Would anyone turn down Harvard?

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DropkickMurphy said:
My dislike for Harvard has nothing to do with the school, and everything to do with Boston being one of the most expensive areas in the US to live. That combined with it being a crowded city and cold weather.....no thanks.
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chill out...literally. you would turn down being a Harvard doctor because it's cold outside with too many people? If they moved it to Antarctica I would bundle up for four years and do my thing. For me the only understandable reason to say no is financial and that would have to be a close to a full ride to a top school.
 
Ironhead2000 said:
chill out...literally. you would turn down being a Harvard doctor because it's cold outside with too many people? If they moved it to Antarctica I would bundle up for four years and do my thing. For me the only understandable reason to say no is financial and that would have to be a close to a full ride to a top school.
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Haha...dude - sounds like you're the one who could use a chill pill. Different people have different reasons for doing different things. Not everyone thinks the way you do. Just because location isn't a factor for your school choice doesn't make it an incomprehensible reason for someone else. If you don't learn this now, you'll learn it in med school - your way isn't the only way. 😎
 
i would turn down harvard (maybe) for hopkins, ucsf, penn, duke.
 
I'm sure that people turn how Harvard every year. While Harvard has a great medical school, Hopkins truly known for medicine.

If you had a full ride to Hopkins, Duke, UPenn, UCSF and you chose to pay full price to attend Harvard, that would be silly.

Secondly, you don't necessarily have to go to Harvard to be a leader in medicine...Here's a short list of the deans of some medical schools and where they received their relevant degrees:

Harvard: Joseph B Martin, MD, PhD - University of Alberta
Johns Hopkins: Edward Miller, MD - University of Rochester
UPenn - Arthur B Rubenstein, M.B.B.CH - University of Witwatersrand
Duke - R Sanders Williams, MD - Duke
UCSF - David Kessler, MD - Harvard
Washington University - Larry Shapiro, MD - WashU
Stanford - Philip Pizzo, MD - University of Rochester
Baylor - Stephen Greenberg, MD - University of Maryland

Comments...
 
BucsFan813 said:
If you had a full ride to Hopkins, Duke, UPenn, UCSF and you chose to pay full price to attend Harvard, that would be silly.



Comments...
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Wow, thats a pretty ambitious scenario; is that what it takes for you to turn it down???😛
 
CaramelDlite said:
Wow, thats a pretty ambitious scenario; is that what it takes for you to turn it down???😛
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im guessing most of the people that do turn down harvard do so because they have a better financial aid package / scholarship package from another very very very ultra prestigous school --- such as penn, ucsf, duke, or hopkins.

so the comment does not necessarily mean you need a "free ride" from all 4 of those schools to turn harvard down. you just need one. which, haha, is still very very ambitous even for those 4.00 40s out there.
 
Hahaha. It's just funny that the minue I saw the post I thought, "Maybe if I got a full ride to UCSF or another powerhouse." Pretty interesting to see that list of schools that the presidents went to.
 
CaramelDlite said:
Wow, thats a pretty ambitious scenario; is that what it takes for you to turn it down???😛
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No, but one of the posts implied that no one would turn down Harvard under any circumstance.

I turned down Harvard for undergrad b/c of a $64K difference in funding over 4 years (back in 2000). While some people thought it wasn't smart, my family just couldn't afford $18K per year. I was actually threatened by another kid at my high school because he thought that had I not applied, he would have gotten in (crazy!). Either way, I received an excellent and free undergrad education and currently have a number of interviews at top tier schools. I'm sure the same scenario takes place for people who make medical school decisions.

Secondly, Boston is so darn expensive, some people like to make quality of life decisions. Some people apply just to see what happens, although they cannot realistically attend for personal or family reasons. Finally, there are people who apply just to feel good about themselves although they have no intention of going to Harvard.

What are the stats on the number of acceptances/matriculants for Harvard?
 
Anastasis said:
Ditto. 👍

If I got into Harvard and Baylor/Vandy, it wouldn't even be a difficult decision for me.
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You're so going to get into Vandy then enroll due to the fair trade coffee on campus.

To answer the OP though, I too am open to being bought by schools other than HMS.
 
