2020-2021 Waitlist Support Thread

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Blue Lion said:
I feel like waiting on decisions would be so much easier for me if I had like, anything else to do.

Can't go to restaurants and movies.
Can't see my friends.
Can't go to any events like concerts or sports.
And am sort of tired of video games and books after a year of being stuck inside of my house.

I miss the outside world T_T
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Travel...most countries require rapid tests and backpacking is fairly cheap. That's my plan after I take this MCAT in case I have to reapply.
 
swiftcoffeemed said:
seeing people get off the WL but they seem uninterested in your school/withdraw from the acceptance makes me so sad bc if the school just took me i'd commit ASAP
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I’m actually glad when that happens because at least they will decline their A and the WL will have to move more. Today, it’s been total silent for all my schools so far
 
swiftcoffeemed said:
seeing people get off the WL but they seem uninterested in your school/withdraw from the acceptance makes me so sad bc if the school just took me i'd commit ASAP
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I’d also take this as a good sign! This can also mean then if/when they withdraw, you’ll be a step closer to getting the A!
 
swiftcoffeemed said:
seeing people get off the WL but they seem uninterested in your school/withdraw from the acceptance makes me so sad bc if the school just took me i'd commit ASAP
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That's oftentimes the irony this time of year, as the rich always seem to get richer. The nice thing about this process, however, is that the music doesn't stop until every seat is filled, so all of the As have to ultimately find their way into the hands of someone who needs them!!! 🙂
 
swiftcoffeemed said:
seeing people get off the WL but they seem uninterested in your school/withdraw from the acceptance makes me so sad bc if the school just took me i'd commit ASAP
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The other side of it is when someone gets multiple A’s even off waitlists but of course decides to take the one where you are waitlisted...endless pain
 
ClarePotots said:
Trying to maintain my sanity. I am on 1 waitlist now and am hoping for the best but have decided to study for the MCAT again in preparation for the next cycle. Not gonna lie this waiting is not my favorite.
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If I also decide to retake the MCAT and improve my app, we should absolutely make a group chat to support each other. WL gang=family 💪🏼
 
ClarePotots said:
Trying to maintain my sanity. I am on 1 waitlist now and am hoping for the best but have decided to study for the MCAT again in preparation for the next cycle. Not gonna lie this waiting is not my favorite.
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In the same boat. I was thinking about starting to study again but checked last night and there are no spots to take it anywhere remotely close to me. Kinda lost
 
spicymeatball said:
In the same boat. I was thinking about starting to study again but checked last night and there are no spots to take it anywhere remotely close to me. Kinda lost
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Yeah when I got waitlisted I started studying so I can avoid a gap year but I may still take one, not sure yet.
 
Been really piling hope onto my waitlist position because I'm going to be honest: I really, reaaaally don't want to take the MCAT again, especially having taken it three times already.

But it's also really the only area of my application that could use improvement, so I pretty much will have to retake it if I don't get off my waitlists...
 
Blue Lion said:
Been really piling hope onto my waitlist position because I'm going to be honest: I really, reaaaally don't want to take the MCAT again, especially having taken it three times already.

But it's also really the only area of my application that could use improvement, so I pretty much will have to retake it if I don't get off my waitlists...
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damn, going for a 4th MCAT retake; you, my friend, are a goddamn soldier
 
Hey guys quick Q. I'm on the WL for Georgetown, and seems like two people got off the WL this morning. I don't want to think this is the end of WL movement (bc last year Gtown's biggest WL wave was around May 10), but how can a school so expensive and with mid tier rank be already full? There's gotta be more movement right?
Sorry guys, I'm desperate and sad hahah
 
ohshizmyquad said:
Hey guys quick Q. I'm on the WL for Georgetown, and seems like two people got off the WL this morning. I don't want to think this is the end of WL movement (bc last year Gtown's biggest WL wave was around May 10), but how can a school so expensive and with mid tier rank be already full? There's gotta be more movement right?
Sorry guys, I'm desperate and sad hahah
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Supply and demand my friend.
 
