Hiya folks,
It randomly came to my attention that the 2019 AAMC Traffic Rules affecting the current cycle are “different”. I tried to skim over the changes in hopes of giving the WL folks some clarification with regard to movement as it relates to any general school, but this won’t specify anything that cannot be found on the AAMC website.
Basically, these are the dates to look out for:
2/19 to 4/15: If holding at least one acceptance, acceptees can designate one school as “plan to enroll” or “commit to enroll” (after April 30th) or not mark anything.
How does it effect *insert school*? ... they can see how many of the folks they offered acceptances to, marked *insert school* as either “plan” or “commit”. *insert school* cannot see individual info nor what other acceptances that applicant may have, only aggregate numbers for them and the other schools.
Example:
Acceptances Given: 150 (class of 90)
Acceptees Marking *insert school* as Plan to enroll: 70 (tentative)
Acceptees NOT marking *insert school*: 80 (tentative)
“Unmarked” *insert school* spots (aka POTENTIALLY open spot): 20 (tentative)
Logic: *insert school* has to re-evaluate how much they want truly want certain applicants as they have no idea if they selected *insert school*. This is where you may see some folks have money and etc offered to them as incentives. Again, “insert school” is doing this COMPLETELY BLIND. Also, you MAY have a few people pulled from the waitlist if interest was strong enough but unlikely if the school feels the pool of given acceptances is enough and they feel “confident” about potential matriculants. Nothing at this stage is binding and schools know NOTHING about individuals nor whether they have 2 or 8 acceptances.
4/15 to 4/30: Acceptees must narrow down their choices to two or three choices
How does it effect *insert school*? ... the aggregate number may increase or decrease and they start pulling from WL
Example:
Acceptances Given: 150 (class of 90)
Acceptees Marking *insert school* as Plan/Commit: 80 (tentative)
Acceptees NOT marking “insert school”: 70 (this part is a little ambiguous.. but 70 students picked one of 2-3 OTHER schools instead of *insert school* as plan/commit, so *insert school* may still be in the running (as one of the non-specifically chosen 2 of 3) or has been eliminated by the acceptee
“Unmarked” *insert school* spots (aka POTENTIALLY open spot): 10 (tentative)
Logic: *insert school* is feeling confident that they are the one of THREE remaining schools for 80 applicants they accepted, that also marked them as plan to enroll. They still DO NOT KNOW who marked them though. They now have at LEAST 10 seats open, so they’ll more likely start to pull off the WL.
NOTE: those 80 students that marked *insert name* school may STILL be on other WL’s or decide to “commit” to one of the other 2 schools, or they’re dream school in case it pulls THEM off the WL. Again, NOTHING IS SET IN STONE!
Example:
Total Acceptances Given: 164
WL-ed given acceptances: 14
4/30 and beyond..... *insert school* can now see detailed individual status of every applicant they’ve accepted and acceptee must narrow down to ONE school with either plan to enroll or (now available) commit to enroll, but they can still interview, stay on WL’s and etc.
Example:
Total Acceptances Given: 175 (some applicants got into their dream schools!)
WL-ed given acceptances: 32 (some of them also got into their dream schools!)
Total *insert school* seats marked as either “plan to enroll” or “commit to enroll”: 90 (those who select “commit” MUST withdraw from ALL other admissions considerations)
Logic: *insert school* can now see exactly who they have and who has marked them as “plan” or “commit”, as well as whether that student is also in any other WL’s or Alternate Lists. *insert school* may now require acceptees to “commit” or rescind acceptance offer within x amount of time (depends on the school) or make non-refundable deposit after x date
Conclusion? ... schools are completely blind until 4/30, at which point they can start to “poach” WL’ed applicants who may have other acceptances, and offer them their own acceptance, and have them reject their other original acceptance.
Example: *Ivy League School* poaches *mid-tier accepted applicant* = applicant ditches mid-tier for Ivy
The difference is that BEFORE 4/30: no school can see what another is doing.
AFTER 4/30: schools (who perceive they have distinct leverage) can get..... “not-so-nice” when pulling from their waitlist.
Not sure if this helps anyone but I figure some clarification is always nice as everyone waits for the next 5-6 weeks to pan out!
Best of luck!
Danny
