Hi y'all. Just wanted to give a bit of info (and maybe some hope) to the people who are on the waitlist. I know how arduous a process this can be, and how it can feel like absolute torture to continue playing admissions game past March.
I am a happy first year medical student at P&S, and I got off the waitlist. In fact, many of my classmates got off the waitlist as well, and aren't ashamed to admit it. Columbia is really great because you don't feel like second class citizens, and just as a plug, I personally think that was have some of the most interesting and well-rounded people here.
So what's the deal here, and how should you plan your extra couple of months?
1. If you don't really want to go to P&S, and you're happy/satisfied where you are, don't sweat it, save yourself the extra stress and withdraw.
2. Show interest! Dean Frantz is exclusively responsible for picking people from the waitlist; make sure you research P&S and provide thoughtful and enthusiastic LOIs that highlight how artistic you are, well-rounded, how this relates to medicine, why you'll be a good fit blah blah blah. It's no secret that he loves rugby, shakespeare, classical music and history but if you do not boast of the achievements mentioned above do not fake it. Just make sure you proffer a compelling argument about why/how you would contribute to the class of 2013.
3. Do not show TOO much interest. To be fair, there is a girl in our class who was apparently told that she sent the most letters Frantz had ever seen, but I suspect that too much of a good thing is not always awesome. Space your letters out at least a few weeks and try to make up random reasons or calling/writing. For instance, if you sent one immediately after you got a WL letter (I think this is a good idea because it shows you really want to be here), wait until the beginning of April at least to send another one in, preferably with some new letters of reference, updates, etcetera. Within a couple days of sending it, you could possibly call to "make sure they got there."
4. Speaking of which, make sure you call him. Give him every opportunity to give you an interview if you have not interviewed with him before. People who have--I'm sorry, it's not likely he'll interview you again. This CERTAINLY doesn't mean that your chances are less than your colleagues, but that there are less things you can do within these coupe months. DO NOT request an interview. Use common sense. Give him opportunities, but do not push him or you'll likely just rub him the wrong way.
5. Try to be patient. It's hard, especially when the timeline is soo variable. This is what I had gathered last year and my own experiences:
A. Whoever posted earlier that you have movement of 35-60, I would guess that is in the ballpark. I don't know if it was as high as 60 last year, but it may have well been. Nice thing about Columbia is (for those on the waitlist) that because it is a top 10 (or 11) school, it seeks all the same students that the top 1-5 schools do. Those students may have gotten acceptances from Columbia, and then get into hopkins, penn and harvard. Give them a chance to get into other schools (next week?) and withdraw their acceptances. (1-3 weeks later)
B. I think I was able to score an interview in mid-late april. I lied and said that I was going to be in New York anyway. (Not a bad strategy) If you're from California, do not do this. He may very well just interview you on the phone. If it's possible/easy for you to get to New York, mentioning that you'll be in the area is another way to give him an opportunity to see you.
C. I really wanted to be accepted at my interview. I was not, and was kinda bummed. Sometimes he will give outright acceptances, but I believe those do not happen until later in May.
D. I called up a week or two later (early May) to ask if he had gotten my 'thank you note.' It was then that I was accepted. He'll ask you if it's your first choice and that you would go there rather than anywhere else (obviously say yes. obviously mean it.)
E. This is on the EARLY side. Most movement will happen in the middle of or late May. You do not need to visit him. You do not need to call him necessarily. I know a lot of people who got calls from him to interview, and were much less proactive. However, then you have to wait longer, and subsequently you risk being overlooked.
F. From talking with people in my class and the threads from last year, I think that early-mid June is when this process starts winding down. So if May is done, don't lose hope, but your chances become considerably diminished. I believe he goes on vacation sometime in June too. If you ask him what your chances are in late May, June, he'll give you an honest answer. Do not ask him in April what your chances are. He'll give you some standard spiel about needing to have a better idea of how many openings he'll have. If you interview with him, he'll give you honest feedback, so you have a better idea of where you stand.
I hope that this is thorough and helpful for you guys--just wanted to give back a little bit because I found this information very useful when I went through the process myself. Good luck and I will look forward to meeting some of you next year!
...and no i dont have a positive attitude lol..those m*therf*ckers led me on (and apparently others) like ****....my interviewer basically told me i was in, not in those words, but geez...and then they jus flat out reject me! no WL?????? as weezy said "F*CK EM F*CK EM EVEN IF THEY CELIBATE!!!*
felt good, love SDN.
