So I was out with my mom helping out with her kids on their field trip, when my dad stops by on his way to work, and told me that Louis called to schedule an interview.

I think my heart stopped! LOL

Anyway, I had him drive me home right away and I called Louis back. The thing is, he thought I was applying for September, but I wanted to apply for January! When he found out his mistake, he told me then its actually too early for me to have the interview. I'd have to schedule the interview around september!

That was kind of a disappointment. But I'll live with that.

But then I started thinking...why DON'T I start in September??? I asked him if it was possible for me to switch my preference, and he said that's perfectly fine. Now I want to discuss this with my family first, since there's only one month left, and I don't want to leave any loose ends and there's SO much to do to prepare.

Now, here's my question.

What are the benefits/drawbacks to starting in January compared to starting in September?

I need to make up my mind soon since I told him I'd call him back tomorrow. All of a sudden my tummy is filled with butterflies at the thought that I may be starting my dream in a little over a month :O

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"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverence and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." ~ Marie Curie

Hey congrats. The advantage with starting in september is that you don't have to rush in order to make the 2007 Residency Match and you will have more time to study for your USMLEs. However, if you choose to start in Jan and want to take a comfortable way then you can go for the 2008 residency match and spend more time for the USMLEs. It all depends on you. Basically if you start in Sept and want to match in 2007 then you will be comfortable. If you start in Jan then you can make the 2007 match but you need to rush more, but you can be comfrotable for the 2008 match. If I am wrong, i will appreciate it if someone can correct me. good luck

i got my interview for january done 2-3 weeks ago......and i told them i wanted to start january, i told the guy who interviewed me i want to start in january....then i got the acceptance letter....it said congrats, you're starting in september....i called them again and said january!!!!!!!


as for the advantages of when to start, theres ALOT of posts on this, search the main forum, i asked this there a while back

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First the doctor told me the good news: I was going to have a disease named after me.- Steve Martin

If I decide to enter in september, do I have time to get all the things I need to get done before classes start? I'm not sure what sort of paper work is involved with getting visas and student loans, and the timeline it happens on. Could someone please shed some light for me?

Thanks!

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"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverence and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." ~ Marie Curie

The major benefit to starting in September is that you are starting NOW and will be done that much sooner!! The drawback is that september semester is always larger than Jan so you will havemore students in your class. I don't believe they will allow more than 50 though.

Idream is exactley right about the MATCH. Jan class has to rush a bit more than Sept class does.

When I first went to med school, I also only had one month to prepare (very spur of the moment). I have to sell my car, get out of my lease, sell all of my furniture, quit my job, say goodbye to everyone and get all my paperwork, loans, etc all done very quickly. It was a worldwind of a month, but very worth it.

Good luck with your decision.

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BTS4202
St. Christopher's COM
4th Year
http://www.mdparadise.com

"If there really is a God, He has a lot of explaining to do"
- Dennis Leary

Call the school and have a pen and paper handy. Ask them to go through every single step and exactley ever peice of paperwork that needs to be done before you start. Then make a checklist and as you complete on strike it on the list. Make a "St Chris" file folder and put everything in there.

Also, for your home things. Make a list with someone to help you of everything that you need to have taken care fo before you leave and always have that lest on you. Keep working to strike every object on the list. Don't wait till the last week.

Good luck, this is how I did it and It worked well.

__________________
BTS4202
St. Christopher's COM
4th Year
http://www.mdparadise.com

"If there really is a God, He has a lot of explaining to do"
- Dennis Leary

snazzy

go for it- I moved to an asian school in January with 3 weeks notice from work - sometimes it is best to just pack up everything and go
I got rid of everything- house, car, furniture etc -and left with one bag of clothes and a laptop (even got rid of music -as put it all on the hard disk drive- MP3 is a god send)- it was a huge task - but surprising how easy it all fell into place - well everything was except giving away my dogs!

Moving to St Chris in september myself - so here we go again - but as only have 20 kgs of luggage now easy

Yes you will forget things - but it is easy to pick up what you need when you get there, and I am realising that things i used to think essential I now dont miss at all (EXCEPT MEXICAN FOOD!)- and finally being in Medical School is a wounderful thing

Ask yourself - will it be any easier with an extra 4 mths to prepare - or will you simply put things off and then run arround in december last minute any way.

On the loan front - it is pretty easy to arrange - and the college admin will help you- not much to fill in yourself- like getting a car loan

Good Luck