Would it be extremely stupid of me not to apply to my state school?

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greysdidntprepareme

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I recently posted about my application this cycle and got some great advice! One of the things I heard, though, was that I should not apply to a school I don't want to go to, because there's a decent chance it will be the only acceptance I want to get and I'll be locked in. I'm in a predicament where I have already listed my state school, University of Nebraska as my one school for AMCAS verification. They're going to get my application no matter what. However I really don't want to go there for various reasons. My stats are decent but not amazing, but I'm almost completely sure enough to get me into Nebraska. 509 MCAT, 3.88 GPA, and a well rounded app, with no major holes or deficiencies. I've also been told I have an above average personal statement? Not putting much weight on this though because its so subjective. Ideally I don't apply to Nebraska this cycle, and if I don't get in anywhere else, retake the MCAT (I know I can do significantly better) and do another cycle, including Nebraska. The only way to do this would be to withdraw my app and write them a professional email, but no guarantees I'd have a shot with them again next cycle. I don't want to hinder my chances at my safety school.

So I wonder if I should just get over my dislike of this medical school and apply because this is med school and admissions are ridiculously competitive. I'm aware that even if I apply to 30 schools, there's a good chance only my state school accepts me, and the thought of being in Omaha for ANOTHER 4 year depresses me to no end. All throughout college I've been working hard and determined to get out of the state but my low MCAT might end up anchoring me here. What are everyone's thoughts? Are lower-tier state schools that bad? Is there still a chance for me to get out of here and into a competitive residency later even if my school doesn't emphasize research and may not prepare me the best? I wonder if what I need is a big shift in mental framework to convince myself that staying here isn't that bad.
 
1. For any applicant, their best shot at an acceptance is at their state school.
2. Medical school tiers are subjective and mean very little. You will find students from any medical school match at top programs. You will find students at top programs match at uncompetitive residency programs. Its about what you do in medical school that matters.
3. Nebraska definitely has interesting research happening at their medical school that you can get involved in if you choose to.
 
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greysdidntprepareme said:
My stats are decent but not amazing, but I'm almost completely sure enough to get me into Nebraska.
Click to expand...

Even with amazing stats, you can't be sure of an acceptance anywhere, even your state school.

Also, I'm a little bit confused about your plan. If you're planning on applying to Nebraska next cycle if you have to reapply anyways, why not just apply there this cycle too? If you're concerned about only getting into Nebraska this cycle, why wouldn't that still be a possibility next cycle?
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
I recently posted about my application this cycle and got some great advice! One of the things I heard, though, was that I should not apply to a school I don't want to go to, because there's a decent chance it will be the only acceptance I want to get and I'll be locked in. I'm in a predicament where I have already listed my state school, University of Nebraska as my one school for AMCAS verification. They're going to get my application no matter what. However I really don't want to go there for various reasons. My stats are decent but not amazing, but I'm almost completely sure enough to get me into Nebraska. 509 MCAT, 3.88 GPA, and a well rounded app, with no major holes or deficiencies. I've also been told I have an above average personal statement? Not putting much weight on this though because its so subjective. Ideally I don't apply to Nebraska this cycle, and if I don't get in anywhere else, retake the MCAT (I know I can do significantly better) and do another cycle, including Nebraska. The only way to do this would be to withdraw my app and write them a professional email, but no guarantees I'd have a shot with them again next cycle. I don't want to hinder my chances at my safety school.

So I wonder if I should just get over my dislike of this medical school and apply because this is med school and admissions are ridiculously competitive. I'm aware that even if I apply to 30 schools, there's a good chance only my state school accepts me, and the thought of being in Omaha for ANOTHER 4 year depresses me to no end. All throughout college I've been working hard and determined to get out of the state but my low MCAT might end up anchoring me here. What are everyone's thoughts? Are lower-tier state schools that bad? Is there still a chance for me to get out of here and into a competitive residency later even if my school doesn't emphasize research and may not prepare me the best? I wonder if what I need is a big shift in mental framework to convince myself that staying here isn't that bad.
Click to expand...
The answer is actually very simple, and you already know it, although you are trying to avoid it! Would you rather not be a doctor than spend another 4 years in Omaha? If so, then don't apply. Otherwise, you have your answer. 🙂

If you don't like your chances now, don't apply at all this cycle and take the gap year. I know that's an issue for your dad, and you have to work that out. If your plan is to sabotage yourself this cycle so you are forced to take the gap year, then you should only apply to schools beyond your reach that you could never get into, even with your target MCAT. THEN, you could submit the application you really want to next year, along with Nebraska, if the idea is you would only go there if it's your best option after a MCAT retake, but not before then.
 
penguinsfan71 said:
Even with amazing stats, you can't be sure of an acceptance anywhere, even your state school.

