2009-2010 Vanderbilt University Application Thread

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I interviewed back in Sept. (or Oct.?, see, it has been a long while), and eventually put into the WL pile. I want to know how much chance do I have once put into that pile?
 
longhorn09 said:
I interviewed back in Sept. (or Oct.?, see, it has been a long while), and eventually put into the WL pile. I want to know how much chance do I have once put into that pile?
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I've been the Debbie Downer in this thread, so I'll continue. Very few people get off the waitlist. Letters of intent and interest haven't shown to be helpful, but they don't hurt.

Vanderbilt interviews a lot of people and does not do post-interview rejections. They have a very high retention rate with the people they accept (they give a lot of scholarship money, too). So really, the waitlist is the kiss of death. If you get off the waitlist, that's an awesome surprise. But don't expect to or think that many do :\
 
rockaction said:
I've been the Debbie Downer in this thread, so I'll continue. Very few people get off the waitlist. Letters of intent and interest haven't shown to be helpful, but they don't hurt.

Vanderbilt interviews a lot of people and does not do post-interview rejections. They have a very high retention rate with the people they accept (they give a lot of scholarship money, too). So really, the waitlist is the kiss of death. If you get off the waitlist, that's an awesome surprise. But don't expect to or think that many do :\
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Ok, thanks man. It actually feels good to know the truth rather than being a fool. Now I can let go if it and move on.😎 Good luck to the rest of ppl who're still waiting.
 
rockaction said:
I've been the Debbie Downer in this thread, so I'll continue. Very few people get off the waitlist. Letters of intent and interest haven't shown to be helpful, but they don't hurt.

Vanderbilt interviews a lot of people and does not do post-interview rejections. They have a very high retention rate with the people they accept (they give a lot of scholarship money, too). So really, the waitlist is the kiss of death. If you get off the waitlist, that's an awesome surprise. But don't expect to or think that many do :\
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Look - I don't know why you've decided to be the "debbie downer" but I'd hesitate before trying to make such broad generalizations without any real inside info.

My class had a lot of people off the waitlist, as have others. Just because last year was an exceptionally tough year doesn't mean anything for this year. Playing the over-accept game is not a science, and it's hard to predict the yield from year to year (esp since Vandy is upping the class size a few seats).

I also don't know why you keep saying letters are meaningless at Vandy. I was directly encouraged by the dean to write one back in the day.

The skeptical part of me wonders if you keep repeating this message for surreptitious reasons.
 
Homoochan said:
Thanks for sharing your experience!

Did you send in any update letters or letter of interest or intent?
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No, I didn't send a letter of interest, but I probably would have sent an update by now if I hadn't heard back. I think that keeping in contact with your top schools can really only help you!
 
BATL45 said:
No, I didn't send a letter of interest, but I probably would have sent an update by now if I hadn't heard back. I think that keeping in contact with your top schools can really only help you!
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Where should I send the update or LOI then?
 
VandyMD10 said:
Look - I don't know why you've decided to be the "debbie downer" but I'd hesitate before trying to make such broad generalizations without any real inside info.

My class had a lot of people off the waitlist, as have others. Just because last year was an exceptionally tough year doesn't mean anything for this year. Playing the over-accept game is not a science, and it's hard to predict the yield from year to year (esp since Vandy is upping the class size a few seats).

I also don't know why you keep saying letters are meaningless at Vandy. I was directly encouraged by the dean to write one back in the day.

The skeptical part of me wonders if you keep repeating this message for surreptitious reasons.
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I was told that by my interviewer at Vanderbilt. How more inside can you get? He told me that if I got waitlisted, I was in really bad shape and probably wouldn't get in. Just saying what he said. He said in previous years very very few people got in off the waitlist.

I'm not trying to make everyone on the waitlist lose hope so every withdraws so I can get off the waitlist. That's a pretty ridiculous accusation. I keep repeating what I say because people keep asking the question. Every page in this thread someone asks about changes of getting off the waitlist so I keep saying what my interviewer told me.

