2018-2019 Waitlist Support Thread

[gyngyn]

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@gyngyn Please comment 🙂

It is more likely that the lack of movement is because the majority of accepted students has not committed to enroll.
If the school cannot estimate who is coming, we cannot really undertake the waitlist.
I doubt there will be much more movement until some of the school deadlines are reached.

 

[AlphaDoctor]

It is more likely that the lack of movement is because the majority of accepted students has not committed to enroll.
If the school cannot estimate who is coming, we cannot really undertake the waitlist.
I doubt there will be much more movement until some of the school deadlines are reached.

what if one of my WL schools CTE deadline is 20 days before orientation?

 

[gyngyn]

what if one of my WL schools CTE deadline is 20 days before orientation?

That was the recommendation given to us by the AAMC.
It's going to be a mess at the end.

 

[thinklikeaproton2019]

It is more likely that the lack of movement is because the majority of accepted students has not committed to enroll.
If the school cannot estimate who is coming, we cannot really undertake the waitlist.
I doubt there will be much more movement until some of the school deadlines are reached.

I don’t really get this though! Didn’t many people withdraw from multiple acceptances as of April 30th even if not required and therefore open up spots?And wouldn’t a student selecting “PTE” indicate to the school they are going to come unless they get a WL acceptance they prefer, just as in previous years?

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn what do you think about this?

I don't think any real movement is going to happen until we get past multiple school deadlines (or deposit deadlines).

 

[drtobe5]

So essentially,

To all of the selfish people not using the PTE tool: MAKE A DECISION

 

[gyngyn]

I don’t really get this though! Didn’t many people withdraw from multiple acceptances as of April 30th even if not required and therefore open up spots?And wouldn’t a student selecting “PTE” indicate to the school they are going to come unless they get a WL acceptance they prefer, just as in previous years?

The problem is that we really don't know what any of them is doing! CTE has only been chosen (as of now) by less than half of applicants. Even if they have reduced to one, the PTE's (and those who have not chosen anything) are still the majority. How would you interpret this if you still had more than the number needed to fill?
It could mean you have plenty...or it could mean you should be taking a boatload off the waitlist.

 

[ReturnToMed]

I don't think any real movement is going to happen until we get past multiple school deadlines (or deposit deadlines).

feels_bad_man.jpeg

 

[ReturnToMed]

The problem is that we really don't know what any of them is doing! CTE has only been chosen (as of now) by less than half of applicants. Even if they have reduced to one, the PTE's (and those who have not chosen anything) are still the majority. How would you interpret this if you still had more than the number needed to fill?
It could mean you have plenty...or it could mean you should be taking a boatload off the waitlist.

You should rescind all of those people's acceptances

 

[ChasingMD07]

I don’t really get this though! Didn’t many people withdraw from multiple acceptances as of April 30th even if not required and therefore open up spots?And wouldn’t a student selecting “PTE” indicate to the school they are going to come unless they get a WL acceptance they prefer, just as in previous years?

One would have hoped that people followed guidelines with respect to April 30. However, since students are still posting on the X vs Y thread (some without acknowledging that they just got off waitlist), some with more than two schools as well, makes us know that there are people who did not comply.

Sadly. The wait continues to July. Take a vacation until then!

 

[OchemOficionado]

Can applicants who have selected "Plan to Enroll" hold more than one acceptance right now? Or do schools force them to withdraw from all but one?

I also have this question

1. Yes, they can.
2. Schools can force students to withdraw from all but one, but I haven't seen many that have asked that explicitly. Either way, I figure most students thought it was required so most are likely down to 1, unless they got off a WL after 4/30.

 

[gyngyn]

You should rescind all of those people's acceptances

I don't blame them. I blame the AAMC for this mess.

 

[shark bait hoo ha ha]

How do schools enforce CTE? Like how will they know that people have actually withdrawn from all of their waitlists?

 

[PB&]

1. Yes, they can.
2. Schools can force students to withdraw from all but one, but I haven't seen many that have asked that explicitly. Either way, I figure most students thought it was required so most are likely down to 1, unless they got off a WL after 4/30.

Lol. Im part of that bunch that thought it was required.

 

[thinklikeaproton2019]

The problem is that we really don't know what any of them is doing! CTE has only been chosen (as of now) by less than half of applicants. Even if they have reduced to one, the PTE's (and those who have not chosen anything) are still the majority. How would you interpret this if you still had more than the number needed to fill?
It could mean you have plenty...or it could mean you should be taking a boatload off the waitlist.

Right that makes sense. I guess it depends on how many people have chosen to do nothing at all! Otherwise I would think the PTE is exactly what it says—they plan to enroll pending other decisions just in the way that in previous cycles a commitment on April 30th could still mean they were pending WLs! It’s a total stalemate because no one is going to CTE because they don’t want to withdraw waitlists, and it sounds like schools aren’t going to take off WL because no one is choosing CTE. What will schools do if they’re under filled past their required CTE date and at that point the WL Pool is so small and is comprised only of people who have no acceptances?