BucsFan813 said:
No, but one of the posts implied that no one would turn down Harvard under any circumstance.

I turned down Harvard for undergrad b/c of a $64K difference in funding over 4 years (back in 2000). While some people thought it wasn't smart, my family just couldn't afford $18K per year. I was actually threatened by another kid at my high school because he thought that had I not applied, he would have gotten in (crazy!). Either way, I received an excellent and free undergrad education and currently have a number of interviews at top tier schools. I'm sure the same scenario takes place for people who make medical school decisions.

Secondly, Boston is so darn expensive, some people like to make quality of life decisions. Some people apply just to see what happens, although they cannot realistically attend for personal or family reasons. Finally, there are people who apply just to feel good about themselves although they have no intention of going to Harvard.

What are the stats on the number of acceptances/matriculants for Harvard?
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MSAR (don't have one handy, though).
 
Harvard:
Applied Interviewed Matriculated
Resident: 399 59 24
Nonresident: 5052 636 130
International: 290 16 11
Total: 5741 711 165
 
now though, I would be really stupid to turn down Harvard if I were going into LAW...

...but yeah, medicine isn't law.
 
I honestly hope that you guys will consider each school on its own merits as you start to receive acceptances. I probably would have attended Harvard had I applied and been admitted (that also would have been the same day pigs flew!), but not just for the reputation. I like the curriculum AND it's close to my family. I've realized since last year that the second on that list is really important to me - and I wish I'd applied to the school where my sister is now a college freshman (not Harvard)!!! In short - give each school a chance in your mind, and make decisions based on where you will be HAPPY!

Good luck all!
 
socuteMD said:
I honestly hope that you guys will consider each school on its own merits as you start to receive acceptances. I probably would have attended Harvard had I applied and been admitted (that also would have been the same day pigs flew!), but not just for the reputation. I like the curriculum AND it's close to my family. I've realized since last year that the second on that list is really important to me - and I wish I'd applied to the school where my sister is now a college freshman!!! In short - give each school a chance in your mind, and make decisions based on where you will be HAPPY!

Good luck all!
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Why do you assume because we would turn down Harvard that we're NOT using this reasoning?
 
BucsFan813 said:
No, but one of the posts implied that no one would turn down Harvard under any circumstance.

I turned down Harvard for undergrad b/c of a $64K difference in funding over 4 years (back in 2000). While some people thought it wasn't smart, my family just couldn't afford $18K per year. I was actually threatened by another kid at my high school because he thought that had I not applied, he would have gotten in (crazy!). Either way, I received an excellent and free undergrad education and currently have a number of interviews at top tier schools. I'm sure the same scenario takes place for people who make medical school decisions.

Secondly, Boston is so darn expensive, some people like to make quality of life decisions. Some people apply just to see what happens, although they cannot realistically attend for personal or family reasons. Finally, there are people who apply just to feel good about themselves although they have no intention of going to Harvard.

What are the stats on the number of acceptances/matriculants for Harvard?
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According to the USNEWS website, 239 were admitted and 165 enrolled.
 
Anastasis said:
Ah okay - that's directed at the other people. My bad. Just being in pre-allo puts me on the defensive most of the time.
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I know. I had to rewrite the "I didn't" about 5 times so as to avoid snarkiness. That's my pledge on SDN for this month: not to be snarky.
 
baylormed said:
Um....NO.

It's all about prestige (In other words, I would go to Harvard just to have their diploma/subsequent prestige hanging on my wall).

But that's just me.
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Just do what Dr. Rey did -- do a brief fellowship there after having attended med school and residency elsewhere, and then wear a Harvard sweatshirt and keep a Harvard mug on your desk for all to see. No one ever questions it.
 
Ironhead2000 said:
chill out...literally. you would turn down being a Harvard doctor because it's cold outside with too many people? If they moved it to Antarctica I would bundle up for four years and do my thing. For me the only understandable reason to say no is financial and that would have to be a close to a full ride to a top school.
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Being a "Harvard doctor" doesn't mean **** to me. I'll probably not have an "office" to put up my diploma up in and when was the last time you actually heard a non-premed patient ask a doc where they did their training at?

