2020-2021 Waitlist Support Thread

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Otterly said:
Wait I know about the snapshot but what's the 2nd new part of capser?
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something called duet. very unsure of which schools will be using it/if any but when i signed up for the casper it made it sound like all 3 parts (so the actual casper, snapshot, duet) were mandatory??
 
Got it....wild idea but based on some sample Duet questions online I feel like it would be better as a part of MSAR to help students identify schools that fit them rather than being a way to rule out candidates that already applied. But doing anything to help applicants would be crazy right?
 
stormcloakdoctor said:
Seems like the notion of "more waitlist movement" this year because of online interviews was a sham idea.

Similar to the idea of ADCOMs being more lenient about application timing because of COVID.

Noted. Assumptions aren't giving me hope anymore.
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Oh, one hundred million percent agree on that second sentence. Especially with almost all the schools I applied to sending everyone to the waitlist if they interviewed after New Years.
 
stormcloakdoctor said:
Seems like the notion of "more waitlist movement" this year because of online interviews was a sham idea.

Similar to the idea of ADCOMs being more lenient about application timing because of COVID.

Noted. Assumptions aren't giving me hope anymore.
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Not gonna lie, I'm mad at everyone who gave me hope. Like I know they can't predict the future and they were just trying to help but still. Especially my undergrad's premed advisor
 
Blue Lion said:
BTW, to everyone retaking their MCAT? Mind if I ask what score y'all intially had?

I have a 507, and while I don't want to retake it, it feels like every school's MCAT averages went up three points this year and I have to...
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same i'm rushing my MCAT retake because I was a clown this past year and I have to basically take multiple Fls a week to take it in time for July. My content is still fresh so I'm focusing on my weaker areas :/ rip
 
KnightDoc said:
If a lot of T20 movement is going to come this year, why hasn't it started yet?
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There has been ongoing waitlist movement. Not all of these acceptances are posted on SDN. One thing to keep in mind is that due to the increased number of applicants this year, there is a higher chance that an acceptance will go to someone with no other acceptances, decreasing the usual trickle down effect. But, waitlist movement has not finished, so hang tight.
 
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Otterly said:
Not gonna lie, I'm mad at everyone who gave me hope. Like I know they can't predict the future and they were just trying to help but still. Especially my undergrad's premed advisor
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Yo legit same! I finished my fall semester of my masters with a 3.98 and my advisor was like send updates you'll get at least 5 IIs after Christmas. Me believing him and now feeling like a clown cus the one school that interviewed me put me on the WL.
 
medscie158 said:
Anyone have advice/thoughts on reapplying with only one new activity/experience to write about, but also a higher GPA and MCAT score?
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Nope! That's good enough. When you do the "How has your application improved since the last cycle" you can really hone in on the GPA and MCAT improvement and how it has made you a better student (i.e. time management, critical thinking, etc)
 
Anybody have tips on how to do that "what has changed" essay if the only thing that was different was a research assistant position and being a caregiver for your grandfather? lol
 
Blue Lion said:
Anybody have tips on how to do that "what has changed" essay if the only thing that was different was a research assistant position and being a caregiver for your grandfather? lol
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This is my second time applying so I filled out a ton of those! Make sure when you talk about your RA position bring in characteristics (without blatantly saying them) about how it made you more attentive to details, curious, analytical etc. The grandfather experience is HUGE (kuddos to you for doing so) this shows care and concern and you can explain how it really allowed you to reaffirm your motivation to become a physician. How treating patients as family members will allow you to give them more complete care. The IMPT thing is to make it a narrative and not a resume-style listing of things you did.
 
Would love to hear more insight on early decision. My advisor (who I don't trust very much haha) told me to apply EDP to one of the schools I was waitlisted at for re-apps...but I'm confused because I feel like I'd have a better chance with getting regular apps in earlier to more schools than EDP to one school and being on the late side everywhere else.
 
