2020 Cycle Waitlist Support Thread

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I'm sitting at #6 on my IS ranked waitlist (which is my first choice)... It's moved more than I thought it would but I'm really hoping it doesn't grind to a halt in mid-May like it did last year. Kinda scary, but I'm already accepted to a great school so that lessens the stress a little.
 
Zen Arcade said:
I'm sitting at #6 on my IS ranked waitlist (which is my first choice)... It's moved more than I thought it would but I'm really hoping it doesn't grind to a halt in mid-May like it did last year. Kinda scary, but I'm already accepted to a great school so that lessens the stress a little.
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Wow your school tells you exactly where you’re ranked?
 
aayz345 said:
I may be misinformed but what happens on 5/15?
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What happens is that it’s the Friday before May 18th, which as a group we have all promised to make the new May 1st. In other words, it’s the Friday each and every one of us take time to think as hard as we can with our brains, bend reality, and Jedi mind trick adcoms to start moving the WL on May 18th.

Disclaimer: if May 18th shows no promise June 1st will be the new May 1st.
 
Hiddenleaf09 said:
Wow your school tells you exactly where you’re ranked?
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Yeah its a blessing and a curse tbh... I know exactly where I'm at, but at the same time the ability to get off the waitlist lies solely in the hands of accepted students withdrawing (LOI, extra recommendations, etc do nothing) and its easy to get a false sense of optimism
 
PreMed8675309 said:
What happens is that it’s the Friday before May 18th, which as a group we have all promised to make the new May 1st. In other words, it’s the Friday each and every one of us take time to think as hard as we can with our brains, bend reality, and Jedi mind trick adcoms to start moving the WL on May 18th.

Disclaimer: if May 18th shows no promise June 1st will be the new May 1st.
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And if it’s not June 1st, then it’s July 1st and then it just drags on until Covid-19 ends and that’s when it actually starts moving. Lol.
 
Is AMCAS down for any of you? Mine has been “temporarily unavailable” since last night. I want to access the choose my medical school tool to see if by chance I got into one of my WL schools but they haven’t informed me yet...
 
Can someone explain why we're (MD waitlists) treating May 15th/18th like the new May 1st now? Is there a CTE-sort of deadline then or is it just when DO schools are starting to move?
 
dneqv94 said:
Can someone explain why we're (MD waitlists) treating May 15th/18th like the new May 1st now? Is there a CTE-sort of deadline then or is it just when DO schools are starting to move?
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Tbh I don’t think there’s too much science to it. It’s just the fact that things seem to be extremely delayed and May 1 did not go as plan, we are choosing to put our hope in something for the sake of not going mentally insane. That seems like a reasonable time to wait.

this is highly anecdotal as it just happens to be the situation for the schools I’m waitlisted at, but Texas day to narrow to one choice is may 15, which should produce some movement. And an OOS school im WL at chose May 15 to be their last day to accept deposits. so at least for me May 18 seems logical
 
Guys don't lose hope! A week ago I had 0 acceptances and now I have 2 including my top choice! Also, I sent LOIs/updates every month to every school I got WL'ed at since getting waitlisted. Mid-April I sent every school a page-long email personalized to each school stating why I love the school, that I'm interested in attending, and why I would be a could fit/how I would contribute to the school. I also only explicitly stated that the school is definitively my top choice (aka letter of intent) to one school which was my top choice. This is probably all school specific but I felt like this couldn't hurt my chances and if anything it would either not do anything or help so I felt it was worth it. But I know some schools explicitly say not to send LOIs and updates (I think Albert Einstein is one of these schools?) so I wouldn't do it if a school tells you not to.
 
FutureSawbones said:
Guys don't lose hope! A week ago I had 0 acceptances and now I have 2 including my top choice! Also, I sent LOIs/updates every month to every school I got WL'ed at since getting waitlisted. Mid-April I sent every school a page-long email personalized to each school stating why I love the school, that I'm interested in attending, and why I would be a could fit/how I would contribute to the school. I also only explicitly stated that the school is definitively my top choice (aka letter of intent) to one school which was my top choice. This is probably all school specific but I felt like this couldn't hurt my chances and if anything it would either not do anything or help so I felt it was worth it. But I know some schools explicitly say not to send LOIs and updates (I think Albert Einstein is one of these schools?) so I wouldn't do it if a school tells you not to.
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That’s what I was wondering. So for one school im waitlisted at, I sent my LOI in November and an update in February. For the other one I sent an LOI in January. I don’t really have anything to update them w besides completion of a medical spanish course which is not really significant enough to warrant a whole update letter. So do you think I should just sit tight, or email another update and try and fluff it up? Since I don’t have too much significant to say i was thinking it might hurt me more than help
 
What if the school I'm waitlisted at doesn't accept updates? Would a LOI be useless?
 
