Would you be upset or grateful?

[IMissMyMoney]

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Last cycle, I applied to both DO and MD schools because my stats were comparable to the average MD matriculant, yet I felt that I was on the border so applied to DO schools as a safety. I was first accepted to a DO school (in April) and was given a two week deadline to submit by $1500 deposit. After interviewing at 3 MD schools and being on the high priority list on all of them, I was unsure if I was going to make it in. I submitted my $1500 on the last day (also note that I paid ~200 for the primary and secondary for this school as well). Three weeks later, I was happy to learn that I was accepted to an MD school (and will definitely be attending) . I am pretty upset that this school was able to take so much of MY hard earned money, yet I feel that I had no choice. However, I feel grateful that the school gave me a chance and I really was excited to go.

I was told that many DO schools have such gross deposits because they see more withdrawals for reasons such as mine. Do you feel that this is an ethical practice, because it sure as hell is legal as they state that the deposit is nonrefundable in big, bold, capitalized letters. This whole application process is long, stressful and EXTREMELY expensive, do you think that its far that some schools deliberately try to pry as much money away from mostly poor students to such a degree?

 

[mdeast]

Last cycle, I applied to both DO and MD schools because my stats were comparable to the average MD matriculant, yet I felt that I was on the border so applied to DO schools as a safety. I was first accepted to a DO school (in April) and was given a two week deadline to submit by $1500 deposit. After interviewing at 3 MD schools and being on the high priority list on all of them, I was unsure if I was going to make it in. I submitted my $1500 on the last day (also note that I paid ~200 for the primary and secondary for this school as well). Three weeks later, I was happy to learn that I was accepted to an MD school (and will definitely be attending) . I am pretty upset that this school was able to take so much of MY hard earned money, yet I feel that I had no choice. However, I feel grateful that the school gave me a chance and I really was excited to go.

I was told that many DO schools have such gross deposits because they see more withdrawals for reasons such as mine. Do you feel that this is an ethical practice, because it sure as hell is legal as they state that the deposit is nonrefundable in big, bold, capitalized letters. This whole application process is long, stressful and EXTREMELY expensive, do you think that its far that some schools deliberately try to pry as much money away from mostly poor students to such a degree?

Hmm that's pretty annoying. I know AAMC recommends to MD schools that the deposit not exceed $100. Although, a few schools do break this rule.

 

[red10]

they do it to keep themselves from being used as a back up. If you choose to pay the fee and then change your mind, it's your decision. It's not like they charged you 1500 non-refundable to apply.

 

[Nuggles]

Last cycle, I applied to both DO and MD schools because my stats were comparable to the average MD matriculant, yet I felt that I was on the border so applied to DO schools as a safety. I was first accepted to a DO school (in April) and was given a two week deadline to submit by $1500 deposit. After interviewing at 3 MD schools and being on the high priority list on all of them, I was unsure if I was going to make it in. I submitted my $1500 on the last day (also note that I paid ~200 for the primary and secondary for this school as well). Three weeks later, I was happy to learn that I was accepted to an MD school (and will definitely be attending) . I am pretty upset that this school was able to take so much of MY hard earned money, yet I feel that I had no choice. However, I feel grateful that the school gave me a chance and I really was excited to go.

I was told that many DO schools have such gross deposits because they see more withdrawals for reasons such as mine. Do you feel that this is an ethical practice, because it sure as hell is legal as they state that the deposit is nonrefundable in big, bold, capitalized letters. This whole application process is long, stressful and EXTREMELY expensive, do you think that its far that some schools deliberately try to pry as much money away from mostly poor students to such a degree?

I think it's fair. Like you said, the reason why they have such high deposits is because they know that many students would just bolt out the door the second they get a MD acceptance. The deposit is there to discourage that type of behavior. In the grand scheme of things, $1500 really isn't that much; just be glad you would've had a back-up school to go to had you not gotten into any of your waitlists (reapplying a second year is significantly more expensive than $1500).

 

[orthomyxo]

I can understand that DO schools want to avoid being used as back-ups or whatever, but $1500? That's pretty ridiculous IMO.

 

[Perrotfish]

Plenty of low and mid tier MD schools lose students to waitlists and they don't start holding everyone's savings hostage because of it. My vote is that this is unethical.

 

[IDoIt4Love]

Plenty of low and mid tier MD schools lose students to waitlists and they don't start holding everyone's savings hostage because of it. My vote is that this is unethical.

+1

$1,500?! Are you serious? That and even the $200 you had to pay for their primary and secondary is on the upper end. Sounds like these people just want to make money. It is not a crime to get accepted elsewhere and change your mind; especially if they only give you two weeks to commit, and it's earlier in the application cycle. Giving only 2 weeks after May 15 is understandable, but it sounds like you were forced to make this decision a lot sooner than that since you had three interviews afterwards.

