2014-2015 Waitlist Support Group

[Ace Khalifa]

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3 IIs and 3 waitlists here 🙁. Waiting patiently for May 1st. Best of luck to everyone!

10 MOAR DAYZ YALLLLL

 

[Shams al Deen]

10 MOAR DAYZ YALLLLL

Yup, 10 days till we get to wait another 3+ months (potentially) to hear something.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

Yup, 10 days till we get to wait another 3+ months (potentially) to hear something.

That's not necessarily true for everyone. Some waitlists have already started moving.

 

[madb0x]

Yup, 10 days till we get to wait another 3+ months (potentially) to hear something.

That's what I'm dreading too 🙁

 

[blueharbor]

Um, I heard from one waitlist 4 days ago. Another one that I'm still on has already started to move. So no, not all of us have to wait 3+ months lololol.

I don't think you realize how this comes across...

 

[Ace Khalifa]

I don't think you realize how this comes across...

Edited for the oversensitive thin-skinned folks.

 

[gyngyn]

I am going to guess that a letter of intent from one of these applicants would be especially poorly received.

You are correct. This is not the kind of candidate we are looking for.

 

[gastronome]

Yup, 10 days till we get to wait another 3+ months (potentially) to hear something.

Think the first 1-2 weeks after Apr 30th will be key to evaluate movement.

 

[familyaerospace]

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.

Leave the other number and also set up your cell phone to do a simultaneous ring or forward.

This is what I did. I went out of the country and had my phone on airplane mode, I was calling people using wifi. I had my cell forward to my Vonage line which forwarded my voicemail "Visual voicemail" to my email. Then I was able to call people back when I checked email. If I trusted my family to actually check their phone, I would have forwarded it to my husband's line but he would never have checked anything.

 

[familyaerospace]

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?

In every other cycle (and I guess this one), I was submitting in June. May 1 or 2, I am going to start requesting transcripts/LOR for round 5 for AMCAS ready to hit submit on one of the first days. Then start redoing DO from scratch to do Touros and G-d only knows what other DO schools. Then I get to work on my Sackler application again. Something that was going to eat a lot of time just went away.

 

[familyaerospace]

And I thought the lady holding 12 acceptances last year from your school was excessive! 16 now? Come on! Holding 16 is a little rude.

Right now we have several on the waitlist holding more than a dozen acceptances, with one holding 16.

 

[gyngyn]

And I thought the lady holding 12 acceptances last year from your school was excessive! 16 now? Come on! Holding 16 is a little rude.

Actually last year's record was 17 before she finally went elsewhere (we had accepted her, along with everybody else).
Our current record is being held by someone on the waitlist, thankfully.
I am beginning to think this is some new form of entitlement. They are holding them as trophies, I think.

 

[Shams al Deen]

Actually last year's record was 17 before she finally went elsewhere (we had accepted her, along with everybody else).
Our current record is being held by someone on the waitlist, thankfully.
I am beginning to think this is some new form of entitlement. They are holding them as trophies, I think.

I honestly don't see why this type of behavior angers admission offices so much. They often refuse to give a single update on a students' app for 8+ months. And the student's next four years depends on those updates. And they hate giving feedback if they reject you after those 8 months of silence. God forbid a few brilliant applicants a year wanna hold on to some acceptances for a couple extra months. The power balance during this process is frustrating man.

 

[blueharbor]

Actually last year's record was 17 before she finally went elsewhere (we had accepted her, along with everybody else).
Our current record is being held by someone on the waitlist, thankfully.
I am beginning to think this is some new form of entitlement. They are holding them as trophies, I think.

They're probably not thinking too hard about the effect on other applicants. Most probably don't realize adcoms can see the number, or they think adcoms will be impressed by it rather than annoyed. "They'll give me an extra big scholarship if they know they're competing with 16 other schools!"

 

[gyngyn]

I honestly don't see why this type of behavior angers admission offices so much. They often refuse to give a single update on a students' app for 8+ months. And the student's next four years depends on those updates. And they hate giving feedback if they reject you after those 8 months of silence. God forbid a few brilliant applicants a year wanna hold on to some acceptances for a couple extra months. The power balance during this process is frustrating man.

