2020 Cycle Waitlist Support Thread

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kittytower said:
Got placed on my 3rd waitlist today. 🙁 I’m the only person I know applying at my undergrad, so this has been a lonely process. I’m trying to keep my head up but morale is pretty low right now.
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Your odds of getting in somewhere are pretty good with 3 WL’s. Stay positive and focus on what’s in your control. Most people I know wound up with more WL’s than A’s, and they were decent interviewees. They all wound up getting in somewhere
 
Got hit with WL's #3 and 4 today, pretty bummed to say the least. I'm expecting another from school #5 (silence for 6 months) and have another interview next week (changed to online interview due to COVID), but discouraged that I likely won't hear good news for a while (if at all).

I'm fortunate to have A's from a few solid DO schools but have been pretty anxious given the Step 1 transition, since I'm very interested in several specialties that are markedly more competitive for DO's compared to MD's (rads, anes, gen surg).

Very appreciative to have this community to empathize with though, since I'm somewhat of a non-trad and only have one friend that's applying (he was accepted to a Cali UC in October).
 
enchantments said:
Got hit with WL's #3 and 4 today, pretty bummed to say the least. I'm expecting another from school #5 (silence for 6 months) and have another interview next week (changed to online interview due to COVID), but discouraged that I likely won't hear good news for a while (if at all).

I'm fortunate to have A's from a few solid DO schools but have been pretty anxious given the Step 1 transition, since I'm very interested in several specialties that are markedly more competitive for DO's compared to MD's (rads, anes, gen surg).

Very appreciative to have this community to empathize with though, since I'm somewhat of a non-trad and only have one friend that's applying (he was accepted to a Cali UC in October).
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I was also hit with my 4th waitlist today. 🙁 I have my last interview tomorrow and am going to give it my absolute all.
 
It's been a while since I've been on here but I thought I'd let everyone know that I got accepted from my March 3rd interview. Still holding out some hope for my 3 WL's but it'll be much easier going forward not having to worry about rewriting apps and new experiences. Good luck to everyone else. This **** is tough.
 
sami055 said:
It's been a while since I've been on here but I thought I'd let everyone know that I got accepted from my March 3rd interview. Still holding out some hope for my 3 WL's but it'll be much easier going forward not having to worry about rewriting apps and new experiences. Good luck to everyone else. This **** is tough.
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WHAAAAAA NO WAY! Congrats dude so happy for you!!! Your wait is over wooohooooooooo
 
2Broke2bMD said:
any idea how coronavirus + second look day cancellations might influence WL movement? stuck on 4 WLs so would love some early movement
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I was wondering this as well. I was thinking maybe it would slow things down since the world has kinda paused rip
 
sun_flower580 said:
I was wondering this as well. I was thinking maybe it would slow things down since the world has kinda paused rip
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this is anecdotal, but I actually withdrew from some schools yesterday (i'm waitlisted at my 2 top choices right now, but do have some acceptances). I was kind of depending on second looks to help me make my choice, but without them I'm going based off of my interview day experiences. So for me at least, it's making me withdraw faster because there's no point in waiting for anything now.
 
BCB153 said:
Is there normally this many people on so many waitlists? It seems like quite a bit


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Unfortunately, yes. 60% of applicants don't secure an acceptance and most programs feel they need an ocean's worth of applicants on their WL. Some schools have WL the size of their entire class over, and even two times over (Mayo***). Which is honestly unreasonable, and not fair to applicants in many programs. They have years of experience so they can gauge what they expect to pull from their WL. Even more annoying is many/most don't tell you where you are on their WL =\
 
enchantments said:
Got hit with WL's #3 and 4 today, pretty bummed to say the least. I'm expecting another from school #5 (silence for 6 months) and have another interview next week (changed to online interview due to COVID), but discouraged that I likely won't hear good news for a while (if at all).

I'm fortunate to have A's from a few solid DO schools but have been pretty anxious given the Step 1 transition, since I'm very interested in several specialties that are markedly more competitive for DO's compared to MD's (rads, anes, gen surg).

Very appreciative to have this community to empathize with though, since I'm somewhat of a non-trad and only have one friend that's applying (he was accepted to a Cali UC in October).
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DO's match perfectly fine to Gen Surg, Anesthiology, and Rad tbh.
 