Blue Lion said:
Been really piling hope onto my waitlist position because I'm going to be honest: I really, reaaaally don't want to take the MCAT again, especially having taken it three times already.

But it's also really the only area of my application that could use improvement, so I pretty much will have to retake it if I don't get off my waitlists...
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I feel that, the rest of my application is solid just my score is lackluster. I am trying to focus on using this time to improve my knowledge. It sucks but I know eventually I will get through to an acceptance as will you! If it helps this will be my third attempt because I let the fear of not applying force my hand early and I wasn't ready the other times. My attempts are 1 month apart, not my smartest move.
 
Microbe_Hunter said:
damn, going for a 4th MCAT retake; you, my friend, are a goddamn soldier
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ClarePotots said:
I feel that, the rest of my application is solid just my score is lackluster. I am trying to focus on using this time to improve my knowledge. It sucks but I know eventually I will get through to an acceptance as will you! If it helps this will be my third attempt because I let the fear of not applying force my hand early and I wasn't ready the other times. My attempts are 1 month apart, not my smartest move.
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Honestly, my first retake I was -very- ill prepared (got like a 497). And then three months later when I took it again I did muuuch better (got a 505).

That was back in 2016, lol. Then in 2018, I took it again and only got three points up, but I had some really bad personal experiences the week prior and had such little focus.

Now none of those scores are considered, but I definitely feel like I'm in the best state of mind that I've ever been so I'd be willing to do it. The actual content material isn't the issue though (I've gone through psychsoc, biochem, pchem, and biology principles more times than I can count), it's just all the analysis and reading that is required in such a short period of time...
 
Blue Lion said:
Honestly, my first retake I was -very- ill prepared (got like a 497). And then three months later when I took it again I did muuuch better (got a 505).

That was back in 2016, lol. Then in 2018, I took it again and only got three points up, but I had some really bad personal experiences the week prior and had such little focus.

Now none of those scores are considered, but I definitely feel like I'm in the best state of mind that I've ever been so I'd be willing to do it. The actual content material isn't the issue though (I've gone through psychsoc, biochem, pchem, and biology principles more times than I can count), it's just all the analysis and reading that is required in such a short period of time...
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The best preparation for you is grinding through practice tests (FLs) with test-day conditions.
 
I contacted a school that I'm WL'd at (the school had some WL movement today), and upon asking if seats were still open for WLers, they said:

Thank you for contacting our office! We have started to see some waitlist movement and expect to see some more movement especially nearing the June 15th deadline. Waitlist movement can occur up until the first day of orientation.

is this a good sign?
 
ohshizmyquad said:
I contacted a school that I'm WL'd at (the school had some WL movement today), and upon asking if seats were still open for WLers, they said:

Thank you for contacting our office! We have started to see some waitlist movement and expect to see some more movement especially nearing the June 15th deadline. Waitlist movement can occur up until the first day of orientation.

is this a good sign?
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Yes ofc
 
Wanted to get opinions on reaching out to schools that I’m WLd at (3 in total), my top 3 schools that I applied to. I have an A already, and I basically want to know what my chances are so that I know if I can start planning to get an apartment/buy a car (I would need a car for my current A but ⅔ of my WL schools are in places that make a car cumbersome).
is it generally seen as an acceptable thing to do to ask for a candid response on if I have a chance? Or could it hurt me in some way?
Edit: none of my WLs are ranked so I have no idea where I am on their radars
 
koki22z said:
Wanted to get opinions on reaching out to schools that I’m WLd at (3 in total), my top 3 schools that I applied to. I have an A already, and I basically want to know what my chances are so that I know if I can start planning to get an apartment/buy a car (I would need a car for my current A but ⅔ of my WL schools are in places that make a car cumbersome).
is it generally seen as an acceptable thing to do to ask for a candid response on if I have a chance? Or could it hurt me in some way?
Edit: none of my WLs are ranked so I have no idea where I am on their radars
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I doubt it's going to hurt you, but I'd be prepared for their not having much info to give you, especially if they are indeed unranked.
 
