2020-2021 Waitlist Support Thread

[NoEyeEyeGuy]

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Yeah but have they ever tried to maximize their yield through an epidemic, with the caveats that come with it? I hope they terribly undershoot their yield tbh.

lets see! time will tell. i just feel like the sheer increase in the number of unique applicants will make up for the fact that a few top caliber candidates may have multiple A's and attended more interviews in general due to virtual nature of this cycle. my thought is that even top caliber students had tough competition this cycle, so they maybe didnt attend as many interviews as we all feel they did. again i could be totally wrong, and i hope i am wrong.

 

[DilNyethescienceguy]

Hi everyone, I came across a Waitlist Tracker from 2018 that was created by a reddit user. I thought some of you may be interested.

Link

Interesting but worth noting that this is from the last pre-PTE/CTE cycle

 

[emily3590]

Interesting but worth noting that this is from the last pre-PTE/CTE cycle

I made a new form for people who get in off the WL!! Please please fill it out if you get an A!

Form to fill out: 2021 MD Waitlist Acceptance Tracker

Results:

 

[0rion]

I made a new form for people who get in off the WL!! Please please fill it out if you get an A!

Form to fill out: 2021 MD Waitlist Acceptance Tracker

Results:

Hopefully I can contribute to this for the current cycle haha

 

[Vikingbear16]

I made a new form for people who get in off the WL!! Please please fill it out if you get an A!

Form to fill out: 2021 MD Waitlist Acceptance Tracker

Results:

Thank you for making this! I was just about to ask if there was one for this cycle. Would it be possible to get the results link as a url? We could try to get the folks on reddit to also advertise it maybe!

 

[joshuamarcus]

Thank you for making this! I was just about to ask if there was one for this cycle. Would it be possible to get the results link as a url? We could try to get the folks on reddit to also advertise it maybe!

/https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Mb01RQKkjEd6ePGJk_VzgD8Hw2lY-y4s_8YtwSRUBFg/edit#gid=1059301356

remove the first /

 

[Otterly]

Asking for advice, not a lecture here, as I know I messed up..... I made a huge mistake and completely forgot to press send on my thank you emails to my interviewers from my interview on 3/16. If I send it now does it only draw attention to the fact that I forgot to do it in an appropriate time, or is it better late than never?

 

[plsletmein2021]

Asking for advice, not a lecture here, as I know I messed up..... I made a huge mistake and completely forgot to press send on my thank you emails to my interviewers from my interview on 3/16. If I send it now does it only draw attention to the fact that I forgot to do it in an appropriate time, or is it better late than never?

Go for it!

 

[gyngyn]

Asking for advice, not a lecture here, as I know I messed up..... I made a huge mistake and completely forgot to press send on my thank you emails to my interviewers from my interview on 3/16. If I send it now does it only draw attention to the fact that I forgot to do it in an appropriate time, or is it better late than never?

You did not mess up. Send them if it helps you remain calm. We don't need or expect them.

 

[Otterly]

Ok that does make me feel better! Thank you so much!

 

[FloatingHead]

Do people generally follow the AAMC PTE and CTE deadlines for DO schools as well or is waitlist movement at those schools more fluid (e.g. no concentrated WL movement around 4/15 and 4/30)?

 

[Flareicus]

Do people generally follow the AAMC PTE and CTE deadlines for DO schools as well or is waitlist movement at those schools more fluid (e.g. no concentrated WL movement around 4/15 and 4/30)?

They're separate application systems and protocols, so I wouldn't expect there to be any link.

 

[ohshizmyquad]

Anyone else feeling super unmotivated to work on your reapp while you're waiting for WL?

 

[NoEyeEyeGuy]

Anyone else feeling super unmotivated to work on your reapp while you're waiting for WL?

+1....really tough time maintaining focus for a potential mcat retake.

 

[Microbe_Hunter]

Anyone else feeling super unmotivated to work on your reapp while you're waiting for WL?

I'm not reapping, poured my heart and soul into my app and just don't see how I can ever have a better app than I did first time around; If I don't get in this time, I'll start looking at alternative careers

 

[Otterly]

Just got my last decision. WL #4 babyyyyy.

I haven't even started reapplying yet....My advisor told me to wait until the end of this month first.