Hi y’all I know it was already briefly discussed but any updated opinions or anything you’ve heard about how covid19 will affect waitlist movement? My best guess would be that it would delay it and we wouldn’t find out until much later which would really suck. Or, even worse, with everything kind of on pause, schools would be less likely to pull from the lists all together.
Disclaimer: This is an uneducated guess and I hope this theory is very wrong. What do you guys think?
 
sun_flower580 said:
Hi y’all I know it was already briefly discussed but any updated opinions or anything you’ve heard about how covid19 will affect waitlist movement? My best guess would be that it would delay it and we wouldn’t find out until much later which would really suck. Or, even worse, with everything kind of on pause, schools would be less likely to pull from the lists all together.
Disclaimer: This is an uneducated guess and I hope this theory is very wrong. What do you guys think?
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I don't see how COVID-19 will affect WL movement. The primary stimulus for WL movement is traffic day rules (i.e. applicants being forced to limit their acceptances by certain dates), and I can't imagine how a quarantine would change that. People will drop their seats as usual, and schools have no choice but to fill them.
 
Also our applications are entirely electronic so it wouldn’t be too difficult for the committee to meet virtually. Med schools have to fill their seats regardless, so I don’t think it will affect it much. The timeline is mostly subject to the rules the AAMC put in place, so unless they delay something, I don’t think there will be too much of a delay on the schools part. Maybe a week or two


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sun_flower580 said:
Hi y’all I know it was already briefly discussed but any updated opinions or anything you’ve heard about how covid19 will affect waitlist movement? My best guess would be that it would delay it and we wouldn’t find out until much later which would really suck. Or, even worse, with everything kind of on pause, schools would be less likely to pull from the lists all together.
Disclaimer: This is an uneducated guess and I hope this theory is very wrong. What do you guys think?
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My hope is your theory is very wrong, but I also could see the worst happening. I have an irrational fear that schools will just close their incoming classes even if they’re under-filled and won’t pull from the waitlist. Or that waitlist movement will be very late (think July). Some people are even worrying they’ll delay the start dates of medical school or start school with online classes. I’m honestly a wreck.
 
coffee&scrubs said:
I have an irrational fear that schools will just close their incoming classes even if they’re under-filled
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Rest assured that no medical school would ever want to miss out on several million dollars when they could very easily make a few calls in an afternoon and fill those seats with no adverse consequences.
 
coffee&scrubs said:
Thank you for rationalizing my irrational fear
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Not irrational! I thought being on the wait list was stressful enough, this whole Covid takes it to another level. Personally, I hit the wall about 2 weeks ago, and reached my mental capacity for being stressed out so now I’ve just accepted things as they are and I have to say it’s a little easier to get thru each day. Never lose hope! take a deep breath and know that the whole world is upside down right now and just as we have to take care of ourselves, admissions committees have to take care of their responsibilities too. Best of luck to everyone hanging on for a WL response!
 
sun_flower580 said:
Hi y’all I know it was already briefly discussed but any updated opinions or anything you’ve heard about how covid19 will affect waitlist movement? My best guess would be that it would delay it and we wouldn’t find out until much later which would really suck. Or, even worse, with everything kind of on pause, schools would be less likely to pull from the lists all together.
Disclaimer: This is an uneducated guess and I hope this theory is very wrong. What do you guys think?
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Maybe it’s just wishful thinking haha but I was actually thinking the opposite like maybe without second look students will make decisions faster based on their interview day experience? Don’t know but I’m really hoping we get off our WL!!
 
green0902 said:
Maybe it’s just wishful thinking haha but I was actually thinking the opposite like maybe without second look students will make decisions faster based on their interview day experience? Don’t know but I’m really hoping we get off our WL!!
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I was thinking the same thing and it seems like most people online have this sentiment. You don’t have second look trying to entice students with A’s to attend. So those students are more likely to make up their minds during this shelter in place based on their interview experiences
 
aayz345 said:
I was thinking the same thing and it seems like most people online have this sentiment. You don’t have second look trying to entice students with A’s to attend. So those students are more likely to make up their minds during this shelter in place based on their interview experiences
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I think it will slow things down. Second look offered a chance to get more information and decide. Now people must do more research and take more time to decide. Also, no one knows the status of second look, as many will do virtual events that may be postponed to produce the videos and resources. Also, social distancing and school closures have likely slowed down the financial aid process, which is a major determinant of how people choose a school.
 