ohshizmyquad said:
Hey guys quick Q. I'm on the WL for Georgetown, and seems like two people got off the WL this morning. I don't want to think this is the end of WL movement (bc last year Gtown's biggest WL wave was around May 10), but how can a school so expensive and with mid tier rank be already full? There's gotta be more movement right?
Sorry guys, I'm desperate and sad hahah
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No need to be either desperate or sad, at least not yet!

There is no way to know that WL movement is over until matriculation, because things happen that cause people to withdraw at the last minute.

Being full has nothing to do with cost or rank, and everything to do with how accurately the school predicted yield when issuing their initial As.

Yes, there will almost certainly be more movement at most schools. Remember, WL movement almost anywhere could cause a spot to open up at Georgetown, or any other school for that matter. This is why it is pointless to lose hope this early in the WL season. WL movement at any school could easily cause movement at any other school.
 
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koki22z said:
Wanted to get opinions on reaching out to schools that I’m WLd at (3 in total), my top 3 schools that I applied to. I have an A already, and I basically want to know what my chances are so that I know if I can start planning to get an apartment/buy a car (I would need a car for my current A but ⅔ of my WL schools are in places that make a car cumbersome).
is it generally seen as an acceptable thing to do to ask for a candid response on if I have a chance? Or could it hurt me in some way?
Edit: none of my WLs are ranked so I have no idea where I am on their radars
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It's not going to help or hurt.

There is no law against being transparent, and many schools are. If your schools have not communicated your relative spot or chances to you (top third, HPWL, #X, whatever), then your schools have apparently chosen not to be transparent. A phone call will probably not cause them to make an exception for you, but take a shot. You have nothing to lose. They won't hold it against you.

If you really don't want to deal with the uncertainty, you can end it right now by withdrawing and making plans at the school that has already given you an A. Many thousands of people have already done just this, some of them for the very issue you are dealing with. If your WL schools are so much better for you, this is the situation you find yourself in, and, unfortunately, the seller's market allows schools to do exactly what is being done to you. A phone call isn't going to change that, other than the one where you receive an A.
 
school i'm currently WL at said that only 1 spot opened up on the high priority list, but they think a few more will open up this month. idk how I feel about this... I know i'm in the top 10 of the list so I need 9 more spots to open but movement has been minimal so far 🙁
 
Robotginger127 said:
school i'm currently WL at said that only 1 spot opened up on the high priority list, but they think a few more will open up this month. idk how I feel about this... I know i'm in the top 10 of the list so I need 9 more spots to open but movement has been minimal so far 🙁
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Top 10 doesn't mean #10, does it? If not, how do you know you won't be next????
 
4B91FB2A-FD6B-4547-8CB1-15479C81DF3F.jpeg


Been a while since I posted a meme
 
Robotginger127 said:
That is true I don’t lol but I could also be 10, just trying to predict as much as possible
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You're right --worst case is 9 more spots need to open. Best case, one more spot. Most likely, somewhere in the middle. Just remember, in addition to spots opening up, you can also move up if people ahead of you just withdraw from the WL. I'd think it's pretty likely that if they told you that you are T10, you will be called.
 
KnightDoc said:
There is no law against being transparent, and many schools are. If your schools have not communicated your relative spot or chances to you (top third, HPWL, #X, whatever), then your schools have apparently chosen not to be transparent.
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If they tell you that they don't know how the committee will view the remaining alternate list holders, would that be transparent enough? Because, frankly that's the answer at a boat-load of schools.
 