I just don't want someone who holds onto things they don't need that could be used by others.

 

[blueharbor]

I don't think holding a bunch of schools should be seen as rude or inconsiderate if they're all comparably ranked, because scholarships/financial aid could be the #1 factor for such an applicant. Everyone has their preferences, but what if your least preferred school gives you a full ride? It doesn't really matter how likely if is - if the possibility is there, the most prudent move is to wait. Schools should only be dropped if no amount of financial aid will make you go there over your other options.

And I'm saying this as someone who is waitlisted at the 2 places that would allow me to see my fiance on weekends for the next four years...

 

[Shams al Deen]

I'm not angry. I just don't want someone who holds onto things they don't need that could be used by others.

Not talking about you necessarily. But I got this feeling on several interviews that I attended and from adcoms on this website. Also, who is to say that whether someone 'needs' or 'doesn't need' to hold on to an acceptance. I'd say even if there is a 0.001% chance that you decide to accept the offer, you should hold it as long as possible.

 

[Temerit]

Not talking about you necessarily. But I got this feeling on several interviews that I attended and from adcoms on this website. Also, who is to say that whether someone 'needs' or 'doesn't need' to hold on to an acceptance. I'd say even if there is a 0.001% chance that you decide to accept the offer, you should hold it as long as possible.

As someone with a bunch of waitlists, no acceptances and who's next 4 years are in the balance, I respectfully, yet wholeheartedly disagree.

 

[Benito25]

Coming back to the original topic: 5 II, 1 post-I rejection, 3 wait list, and waiting to hear back from 1 school
For any adcom out there, how much are LOI taken into account?
Thanks!

 

[RugbyTX]

Coming back to the original topic: 5 II, 1 post-I rejection, 3 wait list, and waiting to hear back from 1 school
For any adcom out there, how much are LOI taken into account?
Thanks!

That has been asked and discussed several times in this very thread. Just skim back a few pages.

 

[gyngyn]

Coming back to the original topic: 5 II, 1 post-I rejection, 3 wait list, and waiting to hear back from 1 school
For any adcom out there, how much are LOI taken into account?
Thanks!

If you are holding no acceptances, there's really no benefit.
We can see that you would accept and we expect that these LOI's have been sent to all your waitlist schools. Sometimes applicants even forget to cut and paste the name of the right school on them!

 

[Goro]

How would YOU interpret a non-binding contract from a desperate applicant?

Coming back to the original topic: 5 II, 1 post-I rejection, 3 wait list, and waiting to hear back from 1 school
For any adcom out there, how much are LOI taken into account?
Thanks!

 

[MaybeDr]

You are correct. This is not the kind of candidate we are looking for.

Does that mean applicants with zero acceptances are more likely to get pulled from a waitlist? Because you know they'll accept your offer?

 

[KaleRG]

Two IIs with one acceptance and one waitlist. LOI and update recommendation letter sent because I'm on the waitlist at my #1 choice! Hoping to hear something soon.

 

[familyaerospace]

If you are holding no acceptances, there's really no benefit.
We can see that you would accept and we expect that these LOI's have been sent to all your waitlist schools. Sometimes applicants even forget to cut and paste the name of the right school on them!

I think if *that* happens, they should be bumped to the bottom of the waitlist.

 

[familyaerospace]

Does that mean applicants with zero acceptances are more likely to get pulled from a waitlist? Because you know they'll accept your offer?

I would be surprised if that mattered at al, but don't look at me, they don't call me Family "Waitlist" Aerospace for nothing!

 

[familyaerospace]

Actually last year's record was 17 before she finally went elsewhere (we had accepted her, along with everybody else).
Our current record is being held by someone on the waitlist, thankfully.
I am beginning to think this is some new form of entitlement. They are holding them as trophies, I think.

17? You are kidding, you have to be! I cannot imagine being accepted to 17 medical schools.

I assure you, one "trophy" would be enough for me. I am not that insecure to want to hold on to 17 acceptances.