While I would be a bit annoyed, I would still be absolutely overjoyed that I got accepted to my preferred school of choice, and know that $1,500 is pennies in a bucket to the kinds of money you will need to pay for tuition each year

 

[ShinyDome19]

I hear ya...I did the same thing...Got in to LECOM as my first choice backup..put down the 1500 deposit after being waitlisted at my first choice school...Two months later, accepted off the waitlist. After thinking about it though, the 1500 was well worth the two months of not having to worry if I was going to go to medical school this year...and in the long run, I save a ton more money by attending my first choice school which has a tuition of 15K/year as opposed to LECOM @ 28K...1500 aint nothing. Hell, some DO schools have a 3K down-payment to hold a seat...

I look at it as if its kinda the price some of us have to pay for having borderline stats...

 

[softmed]

they do it to keep themselves from being used as a back up.

Except that everyone uses them as a backup anyway. I'm out $1500 because of this crap.

 

[TACMON]

just let bygones be bygones

you are in medical school, congrats

 

[IMissMyMoney]

At this point, I am seeing this as an investment...or rather just a poker play, it was necessary. I am certainly not going to bitch and moan about this, I am just trying to spread the info and hopefully others that will be in my position can somehow take something away from my experience.

 

[ruiner]

At this point, I am seeing this as an investment...or rather just a poker play, it was necessary. I am certainly not going to bitch and moan about this, I am just trying to spread the info and hopefully others that will be in my position can somehow take something away from my experience.

yeah a lot of us did it. it sucks but like you said, no use worrying and at least you knew that you were in somewhere. enjoy school, 1500 will not be anything in the long run.

 

[SweetRain]

That sounds a little unreasonable...and your ID says it LOL

 

[orthomyxo]

Except that everyone uses them as a backup anyway. I'm out $1500 because of this crap.

 

[sciencebooks]

that sounds a little unreasonable...and your id says it lol

lmao!

 

[Grobe57214]

they do it to keep themselves from being used as a back up. If you choose to pay the fee and then change your mind, it's your decision. It's not like they charged you 1500 non-refundable to apply.

I find it quite odd when pre-med students who have gone through the entire painful process can ever side with a school who takes so much money from a student that doesn't end up attending. Hey, maybe you had it better than the most of us. In that case, good for you. You would make a great administrator someday.

 

[addo]

I think that is unethical. Yes there is a risk of bolting right after getting an MD acceptance, but what if someone wanted to bolt for another DO school that was higher on their list. Only the school you really really want to go is your top choice, the rest are all back ups.
They really should not do this, but congratulations on your acceptance to MD.

 

[catalase]

I think that your situation is non-ideal but if you really value the M.D. vs. a D.O. (and I'm not saying whether or not you should), the value of 1500 dollars over the length of your career (30-50 years for most folks) is relatively non-existent. This doesn't help you now, of course, but I'm just trying to put it in perspective. So my vote is "grateful."

Also, without espousing too much of my libertarian ideology, I have a hard time seeing any of this as unethical when it is a voluntary agreement between consenting parties. It's not like you didn't know this could happen beforehand.

Bottom line: pat yourself on the back for a successful application cycle.

 

[PreMedder]

At this point, I am seeing this as an investment...or rather just a poker play, it was necessary.

Also, without espousing too much of my libertarian ideology, I have a hard time seeing any of this as unethical when it is a voluntary agreement between consenting parties. It's not like you didn't know this could happen beforehand.

Vouch - it was a deposit that HAD to be put down. Think about it this way, if you DIDN'T put down the 1500$, AND THEN didn't get into your MD school - you probably would have been at least one of these: , 🙁, or just 😡.

Anyways - congrats on the acceptance!! 👍

 

[chaser0]

I'm not sure if unethical is the right word, but I do think It's down right dirty



No self-respecting applicant is going to turn down a medical school because of a $1500 deposit. In fact, I would be surprised if anyone ever has.

The point is, DO schools know that you are going to bolt to a MD school as soon as you get an acceptance. The overcharge is no more than DO schools trying to earn themselves a constallation prize.
I don't think the fee can be classified as a means to "keep students from going to a MD school" because the fee is not going to influence your decision.


maybe I'm wrong, but there is nothing a $500 fee wouldn't accomplish over a $1500 one

 

[youngxgold]

grateful that you will be a doctor

$1500 is pocket change compared to what you will make as a practicioner

Oh AND you got into your number 1

 

[Perrotfish]

Also, without espousing too much of my libertarian ideology, I have a hard time seeing any of this as unethical when it is a voluntary agreement between consenting parties. It's not like you didn't know this could happen beforehand. .

Libertarianism is a two way street. If you want to artificially limit the supply of medical school spots through what is effectively a government sanctioned trust backed up by a byzantine system of federally mandated accreditation then don't cry 'free market' when you turn around and ream your applicants for insane fees.