And longhorn, send updates to Dr. Sagan (via email). Once again, that's a question that could have been answered if you read the previous page of the thread.
 
rockaction said:
I was told that by my interviewer at Vanderbilt. How more inside can you get?
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:laugh:
My interviewer told me I'd definitely get in and would probably get a full ride.
8 weeks later -> waitlist

Interviewers definitely don't know everything; they are especially bad at predicting the future.

And again, as recently as a couple of years ago there have been large numbers pulled off the waitlist. Even in the time you've been hanging around this thread there have been people admitted after being put on it. You also have no basis for your "LOIs don't matter" comments - and I noted you sent one yourself according to your mdapps profile.

I just don't understand why a premed is acting like the authority on Vanderbilt's admissions committee.
 
rockaction said:
I was told that by my interviewer at Vanderbilt. How more inside can you get? He told me that if I got waitlisted, I was in really bad shape and probably wouldn't get in. Just saying what he said. He said in previous years very very few people got in off the waitlist.

I'm not trying to make everyone on the waitlist lose hope so every withdraws so I can get off the waitlist. That's a pretty ridiculous accusation. I keep repeating what I say because people keep asking the question. Every page in this thread someone asks about changes of getting off the waitlist so I keep saying what my interviewer told me.

And longhorn, send updates to Dr. Sagan (via email). Once again, that's a question that could have been answered if you read the previous page of the thread.
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Can I have his email address? Plz😉
 
VandyMD10 said:
:laugh:
My interviewer told me I'd definitely get in and would probably get a full ride.
8 weeks later -> waitlist

Interviewers definitely don't know everything; they are especially bad at predicting the future.

And again, as recently as a couple of years ago there have been large numbers pulled off the waitlist. Even in the time you've been hanging around this thread there have been people admitted after being put on it. You also have no basis for your "LOIs don't matter" comments - and I noted you sent one yourself according to your mdapps profile.

I just don't understand why a premed is acting like the authority on Vanderbilt's admissions committee.
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I was told by my interviewer that "You can probably get into any school that you've applied to" and I got a big flat WL a month or so later.🙁
 
just to comment on what interviewers say, i agree. and this is not limited to vanderbilt, not even medical school.

my cousin was told in his dental interview that "this is [his] year and [he] will get into this school this year".......guesses anyone? nope. did not. it happens a lot. i feel when they say things like that, that you will get in anywhere they either

1) genuinely enjoyed speaking with you (interviewing, w/e) and thought positively of you

or

2) they look for your reaction about taking such a high compliment to see how modest you are

or

3) its a nice way to say that you may not get into this school, but surely another

........this is obviously just my opinion. i am inclined to lean towards the first one most strongly, and then the second one. i recall reading somewhere that modesty is evaluated somewhere on an interview application (maybe baylor's, i dont remember for sure)

either way, TXLonghorn guy, i wish you the best of look. you obviously have gotten into some already great schools and hopefully you will end up going to one you truly enjoy, whether that is a school currently in your acceptance pile or not. 🙂
 
jturkel said:
just to comment on what interviewers say, i agree. and this is not limited to vanderbilt, not even medical school.

my cousin was told in his dental interview that "this is [his] year and [he] will get into this school this year".......guesses anyone? nope. did not. it happens a lot. i feel when they say things like that, that you will get in anywhere they either

1) genuinely enjoyed speaking with you (interviewing, w/e) and thought positively of you

or

2) they look for your reaction about taking such a high compliment to see how modest you are

or

3) its a nice way to say that you may not get into this school, but surely another

........this is obviously just my opinion. i am inclined to lean towards the first one most strongly, and then the second one. i recall reading somewhere that modesty is evaluated somewhere on an interview application (maybe baylor's, i dont remember for sure)

either way, TXLonghorn guy, i wish you the best of look. you obviously have gotten into some already great schools and hopefully you will end up going to one you truly enjoy, whether that is a school currently in your acceptance pile or not. 🙂
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Thx man, and good luck to everyone else too!
 
VandyMD10 said:
:laugh:
My interviewer told me I'd definitely get in and would probably get a full ride.
8 weeks later -> waitlist

Interviewers definitely don't know everything; they are especially bad at predicting the future.