 

[MaybeDr]

I would be surprised if that mattered at al, but don't look at me, they don't call me Family "Waitlist" Aerospace for nothing!

well I mean based on what gyngyn said, the number of acceptances is a factor when pulling applicants from the waitlist. What the actual relationship is, who knows.

 

[JJG]

Do schools usually accept to the number of seats available to them or more than their limit expecting some students to go elsewhere like undergrad?

 

[familyaerospace]

Do schools usually accept to the number of seats available to them or more than their limit expecting some students to go elsewhere like undergrad?

I've always heard they tend to over accept. Not sure if all do, but I've heard several schools admit to overaccepting. Was it LizzyM who said hers had to offer 4 acceptances to get 1 or was that someone else?

 

[gyngyn]

Do schools usually accept to the number of seats available to them or more than their limit expecting some students to go elsewhere like undergrad?

Usually at least twice the number.

 

[gyngyn]

well I mean based on what gyngyn said, the number of acceptances is a factor when pulling applicants from the waitlist. What the actual relationship is, who knows.

I was referring to the fact that this behavior (hoarding 15+ acceptances until traffic day) is unbecoming and reduces the school's perceived value of the applicant. It is not the number of acceptances.

 

[ridethecliche]

Jeezus how f**king indecisive are people these days? They're being dumb by not narrowing it down to 2-3 choices.

You're on a roll again aren't you?

...I have strong feelings about this sort of, um, thing.

This is how Ace's sentiment is better described without sounding, frankly, like an ass.

Edited for the oversensitive thin-skinned folks.

Pat yourself on the back after you thought that one up all by yourself. Have you ever wondered if it's not everyone else, but you? Must be nice blaming your behavior on everyone else.

Actually last year's record was 17 before she finally went elsewhere (we had accepted her, along with everybody else).
Our current record is being held by someone on the waitlist, thankfully.
I am beginning to think this is some new form of entitlement. They are holding them as trophies, I think.

You said elsewhere that the highest number held was by a waitlisted applicant. What's the number?

As someone with a bunch of waitlists, no acceptances and who's next 4 years are in the balance, I respectfully, yet wholeheartedly disagree.

I'm with you in spirit, but not sure if I'm with you regarding factual basis. The students letting schools know earlier means things move faster, not that things will not move at all. Sure there's an iota of a possibility that all the ripple effects might mean that someone might not get off a 'better' schools waitlist if matriculation has started where their school, but I think it is highly improbable that someone without an acceptance would have otherwise gotten in without the hogging. It might make one scramble upon hearing that they're in <1 week before opening day for sure, but that's not what we're talking about right?

I was referring to the fact that this behavior (hoarding 15+ acceptances until traffic day) is unbecoming and reduces whatever their perceived value would have been without the behavior. It is not the number of acceptances.

A+

 

[breakintheroof]

I'm with you in spirit, but not sure if I'm with you regarding factual basis. The students letting schools know earlier means things move faster, not that things will not move at all. Sure there's an iota of a possibility that all the ripple effects might mean that someone might not get off a 'better' schools waitlist if matriculation has started where their school, but I think it is highly improbable that someone without an acceptance would have otherwise gotten in without the hogging. It might make one scramble upon hearing that they're in <1 week before opening day for sure, but that's not what we're talking about right?

True. But things moving earlier is still a highly desirable outcome. It could allow a waitlisted applicant to avoid initiating a reapplication, or to have their SO start looking for work in a new location, or get a head start on any other time-sensitive process.

No one is calling for people to hold only one acceptance at a time. That's extreme. But I think that @Temerit was responding to statements (below) that defend the other extreme. They don't consider that there are any costs to holding acceptances for an extended period of time.

It doesn't really matter how likely if is - if the possibility is there, the most prudent move is to wait.

I'd say even if there is a 0.001% chance that you decide to accept the offer, you should hold it as long as possible.

There are indeed costs--for other applicants. The costs generally aren't huge, but they are worth considering. I feel comfortable saying that the people on @gyngyn's waitlist with a dozen acceptances at this point in the cycle are being inconsiderate. We are all in this together.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

Pat yourself on the back after you thought that one up all by yourself. Have you ever wondered if it's not everyone else, but you? Must be nice blaming your behavior on everyone else.