Check your ego at the door. Your patients will thank you for it.

talk about horrible clinical training . . .
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Yeah, I don't like penguins that much. Let alone having to deal with Morgan Freeman as your attending :meanie:
 
DropkickMurphy said:
Your patients will thank you for it.
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Or they might try to eat you. I know a few people that were ridiculously annoyed because their super hardcore/head something/harvard doc didn't fix their problems. I'm sure they would have been satisfied with a 'normal' doc, but the expectation was so much higher...
 
UCSF or Johns Hopkins > Harvard any day for me
 
Rafa said:
Haha...dude - sounds like you're the one who could use a chill pill. Different people have different reasons for doing different things. Not everyone thinks the way you do. Just because location isn't a factor for your school choice doesn't make it an incomprehensible reason for someone else. If you don't learn this now, you'll learn it in med school - your way isn't the only way. 😎
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i am chilled, i didn't use any exclamation marks or smilies or any signs of emotion. but you can say i was imflammed if you want, either way i am a realist. and if someone is too much of a pu$Sy to put up with a few sub zero days in january to go to a great school and open up a ton of firmly **** doors then they won't be able to handle the discomfort of the rest of med school. the guy said he would turn down harvard based on location which is untrue first of all and second is a not a good enough reason.

so location is not a good enough reason to want to go to a place (in secondaries and interview) but its enough to not want to go to harvard? please
 
DropkickMurphy said:
Being a "Harvard doctor" doesn't mean **** to me. I'll probably not have an "office" to put up my diploma up in and when was the last time you actually heard a non-premed patient ask a doc where they did their training at?

Check your ego at the door. Your patients will thank you for it.



Yeah, I don't like penguins that much. Let alone having to deal with Morgan Freeman as your attending :meanie:
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that's fine jack, you can say all that holier than thou crap that's a better reason than saying it's too cold. when is the last time a patient walked in and the nurse said, 'i'm sorry the doctor will not be in right today it was too cold and the traffic is just a mess' grow some balls dude.

and to answer you question: i have heard non-pred patients as a doc where they did their training at many times, the last being this morning at volunteering. very good point. nobody but nobody knows about harvard med except premeds. infact i just ran across it for the first time while applying and it attracted me.
 
Ironhead2000 said:
i am chilled, i didn't use any exclamation marks or smilies or any signs of emotion. but you can say i was imflammed if you want, either way i am a realist. and if someone is too much of a pu$Sy to put up with a few sub zero days in january to go to a great school and open up a ton of firmly **** doors then they won't be able to handle the discomfort of the rest of med school. the guy said he would turn down harvard based on location which is untrue first of all and second is a not a good enough reason.

so location is not a good enough reason to want to go to a place (in secondaries and interview) but its enough to not want to go to harvard? please
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What firmly shut doors are these and what proof do you have that harvard puts out superior clinical physicians?

Ironhead2000 said:
and to answer you question: i have heard non-pred patients as a doc where they did their training at many times, the last being this morning at volunteering. very good point. nobody but nobody knows about harvard med except premeds. infact i just ran across it for the first time while applying and it attracted me.
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His point wasn't that they haven't heard of it. It's that they don't care as long as they are treated well.
 
Mac11 said:
Or they might try to eat you. I know a few people that were ridiculously annoyed because their super hardcore/head something/harvard doc didn't fix their problems. I'm sure they would have been satisfied with a 'normal' doc, but the expectation was so much higher...
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I doubt anyone has studied this, but wonder if Harvard docs get sued more due to higher expectations.:laugh:
 
Ironhead2000 said:
that's fine jack, you can say all that holier than thou crap that's a better reason than saying it's too cold. when is the last time a patient walked in and the nurse said, 'i'm sorry the doctor will not be in right today it was too cold and the traffic is just a mess' grow some balls dude.

and to answer you question: i have heard non-pred patients as a doc where they did their training at many times, the last being this morning at volunteering. very good point. nobody but nobody knows about harvard med except premeds. infact i just ran across it for the first time while applying and it attracted me.
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It's not so much that the cold is the only reason (read as: I've put up with Midwestern winters for 20+ years and after experiencing a week of sub zero temps in Wyoming a couple of years back), but rather it's just the last straw on top of all the other strikes against Boston that people have listed- the accent, the traffic, the cost, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