 

[ReturnToMed]

I don't blame them. I blame the AAMC for this mess.

i know. I was just making a joke

 

[Redfox45]

1. Yes, they can.
2. Schools can force students to withdraw from all but one, but I haven't seen many that have asked that explicitly. Either way, I figure most students thought it was required so most are likely down to 1, unless they got off a WL after 4/30.

Yeah, so I just got off a waitlist and now hold two acceptances. Hoping to make my decision within a week, then withdraw from one of the schools. But interesting to hear most schools aren't forcing people with multiple acceptances to withdraw.

 

[gyngyn]

What will schools do if they’re under filled past their required CTE date and at that point the WL Pool is so small and is comprised only of people who have no acceptances?

Most of us have over-interviewed and have a larger than average waitlist (in anticipation of just such an eventuality).

 

[CJE24]

You know the system is broken when you may have to apply for the next cycle while waiting to possibly get off a waitlist from the previous cycle.

 

[PB&]

Yeah, so I just got off a waitlist and now hold two acceptances. Hoping to make my decision within a week, then withdraw from one of the schools. But interesting to hear most schools aren't forcing people with multiple acceptances to withdraw.

I feel like this enforcement might help with movement..wondered why AAMC didnt require this.

 

[OchemOficionado]

How do schools enforce CTE? Like how will they know that people have actually withdrawn from all of their waitlists?

They can enforce it by rescinding acceptances for those that did use CTE. There is no way to know if students removed themselves from WL or not. Just good faith I guess. I'm assuming if another school sees that a student has CTE than they won't offer acceptance, but it is technically allowed.

Lol. Im part of that bunch that thought it was required.

Me too.

Yeah, so I just got off a waitlist and now hold two acceptances. Hoping to make my decision within a week, then withdraw from one of the schools. But interesting to hear most schools aren't forcing people with multiple acceptances to withdraw.

I'm in the same boat. My original school noticed that I switched my PTE and called and offered a scholarship. That changes things and I will decide this week.

I feel like this enforcement might help with movement..wondered why AAMC didnt require this.

AAMC is trying to avoid lawsuits.

 

[drtobe5]

How can anyone possibly plan with like two weeks notice, “congrats you’re in”. I mean medical school is hard enough to transition into and now they just expect students to do this all so last-minute. Unreal.

 

[mr.blamf]

The problem is that we really don't know what any of them is doing! CTE has only been chosen (as of now) by less than half of applicants. Even if they have reduced to one, the PTE's (and those who have not chosen anything) are still the majority. How would you interpret this if you still had more than the number needed to fill?
It could mean you have plenty...or it could mean you should be taking a boatload off the waitlist.

@gyngyn How does this make things fundamentally different from last year? (i.e. why were you able to be more confident in your number of enrollees in the old system?)

 

[ReturnToMed]

How can anyone possibly plan with like two weeks notice, “congrats you’re in”. I mean medical school is hard enough to transition into and now they just expect students to do this all so last-minute. Unreal.

someone isn't gonna be trying for emergency med

Note: don't take this seriously as a jab

 

[thinklikeaproton2019]

@gyngyn How does this make things fundamentally different from last year? (i.e. why were you able to be more confident in your number of enrollees in the old system?)

Yeah theoretically in previous years no one ever pressed the equivalent of CTE (willingly withdraw from all their waitlists in May) so I don’t see why this year is that different in this sense?

 

[ReturnToMed]

Most of us have over-interviewed and have a larger than average waitlist (in anticipation of just such an eventuality).

that's not what like to hear

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn How does this make things fundamentally different from last year? (i.e. why were you able to be more confident in your number of enrollees in the old system?)

Someone holding 10 acceptances would clearly attend here given the chance depending on which 10 schools.
Conversely, someone could be holding only one other acceptance and be extremely unlikely to attend.
It's not the number of acceptances, it's where they are holding them!

Now, we know nothing. We have a bunch of "CTE's" (who still might go elsewhere) and even more "PTE's" who could be in either of the above-mentioned categories. It's completely un-interpretable.

 

[gyngyn]

that's not what like to hear

If you have another strategy... I'm all ears.

 

[PB&]

Someone holding 10 acceptances would clearly attend here given the chance depending on which 10 schools.
Conversely, some could be holding only one other acceptance and be extremely unlikely to attend.
It's not the number of acceptances, it's where they are holding them!

Now, we know nothing. We have a bunch of "CTE's" (who still might go elsewhere) and even more "PTE's" who could be in either of the above-mentioned categories. It's completely un-interpretable.

Ohhh. That makes sense. Sorry for being a dumdum, but committees saw WHICH schools an applicant was accepted to in the previous cycles?

 

[mr.blamf]

Someone holding 10 acceptances would clearly attend here given the chance depending on which 10 schools.
Conversely, someone could be holding only one other acceptance and be extremely unlikely to attend.
It's not the number of acceptances, it's where they are holding them!

Now, we know nothing. We have a bunch of "CTE's" (who still might go elsewhere) and even more "PTE's" who could be in either of the above-mentioned categories. It's completely un-interpretable.