 

[cardamom_coffee]

Was wondering...for those of us on WLs, if we get off do we still stand a chance for scholarships? Or, should I expect to take out loans for full COA if I do get off a school's WL? I know it probably varies by school, but does anyone have any anecdotal experience?

 

[wpneuro]

Got an email from the (actually moderately competent!) premed advisor from my undergrad today: apparently, they're "currently at a conference (virtually) and hearing a lot about how the cycle unfolded this year. Sounds like a lot of schools opted to outright accept fewer students this year and will be relying more heavily on waitlists. They aren't sure who will be accepting their offers of admissions since people weren't able to travel to campuses and are making their decision with more limited information. They would rather invite applicants off of the waitlist than risk an overly-full class."

Hopefully that's not them bull****ting us, that last flicker of hope just flared up again 😅

 

[Julatteluver]

Got an email from the (actually moderately competent!) premed advisor from my undergrad today: apparently, they're "currently at a conference (virtually) and hearing a lot about how the cycle unfolded this year. Sounds like a lot of schools opted to outright accept fewer students this year and will be relying more heavily on waitlists. They aren't sure who will be accepting their offers of admissions since people weren't able to travel to campuses and are making their decision with more limited information. They would rather invite applicants off of the waitlist than risk an overly-full class."

Hopefully that's not them bull****ting us, that last flicker of hope just flared up again 😅

dont do this. dont give me hope

 

[DilNyethescienceguy]

dont do this. dont give me hope

Don’t you put that evil on us, Ricky Bobby

 

[bigsgr]

Got an email from the (actually moderately competent!) premed advisor from my undergrad today: apparently, they're "currently at a conference (virtually) and hearing a lot about how the cycle unfolded this year. Sounds like a lot of schools opted to outright accept fewer students this year and will be relying more heavily on waitlists. They aren't sure who will be accepting their offers of admissions since people weren't able to travel to campuses and are making their decision with more limited information. They would rather invite applicants off of the waitlist than risk an overly-full class."

Hopefully that's not them bull****ting us, that last flicker of hope just flared up again 😅

I heard something similar from my premed advisor too one week ago :O **Fingers crossed**

 

[bigsgr]

I'm not reapping, poured my heart and soul into my app and just don't see how I can ever have a better app than I did first time around; If I don't get in this time, I'll start looking at alternative careers

I feel like the odds of you getting in are definitely up there.

If it's of any consolation, ik someone with 4 IIs who didn't get in last cycle (most were top tier schools with virtually no WL movement). This cycle, he's at 10 IIs and like 8 As. He virtually changed nothing about his app (no new ECs, pubs etc). I feel like luck sometimes is such a bigger factor in admissions

 

[eartharte]

Was wondering...for those of us on WLs, if we get off do we still stand a chance for scholarships? Or, should I expect to take out loans for full COA if I do get off a school's WL? I know it probably varies by school, but does anyone have any anecdotal experience?

Also wondering this!

 

[Earthworm Slim]

Got an email from the (actually moderately competent!) premed advisor from my undergrad today: apparently, they're "currently at a conference (virtually) and hearing a lot about how the cycle unfolded this year. Sounds like a lot of schools opted to outright accept fewer students this year and will be relying more heavily on waitlists. They aren't sure who will be accepting their offers of admissions since people weren't able to travel to campuses and are making their decision with more limited information. They would rather invite applicants off of the waitlist than risk an overly-full class."

Hopefully that's not them bull****ting us, that last flicker of hope just flared up again 😅

Somehow I feel both optimistic and even more anxious now that my expectations are higher

 

[Julatteluver]

Was wondering...for those of us on WLs, if we get off do we still stand a chance for scholarships? Or, should I expect to take out loans for full COA if I do get off a school's WL? I know it probably varies by school, but does anyone have any anecdotal experience?

you are right, it depends on the school. Personally this one school I'm waitlisted at made it clear that the school will provide need/merit based scholarships to applicants who come from the waitlist. The other school already maxed out their budget so anyone from the waitlist will have no chance for any aid

 

[DilNyethescienceguy]

I feel like the odds of you getting in are definitely up there.

If it's of any consolation, ik someone with 4 IIs who didn't get in last cycle (most were top tier schools with virtually no WL movement). This cycle, he's at 10 IIs and like 8 As. He virtually changed nothing about his app (no new ECs, pubs etc). I feel like luck sometimes is such a bigger factor in admissions

How much did he change his PS?