Otterly said:
Would love to hear more insight on early decision. My advisor (who I don't trust very much haha) told me to apply EDP to one of the schools I was waitlisted at for re-apps...but I'm confused because I feel like I'd have a better chance with getting regular apps in earlier to more schools than EDP to one school and being on the late side everywhere else.
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You are correct. Unless you have been led to believe, through prior contact with the school, that you are basically a lock to be admitted EDP, it's insane to handicap yourself at all other schools by applying EDP.

This is why it is not used nearly as widely as in UG, and why many top schools don't even offer it as an option. It's inappropriate for most people, because it is the exact opposite of a backdoor into med school. People who are accepted EDP are typically very strong candidates who would be accepted regular decision, not people looking for a shortcut on a reapp. On a reapp, if it works, great. Otherwise, you have another blown cycle before it even started.

High risk, low reward. This is why most people don't even consider it.
 
Dr.EMD said:
This is my second time applying so I filled out a ton of those! Make sure when you talk about your RA position bring in characteristics (without blatantly saying them) about how it made you more attentive to details, curious, analytical etc. The grandfather experience is HUGE (kuddos to you for doing so) this shows care and concern and you can explain how it really allowed you to reaffirm your motivation to become a physician. How treating patients as family members will allow you to give them more complete care. The IMPT thing is to make it a narrative and not a resume-style listing of things you did.
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This is actually going to be my fourth time applying (if I don't get off the waitlist, here's to hoping I won't have to lol)
It's just that before I always had big improvements, and this year not too much? So I'm just worried that experience related stuff won't make that big of a difference in this essay.
Great points though!
 
Otterly said:
Would love to hear more insight on early decision. My advisor (who I don't trust very much haha) told me to apply EDP to one of the schools I was waitlisted at for re-apps...but I'm confused because I feel like I'd have a better chance with getting regular apps in earlier to more schools than EDP to one school and being on the late side everywhere else.
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KnightDoc said:
You are correct. Unless you have been led to believe, through prior contact with the school, that are basically a lock to be admitted EDP, it's insane to handicap yourself at all other schools by applying EDP.

This is why it is not used nearly as widely as in UG, and why many top schools don't even offer it as an option. It's inappropriate for most people, because it is the exact opposite of a backdoor into med school. People who are accepted EDP are typically very strong candidates who would be accepted regular decision, not people looking for a shortcut on a reapp. On a reapp, if it works, great. Otherwise, you have another blown cycle before it even started.

High risk, low reward. This is why most people don't even consider it.
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Agree with KnightDoc, plus, nothing against EDPs, but I've seen a gradual shift the past few years where they have gone from just "guaranteed acceptance," to just "guaranteed interview."
 
Otterly said:
Apparently one of my WL schools is actually above class size, and two others that in past years have pulled 50+ from WL are also at class size and have had minimal movement. I'm feeling pretty crushed right now.
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Above class size is definitely not good news on 5/18, but at class size is normal, everywhere.

WL movement is created by people dropping excess As, not by schools not being at full class size the third week of May. People will continue to hold multiple As until all WL movement stops, everywhere, and every matriculant at every school holds only that single A. Things are narrowing every day, but movement doesn't stop until all the CTE dates pass, and all the people having emergencies or getting cold feet at the last minute withdraw. 🙂
 
Otterly said:
Apparently one of my WL schools is actually above class size, and two others that in past years have pulled 50+ from WL are also at class size and have had minimal movement. I'm feeling pretty crushed right now.
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Same... 🙁 I sent a LOIntent to my top choice which is above class size already (unprecedented), and lowkey I regret not sending it to my #2 choice which likely will have more WL movement. This cycle sucks, man... The notion that more WL movement would happen this cycle was not only wrong but completely the opposite: there seems to be a historically low amount of WL movement this cycle (n=1).
 
Med schools: hey, we will give less As because we are worried about our yield, but should be fine, we will use WL later
*all med schools do the same*
*no WL movement happens*
*surprised pikachu face*

Anyway, we can’t blame med schools, adcoms or counselors who thought more WL movement would happen. Covid19 was almost everyone’s first pandemic experience so this cycle was guaranteed to be shi* no matter what.

