2020 Cycle Waitlist Support Thread

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
FWIW... I submitted a request for feedback from the University of Washington (yes, I am an in-state applicant... they only give feedback to in-state applicants) on 2/21. They emailed me on 3/18 saying they should have it within a month and I still haven’t heard anything. I’m eagerly awaiting the feedback because I know it will be invaluable to those of us who are reapplying, but I don’t think it’s going to be a priority for most adcoms. It may be a while before we hear anything, especially since the WL movement is so delayed and that will be prioritized over feedback


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
ismyexistenceamemeyet said:
Do you know their policy of how they pull from the WL (ranked vs unranked)? If it’s unranked, maybe ask how do they choose for seats as they open up?

How full is the class? (Not sure if they have access to this info) Do they have info on when the class filled up or any prior history on when people got off the WL? (Like what was the latest someone got off)

How generous are they with financial aid or any accommodations for people taken off the WL after April 30th?

How long do you have to accept their offer?

How do they deal with existential crises and relate to WLed souls who might experience them?

What is their proficiency in the comprehension of memes?
Click to expand...
I think I wrote it wrong. I'm pretty far down the list on the WL. I was just hoping to get feedback and if there were any questions I'd need to remember to ask so that I make the most out of this appointment. Thank you for the suggestions though!
 
Aan061 said:
I made my appointments last week when I knew my placement. I'm on a ranked list so it was easier to justify why I was reaching out early.
Click to expand...

Only one of my schools (out of 5) are ranked and they even tell us which part they are pulling off of currently. For the rest I have no clue what position I am and hence the uncertainty of when to ask for feedback.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Aan061 said:
I think I wrote it wrong. I'm pretty far down the list on the WL. I was just hoping to get feedback and if there were any questions I'd need to remember to ask so that I make the most out of this appointment. Thank you for the suggestions though!
Click to expand...
Oh! Actually I think I’d ask how they ranked their WL then.

Would they even have access to what the adcoms said/thought about you? If they do that would be helpful too (I’m not sure if they can provide meaningful feedback without that)
 
ismyexistenceamemeyet said:
Oh! Actually I think I’d ask how they ranked their WL then.

Would they even have access to what the adcoms said/thought about you? If they do that would be helpful too (I’m not sure if they can provide meaningful feedback without that)
Click to expand...
I actually have two appointments with the same school. One is with the admissions officer and the other is with the director of their pathways program. I will have to ask if they have that information. I'm pretty lucky in that I was actively involved in the medical school's outreach program and was able to get the second appointment.
 
studentdoctor? said:
Only one of my schools (out of 5) are ranked and they even tell us which part they are pulling off of currently. For the rest I have no clue what position I am and hence the uncertainty of when to ask for feedback.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yeah I honestly think I'd go crazy being on an unranked list. I'm sad I only have one but knowing where I'm at really lets me decide on how to approach future plans. I would probably make the appointment soon-is? The office is most likely extremely busy/backed-up with requests. I made my appointments last week or so and the appointment with the admissions office ended up being two weeks out from when I contacted them.
 
I wonder if being on an unranked list is a bit of a blessing. With a ranked list you have more to obsess over and calculate.
 
TripleHBK said:
Can anyone clarify WL movement? Is it delayed? Is it not happening? I’ve never been more neurotic in my life...
Click to expand...
I'd say its school specific. Two of my schools have seats left (one even has like 25 open seats) but they haven't pulled from the WL at all these past few weeks, no clue why maybe issues with everything shifting online. My two other schools haven't said anything we are just all left in silence lol
 
TripleHBK said:
Can anyone clarify WL movement? Is it delayed? Is it not happening? I’ve never been more neurotic in my life...
Click to expand...

It’s happening at some schools for sure. UWash has already at this point moved the same amount of spots that they normally do total. So based off that, it looks like waitlist movement can be higher this year than in the past. I think the ranked waitlist schools are having movement now, while some of the unranked schools haven’t since they need to somehow get the committee together to decide on who to fill seats with.
 
Aan061 said:
I have an appointment with an admissions officer in a little bit about my waitlist decision. Any questions that y'all think are important to ask them?
Click to expand...
Going to answer this assuming you're talking about reapplying.

I'd go through your own application first, and determine what you see as your strengths and weaknesses.
Ask them if they agree, disagree, or if you missed anything.
If you have plans to address your weak points, share them and see if they think your plans would fix the gap in your app.
See if they have additional thoughts on how to address your weak points beyond your plans.
Ask about your essays and if there's any room for improvement.
Share your feelings after your interview and see if it matches the feedback of your interviewer.
Ask about any potential issues or areas of improvement on the interview.
See if they have any general advice for reapplicants to better stand out.
 