rdyotz said:
I think it will slow things down. Second look offered a chance to get more information and decide. Now people must do more research and take more time to decide. Also, no one knows the status of second look, as many will do virtual events that may be postponed to produce the videos and resources. Also, social distancing and school closures have likely slowed down the financial aid process, which is a major determinant of how people choose a school.
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Most schools are still sending people to work, they just aren’t letting students on campus. If anything, second look made people second guess whether they wanted to attend X school over Y school. Assuming most applicants are indoors for the next month or so, you bet they’re using their free time to decide on a school. Guess the best we could do is just see how it all plays out in the end.
 
aayz345 said:
Most schools are still sending people to work, they just aren’t letting students on campus. If anything, second look made people second guess whether they wanted to attend X school over Y school. Assuming most applicants are indoors for the next month or so, you bet they’re using their free time to decide on a school. Guess the best we could do is just see how it all plays out in the end.
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I would not say most schools are sending people into work. I have had a medical school email me saying they are limiting staff as much as possible and that it will delay virtual second look materials. I live in Phoenix, which has had very few confirmed cases (~30 confirmed, mostly due to limited access to testing though), and everything is shutting down here. As many staff as possible are going to telecommute and many others have to take off work to take care of their children.

I think you overestimate the average applicant. I'm betting most are procrastinating and/or waiting until financial aid packages come out (I fall in this latter part). With limited staffing, financial packages will be delayed - I have been told to expect in mid to late April. Also, many people continue to work to pay the bills, so we are not just sitting at home for a month researching things. The main opportunity second look offers is to turn the research into programs into more concrete questions to ask staff and students to get clarification and help see if we will fit in. We still can get questions asked, but it is not an organic process and takes much longer.

Ultimately, none of us know how this will pan out. Hope for the best, but plan for later movement.
 
rdyotz said:
I would not say most schools are sending people into work. I have had a medical school email me saying they are limiting staff as much as possible and that it will delay virtual second look materials. I live in Phoenix, which has had very few confirmed cases (~30 confirmed, mostly due to limited access to testing though), and everything is shutting down here. As many staff as possible are going to telecommute and many others have to take off work to take care of their children.

I think you overestimate the average applicant. I'm betting most are procrastinating and/or waiting until financial aid packages come out (I fall in this latter part). With limited staffing, financial packages will be delayed - I have been told to expect in mid to late April. Also, many people continue to work to pay the bills, so we are not just sitting at home for a month researching things. The main opportunity second look offers is to turn the research into programs into more concrete questions to ask staff and students to get clarification and help see if we will fit in. We still can get questions asked, but it is not an organic process and takes much longer.

Ultimately, none of us know how this will pan out. Hope for the best, but plan for later movement.
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Yea I agree with you but a ton of jobs are being suspended for at least 2 weeks, including mine. There are many people affected by this and unfortunately have to look to Unemployment to pay the bills. With That much free time, there will be people researching stuff on schools. Also, many applicants are still in undergrad and therefore are stuck at home for months..
 
aayz345 said:
Yea I agree with you but a ton of jobs are being suspended for at least 2 weeks, including mine. There are many people affected by this and unfortunately have to look to Unemployment to pay the bills. With That much free time, there will be people researching stuff on schools. Also, many applicants are still in undergrad and therefore are stuck at home for months..
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I agree. Having time while in quarantine to do as much research as possible (including google maps street view, Yelp reviews around the area, contacting current students, etc) should hopefully help make decisions in place of second look days. nothing against those who are lucky enough to have multiple acceptances, but there should be plenty of information at this point, and more if they reach out to schools with questions, to make a decision on a school. I understand it sucks that second look days are pretty much cancelled but as future doctors it is our responsibility to do the necessary research to make big decisions, and delaying that or putting it off isn’t helping anyone. Waiting for financial aid packages is a different story I suppose but as long as people out there are just not deciding, that leaves the rest of us on wait lists pretty screwed.
 