Wow, what a hot mess.

 

[ReturnToMed]

If you have another strategy... I'm all ears.

I send you 0.0000001Bitcoin prior to the interview and then 0.0000001 Bitcoin after I am accepted

 

[gyngyn]

Ohhh. That makes sense. Sorry for being a dumdum, but committees saw WHICH schools an applicant was accepted to in the previous cycles?

We only saw where they were accepted after we had made a decision.

 

[1nside]

More information more decision making capability. Maybe if you saw an applicant decline higher ranked schools with the MAR, you have more confidence in them to stay. Now you just wouldn't know their activity at all (I think). The NAR which would have been released over a month ago would concretely tell you even where your WL candidates stand. With the current system, it might be too muddied to interpret because people may or may not be following the guidelines, no universal policy, just less data. I'm guessing these might be some of the factors.

 

[edb63]

Wow, what a hot mess.

What really bothers me is that the AAMC will make money off a lot of us that reapply only to be accepted off waitlists in June/July

 

[foreverhopeful95]

Most of us have over-interviewed and have a larger than average waitlist (in anticipation of just such an eventuality).

Does this mean if I was interviewed at a school I’m waitlisted at, I might not have been given an interview invite in the previous cycle because of the old rules?

 

[angryangryhippos]

Someone holding 10 acceptances would clearly attend here given the chance depending on which 10 schools.
Conversely, someone could be holding only one other acceptance and be extremely unlikely to attend.
It's not the number of acceptances, it's where they are holding them!

Now, we know nothing. We have a bunch of "CTE's" (who still might go elsewhere) and even more "PTE's" who could be in either of the above-mentioned categories. It's completely un-interpretable.

CTE's can still attend elsewhere? I thought this choice was fairly clearly binding in that one needs to release all WL offers when this is selected. Is this because no one is actually enforcing these "rules?"

 

[gyngyn]

CTE's can still attend elsewhere? I thought this choice was fairly clearly binding in that one needs to release all WL offers when this is selected. Is this because no one is actually enforcing these "rules?"

There is no way to know how this is being interpreted (or enforced) at this point.

 

[c_yang]

There is no way to know how this is being interpreted (or enforced) at this point.

What do you think would happen if a school starts before a lot of other schools’ CTE deadlines?

 

[futuredoc0307]

What a mess. So waitlist movement is inevitable but it will just happen slow over time. This is an L for us who are accept to programs that start early

 

[gyngyn]

What do you think would happen if a school starts before a lot of other schools’ CTE deadlines?

Who knows? Probably, little effect.

 

[AlphaDoctor]

idk why schools dont just email accepted students who have yet to make a selection...

 

[OchemOficionado]

idk why schools dont just email accepted students who have yet to make a selection...

Some are calling.

 

[ReturnToMed]

Some are calling.

There was a bit of movement on my state schools' list the first day or 2 and then nothing.

 

[foreverhopeful95]

This late in the game, why would people still hold on to multiple acceptances? This isn’t a judgy question or an attempt to attack anyone. I’m truly just curious! Lol

 

[ReturnToMed]

This late in the game, why would people still hold on to multiple acceptances? This isn’t a judgy question or an attempt to attack anyone. I’m truly just curious! Lol

It's finals week right now so kids are probably not focused on picking right now. Or they really don't know where they want to go or are holding out to hear about money

 

[foreverhopeful95]

It's finals week right now so kids are probably not focused on picking right now. Or they really don't know where they want to go or are holding out to hear about money

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[M&L]

This late in the game, why would people still hold on to multiple acceptances? This isn’t a judgy question or an attempt to attack anyone. I’m truly just curious! Lol

some schools are still dragging financial packages

 

[CHSNY]

Someone holding 10 acceptances would clearly attend here given the chance depending on which 10 schools.
Conversely, someone could be holding only one other acceptance and be extremely unlikely to attend.
It's not the number of acceptances, it's where they are holding them!

Now, we know nothing. We have a bunch of "CTE's" (who still might go elsewhere) and even more "PTE's" who could be in either of the above-mentioned categories. It's completely un-interpretable.

Hi! Why do you say that some CTEs might still go elsewhere? I thought once you choose CTE you are committing and taking yourself off of all other WLs, so not sure what or where their other options are coming from.

 

[shark bait hoo ha ha]

Hi! Why do you say that some CTEs might still go elsewhere? I thought once you choose CTE you are committing and taking yourself off of all other WLs, so not sure what or where their other options are coming from.

Because as of right now it doesn't seem like anyone is making us withdraw. It seems like its on good faith that we withdraw and there is no way to enforce it.

 

[ReturnToMed]

Because as of right now it doesn't seem like anyone is making us withdraw. It seems like its on good faith that we withdraw and there is no way to enforce it.

Schools are notified through the tool that an applicant has made CTE but the applicant still has to notify the schools themselves. Given how no one really knows how the system works and with gyngyn saying less than half their class used the tool, I will reiterate what others have said. It's just a lot of sitting now cause of the system.