2014-2015 Waitlist Support Group

BU Medical Sciences
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coffeemergency said:
What is everyone doing during the next 3+ week wait?
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Working a renaissance festival on top of my normal job, having non-stop doctor appointments, court dates, and pondering what else to do for round 5 since I am going to start to prep for it... again. Outside of Goro's suggestion of Touros who I have had now three other people back that suggestion, I have no idea of friendly DO options. Still want to apply to my top choice who has waitlisted me 3 years running, then another plan of one out of the country. I am also immersing myself in a foreign language and am potentially teaching a few classes but no one has said when. Could be in July, could be next week. Oh and prepping for FOUR birthdays and mother's day which all occur in the next 3 weeks.

I am probably going to wake up in June and go where did April/May go?
 
familyaerospace said:
Working a renaissance festival on top of my normal job, having non-stop doctor appointments, court dates, and pondering what else to do for round 5 since I am going to start to prep for it... again. Outside of Goro's suggestion of Touros who I have had now three other people back that suggestion, I have no idea of friendly DO options. Still want to apply to my top choice who has waitlisted me 3 years running, then another plan of one out of the country. I am also immersing myself in a foreign language and am potentially teaching a few classes but no one has said when. Could be in July, could be next week. Oh and prepping for FOUR birthdays and mother's day which all occur in the next 3 weeks.

I am probably going to wake up in June and go where did April/May go?
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Wait, this is your forth cycle?
 
coffeemergency said:
What is everyone doing during the next 3+ week wait?
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My position at a research group recently finished, so relaxing for the rest of the summer (going up to New York for a couple weeks to have fun with friends) 🙂

Sure would be nice if I get good news while I'm up there
 
ski89 said:
Well I admire your determination. I don't think I could handle the psychological/emotional beating of 4 cycles. Good luck
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Thank you.

Apparently my top choice school likes torturing people. When I interviewed this time, they said they had someone get in on his 8th round (waitlisted 7 times prior).

Thank G-d I'm an utter and complete masochist. It is really the only way to be at this point.

After all I spend half my days in a little cabin on top of a mountain with spotty electricity, well water and no internet connection and spotty cell phone taking care of some older people who can't get better health care (very underserved). Only way I am communicating right now is because I have to help someone tomorrow at the festival so I am staying with him over night and there is internet!

Imagine the possibility that you could be accepted to medical school and not know because you don't have a telephone or internet!

Which with my luck is what will happen and I won't have time to accept it.
 
Feel like May 1st can't come soon enough, waitlisted at my top choice. Even then who knows when we will hear for sure...could be in like July
 
gyngyn said:
Right when the waitlist starts moving (if you have been accepted to a "better"school).
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What do you mean by "better" school, like USNews rankings? What if the school at which I am holding an acceptance and the school that I am waitlisted at are basically the same ranking? Will failing to send a LOI hurt me in that situation?
 
Shams al Deen said:
What do you mean by "better" school, like USNews rankings? What if the school at which I am holding an acceptance and the school that I am waitlisted at are basically the same ranking? Will failing to send a LOI hurt me in that situation?
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Schools with any autonomy will tend to accept good candidates holding at a "lesser" school first. The longer it takes the candidate to decide, the greater the potential loss of other good candidates from the pool.
We will know historically where the good places to poach are. This "ranking" is not published.
 
After not getting into medical school while being on three wait-lists, I reapplied the next year more confident with a stronger resume. Eight interviews later I found myself sitting on six wait-lists with no acceptances. I was angry and frustrated. As the months rolled on, I lost almost all hope. Medical schools were going to start in a few months and here I was, acceptance-less. Thankfully, and with good graces I managed to be offered a spot in late May. I happily accepted it and found myself in medical school only a couple short months later.

Once I started I found that I was not the only one who struggled. While some of my peers managed to get multiple acceptances, most didn't. In fact my class was filled with students who had to reapply multiple times, or who barely made it in. Interestingly enough, those students who did struggle ended up being amazing students, the best in the class really.