4 IIs, currently sitting with 3 WLs and waiting to hear back from the last school. The perpetual wait is demoralizing.... 🙁

Does anyone know if DO schools follow the same dates as MD schools (April 30, May 1, etc) for expected waitlist movement? I wasn't sure if they have different trafficking dates.
 
ChooChooTrain51 said:
4 IIs, currently sitting with 3 WLs and waiting to hear back from the last school. The perpetual wait is demoralizing.... 🙁

Does anyone know if DO schools follow the same dates as MD schools (April 30, May 1, etc) for expected waitlist movement? I wasn't sure if they have different trafficking dates.
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AACOMAS Traffic Guidelines

Guidelines for prospective osteopathic medical students to successfully complete their applications to medical school.
www.aacom.org www.aacom.org

I believe it is up to each respective school but May 15th seems to be a key date.
 
Last edited:
Honestly, I think the AAMC should move up the timeline. There’s no reason schools should be waiting until March to interview. Moving it up a month would also make it so people who get in off the waitlist don’t have to prepare to re apply since most would find out in April. If they keep the May 15th date, schools who do want more time to pick off the waitlist would also get it since they would find out sooner how much they need. They probably know better than I do what works, but just my 2 cents.


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Porpoiseman12345 said:
I'm currently struggling with deciding between financing a reapp with my tax refund/credit card and just waiting a year and working in my clinical job to save up $
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NOOO you do not want to start racking up more debt. If you really need to apply this cylce, try saving up more money, maybe taking up another job.
 
Gastrula44 said:
Honestly, I think the AAMC should move up the timeline. There’s no reason schools should be waiting until March to interview. Moving it up a month would also make it so people who get in off the waitlist don’t have to prepare to re apply since most would find out in April. If they keep the May 15th date, schools who do want more time to pick off the waitlist would also get it since they would find out sooner how much they need. They probably know better than I do what works, but just my 2 cents.


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Well to be devils advocate-- it is this way so that big schools like drexel that interview 1600 applicants and NYMC who interview a ton are able to finish their interview season. Seems fair to me. However, 1) nothing about this process is fair, 2) nothing about this process is designed to make re-applicants lives any easier-- it is all about the current applicants. and 3) for those on waitlists you are going to hold on to the very end aka the day orientation starts so it doesn't really matter for re-applicants whether movement starts in april or may.
 
Hey all! I hope everyone is doing okay!
With the downtime we have now, it is especially important to continue doing meaningful activities to stay well both physically and mentally. Personally, the downtime is making me overthink again about being on the wait-list. Just a reminder that you are not alone.
 
Hey everyone, I hope you all are healthy and safe. I’m looking for some advice on sending a letter update to a school I am waitlisted at. I have an A that I am very grateful for and a WL at my top choice. Would you recommend I send an update letter to my WL school telling them I have an A but would rather go to your school? How would I phrase it? Any suggestions help!
 
YA51816 said:
Hey everyone, I hope you all are healthy and safe. I’m looking for some advice on sending a letter update to a school I am waitlisted at. I have an A that I am very grateful for and a WL at my top choice. Would you recommend I send an update letter to my WL school telling them I have an A but would rather go to your school? How would I phrase it? Any suggestions help!
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You can do like a combination update letter/letter of interest(or intent). You can say that while you have an acceptance to school X, School Y is a better fit for you because of reasons a, b, and c.
 
fatherofdragons said:
You can do like a combination update letter/letter of interest(or intent). You can say that while you have an acceptance to school X, School Y is a better fit for you because of reasons a, b, and c.
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Thank you!
 
4 WLs total right now. Albany (UC), West Virginia University (WL), Nova Southeastern MD (WL), and Medical College of Wisconsin (WL). How are my odds looking? Wondering if anyone knows much about WL movement at any of these schools. Thanks!
 
2Broke2bMD said:
4 WLs total right now. Albany (UC), West Virginia University (WL), Nova Southeastern MD (WL), and Medical College of Wisconsin (WL). How are my odds looking? Wondering if anyone knows much about WL movement at any of these schools. Thanks!
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idk about the others but i think Nova MD might have decent movement (as from what i heard it did in past 2 years) but its so new that it could change
 
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