Also, I'm a little bit confused about your plan. If you're planning on applying to Nebraska next cycle if you have to reapply anyways, why not just apply there this cycle too? If you're concerned about only getting into Nebraska this cycle, why wouldn't that still be a possibility next cycle?
Click to expand...

My only concern was that if I got into only Nebraska this cycle, there would not be a next cycle for me because I'd be locked in. There wouldn't be a chance for me to retake the MCAT and try again with better chances. However I'm warming up to the idea of staying in Nebraska a little bit, haha.
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
My only concern was that if I got into only Nebraska this cycle, there would not be a next cycle for me because I'd be locked in. There wouldn't be a chance for me to retake the MCAT and try again with better chances. However I'm warming up to the idea of staying in Nebraska a little bit, haha.
Click to expand...
“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good”

put another way: if you get admitted, go. Premeds run into problems when they turn down an acceptance for a chance at “better” school. Remember, this isn’t law school or business school where graduates of some programs are unable to find jobs in their field.
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
I'm in a predicament where I have already listed my state school, University of Nebraska as my one school for AMCAS verification. They're going to get my application no matter what.
Click to expand...

Short answer: apply to at least one other school and then withdraw your application from Nebraska without submitting a secondary. But, only choose this option if you'd prefer to never be a doctor at all than to spend four more years in Omaha. I'm sure there are worse places to be but I'm not sure where they are (maybe Fargo?).
 
OP we’ve spent a week trying to help you figure out why your dad’s bizarre plan for applying isn’t a good path. We have told you the pitfalls etc.of applying in general and the statistics of acceptance. I’m now thinking you are just really scared of the process. And that’s understandable! But we can’t make this decision for you! Has your primary been verified? If not you could just withdraw the primary and be done for this application cycle. That way you can retake the MCAT you seem so intent on doing. And see what happens with your scores! I’m not sure what is wrong with Omaha or University of Nebraska that being accepted there would be such a disappointment. Do you really want to be a doctor or are you being “encouraged” to pursue this path by your parents? Truth be told, you probably will be accepted at Nebraska being that you are a resident with good stats and ECs. So proceed with caution! What is so bad about staying in Nebraska? Good luck as you make some difficult decisions!
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
My only concern was that if I got into only Nebraska this cycle, there would not be a next cycle for me because I'd be locked in. There wouldn't be a chance for me to retake the MCAT and try again with better chances. However I'm warming up to the idea of staying in Nebraska a little bit, haha.
Click to expand...
OK, I can no longer resist sticking my oar in the water. Your MCAT score was a 509. Generally people perform a little better on the second MCAT but a significant percentage of retakers actually regress. Here are the data from AAMC:

OP, you should realize that about 50% of the people who go into an MD school, attend their own state school. Your best shot is the University of Nebraska. Furthermore, you should know that among U.S. residents who get into an allopathic medical school the average MCAT score is 511.5 and that average score applies to Nebraska residents in particular.
As of now, you can't afford to be picky. If you get accepted at Nebraska, you should consider yourself very fortunate.
 
candbgirl said:
OP we’ve spent a week trying to help you figure out why your dad’s bizarre plan for applying isn’t a good path. We have told you the pitfalls etc.of applying in general and the statistics of acceptance. I’m now thinking you are just really scared of the process. And that’s understandable! But we can’t make this decision for you! Has your primary been verified? If not you could just withdraw the primary and be done for this application cycle. That way you can retake the MCAT you seem so intent on doing. And see what happens with your scores! I’m not sure what is wrong with Omaha or University of Nebraska that being accepted there would be such a disappointment. Do you really want to be a doctor or are you being “encouraged” to pursue this path by your parents? Truth be told, you probably will be accepted at Nebraska being that you are a resident with good stats and ECs. So proceed with caution! What is so bad about staying in Nebraska? Good luck as you make some difficult decisions!
Click to expand...