And again, as recently as a couple of years ago there have been large numbers pulled off the waitlist. Even in the time you've been hanging around this thread there have been people admitted after being put on it. You also have no basis for your "LOIs don't matter" comments - and I noted you sent one yourself according to your mdapps profile.

I just don't understand why a premed is acting like the authority on Vanderbilt's admissions committee.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I'm not an expert. I apologize for saying apparently incorrect things.

The comment about LOIs was in regards to the people on SDN who got off hold this year and last year - they didn't send LOIs.
 
goddamit, when will vandy make their decisions....are they not gonna give time to even make their travel arrangements until the day before 2nd visit week LOL?
 
Not too long ago actually... January 8. I'm still in shock/disbelief. Ha I'm like scared its a sick joke or I misheard the voicemail. So sad I missed the actual call!
 
agar33 said:
Not too long ago actually... January 8. I'm still in shock/disbelief. Ha I'm like scared its a sick joke or I misheard the voicemail. So sad I missed the actual call!
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That is awesome!!! I didn't interview too long after that, so I hope I get to find out soon as well! Congrats again!
 
agar33 said:
Not too long ago actually... January 8. I'm still in shock/disbelief. Ha I'm like scared its a sick joke or I misheard the voicemail. So sad I missed the actual call!
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I remember you! I interviewed on Jan. 8th as well. We walked to the parking structure together. If it's you then you gave another interviewee a ride.

You got the call on a Sunday? Seems rather odd but congrats on the acceptance.

I'm really sad to be honest; Vandy was definitely one of my top choices. I thought I had an amazing interview that lasted an hour and twenty minutes.

Does anyone know from experience if I'm automatically WL'ed since I didn't get a call yet? It makes sense that they would inform the students the same day if they interviewed together.
 
Are we supposed to send LOIs to Patricia Sagen? I am trying to call their admissions office to confirm but they wont answer the phone.
Also, do we e mail LOI or is it better to fax them?
 
I interview January 12th and have not heard anything. I must say the person above who interviewed on January 8th and already got accepted has me a little worried.
 
Irish2010 said:
I interview January 12th and have not heard anything. I must say the person above who interviewed on January 8th and already got accepted has me a little worried.
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same....though i interviewed on the 18th
 
I'm a little shocked too about the individual interviewing on the 8th who was accepted. I also interviewed on the 8th, but I was not expecting to hear until early March (6-8 weeks as they mentioned). Do I assume WL as well? 🙁
 
madskillz99 said:
I'm a little shocked too about the individual interviewing on the 8th who was accepted. I also interviewed on the 8th, but I was not expecting to hear until early March (6-8 weeks as they mentioned). Do I assume WL as well? 🙁
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Dun need to asumme. You'll get snail mail if you are WL.
 
longhorn09 said:
Dun need to asumme. You'll get snail mail if you are WL.
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No this I know. What I really meant to ask is whether it is safe to assume all the acceptances for those who interviewd through January 8th have been informed? I guess there won't be a straight answer to this question, I suppose I will just have to wait one way or another.
 
madskillz99 said:
No this I know. What I really meant to ask is whether it is safe to assume all the acceptances for those who interviewd through January 8th have been informed? I guess there won't be a straight answer to this question, I suppose I will just have to wait one way or another.
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looking back on this thread, i think in general, they review in order but sometimes the "review cut-off" is in the middle of interview days and can leave people from the same interview day hearing weeks apart

basically, it's probably not a good sign if you interviewed before January 8th and haven't heard anything, but i don't think it necessarily means that all the candidates on January 8th were reviewed. for reference, two people on this thread interviewed on 10/29: one heard back in the 12/11 batch and the other heard back in the next batch in mid-January

then again, SDN is sort of a small sample size so i wouldn't at all be suprised if i was completely wrong
 
bobsmith said:
looking back on this thread, i think in general, they review in order but sometimes the "review cut-off" is in the middle of interview days and can leave people from the same interview day hearing weeks apart

basically, it's probably not a good sign if you interviewed before January 8th and haven't heard anything, but i don't think it necessarily means that all the candidates on January 8th were reviewed. for reference, two people on this thread interviewed on 10/29: one heard back in the 12/11 batch and the other heard back in the next batch in mid-January

then again, SDN is sort of a small sample size so i wouldn't at all be suprised if i was completely wrong
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This sounds like the trend I've noticed. If you don't hear back around when other people are hearing back, don't get your hopes up.

