2020 Cycle Waitlist Support Thread

Started by sun_flower580
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FutureSawbones said:
Guys this is insane. My dad died from cancer 5 years ago and today is his birthday. I went to the cemetery to visit him and when I came back home I checked my AMCAS and there was my acceptance. The universe works in mysterious and beautiful ways....
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this was not a coincidence, congratulations <3 thank you for sharing some hope with us, best of luck starting medical school!
 
justrandomthings said:
Take this with as much weight as you want BUT my advisor said that her students this year received a lot of waitlist offers and she expects this to be because of traffic rules changing and she expects there to be more movement this year than any other year. She has over 15 years of experience.

Coronavirus is causing a lot of delays. If you’re working rn you definitely know how crazy it can be to be managing things from home...

we’ll be hearing back soon. Patience.
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Wait didn't they have traffic rules last year as well? What are the differences between this year and last year's traffic rules?
 
shaman97 said:
Warning: Pessimism

What if schools accepted at their limit, and because of the new AAMC rules, schools can't see how many places an applicant was accepted to. So they're being very very careful with their acceptances. As a result, less A's have been given out and more WL's. Thus, those people that have one A outnumber those that have multiple, leading to less withdrawals from schools and overall less WL movement. Thoughts?
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Just adding another perspective but: this also means there are more people with multiple waitlist spots, which means a lot of people will be withdrawing from some waitlists. As someone who was WL at 2 schools, I already withdrew from one of the WL.
 
vi0linm0nster said:
Wait didn't they have traffic rules last year as well? What are the differences between this year and last year's traffic rules?
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Traffic rules are the same as last year. But last year was the first cycle the changes were implemented and as a result, some schools accidentally over accepted (ie UCLA). The traffic rule changes were supposed to make schools depend on their WLs more since they no longer have the acceptance reports, so maybe schools this cycle are being extra cautious with their As/WL movement? Also this year I've seen a few schools move up their CTE deadline so perhaps this year schools are getting a better hang of how to adjust to the new traffic rules and we will see more movement (hopefully!)
 
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They deleted the 2019-2020 thread!!! Was planning on looking there to see recent school specific posts but now we have to go through random schools on the alphabetical list lolol
 
From an couple years old thread, I found this response from gonnif

“Very roughly there are 3 waves as declined acceptances cascade thru the system: 2nd week May, last week May, 2nd week June. By July 1, the majority of movement is over. However, it will still continue slowly right up thru August. There are always a few alternates who have accepted the fact that they wont get in this term, get a call the weekend before classes start.”

While there could be some timeline differences from COVID and addition of PTE/CTE, we likely haven’t reached the first big wave of acceptances. So I hope you all stay hopeful this week and have a great Cinco de Mayo tomorrow.
 
asdfwelldoit said:
I'll write a bit of support, last cycle I was waitlisted 3 places got 0 acceptances. This cycle similar result (3 Waitlists) but I ended up getting two acceptances. This process is long and its out of your control. What really helps honestly is do something to take your mind off this mess.
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What do you think made the difference between this cycle and the last? I’m asking as someone sitting on 5 waitlists [emoji3061]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
studentdoctor! said:
What do you think made the difference between this cycle and the last? I’m asking as someone sitting on 5 waitlists [emoji3061]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Honestly, with 5 waitlists you'll prob get in somewhere. That being said I submitted the same primary plus a few extra volunteer hours which were very cookie-cutter. For your average MD re-applicant (511-514,3.5-3.7, ORM) you gotta give your self a leg up somewhere in the process. Heres my suggestions:
  1. First and foremost, don't blame yourself for not getting in. There are too many qualified applicants out there for this type of mentality.
  2. Slightly rework your personal statement but don't change too much especially if you got several interviews. Just make it so if they do a simple comparison against last year's apps it doesn't look the same.
  3. SHOTGUN APPLY. First cycle I applied to 15 schools (huge mistake), this cycle I applied to 30+ schools. You have to give yourself an edge as a reapplicant. This does not mean writing lazy poor effort IIs. It's May you make a list of 30+ and start working their secondaries from last year. I know it's expensive and but it makes a huge difference I got IIs from schools that I didn't think about the previous cycle. Sometimes, a small list is better but not if you are an average applicant. These schools have such small acceptance rates, you have to roll the dice enough times to get in. This is part of the reason I say don't re-invent your primary if you're on 3+ waitlists. Spend your time pumping out more applications instead.
  4. Don't assume that you'll get interviews from the places that you got interviews last time. I was banking on that and it honestly didn't happen.
  5. Practice, practice, practice for your interviews, while a good medical interview doesn't necessarily get you in. A bad one shuts the door.
  6. Use this time to think about why you've become a better applicant.
 