Well guys, was told by one of my waitlist schools to reach out this week and was told they won’t probably be making it to the alternate list. After spending 12 hours trying to reschedule my MCAT yesterday, not exactly the news I was hoping for. Definitely finding it hard to be motivated to go through this all again.
 
psm1127 said:
Well guys, was told by one of my waitlist schools to reach out this week and was told they won’t probably be making it to the alternate list. After spending 12 hours trying to reschedule my MCAT yesterday, not exactly the news I was hoping for. Definitely finding it hard to be motivated to go through this all again.
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry 🙁 What school?
 
How do you know how many open seats a school has?

BrokeButHopeful said:
I'd say its school specific. Two of my schools have seats left (one even has like 25 open seats) but they haven't pulled from the WL at all these past few weeks, no clue why maybe issues with everything shifting online. My two other schools haven't said anything we are just all left in silence lol
Click to expand...
 
BrokeButHopeful said:
just an estimate based on the facebook page... i know people say not to read into it too much but it’s about 25 people short of filling the class size still
Click to expand...
I'm accepted to 1 program and declined an offer from another program. I'm currently in the Facebook group of the school I declined and not in the group for the one I'm planning to put a deposit down for. I would be really hesitant to draw any conclusions based on the Facebook groups size. There's just so much noise in the data that it becomes uninterpretable.
 
im currently on 6 waitlists, debating whether I should keep waiting or start working on my personal statement and re-application. Any advice would be appreciated! I also had a pretty strong app imo and okay interviews so i have absolutely no idea what went wrong 🙁
 
labraet11 said:
im currently on 6 waitlists, debating whether I should keep waiting or start working on my personal statement and re-application. Any advice would be appreciated! I also had a pretty strong app imo and okay interviews so i have absolutely no idea what went wrong 🙁
Click to expand...
I would start by trying to reach out to schools and see if they can give you any feedback. The info they give you could be really valuable when drafting a new PS and application.
 
labraet11 said:
im currently on 6 waitlists, debating whether I should keep waiting or start working on my personal statement and re-application. Any advice would be appreciated! I also had a pretty strong app imo and okay interviews so i have absolutely no idea what went wrong 🙁
Click to expand...

I’m currently on 5 and planning a re-app. Although I hope it doesn’t come to that. I just feel like it’s better safe than sorry


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
BCB153 said:
I’m currently on 5 and planning a re-app. Although I hope it doesn’t come to that. I just feel like it’s better safe than sorry


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I mean you should prepare for the worst, but with 5 or 6 waitlists theres a pretty decent chance you get off one. Keep in mind multiple adcoms thought you were good enough to be a doc.
 
I’m on 3 waitlists (one of which is ranked but they don’t disclose our rank). I am wondering if I should start applying for gap year jobs in case I don’t get in. Do I tell employers I’m on waitlists for med school? Do I tell them that I’m applying in the 2020/2021 cycle?
 
Kenken514 said:
I’m on 3 waitlists (one of which is ranked but they don’t disclose our rank). I am wondering if I should start applying for gap year jobs in case I don’t get in. Do I tell employers I’m on waitlists for med school? Do I tell them that I’m applying in the 2020/2021 cycle?
Click to expand...

How is that even possible with your stats? I know people are gonna be like, EC's matter too, but jeez. Hang in there.
 
fdizzle12 said:
How is that even possible with your stats? I know people are gonna be like, EC's matter too, but jeez. Hang in there.
Click to expand...
TBH I don’t have research experience because I’m not really interested. Also I don’t have a lot of shadowing and while the volunteer work I’ve been most involved in is at a hospital, some schools don’t consider what I’m doing clinical (I volunteer at a sexual assault and domestic violence treatment center at a hospital). I do have some other volunteer work in other hospital departments (ER, NICU, LD/PP). A lot of my time is taken up by my RA job though so I only volunteered like 3 hours a week for most of undergrad.
 
Kenken514 said:
TBH I don’t have research experience because I’m not really interested. Also I don’t have a lot of shadowing and while the volunteer work I’ve been most involved in is at a hospital, some schools don’t consider what I’m doing clinical (I volunteer at a sexual assault and domestic violence treatment center at a hospital). I do have some other volunteer work in other hospital departments (ER, NICU, LD/PP). A lot of my time is taken up by my RA job though so I only volunteered like 3 hours a week for most of undergrad.
Click to expand...
This whole process is mind-blowingly frustrating.
 
Kenken514 said:
I’m on 3 waitlists (one of which is ranked but they don’t disclose our rank). I am wondering if I should start applying for gap year jobs in case I don’t get in. Do I tell employers I’m on waitlists for med school? Do I tell them that I’m applying in the 2020/2021 cycle?
Click to expand...

