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- Dec 27, 2004
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There are lots of discussions here regarding which school is better than the other, "X vs. Y" threads, speculations when the US News rankings come out, and so forth. I've noticed that this type of discussion virtually disappears in the allopathic forum, and as I get closer and closer to starting medical school this summer, it is becoming more apparent to me as to why that's the case. I'll explain.
Back in December, I was accepted to a particular medical school. It is a solid, stable, well-regarded school, but by no means is it considered one of the best in the country. However, I loved the area, the people seemed nice, composed, and generally happy. I saw myself being very happy if I ended up at that school.
In March, I learned I was waitlisted at another school, which is generally regarded as much more well-known, has more research money, and tends to be consistently ranked fairly highly. I also saw myself being happy at this school.
At the beginning of May, I began to hope for some quick waitlist movement from this latter school. I wrote a letter of interest, spoke to some faculty members, obsessively checked SDN, the whole she-bang.
Now, at the end of June, I haven't heard from my waitlist school, but the contact between me and the school at which I'm accepted has been more frequent, as they continue to send me all my initial paperwork. Additionally, I have been able to meet my classmates online, and I am amazed and humbled at all the great personalities I will have the privilege to share a classroom with next year. I have found a roommate who seems incredibly cool, who will move to this new city with me, and who will share the adventure.
I find myself thinking about the larger school less and less; indeed, as my thoughts turn toward the fall, I am envisioning myself as a student at the smaller school. In fact, I would say that I am *caring* about getting into the larger school less and less with each passing day. I am not even sure I would go to that school at this point, should they call me tomorrow offering an acceptance. Perhaps most telling, a resident I work with, someone who has been through the whole process, said it will matter less and less as the days march toward matriculation.
I look back at the "me" from one year ago, and find it funny: obsessively going over research dollars, match lists, and so forth. Do I want to be a researcher in the long term? Not at all. Match lists? It depends on the individual, for the most part.
I agree that selecting a medical school is an important decision, as it should be. People should be commended for wanting to get the best education possible. But you should be doing it for YOUR reasons, not the reasons somebody has semi-arbitrarily deemed as important and arranged in list format. In the end, it doesn't matter. You can make yourself happy anywhere.
Best of luck to everyone who is applying this cycle, and in future cycles. I hope you end up in a good place. If that "good place" happens to be medical school, so be it.
EDIT: So, not to kill the whole tone of this post, but I meant to post it in pre-allo. Could a mod please bump it over? Thanks.
Back in December, I was accepted to a particular medical school. It is a solid, stable, well-regarded school, but by no means is it considered one of the best in the country. However, I loved the area, the people seemed nice, composed, and generally happy. I saw myself being very happy if I ended up at that school.
In March, I learned I was waitlisted at another school, which is generally regarded as much more well-known, has more research money, and tends to be consistently ranked fairly highly. I also saw myself being happy at this school.
At the beginning of May, I began to hope for some quick waitlist movement from this latter school. I wrote a letter of interest, spoke to some faculty members, obsessively checked SDN, the whole she-bang.
Now, at the end of June, I haven't heard from my waitlist school, but the contact between me and the school at which I'm accepted has been more frequent, as they continue to send me all my initial paperwork. Additionally, I have been able to meet my classmates online, and I am amazed and humbled at all the great personalities I will have the privilege to share a classroom with next year. I have found a roommate who seems incredibly cool, who will move to this new city with me, and who will share the adventure.
I find myself thinking about the larger school less and less; indeed, as my thoughts turn toward the fall, I am envisioning myself as a student at the smaller school. In fact, I would say that I am *caring* about getting into the larger school less and less with each passing day. I am not even sure I would go to that school at this point, should they call me tomorrow offering an acceptance. Perhaps most telling, a resident I work with, someone who has been through the whole process, said it will matter less and less as the days march toward matriculation.
I look back at the "me" from one year ago, and find it funny: obsessively going over research dollars, match lists, and so forth. Do I want to be a researcher in the long term? Not at all. Match lists? It depends on the individual, for the most part.
I agree that selecting a medical school is an important decision, as it should be. People should be commended for wanting to get the best education possible. But you should be doing it for YOUR reasons, not the reasons somebody has semi-arbitrarily deemed as important and arranged in list format. In the end, it doesn't matter. You can make yourself happy anywhere.
Best of luck to everyone who is applying this cycle, and in future cycles. I hope you end up in a good place. If that "good place" happens to be medical school, so be it.
EDIT: So, not to kill the whole tone of this post, but I meant to post it in pre-allo. Could a mod please bump it over? Thanks.