Imma hold out my hope til this month and re-start my MCAT prep 😭
 
Idk if there are any Bleachers fans here but they just dropped a song called "Stop Making This Hurt" And the lyrics go "stop making this hurt, say goodbye like you mean it" and if that doesn't capture me feelings towards WLs right now I don't know what does.
 
Hey everyone, I am new here! I am on a waitlist, however I am prepping my applicant for potential reapplication. I have submitted my transcript to AMCAS but have received 3 AMCAS confirmation notifications for the same transcript and it looks like they have duplicates of this transcript. Anyone else having this issue?
 
anyone tryna take the mcat end of June? i feel like its not enough time but i don't want to be late again this cycle. i guess a stronger mcat score makes a greater difference? idk. i was in the same boat last yr where i was prepping for the mcat and working on apps - it was rough
 
wegotthis20201234 said:
anyone tryna take the mcat end of June? i feel like its not enough time but i don't want to be late again this cycle. i guess a stronger mcat score makes a greater difference? idk. i was in the same boat last yr where i was prepping for the mcat and working on apps - it was rough
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i'm planning to take a gap year and apply for the 2023 cycle. I rushed myself for last cycle and i don't want to make the same mistake. What was your score that you are trying to retake?
 
wegotthis20201234 said:
anyone tryna take the mcat end of June? i feel like its not enough time but i don't want to be late again this cycle. i guess a stronger mcat score makes a greater difference? idk. i was in the same boat last yr where i was prepping for the mcat and working on apps - it was rough
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i'm taking it June 19. Been studying for a month ish. Have 3 FLs under my belt after 2 years.
 
wegotthis20201234 said:
anyone tryna take the mcat end of June? i feel like its not enough time but i don't want to be late again this cycle. i guess a stronger mcat score makes a greater difference? idk. i was in the same boat last yr where i was prepping for the mcat and working on apps - it was rough
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You are familiar with the definition of insanity, aren't you??? 😎
 
Getting everything ready to submit for primary app (TX apps are open already)... as a 3rd time re-applicant I am feeling the burnout!!! (On 2 WL currently but not counting on it) I can’t tell if I’m losing my passion for med school or if I’m just exhausted of doing this $h*t for 3 years in a row. Since the WL’s and cycles always overlapped there really has been zero breaks for going on 3 years now. I hate it here 🤧 anyone else in a similar boat? Honestly if it doesn’t work out this next cycle i don’t think I will be doing this a 4th time
 
sun_flower580 said:
Getting everything ready to submit for primary app (TX apps are open already)... as a 3rd time re-applicant I am feeling the burnout!!! (On 2 WL currently but not counting on it) I can’t tell if I’m losing my passion for med school or if I’m just exhausted of doing this $h*t for 3 years in a row. Since the WL’s and cycles always overlapped there really has been zero breaks for going on 3 years now. I hate it here 🤧 anyone else in a similar boat? Honestly if it doesn’t work out this next cycle i don’t think I will be doing this a 4th time
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Same exact boat. I love medicine more than anything but it's killing me right now.
 
sun_flower580 said:
Getting everything ready to submit for primary app (TX apps are open already)... as a 3rd time re-applicant I am feeling the burnout!!! (On 2 WL currently but not counting on it) I can’t tell if I’m losing my passion for med school or if I’m just exhausted of doing this $h*t for 3 years in a row. Since the WL’s and cycles always overlapped there really has been zero breaks for going on 3 years now. I hate it here 🤧 anyone else in a similar boat? Honestly if it doesn’t work out this next cycle i don’t think I will be doing this a 4th time
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I was feeling the same way last year, about to submit my 4th apps in texas. I was honestly just going to quit after getting 7 II and no A this time, but after a few file reviews I feel like im so close. Had a med school prof tell me they didn't want to see me waste a year when I have a competitive app, so here I am studying for the mcat again lol
 
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