I honestly wouldn’t disclose too much unless you have to, because having that uncertainty can make employers hesitate to offer you a position. I’ve just been saying the cycle didn’t turn out as hoped and I’m looking to expand my experiences in the coming year and leaving it at that for the most part.
 
LiveLoveLaugh4444 said:
I honestly wouldn’t disclose too much unless you have too, because having that uncertainty can make employers hesitate to offer you a position. I’ve just been saying the cycle didn’t turn out as hoped and I’m looking to expand my experiences in the coming year and leaving it at that for the most part.
Click to expand...
That is great advice. Thank you!
 
Just wanted to wish everyone a good weekend. Earlier this week I was saddled with an extremely anxious mood over this situation, but I've been feeling better every day. Gearing up financially and emotionally to reapply and go strong into a new cycle, since my 2018 MCAT score should be good for the next cycle and even the next next one if I want to.
 
minn#4 said:
Just got my newest weekly update from my waitlist school. No movement this week.
Click to expand...
I don't understand how this traffic works. it seems like a lot of schools don't have movement at all so that means a lot of them are still over the full size. if this is the case, that means there will be no waitlist movement at all because people already made PTE with only one school prior 4/30 and there is just no open seat anywhere. so it is very very high yield this year? and we are outliers?
 
War of Arts said:
I don't understand how this traffic works. it seems like a lot of schools don't have movement at all so that means a lot of them are still over the full size. if this is the case, that means there will be no waitlist movement at all because people already made PTE with only one school prior 4/30 and there is just no open seat anywhere. so it is very very high yield this year? and we are outliers?
Click to expand...

The way I imagine it, there’s a trickledown effect. There are plenty of people out there with multiple A’s who PTE’d but who are still staying on WL’s. Once they get their acceptances at their preferred schools, they can shift their PTE’s and WL’s will start moving. I feel like as soon as a few schools start their WL movement, many will then follow. Thats the only way I can put my wishful thinking into logical terms lol, whether or not its true though, we will have to wait and see
 
Acm8989 said:
The way I imagine it, there’s a trickledown effect. There are plenty of people out there with multiple A’s who PTE’d but who are still staying on WL’s. Once they get their acceptances at their preferred schools, they can shift their PTE’s and WL’s will start moving. I feel like as soon as a few schools start their WL movement, many will then follow. Thats the only way I can put my wishful thinking into logical terms lol, whether or not its true though, we will have to wait and see
Click to expand...
I also think schools are probably juggling having virtual committee meetings because they can’t meet in person
 
On 4 waitlists and hoping that I’ll get accepted somewhere but if I have to reapply I’m gonna have to take the mcat again 🙁 When do you think is the latest I can take it without totally messing up my chances? (given that schools will be more lenient about mcat submission because of covid) Is September terribly late? I’d submit my primary and secondaries ASAP. I have new clinical and non clinical experiences that will boost my app, and considering I got 4 interviews this cycle with my meh mcat I think I’ll have a shot still, even with a late mcat submission?? Or I guess I’d just hear back from schools in the spring rather than fall (assuming I get a better score). I need 3 months to study but I refuse to start now because I still have hope!! I’d prefer to start in late June...
 
Acm8989 said:
The way I imagine it, there’s a trickledown effect. There are plenty of people out there with multiple A’s who PTE’d but who are still staying on WL’s. Once they get their acceptances at their preferred schools, they can shift their PTE’s and WL’s will start moving. I feel like as soon as a few schools start their WL movement, many will then follow. Thats the only way I can put my wishful thinking into logical terms lol, whether or not its true though, we will have to wait and see
Click to expand...
AAMC traffic rules state that 4/30 is the last day all people with multiple As narrow down to PTE only one school while holding other WL. Now if everyone follows this, there shouldn't be anyone holding multiple As like what you said. But a few days ago, the school where I got WL told us they are contacting people who didn't follow this deadline but didn't disclose how this would be enforced. So do you think it is not uncommon a lot of people in other schools didn't follow the AAMC traffic protocol? If there is no intention or no enforcement to prevent people from holding multiple As, how does this work? Some will even hold until July to make their final decision?

