Waitlist Etiquette

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Luxian

Luxian

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Okay, so I should feel lucky. I have one acceptance and three waitlists. But I'm still kinda hoping for movement on the waitlist. Realistically, this won't happen until May when everyone has to start dropping acceptances.

Is it my obligation to drop off the waitlists then? Are waitlists only for those with NO acceptances?

I have an acceptance at school A and no other acceptances. If school B gives me an acceptance after May 15th, am I still required to attend school A?

Realistically, I'm just torn between two schools. But gah! I wish they could all tell me at the same time!

Here's the offical AMCAS ruling: "By May 15 of the matriculation year (April 15 for schools whose first day of class is on or before July 30), each applicant who has received an offer of acceptance from more than one school choose the specific school at which the applicant prefers to enroll and withdraw his or her application, by written correspondence delivered by regular or electronic methods, from all other schools from which acceptance offers have been received.

Immediately upon enrollment in, or initiation of an orientation program immediately prior to enrollment at, a U.S. or Canadian school, each applicant withdraw his or her application from consideration at all other schools at which he or she remains under consideration."
 
I believe you can still hold multiple waitlists after May 15th, but only one acceptance. And of course, once you actually start classes/orientation at a school in the fall, then you can no longer be considered for waitlist movement at other schools.
 
Personally, I would only keep the one waitlist at school B, which you seem torn about. I would decline the other 2 because you already have an acceptance. Thus you are garenteed to have a spot next year at either school A or B. Since you don't seem to concerned with School C and D, giving up your waitlist would move someone up and I think that is the curtous thing to do. Just my 2 cents though.
Good luck
 
Luxian said:
Okay, so I should feel lucky. I have one acceptance and three waitlists. But I'm still kinda hoping for movement on the waitlist. Realistically, this won't happen until May when everyone has to start dropping acceptances.

Is it my obligation to drop off the waitlists then? Are waitlists only for those with NO acceptances?

I have an acceptance at school A and no other acceptances. If school B gives me an acceptance after May 15th, am I still required to attend school A?

Realistically, I'm just torn between two schools. But gah! I wish they could all tell me at the same time!

Here's the offical AMCAS ruling: "By May 15 of the matriculation year (April 15 for schools whose first day of class is on or before July 30), each applicant who has received an offer of acceptance from more than one school choose the specific school at which the applicant prefers to enroll and withdraw his or her application, by written correspondence delivered by regular or electronic methods, from all other schools from which acceptance offers have been received.

Immediately upon enrollment in, or initiation of an orientation program immediately prior to enrollment at, a U.S. or Canadian school, each applicant withdraw his or her application from consideration at all other schools at which he or she remains under consideration."
Click to expand...

After May 15 you can only hold one acceptance at a time, but you can stay on as many waitlists as you like. If you get accept to a school you prefer, you have to drop the other acceptance in a short period of time (few days I think).

However, once you've started a school's orientation (in August usually), you are obligated to go there (some schools start earlier than others, so a last minute admit off of a waitlist at a preferred school might not be possible if the school you have an acceptance at starts earlier).

There is also no obligation to attend the school you have an acceptance to, even after May 15. Well...unless you've told them specifically that you would go there for sure should they accept you. Technically that isn't legally binding, but it would be unethical not to go if you've promised that you would.

Congrats on your acceptance, btw! 👍
 
mikkey said:
Personally, I would only keep the one waitlist at school B, which you seem torn about. I would decline the other 2 because you already have an acceptance. Thus you are garenteed to have a spot next year at either school A or B. Since you don't seem to concerned with School C and D, giving up your waitlist would move someone up and I think that is the curtous thing to do. Just my 2 cents though.
Good luck
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I agree with this- if you like school A (your acceptance) but would rather go to school B (the one waitlist), withdraw from the other two waitlists. Of course, if you would really prefer either school C or D, then stay on the list as well, but if it's just two schools that you are truly deciding about the 'courteous' thing to do would just be to remain active at those two schools and drop the two you're over.
 
On this topic, I have a question for you all...

Say you have an acceptance at school A, and school A starts ridiculously early (*cough* July 10). And because of this, AAMC allows them to make their drop-all-other-schools deadline on April 15 instead of May 15. If there was a school B that has yet to get back to me by April 15, am I required to withdraw from school B on that date? (And if not, and if they were to accept me later, can I still choose school B over school A?)

Sorry for such a confusing question!
 
musical said:
On this topic, I have a question for you all...

Say you have an acceptance at school A, and school A starts ridiculously early (*cough* July 10). And because of this, AAMC allows them to make their drop-all-other-schools deadline on April 15 instead of May 15. If there was a school B that has yet to get back to me by April 15, am I required to withdraw from school B on that date? (And if not, and if they were to accept me later, can I still choose school B over school A?)