Aan061 said:
What if the school I'm waitlisted at doesn't accept updates? Would a LOI be useless?
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As I see it yes, at best they’ll ignore it and at worst it’ll be seen as not following directions. Some schools do allow them after a certain date so I’d check if your school does that.
 
FutureSawbones said:
Guys don't lose hope! A week ago I had 0 acceptances and now I have 2 including my top choice! Also, I sent LOIs/updates every month to every school I got WL'ed at since getting waitlisted. Mid-April I sent every school a page-long email personalized to each school stating why I love the school, that I'm interested in attending, and why I would be a could fit/how I would contribute to the school. I also only explicitly stated that the school is definitively my top choice (aka letter of intent) to one school which was my top choice. This is probably all school specific but I felt like this couldn't hurt my chances and if anything it would either not do anything or help so I felt it was worth it. But I know some schools explicitly say not to send LOIs and updates (I think Albert Einstein is one of these schools?) so I wouldn't do it if a school tells you not to.
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How many LOI and updates have you sent? I have sent four two pre-II two post-II
 
sun_flower580 said:
That’s what I was wondering. So for one school im waitlisted at, I sent my LOI in November and an update in February. For the other one I sent an LOI in January. I don’t really have anything to update them w besides completion of a medical spanish course which is not really significant enough to warrant a whole update letter. So do you think I should just sit tight, or email another update and try and fluff it up? Since I don’t have too much significant to say i was thinking it might hurt me more than help
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War of Arts said:
How many LOI and updates have you sent? I have sent four two pre-II two post-II
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Honestly I had no significant updates. I basically fluffed it up but made it more of a letter of interest. Basically just saying I'm still very interested.

I sent 3 or 4 to each school post interview (depending on how early in the season I was WL'ed). I also sent a pre-II update to most schools. I think I also sent an extra interest/update letter in January to my top choice schools because it was getting late in the interview season and there was still complete silence and I ended up getting an II a day later to one of them.

Edit: Also I almost forgot! I also had the doctor I've been working for during my gap year send an additional letter of recommendation!
 
sun_flower580 said:
Tbh I don’t think there’s too much science to it. It’s just the fact that things seem to be extremely delayed and May 1 did not go as plan, we are choosing to put our hope in something for the sake of not going mentally insane. That seems like a reasonable time to wait.

this is highly anecdotal as it just happens to be the situation for the schools I’m waitlisted at, but Texas day to narrow to one choice is may 15, which should produce some movement. And an OOS school im WL at chose May 15 to be their last day to accept deposits. so at least for me May 18 seems logical
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Its pure speculation. One cannot paint the generic waitlist movement with a brush. It is school specific. Take a look at Vermont, EVMS, VCU, NYMC. They have all seen plenty of WL movement.
 
XceptionallyAvg said:
Does waitlist movement typically stop after CTE dates or does it just slow?
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It depends completely on that specific school. Every school made handles the waitlist differently after they got rid of the multiple acceptance reports. EACH schools handles PTE and CTE differently.
 
For what it's worth (and since I was bored last night), I randomly clicked on a few schools from the alphabetical listing on SDN and one of the schools that had WL movement had people getting off it who had no prior acceptances (they mentioned it in their post)....maybe schools look into that and accept people who will definitely go there since they have no other acceptances?
 
Talldoctor96 said:
Its pure speculation. One cannot paint the generic waitlist movement with a brush. It is school specific. Take a look at Vermont, EVMS, VCU, NYMC. They have all seen plenty of WL movement.
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We know. It’s all school specific. If anything we are just discussing the appearance of trends in admissions decisions to share our common experiences, as this thread is designated for offering support and encouragement.

Thank you for your input, your dedication to posting in pre-med/WL forums after receiving an A from your top choice school is… interesting.
 
I really want to ask my top choice if they started accepting people off the waitlist since the school specific thread is dead. Then again, I don’t want to be seen as a stage 5 clinger. I think I’ll play it cool 😎 and ask around May 18th is nobody posts in the school specific thread by then.
 
fatherofdragons said:
I really want to ask my top choice if they started accepting people off the waitlist since the school specific thread is dead. Then again, I don’t want to be seen as a stage 5 clinger. I think I’ll play it cool 😎 and ask around May 18th is nobody posts in the school specific thread by then.
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It is v dead haha maybe the school is just delayed 🙁
 
justrandomthings said:
For what it's worth (and since I was bored last night), I randomly clicked on a few schools from the alphabetical listing on SDN and one of the schools that had WL movement had people getting off it who had no prior acceptances (they mentioned it in their post)....maybe schools look into that and accept people who will definitely go there since they have no other acceptances?
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Can schools you're waitlisted at see if you have no acceptances? Also, do you happen to remember which schools? I'm curious
 
cc2425 said:
Can schools you're waitlisted at see if you have no acceptances? Also, do you happen to remember which schools? I'm curious
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Yes when they run the report if you are on the waitlist and have no acceptances, your name will not be on the report.