 

[romanjoe]

Really hard to say as this cycle has been unlike any other. It's hard for us to rely on historical data to help us predict how things will turn out since our entire interview season has been done virtually and no one has been able to visit. Obviously, every school is in the same boat. We've been conservative in our acceptances so we'll see how things shake out.

Last year, we took a lot of people off our waitlist because students were making decisions while our country was basically locked down. We saw more students choosing to stay at med schools closer to home. We have no idea what this year will look like since interviews were done virtually and no one has formally visited the med schools to which they may be accepted. It's the most unpredictable cycle I've ever seen and I'm not alone - we're all in the same boat.

Here's some replies from Case Western for this cycle, and they're in line with what was said previously: Med schools have been a bit more conservative in their acceptances + more than usual Waitlist movement (even last year)

 

[bigsgr]

How much did he change his PS?

i believe he used a new anecdote and also fine-tuned some of his writing

 

[DilNyethescienceguy]

i believe he used a new anecdote and also fine-tuned some of his writing

Was his anecdote a Nobel Prize?

 

[NoEyeEyeGuy]

Got an email from the (actually moderately competent!) premed advisor from my undergrad today: apparently, they're "currently at a conference (virtually) and hearing a lot about how the cycle unfolded this year. Sounds like a lot of schools opted to outright accept fewer students this year and will be relying more heavily on waitlists. They aren't sure who will be accepting their offers of admissions since people weren't able to travel to campuses and are making their decision with more limited information. They would rather invite applicants off of the waitlist than risk an overly-full class."

couldnt this be bad for those of us on the WL though? im just thinking here. doesnt that mean each school must have put more people on their waitlist, thereby lowering the odds. im sorry im a bit sleepy at the moment, so its quite possible that my logical reasoning skills are not the best atm.

 

[Julatteluver]

couldnt this be bad for those of us on the WL though? im just thinking here. doesnt that mean each school must have put more people on their waitlist, thereby lowering the odds. im sorry im a bit sleepy at the moment, so its quite possible that my logical reasoning skills are not the best atm.

I think the point of having more ppl on the waitlist was due to accepting less people bc of the worries that schools had since this cycle was a pure nightmare. Since schools accepted less -> they are expecting to pull more people from the waitlist than usual. In general, it should be a good news for us. There may be some schools with less movements especially top tier schools, but overall it seems like people are expecting bigger movement!

 

[NoEyeEyeGuy]

I think the point of having more ppl on the waitlist was due to accepting less people bc of the worries that schools had since this cycle was a pure nightmare. Since schools accepted less -> they are expecting to pull more people from the waitlist than usual. In general, it should be a good news for us. There may be some schools with less movements especially top tier schools, but overall it seems like people are expecting bigger movement!

lets gooo...hope ya'll are right!

 

[Earthworm Slim]

lets gooo...hope ya'll are right!

Also, most of us are on multiple WL so even if the WL are large now, they will get smaller as more are pulled off and withdraw.

 

[Studytrain]

do we think that there is a delay in movement when 4/15 and 4/30 hit or do you all think it will move on/before those days?

 

[KnightDoc]

do we think that there is a delay in movement when 4/15 and 4/30 hit or do you all think it will move on/before those days?

It's the same every year. Movement has already begun, because people have been dropping As for weeks already. It will pick up around 4/15, because a lot of people will drop more then due to the "rules."

It will really pick up around 4/30, because most people will be forced to drop to one A on or before that date. Delays, and the amount of movement, are entirely school specific, and will depend on how much they over accepted in the first place, what their yield is, and exactly what their process is for calling people off the WL (full adcom, subcommittee, strictly ranked WL, etc.).

Beyond looking for clues from what actually happened the last two years (since the new protocols went into effect), it's kind of pointless to try to generalize or divine what is going to happen, on what day, at what school. Suffice it to say that a year-long marathon is now in its final few weeks for most people, and they will have a very good idea of exactly how this cycle panned out for them by this time next month.