Sorry for such a confusing question!
Click to expand...
If you have an acceptance from school B, then you probably have to withraw it if AAMC really did give School A that rule, or risk having your acceptance revoked from School A. I think..
 
If there was a school B that has yet to get back to me by April 15, am I required to withdraw from school B on that date?
Click to expand...

I think this is the key. If you have not been accepted by school B, you can stay on their waitlist, but if you have been accepted, you'll have to choose between the two!
 
mikkey said:
Personally, I would only keep the one waitlist at school B, which you seem torn about. I would decline the other 2 because you already have an acceptance. Thus you are garenteed to have a spot next year at either school A or B. Since you don't seem to concerned with School C and D, giving up your waitlist would move someone up and I think that is the curtous thing to do. Just my 2 cents though.
Good luck
Click to expand...

Good point. I think I'll drop the C & D waitlist spots since I've already got one of my top two choices. It's not opening an acceptance for anyone else, but it may shuffle people up a spot in line.
 
You can only hold one ACCEPTANCE AT A TIME

You can hold as many waitlists as you want. Etiquette wise you should dump any school where you DEFINITELY would not attend that school over the one you've been accepted to. If there's any doubt in your mind better to hold onto your waitlist spot. With more acceptances you might get to compare financial aid packages etc.

I think if someone accepts you off the waitlist you need to make a decision pretty quickly (within a couple weeks). Also, I'm not sure you get your deposit back after May 15th.
 
CTtarheel said:
You can only hold one ACCEPTANCE AT A TIME
Click to expand...

...after May 15.
Before May 15, you can hold multiple acceptances. (Unless is special circumstances like the OP)
Just clarifying.
 
any tips on getting off the waitlist too?? other than writing LOI, transcripts... woudl you recommend visiting the school again? etc?
 
Textuality said:
...after May 15.
Before May 15, you can hold multiple acceptances. (Unless is special circumstances like the OP)
Just clarifying.
Click to expand...

Yes, many many people hold multiple acceptances until financial aid packages arrive.
 
tacrum43 said:
However, once you've started a school's orientation (in August usually), you are obligated to go there (some schools start earlier than others, so a last minute admit off of a waitlist at a preferred school might not be possible if the school you have an acceptance at starts earlier).
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure this is not true. The way that the AAMC web site is worded, these rules almost seem like suggestions (they are actually titled "Recommendations"). Regardless, I have heard of people beginning orientation at a school and then getting off a waitlist and switching schools. Obviously there are logistical problems to doing this (moving, finding housing, getting tuition refunds, etc), but it can be done. Whether its should be done is another question, but if a school gives you an acceptance, they want you to attend, and my impression has been they do not care too much about screwing over the school you will be leaving. Also, you always have the right to just drop out of a medical school (just wont get your money back), so if you get off a waitlist somewhere else...its possible.
 
Luxian said:
Good point. I think I'll drop the C & D waitlist spots since I've already got one of my top two choices. It's not opening an acceptance for anyone else, but it may shuffle people up a spot in line.
Click to expand...

First of all, congratulations with the acceptance!!!:clap::banana::clap:

And it would be really nice if you dropped from the schools you do not really consider (C, D, whatever). 👍

Also, try to make up your mind between those two schools you like (consider cost, location, student body, residency match...) and do not unnecessarily hold extra seats. Some student are stressed out waiting and it is very hard to get all the loans fast enough if you get an acceptance a week before classes start. 🙂
 
Just give us waitlisters a hand and let us have a chance to get in too!!!
 
Speaking as someone who is on 6 waitlists and has my future depending on WL movement, I would advise you to only hold onto spots you're seriously considering.

That said, most schools don't start WL movement until after May 15, so it may not matter if you drop those positions now or not.
 
Originally Posted by mikkey
Since when do people have 7 first choices??!!
I think that it is very important to choose with schools you would attend at this point. So you say yes to your acceptance, and then you rank you waitlists and keep the first or second on your list and let the rest go. It isn't going to help you to stay on all the waitlists and it certainly doesn't help those of us who have no acceptances. As another poster said, its etiquette.

Originally Posted by boobaunutz
dude, you're gonna think i'm a ginormous **** and i just don't care. it's my future. i'm going to keep as many waitlists and acceptances as i can until may 15th and after. this isn't about etiquette. it's not about you. i wasn't thinking about you before this, and i won't think about you after. i'll be thinking about dinner and possibly getting some *** tonight. then it's about the next 4 years of my life and beyond. sit tight. let me manage my own ish now. i've done a pretty good job of it. just let me do it for a little longer. you'll be ok. send letters of intent. work hard to show those 3 schools you want to be there. you've already worked hard, just keep it up a little longer.
oh, and please stop telling me what to do. it's sort of annoying.