I'd rather someone give it to me straight, even if it's abrasive, harsh, cold, brutally honest, blunt, whatever you want to call it. IMO, there is absolutely no benefit to sugar-coating anything - it's just bullsh**, which I have a low tolerance for. This is medicine we're going into. There's no room for being overly sensitive or thin-skinned given how brutal M3 year is.

 

[Grenerd]

I'd rather someone give it to me straight, even if it's abrasive, harsh, cold, brutally honest, blunt, whatever you want to call it. IMO, there is absolutely no benefit to sugar-coating anything - it's just bullsh**, which I have a low tolerance for. This is medicine we're going into. There's no room for being overly sensitive or thin-skinned given how brutal M3 year is.

You sound so ridiculous, if you can't learn the importance of developing some nuance in your communication your career is going to be pretty rocky.

 

[gyngyn]

Civil delivery sweetens even the most unpleasant message.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

You sound so ridiculous, if you can't learn the importance of developing some nuance in your communication your career is going to be pretty rocky.

Idk, I've worked with lots of ER docs who start out speaking to all patients in the same polite, respectful, compassionate way they all learned in med school but then progress to no-nonsense talk if certain patients reveal they're full of sh** (figuratively). Maybe it's compassion fatigue, idk.

 

[JJG]

I've always heard they tend to over accept. Not sure if all do, but I've heard several schools admit to overaccepting. Was it LizzyM who said hers had to offer 4 acceptances to get 1 or was that someone else?

Usually at least twice the number.

Thanks for the answers! So is that at the end of the entire cycle including the number of applicants pulled off the waitlist or is that the number they accept before traffic day?

All this talk of people holding several acceptances was actually making me hopeful that there will be huge movement come traffic day but I guess that's just me =)

 

[Grenerd]

That's called being a good communicator you go 0-60 everytime. Your abrasive straight talk isn't going to play well with your patients or colleagues in a political sense.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the answers! So is that at the end of the entire cycle including the number of applicants pulled off the waitlist or is that the number they accept before traffic day?

It all depends on the risk tolerance of the admissions dean. Many early acceptances translate into a better chance at highly sought-after applicants.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

That's called being a good communicator you go 0-60 everytime. Your abrasive straight talk isn't going to play well with your patients or colleagues in a political sense.

My bad. I didn't mean being "abrasive" all the time; I have problems with those people too. Usually I'm pretty chill when I talk to people. Sometimes tho, you meet people and all you can think is, "Is this a joke? Must be given this person's ridiculosity."

 

[ridethecliche]

True. But things moving earlier is still a highly desirable outcome. It could allow a waitlisted applicant to avoid initiating a reapplication, or to have their SO start looking for work in a new location, or get a head start on any other time-sensitive process.

No one is calling for people to hold only one acceptance at a time. That's extreme. But I think that @Temerit was responding to statements (below) that defend the other extreme. They don't consider that there are any costs to holding acceptances for an extended period of time.


There are indeed costs--for other applicants. The costs generally aren't huge, but they are worth considering. I feel comfortable saying that the people on @gyngyn's waitlist with a dozen acceptances at this point in the cycle are being inconsiderate. We are all in this together.

Ah yes, I forgot people start reapplying now since I didn't start till later in the cycle in July or so. Oy vey.

I think amcas might refund some costs? I think one of my friends got money back after she submitted her primary to a few places.

I'd rather someone give it to me straight, even if it's abrasive, harsh, cold, brutally honest, blunt, whatever you want to call it. IMO, there is absolutely no benefit to sugar-coating anything - it's just bullsh**, which I have a low tolerance for. This is medicine we're going into. There's no room for being overly sensitive or thin-skinned given how brutal M3 year is.

How do you seem to know all of this already?

You seem to have watched late night reruns of saving private ryan, apocalypse now, and band of brothers and think that this is what med school is going to be like. You have no idea what M3 year is like. Stop playing the fool kid.