I'm realizing that my reasons for not wanting to stick around here have been more related to my family and feeling like Nebraska won't give me the opportunities I feel like I might get elsewhere. However I have ultimately decided that I will apply to Nebraska because the end goal is still to be a doctor, and as I'm reading more I'm realizing that going to Nebraska would not significantly affect my chances at more competitive specialties later. Thanks for the advice!
 
Obnoxious Dad said:
OK, I can no longer resist sticking my oar in the water. Your MCAT score was a 509. Generally people perform a little better on the second MCAT but a significant percentage of retakers actually regress. Here are the data from AAMC:

OP, you should realize that about 50% of the people who go into an MD school, attend their own state school. Your best shot is the University of Nebraska. Furthermore, you should know that among U.S. residents who get into an allopathic medical school the average MCAT score is 511.5 and that average score applies to Nebraska residents in particular.
As of now, you can't afford to be picky. If you get accepted at Nebraska, you should consider yourself very fortunate.
Click to expand...

I have decided to apply to Nebraska along with other schools in my range. Thanks for the advice!
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
and feeling like Nebraska won't give me the opportunities I feel like I might get elsewhere.
Click to expand...

List of University of Nebraska Medical Center residency and fellowship programs (you will note 21 specialties, including dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, radiation oncology, and every IM subspecialty).

2019 NIH funding: $84,896,726 from 182 awards.
 
You're late in applying anywhere at this point. I think you have sabotaged yourself quite a bit. I wonder if you really even want to be a doctor. This isn't a game. Being a physician is a serious, long term undertaking and carries tremendous responsibilities. You should grow up before you start this process.
 
erdoc111 said:
You're late in applying anywhere at this point. I think you have sabotaged yourself quite a bit. I wonder if you really even want to be a doctor. This isn't a game. Being a physician is a serious, long term undertaking and carries tremendous responsibilities. You should grow up before you start this process.
Click to expand...

It is not late! As long as the application is submitted, transcript(s) verified, and letters and secondaries submitted this year by September 15th, no applicant is "late"!! (My usual deadline for applying is Labor Day.... shifted a bit later this year due to everything that has been going on.
 
erdoc111 said:
You're late in applying anywhere at this point. I think you have sabotaged yourself quite a bit. I wonder if you really even want to be a doctor. This isn't a game. Being a physician is a serious, long term undertaking and carries tremendous responsibilities. You should grow up before you start this process.
Click to expand...

My primary application will be verified by Tuesday most likely and my committee letter goes in on Tuesday as well. I have 10 secondaries prewritten and the rest should be done in the next couple weeks. I don't think I'm behind schedule especially with COVID, which pushed my MCAT back by 2 months. And I have decided (aided by this thread and also having adjusted my expectations for myself) to apply to my state school as well as 30 others. Your evaluation of me is so uninformed lol
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
I recently posted about my application this cycle and got some great advice! One of the things I heard, though, was that I should not apply to a school I don't want to go to, because there's a decent chance it will be the only acceptance I want to get and I'll be locked in. I'm in a predicament where I have already listed my state school, University of Nebraska as my one school for AMCAS verification. They're going to get my application no matter what. However I really don't want to go there for various reasons. My stats are decent but not amazing, but I'm almost completely sure enough to get me into Nebraska. 509 MCAT, 3.88 GPA, and a well rounded app, with no major holes or deficiencies. I've also been told I have an above average personal statement? Not putting much weight on this though because its so subjective. Ideally I don't apply to Nebraska this cycle, and if I don't get in anywhere else, retake the MCAT (I know I can do significantly better) and do another cycle, including Nebraska. The only way to do this would be to withdraw my app and write them a professional email, but no guarantees I'd have a shot with them again next cycle. I don't want to hinder my chances at my safety school.