Fast forward 4 years and I found myself comfortably matched into an orthopedic residency. I often reflect on my struggle and can say with confidence that the hardest part of medical school is getting in. But if I had gotten in on my first attempt I wouldn't have had a year off to really enjoy myself. In the end things worked out for the best. My advice is to just keep your head up and keep trying. It will work out one way or another.
 
Cavs5284 said:
Did you send any updates or LOI?
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Nope. I didn't send anything. But they pretty much said not to in the waitlist email. I know my other 3 waitlists like them tho, but, I'm not a big fan of them especially that right now I don't have an absolute number 1 choice of my waitlists/acceptances.

Also my advisor told me my last cycle that if you don't have any other acceptances, schools know you'll be more than willing to accept the position. so there's no need for a letter of intent.
 
MedSchoolSurvivor said:
After not getting into medical school while being on three wait-lists, I reapplied the next year more confident with a stronger resume. Eight interviews later I found myself sitting on six wait-lists with no acceptances. I was angry and frustrated. As the months rolled on, I lost almost all hope. Medical schools were going to start in a few months and here I was, acceptance-less. Thankfully, and with good graces I managed to be offered a spot in late May. I happily accepted it and found myself in medical school only a couple short months later.

Once I started I found that I was not the only one who struggled. While some of my peers managed to get multiple acceptances, most didn't. In fact my class was filled with students who had to reapply multiple times, or who barely made it in. Interestingly enough, those students who did struggle ended up being amazing students, the best in the class really.

Fast forward 4 years and I found myself comfortably matched into an orthopedic residency. I often reflect on my struggle and can say with confidence that the hardest part of medical school is getting in. But if I had gotten in on my first attempt I wouldn't have had a year off to really enjoy myself. In the end things worked out for the best. My advice is to just keep your head up and keep trying. It will work out one way or another.
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Please post this on future waitlist support threads🙂
 
Starbucko said:
Nope. I didn't send anything. But they pretty much said not to in the waitlist email. I know my other 3 waitlists like them tho, but, I'm not a big fan of them especially that right now I don't have an absolute number 1 choice of my waitlists/acceptances.

Also my advisor told me my last cycle that if you don't have any other acceptances, schools know you'll be more than willing to accept the position. so there's no need for a letter of intent.
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Do you think one shouldn't bother sending a letter of interest if one does not really have any new updates to offer?
 
gyngyn said:
Schools with any autonomy will tend to accept good candidates holding at a "lesser" school first. The longer it takes the candidate to decide, the greater the potential loss of other good candidates from the pool.
We will know historically where the good places to poach are. This "ranking" is not published.
Click to expand...
Wanna tell us what some of the good places to poach from are? 🙂
 
MedSchoolSurvivor said:
After not getting into medical school while being on three wait-lists, I reapplied the next year more confident with a stronger resume. Eight interviews later I found myself sitting on six wait-lists with no acceptances. I was angry and frustrated. As the months rolled on, I lost almost all hope. Medical schools were going to start in a few months and here I was, acceptance-less. Thankfully, and with good graces I managed to be offered a spot in late May. I happily accepted it and found myself in medical school only a couple short months later.

Once I started I found that I was not the only one who struggled. While some of my peers managed to get multiple acceptances, most didn't. In fact my class was filled with students who had to reapply multiple times, or who barely made it in. Interestingly enough, those students who did struggle ended up being amazing students, the best in the class really.

Fast forward 4 years and I found myself comfortably matched into an orthopedic residency. I often reflect on my struggle and can say with confidence that the hardest part of medical school is getting in. But if I had gotten in on my first attempt I wouldn't have had a year off to really enjoy myself. In the end things worked out for the best. My advice is to just keep your head up and keep trying. It will work out one way or another.
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Thanks for this! I looked into your book when I saw your reply, then immediately bought the Kindle version from Amazon and am already through with Chapter 2. Great advice that I WILL be using!
 