 

[throwaway2020202112345]

It’s past midnight on 4/15. Where’s my A!?
/s

 

[deleted1051859]

I think the point of having more ppl on the waitlist was due to accepting less people bc of the worries that schools had since this cycle was a pure nightmare. Since schools accepted less -> they are expecting to pull more people from the waitlist than usual. In general, it should be a good news for us. There may be some schools with less movements especially top tier schools, but overall it seems like people are expecting bigger movement!

Don’t schools still have to have a full class by 3/15 per AAMC though? Or do you think they just hit that minimum number and are expecting people to drop and pull off the waitlist?

 

[Julatteluver]

Don’t schools still have to have a full class by 3/15 per AAMC though? Or do you think they just hit that minimum number and are expecting people to drop and pull off the waitlist?

(someone tell me if I am wrong) according to what I’ve seen/read, schools are ‘recommended’ to accept about their class size by 3/15. So there is no obligation to begin with. Also remember, when schools accept, they tend to over accept by twice their class size (approximately) to compensate withdrawls that will happen eventually, especially for mid to low tier schools that are selected as ‘safety’ for super applicants. I’m assuming that schools probably did accept about their class size, but didn’t over accept as much as they would do normally since it can hurt their yield rate badly if they accept a bunch of applicants who all end up dropping. This makes sense according to what other user’s advisor was saying, schools are probably more willing to put more applicants to the waitlist pile so that later on they can accept applicants more accordingly.

 

[0rion]

An actual image of me expecting to wake up to an A

 

[plsletmein2021]

I just got the AMCAS outreach email. For clarification, after April 30th schools can see how many acceptances and waitlists each candidate has? Or just how many acceptance each applicant has?

 

[blondedoctor22]

Can you not remain on other waitlists after you CTE?

 

[Julatteluver]

I just got the AMCAS outreach email. For clarification, after April 30th schools can see how many acceptances and waitlists each candidate has? Or just how many acceptance each applicant has?

Is there anyone else who do not receive any sort of informational email like this from AMCAS? I literally do not receive anything from them

 

[deleted936329]

Is there anyone else who do not receive any sort of informational email like this from AMCAS? I literally do not receive anything from them

Honestly you’re probably better off without them lol
I don’t even read them at this point because I’m only WLed
And you can find the info online whenever you need it

 

[deleted1082199]

Is there anyone else who do not receive any sort of informational email like this from AMCAS? I literally do not receive anything from them

I am not sure if I've missed emails in the past but I def didn't get the one they're talking about today.

 

[deleted1082199]

Honestly you’re probably better off without them lol
I don’t even read them at this point because I’m only WLed
And you can find the info online whenever you need it

Would someone mind posting what the email said here? Sorry :/ Not sure why only some got it. Maybe because I'm only on one WL lol.

edit: or if someone knows where to look for this info online lmk please! I cant find it on the AAMC site and, though I'm only on one WL, it seems like the info in the email might lead to a change in movement for everyone ?

 

[wysdoc]

Can you not remain on other waitlists after you CTE?

If you want to remain on WLs, keep your accepted school designated as PTE.

Committing more formally "CTE" means you should withdraw yourself from WLs by contacting schools.
The system does not automatically do it for you.

However, if one of your WL schools sees that you have marked a different school "CTE", they can remove you from further consideration for WL offers.

Even though the rules are confusing, the bottom line is that you will have to make some decisions soon and should be thinking about it now.
You may also have to make some decisions without having all possible financial aid information.
If offered any new spot, read very carefully to see when they require an answer from you!

 

[deleted1057987]

Did not realize it was April 15th until that amcas email....cheers to the WL movement on the horizon

 

[FrankStarling]

Fingers crossed for everyone over the next couple of weeks. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.

 

[WaitlistedAppRIP]

Hi I’m currently waitlisted at the only school that interviewed me. Should I submit a letter of intent + update ASAP or is it something that is less urgent? I do plan on submitting one this weekend... but I imagine the school won’t be reviewing my app until May.

Also, I’m aware that I don’t have much leverage lol but it won’t hurt to send a LOI + minor updates anyways?

 

[DilNyethescienceguy]

Hi I’m currently waitlisted at the only school that interviewed me. Should I submit a letter of intent + update ASAP or is it something that is less urgent? I do plan on submitting one this weekend... but I imagine the school won’t be reviewing my app until May.

Whatever you choose to submit, do it before April 30.