my question is whether or not medical schools will know that I withdrew and if schools will look down upon this when I re-apply next year.

 

[mangomadness]

so even if you get accepted, you'd still want to withdraw and reapply?

 

[JJMrK]

I am hoping to withdraw from the school before getting an acceptance. I guess my question is whether or not medical schools will know that I withdrew and if schools will look down upon this when I re-apply next year.

I'm not sure I follow. Why not just wait it out and see if you get in. Then you don't have to reapply next cycle.

 

[7starmantis]

No, it will not look bad. Search around SDN and see all the reapplicant's that have been accepted. I tend to think that if (a big if) it makes a difference at all, I think its actually slightly positive. Nothing like showing your determination to get into med school like going through the process again.

There is no "blacklist", just see how things work out and apply again. There is no negativity for being a reapplicant.

 

[fluff]

I'm not sure I follow. Why not just wait it out and see if you get in. Then you don't have to reapply next cycle.

As for school X, I am not particularly keen on going (after having visited). I will wait for more interviews from other schools, but I am considering the worst-case scenario.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Sounds like a terrible idea to me, but if you hate that particular school so much that you wouldn't even consider attending, I guess you have no choice. I certainly wouldn't do it.

 

[Sammich117]

I'd suggest waiting it out. Like others have said, I don't believe there's a 'blacklist' for reapplicants. The schools just generally like to see that you've done something to improve your app in the time between the applications.

Good luck!

 

[DRIN]

I am an applicant hoping to matriculate in the fall 2010. Unfortunately, this application cycle has not been too hot... have had one interview but, after visiting the school, I have seriously thought about withdrawing and reapplying next year with better stats.

I have read on previous posts that, as long as you withdraw BEFORE getting an acceptance, medical schools will not put you on a 'blacklist.' Is there concrete evidence (i.e. in writing) that I can refer to about this? Will medical schools know I withdrew my application from school X?

Maybe I am just being anal, but I just want to make sure that I will not be at a disadvantage if I do decide to reapply next year.

I think there's a person on SDN who goes by "ruiner" who got into a DO school last year but decided to reapply this year in favor of going to the DO school last year. By the way, he has some MD acceptances this year. I could be wrong but I am reasonably sure this is the case. Take that as you will.

 

[7starmantis]

Sorry, wrong thread.

 

[Global Warming]

What is it about the school that makes you not want to attend even if it's your only MD acceptance? I'm asking b/c if I had 1 MD acceptance and the school was in Compton, I guess I'll be bringing my Dr. Dre CDs along for the ride.

 

[JJMrK]

I'd suggest waiting it out. Like others have said, I don't believe there's a 'blacklist' for reapplicants. The schools just generally like to see that you've done something to improve your app in the time between the applications.

Good luck!

I think that if the OP gets into a school, withdraws, and then reapplies, his motives might be questioned.

This is a very good reason why you should not apply to a school you would not attend.

OP, don't forget about the fact that if you withdraw now, you may not get interviews next cycle. Not because you were "blacklisted," just because that's how things go. Be careful, think hard, and good luck with your decision.

 

[whimsical]

This is a very good reason why you should not apply to a school you would not attend.

To be fair, since med schools don't really let you get an impression of them until interviews, it's hard to know sometimes if you want to go somewhere until you've visited. That being said, I'm not necessarily advocating withdrawing.

 

[ShinyDome19]

I think you'll be fine. You have the oppertunity to explain your reasoning on the appliction. If schools have the option of picking people who "are an appropriate fit", you should have the same option. If the school didnt sell itself to you, you shouldnt be stuck with going there.

If I am not mistaken (which I could well be), on the primary application it asks have you ever matriculated - meaning started classes at - a school, not if you have been accepted in previous years to a school...if you withdraw from the school before starting, then you should be able to answer that as a no.

 

[casillas]

how much do you really hate this school? What if you withdraw and end up re-applying and not having any luck in upcoming cycles? What if this school is your one chance to be a doctor?

 

[mangomadness]

i know it's like the norm on SDN (and prob a lot of pre-meds) to apply to like 2000 schools, but if you don't think you'd wanna go somewhere, why apply. yeah, another poster mentioned that you don't get a feel for the school until the interview, but its med school. if they accept you, its shocking to me that you'd really turn down a MED SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE. when so many don't get that shot. and like others have said, keep in mind that you might not have the same luck next cycle.

granted, this is all hypothetical, cuz you haven't been accepted yet, but still... think about it.