You sound so ridiculous, if you can't learn the importance of developing some nuance in your communication your career is going to be pretty rocky.

Solid advice.

Idk, I've worked with lots of ER docs who start out speaking to all patients in the same polite, respectful, compassionate way they all learned in med school but then progress to no-nonsense talk if certain patients reveal they're full of sh** (figuratively). Maybe it's compassion fatigue, idk.

Yeah, they start out normal and then go 'real talk' when they need to. You come out with guns blazing at every chance. If you can't control yourself, stay off SDN. It'd serve you well I think. Your posts have deteriorated significantly in the last bit and I honestly think you're stressing the fak out about the WL and need to calm down.

That's called being a good communicator you go 0-60 everytime. Your abrasive straight talk isn't going to play well with your patients or colleagues in a political sense.

Indeed.

My bad. I didn't mean being "abrasive" all the time; I have problems with those people too. Usually I'm pretty chill when I talk to people. Sometimes tho, you meet people and all you can think is, "Is this a joke? Must be given this person's ridiculosity."

You seem to have problems with lots of people.

Mirror mirror on the wall...

 

[Ace Khalifa]

You seem to have watched late night reruns of saving private ryan, apocalypse now, and band of brothers and think that this is what med school is going to be like. You have no idea what M3 year is like. Stop playing the fool kid.

I've never seen any of those lol. But okay. I'm just going off what I've read on SDN about M3 year - it's not always fun.

Yeah, they start out normal and then go 'real talk' when they need to. You come out with guns blazing at every chance. If you can't control yourself, stay off SDN. It'd serve you well I think. Your posts have deteriorated significantly in the last bit and I honestly think you're stressing the fak out about the WL and need to calm down.

I don't believe in wasting time or appeasing to bullsh**. Also, I'm not stressing. I got off a waitlist recently, so now everything else is gravy.

You seem to have problems with lots of people.

Well, lots of stupid people walk into the ER, so....

 

[ridethecliche]

I've never seen any of those lol. But okay. I'm just going off what I've read on SDN about M3 year - it's not always fun.

So you're an authority because you've read SDN? You have to live it first mang!

I don't believe in wasting time or appeasing to bullsh**. Also, I'm not stressing. I got off a waitlist recently, so now everything else is gravy.

Lol. You're going to have a rude awakening when you realize how much politics goes on in departments and in med school.

Well, lots of stupid people walk into the ER, so....

Huh, that's weird. I thought patients walked into the ER.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

So you're an authority because you've read SDN? You have to live it first mang!

Okay. I guess you're right.

Lol. You're going to have a rude awakening when you realize how much politics goes on in departments and in med school.

I've already seen hospital admin politics. I'm gonna hate politics no matter what.

Huh, that's weird. I thought patients walked into the ER.

You can be a stupid person and a patient simultaneously. They're not mutually exclusive, as my experience in the ER has shown me.

 

[Grenerd]

Okay. I guess you're right.

I've already seen hospital admin politics. I'm gonna hate politics no matter what.

You can be a stupid person and a patient simultaneously. They're not mutually exclusive, as my experience in the ER has shown me.

The inability to just pause for 5 min to think about if the critique that multiple people have offered about your behavior is worth reflecting on is also going to be a problem in your future I would guess.

 

[JJG]

It all depends on the risk tolerance of the admissions dean. Many early acceptances translate into a better chance at highly sought-after applicants.

So if I understand correctly higher number of acceptances early on means being less risky? Are state schools less risky than private schools?

 

[Ace Khalifa]

The inability to just pause for 5 min to think about if the critique that multiple have offered about your behavior is worth reflecting on is also going to be a problem in your future I would guess.

Actually, I've been thinking and reflecting all day while working in the ER and posting here. Please continue to assume things about me. This is the internet, after all.

 

[gyngyn]

So if I understand correctly the higher number of acceptances early on means being less risky? Are state schools are less risky than private schools?

It all depends on the perceived value of the school. Our state schools are very hard to get into and could easily over- accept. Even a very good school could accept 3x the number of seats and not fill if they only interview the candidates that everyone wants.