So I wonder if I should just get over my dislike of this medical school and apply because this is med school and admissions are ridiculously competitive. I'm aware that even if I apply to 30 schools, there's a good chance only my state school accepts me, and the thought of being in Omaha for ANOTHER 4 year depresses me to no end. All throughout college I've been working hard and determined to get out of the state but my low MCAT might end up anchoring me here. What are everyone's thoughts? Are lower-tier state schools that bad? Is there still a chance for me to get out of here and into a competitive residency later even if my school doesn't emphasize research and may not prepare me the best? I wonder if what I need is a big shift in mental framework to convince myself that staying here isn't that bad.
Click to expand...
If you haven't heard it enough, the answer is yes. State schools aren't layups so don't be too big for britches. If it's the only school that takes you, get that MD and save a couple of bucks and live at home. Worse fates in the world.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
 
proudofmykids said:
No such thing as a safety school.
Illinois didn't even offer an interview invite last cycle, yet wound up with six T10/20 acceptances.
Take what you can get.
Click to expand...

Would you have taken the state school acceptance over the T10s and T20s?
 
My LM was around a 74 and the majority of my interviews were from my state schools... So yeah, do it.
 
MyOdyssey said:
Would you have taken the state school acceptance over the T10s and T20s?
Click to expand...
Was fortunate to receive tuition scholarship at five schools which would have negated State school benefit. Illinois is weird and wasn’t obvious during application that they charge three semesters per year so all in for in-state is about 77k/yr, significantly higher than many other in state tuition in other states. For comparing to many T10/20 full cost, savings might have only been $69k after four years and likely not selected. However it it was $160k savings, would have accepted. Loans were going to be used for full COA.
 
proudofmykids said:
Was fortunate to receive tuition scholarship at five schools which would have negated State school benefit. Illinois is weird and wasn’t obvious during application that they charge three semesters per year so all in for in-state is about 77k/yr, significantly higher than many other in state tuition in other states. For comparing to many T10/20 full cost, savings might have only been $69k after four years and likely not selected. However it it was $160k savings, would have accepted. Loans were going to be used for full COA.
Click to expand...
Again, the point is that the schools know what they are doing, and they are smarter than you. Your kid didn't receive an II from Illinois because they knew she wouldn't be coming a year before you did.

Yield protection is real, and there is a good reason behind it. And it isn't to screw people like your kid over. It's to direct resources (interviews) towards people more likely to use them productively (i.e., really be considering the school in April, as opposed to using the school as an insurance policy or trying to use it to squeeze more money out of the school you are ultimately going to attend anyway).
 
KnightDoc said:
Again, the point is that the schools know what they are doing, and they are smarter than you. Your kid didn't receive an II from Illinois because they knew she wouldn't be coming a year before you did.

Yield protection is real, and there is a good reason behind it. And it isn't to screw people like your kid over. It's to direct resources (interviews) towards people more likely to use them productively (i.e., really be considering the school in April, as opposed to using the school as an insurance policy or trying to use it to squeeze more money out of the school you are ultimately going to attend anyway).
Click to expand...
I do understand yield protection.
The surprise was because everyone on SDN and even WedgeDawg implies that state schools do not yield protect.
 
greysdidntprepareme said:
My primary application will be verified by Tuesday most likely and my committee letter goes in on Tuesday as well. I have 10 secondaries prewritten and the rest should be done in the next couple weeks. I don't think I'm behind schedule especially with COVID, which pushed my MCAT back by 2 months. And I have decided (aided by this thread and also having adjusted my expectations for myself) to apply to my state school as well as 30 others. Your evaluation of me is so uninformed lol
Click to expand...

One option , if accepted , you can defer it one year
 
proudofmykids said:
I do understand yield protection.
The surprise was because everyone on SDN and even WedgeDawg implies that state schools do not yield protect.
Click to expand...
Some states never get to all of their over-qualified applicants (e.g. CA).
Smaller states are different.
 
doctobeapple said:
One option , if accepted , you can defer it one year
Click to expand...
And do what? Not apply to any other schools, since that's a condition for a deferral at all schools, to the best of my knowledge. Deferral is to allow you engage in some special pre-arranged activity (Rhodes Scholarship, etc.), or even to take a break for a year before beginning the med school grind. It is specifically NOT to shop a med school admission.
 
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