I am speculating that less acceptances were handed out this year, so schools are just waiting for people to get back to them or CTE before pulling off waitlist. I am betting it’s the same people who are on multiple WL or have multiple acceptances, so we are just waiting for this group to make up their minds.

I am also speculating that WL movement is pretty much over and this year maybe less people were posting on SDN especially with the whole COVID pandemic, so SDN is not that important to many people.

Unfortunately, the more days that go by the more theory 2 is becoming a reality....
 
I’ve been following this thread closely and really appreciate how supportive everyone is. I recently heard that the school I am waitlisted at is having “spacing issues” in terms of the waitlist. Does anyone have any insight into what this means exactly?
 
MDMVP15 said:
Yes when they run the report if you are on the waitlist and have no acceptances, your name will not be on the report.

I am speculating that less acceptances were handed out this year, so schools are just waiting for people to get back to them or CTE before pulling off waitlist. I am betting it’s the same people who are on multiple WL or have multiple acceptances, so we are just waiting for this group to make up their minds.

I am also speculating that WL movement is pretty much over and this year maybe less people were posting on SDN especially with the whole COVID pandemic, so SDN is not that important to many people.

Unfortunately, the more days that go by the more theory 2 is becoming a reality....
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I'm highly doubtful that WL movement is over. that's such a reach in my opinion and sort of a downer on this thread
 
Shade1111 said:
I’ve been following this thread closely and really appreciate how supportive everyone is. I recently heard that the school I am waitlisted at is having “spacing issues” in terms of the waitlist. Does anyone have any insight into what this means exactly?
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is there more context? Given what you said they probably have a class that is full right now. But using my theory above, I assume that even though the class is full right now, not everyone has CTE’d yet. I bet many students are still sitting with PTE and holding out on other WL spots.

So nothing can really happen until people start committing
 
painfullytired said:
I'm highly doubtful that WL movement is over. that's such a reach in my opinion and sort of a downer on this thread
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+1 on the doubt haha. My WL school has it's own WL thread with lots of activity but no movement reported. If anything, I feel like I personally have more time now to stress and check. Plus the other public school in my state has shown lots of waitlist movement on their school specific thread that has been way less active than my school's thread

Basically, I don't think 0 reported movement at some schools has to do with less activity and accepted people not posting
 
Anyone else been waiting for hours to try and schedule/reschedule their mcat? This is beyond annoying.
 
MDMVP15 said:
is there more context? Given what you said they probably have a class that is full right now. But using my theory above, I assume that even though the class is full right now, not everyone has CTE’d yet. I bet many students are still sitting with PTE and holding out on other WL spots.

So nothing can really happen until people start committing
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Unfortunately,
MDMVP15 said:
is there more context? Given what you said they probably have a class that is full right now. But using my theory above, I assume that even though the class is full right now, not everyone has CTE’d yet. I bet many students are still sitting with PTE and holding out on other WL spots.

So nothing can really happen until people start committing
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Unfortunately, that’s all I really know. Someone who withdrew from the waitlist was told that by an admissions committee member, so we’re trying to make some sense of it. Thank you for your input!
 
fatherofdragons said:
I really want to ask my top choice if they started accepting people off the waitlist since the school specific thread is dead. Then again, I don’t want to be seen as a stage 5 clinger. I think I’ll play it cool 😎 and ask around May 18th is nobody posts in the school specific thread by then.
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I think we're on the same WL! I tried to message you to share info but I can't.. Feel free to message me 🙂
 
DrOwenHunt said:
Just had a good friend of mine go through a nightmare--a few weeks ago he was sitting on several Acceptances from T10 schools -- BioE, 520+, GPA showed upward trend, couple pubs. He even has some new side hustle with his secondary application photo in the biography page. After April 30th, he changed that bio to say he was an incoming student at a T5 school.

Fast forward to May the Fourth Be with you (May 4th), HE GETS HIS OFFER RESCINDED! No explanation. Just like that it vaporized. I am not sure if there was an inconsistency found in his application or maybe they discovered a typo or his activities references didn't check out whatever I don't know the point is I knew it was for real (the red hot angry tears are something you can definitely pick up on Facetime) was because that same school that rescinded had WL movement the very next day. Now I don't know about you, but isn't one of Hill's criteria for causality temporality?

Let's stay strong, everybody. For every horror story like mine, we have countless success stories just above me. Thank you everyone
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This is the saddest thing I’ve ever read
 
fdizzle12 said:
What's everyone's MCAT scores that they're retaking? I'm trying to figure out if I should retake mine.
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I think deciding to retake will depend on whether or not you think you can significantly improve your score (3+ points), and what the median scores are for the schools you want to attend. If you feel like you need to and are able to improve, then I'd say go for it. Otherwise don't put yourself through the stress
 
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