But it can still happen, like it did for Jolt.
 
Rudolf Virchow said:
I remember you! I interviewed on Jan. 8th as well. We walked to the parking structure together. If it's you then you gave another interviewee a ride.

You got the call on a Sunday? Seems rather odd but congrats on the acceptance.

I'm really sad to be honest; Vandy was definitely one of my top choices. I thought I had an amazing interview that lasted an hour and twenty minutes.

Does anyone know from experience if I'm automatically WL'ed since I didn't get a call yet? It makes sense that they would inform the students the same day if they interviewed together.
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Ha yeah that was me who gave someone a ride home... and I'm SO shocked that I got the call Sunday. At our interview they said we shouldn't expect to hear until the 1st week of March. I've probably rechecked my voice mail upwards of 5 times to make sure I didn't imagine it as I was basically trying not to think about Vandy until March. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I was supposed to interview a lot earlier than January 8 and couldn't because of finals and stuff. Honestly, I really think it was a fluke that I heard back so oddly fast.
 
So I decided to call the admissions office today and in response to my question of whether a decision has been made on my application (interviewed January 8th) she said no, but then she went on to say I could hear something soon in the next week or so. I also asked if all the acceptances for those who have interviewed through January 8th have been issued and she said she didn't know the answer to that question.

I suppose I just have to put this out of my head and play the waiting game now.
 
madskillz99 said:
So I decided to call the admissions office today and in response to my question of whether a decision has been made on my application (interviewed January 8th) she said no, but then she went on to say I could hear something soon in the next week or so. I also asked if all the acceptances for those who have interviewed through January 8th have been issued and she said she didn't know the answer to that question.

I suppose I just have to put this out of my head and play the waiting game now.
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Oh this is making me nervous! :scared:
 
I just called to check my status. She verified the address and told me that I'll hear back in a week. I asked her if I've been waitlisted, she wasn't allowed to tell me over the phone, but it was obvious that I was. It's sort of early, they told us (Jan. 8th) that we wouldn't hear until 6-8 weeks have passed.

Good luck to you guys still waiting to hear back. I really liked Vanderbilt and I have no clue why I got rejected. I had such a good interview and interviewer.

Anyway, there isn't much that I can do right now. She said people do get invited from the waitlist, which is not surprising, there has to be some movement; no school will over accept people to the exact ratio of students that will matriculate. The logic of some pre-med here that base their opinion on such a small sample size of SDN is foolish, what's even more naive is that they expect no movement from any waitlist, there has to be, at every school. With that said, I'm not optimistic that I'll get off the waitlist and I'm not getting my hopes up.

It has been a nice wait with a not-so-nice finale. Good luck all.
 
Rudolf Virchow said:
I just called to check my status. She verified the address and told me that I'll hear back in a week. I asked her if I've been waitlisted, she wasn't allowed to tell me over the phone, but it was obvious that I was. It's sort of early, they told us (Jan. 8th) that we wouldn't hear until 6-8 weeks have passed.

Good luck to you guys still waiting to hear back. I really liked Vanderbilt and I have no clue why I got rejected. I had such a good interview and interviewer.

Anyway, there isn't much that I can do right now. She said people do get invited from the waitlist, which is not surprising, there has to be some movement; no school will over accept people to the exact ratio of students that will matriculate. The logic of some pre-med here that base their opinion on such a small sample size of SDN is foolish, what's even more naive is that they expect no movement from any waitlist, there has to be, at every school. With that said, I'm not optimistic that I'll get off the waitlist and I'm not getting my hopes up.

It has been a nice wait with a not-so-nice finale. Good luck all.
Click to expand...

Hey now, it's not over until it's over. You don't know for certain that you've been waitlisted, so don't be discouraged just yet!
 
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