If a school offers an acceptance right before 4/30, perhaps less than a week before, are we still required to hold only acceptance by that deadline?
 
gyngyn said:
No, you will probably get at least two weeks.
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Hi gyngyn,
I was actually just thinking about this further. For example, if an applicant is holding onto 2 (1 late decision before 4/30 (school A) and one school (school B) that the applicant was accepted to a while ago and had been seriously considering) after 4/30, would he/she need to contact both schools to let them know that this was the case, especially school B? Without explanation, would it seem like the applicant is simply disregarding the traffic rules and would that person run the risk of having his/her acceptances withdrawn?
Thanks again!
 
swimfishy said:
Hi gyngyn,
I was actually just thinking about this further. For example, if an applicant is holding onto 2 (1 late decision before 4/30 (school A) and one school (school B) that the applicant was accepted to a while ago and had been seriously considering) after 4/30, would he/she need to contact both schools to let them know that this was the case, especially school B? Without explanation, would it seem like the applicant is simply disregarding the traffic rules and would that person run the risk of having his/her acceptances withdrawn?
Thanks again!
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We know how long you have held each acceptance. There is no need to fret over new acceptances late in the cycle. Nobody is going to push a decision.
On the other hand, if someone still holding 20 acceptances for months doesn't reduce down to a few...
 
I have a slightly neurotic question: If an applicant is offered an acceptance from the waitlist and doesn't answer the email/phone call for an extended period of time (~1 week or more), will the admissions committee offer their spot to someone else?

I am asking because I'm going to be out of the country for part of May and I'm not sure if I'll be able to use my phone in the unlikely event I'm pulled off one of my waitlists during this time.
 
sundancing said:
I have a slightly neurotic question: If an applicant is offered an acceptance from the waitlist and doesn't answer the email/phone call for an extended period of time (~1 week or more), will the admissions committee offer their spot to someone else?

I am asking because I'm going to be out of the country for part of May and I'm not sure if I'll be able to use my phone in the unlikely event I'm pulled off one of my waitlists during this time.
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I was just thinking about this!
 
sundancing said:
I have a slightly neurotic question: If an applicant is offered an acceptance from the waitlist and doesn't answer the email/phone call for an extended period of time (~1 week or more), will the admissions committee offer their spot to someone else?

I am asking because I'm going to be out of the country for part of May and I'm not sure if I'll be able to use my phone in the unlikely event I'm pulled off one of my waitlists during this time.
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Yes. If we get no response within a day or so we will move on.
We will usually try multiple modalities before moving on, though.
 
So.... I'm confused by the duality of simultaneously using a ranked system AND trying to diversify the class.

I was told that I was in a good position because of my "diversity" (older, non-traditional, extensive research work experience), but my ranking is mid-pack. I was then also told that the school doesn't necessarily go down the list and choose Candidate #1, then Candidate #2, then Candidate #3, ad nauseum. What is the point in ranking, then? Is this just an anomaly at this particular school?
 
BeachBlondie said:
So.... I'm confused by the duality of simultaneously using a ranked system AND trying to diversify the class.

I was told that I was in a good position because of my "diversity" (older, non-traditional, extensive research work experience), but my ranking is mid-pack. I was then also told that the school doesn't necessarily go down the list and choose Candidate #1, then Candidate #2, then Candidate #3, ad nauseum. What is the point in ranking, then? Is this just an anomaly at this particular school?
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The waitlist is often used to re-balance the class. For example, if by the time we got to the waitlist there were a large disproportion of men, we would take women off the waitlist until some degree of parity was reached. This could proceed until there was a big difference in the committee's strength of recommendation between the remaining men and women.
 
familyaerospace said:
If I were you, I would let my schools know I was going to be out of the country for a week. Also do you have a parent who could answer the phone for you?
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I do, but my application is linked to my cell phone, not my home phone, and I need to take my cell phone with me. I'll figure it out.
 
gyngyn said:
Yes. If we get no response within a day or so we will move on.
We will usually try multiple modalities before moving on, though.
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D: Guess I'm getting a travel plan then!

Would it be presumptuous to tell the schools I'm waitlisted at that I'm going to be out of the country for a certain period of time and reaching me might be difficult?
 
BeachBlondie said:
So.... I'm confused by the duality of simultaneously using a ranked system AND trying to diversify the class.