Can you actually believe this??!!
 
mikkey said:
Originally Posted by mikkey
Since when do people have 7 first choices??!!
I think that it is very important to choose with schools you would attend at this point. So you say yes to your acceptance, and then you rank you waitlists and keep the first or second on your list and let the rest go. It isn't going to help you to stay on all the waitlists and it certainly doesn't help those of us who have no acceptances. As another poster said, its etiquette.

Originally Posted by boobaunutz
dude, you're gonna think i'm a ginormous **** and i just don't care. it's my future. i'm going to keep as many waitlists and acceptances as i can until may 15th and after. this isn't about etiquette. it's not about you. i wasn't thinking about you before this, and i won't think about you after. i'll be thinking about dinner and possibly getting some *** tonight. then it's about the next 4 years of my life and beyond. sit tight. let me manage my own ish now. i've done a pretty good job of it. just let me do it for a little longer. you'll be ok. send letters of intent. work hard to show those 3 schools you want to be there. you've already worked hard, just keep it up a little longer.
oh, and please stop telling me what to do. it's sort of annoying.


Can you actually believe this??!!
Click to expand...




Yes. boobaunutz is dead on, although he may be a little lacking in tact.
 
^^^ Yep, I can believe it. That's the power of anonymous internet posting. I am sure that on his applications to all those schools he did not allow them to see that side of him. Clearly, he was able to fool some others during interviews. I bet you anything that if any school would find out, his admission would be rescinded. Talk about all those great moral qualities that schools are looking for....
 
rogerwilco said:
Yes. boobaunutz is dead on, although he may be a little lacking in tact.
Click to expand...

Its funny how the certainty of becoming an MD eliminates all thoughts for others.
 
BrainBuff said:
^^^ Yep, I can believe it. That's the power of anonymous internet posting. I am sure that on his applications to all those schools he did not allow them to see that side of him. Clearly, he was able to fool some others during interviews. I bet you anything that if any school would find out, his admission would be rescinded. Talk about all those great moral qualities that schools are looking for....
Click to expand...



Haha. I seriously hope you're not serious. Like I said, while that guy may not have been "nice" about it, he's basically right. No one has an obligation to give up their waitlist spot simply because other people want it. Sure, it'd be courteous to drop it if you know ABSOLUTELY that you would never attend that school, but this is rarely the case. For a lot of people, financial aid packages weigh fairly heavily on their decision-making process.

Maybe kids are just a little too oversensitive these days, what with everyone receiving a blue ribbon for "trying your best" and such. Sure, if I had no acceptances and was on a few waitlists, I'd be a little pissed. But I'd really have no right to be.
 
rogerwilco said:
Haha. I seriously hope you're not serious. Like I said, while that guy may not have been "nice" about it, he's basically right. No one has an obligation to give up their waitlist spot simply because other people want it. Sure, it'd be courteous to drop it if you know ABSOLUTELY that you would never attend that school, but this is rarely the case. For a lot of people, financial aid packages weigh fairly heavily on their decision-making
Click to expand...

I didn't say you had to drop. I said its the curtous thing to do. I also thought you couldn't apply for finincial aid until you were accepted. So how do you know what the package will be if you are on a waitlist? Can you even apply for Fafsa?
 
mikkey said:
I didn't say you had to drop. I said its the curtous thing to do. I also thought you couldn't apply for finincial aid until you were accepted. So how do you know what the package will be if you are on a waitlist? Can you even apply for Fafsa?
Click to expand...


You should fill out your FAFSA before the schools preference deadline (usually around the end of Feb or the very beginning of March. If you are on a waitlist anywhere, you absolutely include them on your FAFSA school list, and complete any financial aid supplemental material that the school requires. Then, if you're pulled off the waitlist you'll find out what money you might get.

But my original comment on financial aid was about people with multiple acceptances, not waitlists. With several acceptances, waiting to see how much money (and what kind...loans/grants/scholarships) they throw at you is very common.
 
rogerwilco said:
But my original comment on financial aid was about people with multiple acceptances, not waitlists. With several acceptances, waiting to see how much money (and what kind...loans/grants/scholarships) they throw at you is very common.
Click to expand...

Yes, that I know and that is fine. Med school is so expensive, you better get the best finincial deal as possible. I however didn't know about the waitlist, seeing as though I am not American and hence can't apply for aid.
 
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