· The admissions process continues until
the class is filled and an adequate pool of
qualified waiting list applicants is available
to replace any accepted applicants
who withdraw their names before the start of
class.
ACCEPTANCE
______________________________________________________
Attaining an acceptance to medical school,
especially the one of your choice, is your
goal (see letter on page 119). In responding to
an acceptance, bear in mind that the
Executive Council of the AAMC has approved a set
of guidelines regarding acceptance.
Among the recommendations are:
1. that an applicant should not have less than
two weeks in which to reply to an
offer;
2. that medical schools should not notify
applicants of acceptance before November
15 of each admission cycle;
3. that by April 1 any applicant holding more
than one acceptance for more than
two weeks (and having received all necessary
financial aid information) should
choose the school the applicant wishes to
attend and withdraw from all others;
4. that after June 1 a medical school seeking
to enroll an applicant already known
to be accepted elsewhere should advise the
school of its intentions;
5. that an offer of acceptance does not
constitute a moral obligation to matriculate
at that school.
Choosing Among the Acceptances
Naturally, if you have received only one
acceptance, your course of action is restricted.
If you receive multiple acceptances, then
carefully consider each school so that you
select the school that best meets your
needs.
It is not in the best interest of the students
or medical schools for an acceptee to hold
on to more than one place at a time. The basic
criteria in determining where to attend
will be just as well known to the applicant at
the time of notification of acceptance as a
month or two later. If it is easy to make a
choice, then it should be made promptly and a
polite letter of withdrawal should be sent to
the appropriate school(s). If, however, it is
difficult to choose between schools, a choice
should nevertheless be made rapidly (using
the criteria noted below) rather than agonizing
over the decision for a prolonged period.
By making a decision with all deliberate speed,
you can then concentrate on other
important matters. At the same time, this will
enable the medical school(s) you have
withdrawn from to offer the place made vacant
to others, perhaps even a student from
your own school. (This is also the time to
withdraw from schools you have not yet heard
from, that you would not attend if
accepted.)
In making your selection, you should bear in
mind that, while all medical colleges
in the country are acceptable, there are
significant variations among them. Evaluate each
school, keeping in mind the following
criteria:
1. Financial consideration. You should evaluate
tuition and living costs coupled
with your financial means and offers of
financial assistance.
2. Location. Consider the geographic location
as well as the proximity of the
school to where you wish to live.
3. Faculty-student relationships. What are the
opportunities for informal and per-
sonal assistance and guidance in academic and
general problems? What cooper-
ation is there with the staff and
administration? What is the role of the students
in various policy-making organs of the
school?
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