I don't think I have to tell you what part of my backside you can introduce your lips to. :meanie:
 
What firmly shut doors are these?
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I think he's referring to the door to the magical Hah-vahd grads' bathroom at the country club in Hyannis. :laugh:
 
njbmd said:
If granted an acceptance to Harvard Med, right now, would anyone honestly choose a different school?
In a word, NO. If one applied to Harvard, one would conceivably WANT to attend Harvard Medical school. It's a great school, great experiences and located in a pretty neat area (Cambridge). What's not to like about Harvard? Why would anyone turn down an excellent medical eduction?


Is everyone's dream school Harvard?
Probably not. There are many great schools with great experiences and excellent educational resources and likely more appealing than Harvard for many people. Many people have given reasons why Harvard would not be their first choice or "dream school".

It would be pretty stupid to turn down an acceptance to any medical school if that's your only acceptance. I have a very good friend who is about to graduate from Harvard Med. It wasn't his first choice but it was his only acceptance. I don't think he has any regrets at all. 😀
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Wow someone only getting accepted to HMS and no where else is the funniest thing I've ever read. That's pretty ironic to get into the most well known medical school in the nation but not get a single acceptance at any of the other schools. One would think it would be the other way around. Goes to show you the random nature of this process.
 
Law2Doc said:
I doubt anyone has studied this, but wonder if Harvard docs get sued more due to higher expectations.:laugh:
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You're a lawyer, surely you're just the person to figure it out. 👍
 
Ironhead2000 said:
but you can say i was imflammed if you want, either way i am a realist.
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Lay off the daily dose of HarvardorBusterone, bro. It's not helping... :laugh:
 
Ironhead2000 said:
chill out...literally. you would turn down being a Harvard doctor because it's cold outside with too many people? If they moved it to Antarctica I would bundle up for four years and do my thing. For me the only understandable reason to say no is financial and that would have to be a close to a full ride to a top school.
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You'd live in Antarctica for four years just to say you went to Harvard?
bowroflarms.gif
 
gujuDoc said:
Wow someone only getting accepted to HMS and no where else is the funniest thing I've ever read. That's pretty ironic to get into the most well known medical school in the nation but not get a single acceptance at any of the other schools. One would think it would be the other way around. Goes to show you the random nature of this process.
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the other schools probably shot him down for being a pretentious dingus in his interviews. Harvard of course didnt pick up on it.

/ducks!
 
Teerawit said:
MD/PhD....

I'd turn down Harvard MD for that.
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Eh but most the schools you are applying to are in the same league as HMS like Hopkins and WashU!!!

So I hardly count your case. LOL 😛
 
maestro1625 said:
the other schools probably shot him down for being a pretentious dingus in his interviews. Harvard of course didnt pick up on it.

/ducks!
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:laugh:
 
Hmmm............................

I might take Hopkins if I liked it more after visiting both, I might take stanford or UCSF because of location, I might take Duke/Michigan/Chicago/WashU/Mayo with full scholarship. Actually, I'd prefer Boston to Baltimore, so I'd probably take Harvard over Hopkins. But I would most likely take the other two options over Harvard.

I'm glad you guys posted that dajimmers guy's profile, because his stats are very close to mine. Gives me hope people from non-prestigious state schools can still get into Harvard.
 
TheProwler said:
rather than all these random surmises from people who couldn't get into Harvard anyways, here's someone who DID turn down Harvard (and some other great places) - dajimmers - http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=4118
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I already beat you to mentioning about him but no one seemed to care. They are on their premed high horse. You mustn't forget that. Ohh and I know people who'd rather just stay at home then apply to HMS any day. Actually someone I knew who interviewed their last year said that even had she gottena accepted she wouldn't have gone. I know quite a few who wouldnt go to HMS but then they also wouldn't apply their in the first place. Only that really want HMS sooooo badly who have the chance of getting in there based on numbers and ECs would apply there.
 
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