I was told that I was in a good position because of my "diversity" (older, non-traditional, extensive research work experience), but my ranking is mid-pack. I was then also told that the school doesn't necessarily go down the list and choose Candidate #1, then Candidate #2, then Candidate #3, ad nauseum. What is the point in ranking, then? Is this just an anomaly at this particular school?
Click to expand...
Hmmm. I think I might have some insight into your query. One school that I am waitlisted for basically cuts the waitlist into thirds and when I called them to explain this, they said that my waitlist position was due to MCAT/GPA/INTERVIEW. But the way they pull from the waitlist is that they pick people "most similar" to the person who declined their acceptance. Conceivably that person could match, numbers wise to anyone in any third, same with their experiences and race/background. So whoever matches them best will be pulled off, taking into account a mix of their ECsm scores, and background. This is only what I heard and each school is probably different. Hope this helps.
 
gyngyn said:
The waitlist is often used to re-balance the class. For example, if by the time we got to the waitlist there were a large disproportion of men, we would take women off the waitlist until some degree of parity was reached. This could proceed until there was a big difference in the committee's strength of recommendation between the remaining men and women.
Click to expand...

I hate to admit that there might be some degree of logic to this process, but dammit if you haven't shown me that there might be! Thank you 🙂
 
sundancing said:
Would it be presumptuous to tell the schools I'm waitlisted at that I'm going to be out of the country for a certain period of time and reaching me might be difficult?
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Please do. As previously mentioned you can designate a family member or other reliable person to accept on your behalf.
 
gyngyn said:
Please do. As previously mentioned you can designate a family member or other reliable person to accept on your behalf.
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Thanks! How should I word it? Should I just say something like, "Any communication about the status of my application should be directed to my mother, who can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx"?
 
sundancing said:
Thanks! How should I word it? Should I just say something like, "Any communication about the status of my application should be directed to my mother, who can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx"?
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That would be fine.
Add that you have authorized her to make a decision in your absence (if that is the case).
 
When should we expect the bulk of waitlist movement to be at most schools? right after 4/30 or would it be later?
 
yankeesfan13 said:
When should we expect the bulk of waitlist movement to be at most schools? right after 4/30 or would it be later?
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I think it depends by school.
If the school has a list, then probably starts calling up people soon after 4/30
If the school doesn't have a list (and re-reviews candidates), then I'd imagine it'll be trickling throughout May and June
 
For those with no acceptances and only waitlists, how long will you wait to hear back until you start your application for this next cycle?
 
madb0x said:
For those with no acceptances and only waitlists, how long will you wait to hear back until you start your application for this next cycle?
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That's a good question...
 
madb0x said:
For those with no acceptances and only waitlists, how long will you wait to hear back until you start your application for this next cycle?
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You should start your application on schedule as you normally would. That means submitting the primary again on the first day in June so you can get verified early. You don't want to ruin your second chance by submitting late, would you?
 
I've been mentally preparing for re-applying and was set on filling out the new AMCAS mid May - early June. I was hopping for waitlist movement since I am on a good number of WL's. However, I did get an acceptance today so thankfully won't have to go through with re-applying. But it's always better to be prepared than unprepared!
 
gyngyn said:
We know how long you have held each acceptance. There is no need to fret over new acceptances late in the cycle. Nobody is going to push a decision.
On the other hand, if someone still holding 20 acceptances for months doesn't reduce down to a few...
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I remember the one from last year with a dozen. Now I'm curious as to the highest number of held acceptances you've seen.
 
Tintinnabula said:
I remember the one from last year with a dozen. Now I'm curious as to the highest number of held acceptances you've seen.
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Right now we have several on the waitlist holding more than a dozen acceptances, with one holding 16.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
gyngyn said:
Right now we have several on the waitlist holding more than a dozen, with one holding 16.
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I am going to guess that a letter of intent from one of these applicants would be especially poorly received.

I get that some people are indecisive. I am too. It just doesn't make any sense to hold onto this many acceptances! Why would applicants even want to keep getting regular emails from a dozen schools? And their pros and cons list must look like this.
majk.jpg
 
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