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gyngyn said:
If they tell you that they don't know how the committee will view the remaining alternate list holders, would that be transparent enough? Because, frankly that's the answer at a boat-load of schools.
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I think the frustration is that this entire process isn't transparent enough. Schools don't send out rejections till the cycle is long over, they don't communicate waitlist and alternate list policy properly and frankly many schools don't even read updates and LOIs. For students to spend thousands of dollars, respectfully ask for information, and still get obscure responses is frustrating. I think schools need to have the same respect for applicants as applicants have for schools.
 
gyngyn said:
If they tell you is that they don't know how the committee will view the remaining alternate list holders, would that be transparent enough? Because, frankly that's the answer at a boat-load of schools.
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Sure! But that begs the question why they leave it hanging this long instead of forming an unranked, stratified list that would allow the admissions office to communicate relative position to candidates (such as upper third, high priority, top 10, whatever) and would delegate final decisions to a subcommittee, as allowed under LCME rules?

Whose interests, if anyone's, are served by delaying rough sorting and voting until sometime after 4/30, when adcoms have been sitting on scored files literally for months? I'm sure it happens, and I'm sure it's because the last thing those adcoms consider important is the stress this places on WL candidates, both those with, and especially without, other As. The fact that ALL schools don't do this is evidence that it doesn't have to be this way.

Just another benefit of the seller's market. 🙂 In a more balanced market, if schools were at risk of actually losing attractive candidates needed to fill seats, I'm pretty sure they'd find a way to be a lot more user friendly, and they'd somehow manage to provide desired information to candidates in a much more timely manner.
 
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Dr.EMD said:
@gyngyn it seems you're a physician. If you're on ADCOMS I would love to chat with you about the student perspective. Clearly if you're on SDN you have some interest in hearing our perspective which we appreciate wholeheartedly.
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@gyngyn is by far one of the most awesome, user friendly advocates for us in the adcom universe, who probably knows more about the student perspective than many of the students. 😎

I'm sure she's just sharing the unvarnished truth with us, and I'd be careful about shooting the messenger. JMHO!!
 
KnightDoc said:
Sure! But that begs the question why they leave it hanging this long instead of forming an unranked, stratified list that would allow the admissions office to communicate relative position to candidates (such as upper third, high priority, top 10, whatever) and would delegate final decisions to a subcommittee, as allowed under LCME rules?

Whose interests, if anyone's, are served by delaying rough sorting and voting until sometime after 4/30, when adcoms have been sitting on scored files literally for months? I'm sure it happens, and I'm sure it's because the last thing those adcoms consider important is the stress this places on WL candidates, both those with, and especially without, other As. The fact that ALL schools don't do this is evidence that it doesn't have to be this way.

Just another benefit of the seller's market. 🙂 In a more balanced market, if schools were at risk of actually losing attractive candidates needed to fill seats, I'm pretty sure they'd find a way to be a lot more user friendly, and they'd somehow manage to provide desired information to candidates in a much more timely manner.
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If you are asking me why medical schools have slow-moving responses in a fast moving world, I am only one person at one school. I am merely explaining as transparently as I can with what I have observed.

No one knows at the end of the primary acceptance season who will remain on April 30th. What may have constituted a good waitlist in Mid March (when many committees have essentially concluded their work) might be no where near good on May 10th.

You are correct in observing that every waitlist has an abundant number of excellent candidates (probably even schools that I hold in low esteem).
 
KnightDoc said:
@gyngyn

I'm sure she's just sharing the unvarnished truth with us, and I'd be careful about shooting the messenger. JMHO!!
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Would you be disappointed if I were not a she/her/hers?
 
Dr.EMD said:
I think the frustration is that this entire process isn't transparent enough. Schools don't send out rejections till the cycle is long over, they don't communicate waitlist and alternate list policy properly and frankly many schools don't even read updates and LOIs. For students to spend thousands of dollars, respectfully ask for information, and still get obscure responses is frustrating. I think schools need to have the same respect for applicants as applicants have for schools.
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I also find this unacceptable.
 
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