And no if it is like what you said people are still holding multiple As, how can they get out of the WL of their top schools when every school is over full size?
 
catladybutnormal said:
On 4 waitlists and hoping that I’ll get accepted somewhere but if I have to reapply I’m gonna have to take the mcat again 🙁 When do you think is the latest I can take it without totally messing up my chances? (given that schools will be more lenient about mcat submission because of covid) Is September terribly late? I’d submit my primary and secondaries ASAP. I have new clinical and non clinical experiences that will boost my app, and considering I got 4 interviews this cycle with my meh mcat I think I’ll have a shot still, even with a late mcat submission?? Or I guess I’d just hear back from schools in the spring rather than fall (assuming I get a better score). I need 3 months to study but I refuse to start now because I still have hope!! I’d prefer to start in late June...
Click to expand...
PinetreeDoc95 said:
September is definitely late, but you may be able to get away with it this cycle because of all of the delays and complications caused by Covid-19. Earlier would probably be better though...
Click to expand...
Would also echo this sentiment of a September MCAT being late, considering your test results will (most likely) come out in late September or October (I know they're expediting MCAT results but not up to date on the time frame of getting results back). You might be able to get away with a July or early August MCAT, but since med schools tend to use GPA and MCAT as screening tools to send out interviews, it'd be in your best interest to take it earlier. I think your new clinical and non-clinical experiences can help brighten up your PS/AMCAS but from what I've heard, they're more helpful to have once you've gotten the interview. You want to set yourself up for success by getting as many IIs as you can first, and your chances are better when you have everything in earlier on in the cycle.
 
War of Arts said:
AAMC traffic rules state that 4/30 is the last day all people with multiple As narrow down to PTE only one school while holding other WL. Now if everyone follows this, there shouldn't be anyone holding multiple As like what you said. But a few days ago, the school where I got WL told us they are contacting people who didn't follow this deadline but didn't disclose how this would be enforced. So do you think it is not uncommon a lot of people in other schools didn't follow the AAMC traffic protocol? If there is no intention or no enforcement to prevent people from holding multiple As, how does this work? Some will even hold until July to make their final decision?

And no if it is like what you said people are still holding multiple As, how can they get out of the WL of their top schools when every school is over full size?
Click to expand...

Oh my bad, lemme explain better. I guess I mean we're probably waiting on both the people who follow the rules and the people who don't. As you point out, people not withdrawing their multiple acceptances is clearly an issue at that school you contacted. I have no clue how widespread of an issue that is, but if it's happening at one school, I am willing to bet it's happening at others too.

As far as things go with ppl who did follow the rules, I think that schools had to wait until April 30th to get that final count, and they are just now turning to their WL's, evaluating them, waiting for people to accept/deny acceptances from the WL, etc, and that all takes time. Not to mention there is the additional burden of delays from Covid-19.

I'm not on a ranked WL, so if people are out there and can see what # they're at, but the WL still hasn't moved since May 1st, I completely understand how insanely frustrating that is. I would be at my wits end hitting refresh nonstop.

My hope is just that this process is moving slower because schools gave out more WL's this year as the PTE/CTE system is relatively new, and we are all waiting for just a few schools to budge so that the rest will start moving!

edit: as far as punitive measures/rescinding acceptances go, that too is a mystery to me. definitely something thats going to have to change in coming years.
 
Last edited:
You know the worst thing with this waitlist purgatory? The timing makes it so Im still on the WL, but I also wanna start my reapp. So Im prewriting my primary/secondary stuff, trying to figure out something for my gap year, all while having a chance of getting in. Like, my advisor said the committee can't provide me a letter until they are sure I wont get in, and not to actually submit my primary until I know Im not getting in.

Also! Like 3 people off of SDN got into the program Im waiting at today, so each week it seems like I have less of a chance but also high enough to not submit anything...
 
ismyexistenceamemeyet said:
Would also echo this sentiment of a September MCAT being late, considering your test results will (most likely) come out in late September or October (I know they're expediting MCAT results but not up to date on the time frame of getting results back). You might be able to get away with a July or early August MCAT, but since med schools tend to use GPA and MCAT as screening tools to send out interviews, it'd be in your best interest to take it earlier. I think your new clinical and non-clinical experiences can help brighten up your PS/AMCAS but from what I've heard, they're more helpful to have once you've gotten the interview. You want to set yourself up for success by getting as many IIs as you can first, and your chances are better when you have everything in earlier on in the cycle.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your input! I shouldn’t sell myself short, especially as a reapplicant. Guess I’ll have to start studying again soon love my liiiiife
 
To all the plan to enroll rule breakers:

683386F4-7E56-415A-9EA4-83AC79AE99C4.jpeg


Sincerely: The WL Fam
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Previous cycle waitlist
Replies
1
Views
544
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Rhymic
2024-2025 Waitlist Support and Manifestation Thread
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
707
Views
115K
erwinsmith
E
D
2023-2024 Waitlist Support Thread
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
768
Views
147K
Adil Khan
Adil Khan
A
Waitlist bittersweet?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
nmed567
  • Question Question
Waitlist Position
Replies
1
Views
1K
chilly_md
chilly_md
Top