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asdfwelldoit said:
Honestly, with 5 waitlists you'll prob get in somewhere. That being said I submitted the same primary plus a few extra volunteer hours which were very cookie-cutter. For your average MD re-applicant (511-514,3.5-3.7, ORM) you gotta give your self a leg up somewhere in the process. Heres my suggestions:
  1. First and foremost, don't blame yourself for not getting in. There are too many qualified applicants out there for this type of mentality.
  2. Slightly rework your personal statement but don't change too much especially if you got several interviews. Just make it so if they do a simple comparison against last year's apps it doesn't look the same.
  3. SHOTGUN APPLY. First cycle I applied to 15 schools (huge mistake), this cycle I applied to 30+ schools. You have to give yourself an edge as a reapplicant. This does not mean writing lazy poor effort IIs. It's May you make a list of 30+ and start working their secondaries from last year. I know it's expensive and but it makes a huge difference I got IIs from schools that I didn't think about the previous cycle. Sometimes, a small list is better but not if you are an average applicant. These schools have such small acceptance rates, you have to roll the dice enough times to get in. This is part of the reason I say don't re-invent your primary if you're on 3+ waitlists. Spend your time pumping out more applications instead.
  4. Don't assume that you'll get interviews from the places that you got interviews last time. I was banking on that and it honestly didn't happen.
  5. Practice, practice, practice for your interviews, while a good medical interview doesn't necessarily get you in. A bad one shuts the door.
  6. Use this time to think about why you've become a better applicant.
Click to expand...

Wow thanks so much for this!! I definitely fall into that average applicant range so I will consider adding more than 20 schools.

I hope that isn’t the case for the schools that interviewed me this cycle because they’re all my local schools and I would want to stay here.

I think I will definitely do more interview prep because with 5 waitlists, there’s probably something off there.

Thanks again for the advice and congrats on the acceptances!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Lol well, thanks to what I’m calling my WL-induced insomnia, I am awake right now. I also apparently decided it was a good idea to catch up on several pages of this thread over the last hour. So lol if you got any late night like/reaction notifications from me, sorry and hi! Haha just wanted to drop in here and make my first comment to join the WL support thread gang.
 
asdfwelldoit said:
Honestly, with 5 waitlists you'll prob get in somewhere. That being said I submitted the same primary plus a few extra volunteer hours which were very cookie-cutter. For your average MD re-applicant (511-514,3.5-3.7, ORM) you gotta give your self a leg up somewhere in the process. Heres my suggestions:
  1. First and foremost, don't blame yourself for not getting in. There are too many qualified applicants out there for this type of mentality.
  2. Slightly rework your personal statement but don't change too much especially if you got several interviews. Just make it so if they do a simple comparison against last year's apps it doesn't look the same.
  3. SHOTGUN APPLY. First cycle I applied to 15 schools (huge mistake), this cycle I applied to 30+ schools. You have to give yourself an edge as a reapplicant. This does not mean writing lazy poor effort IIs. It's May you make a list of 30+ and start working their secondaries from last year. I know it's expensive and but it makes a huge difference I got IIs from schools that I didn't think about the previous cycle. Sometimes, a small list is better but not if you are an average applicant. These schools have such small acceptance rates, you have to roll the dice enough times to get in. This is part of the reason I say don't re-invent your primary if you're on 3+ waitlists. Spend your time pumping out more applications instead.
  4. Don't assume that you'll get interviews from the places that you got interviews last time. I was banking on that and it honestly didn't happen.
  5. Practice, practice, practice for your interviews, while a good medical interview doesn't necessarily get you in. A bad one shuts the door.
  6. Use this time to think about why you've become a better applicant.
Click to expand...
This is kind of out of context, but as I prepare to reapply while on 2 waitlists, I only applied to 5 schools. I was told by one of the schools the only reason I wasnt accepted was my mcat wasn’t quite what they wanted. Other than retaking the MCAT, which I intend to do God willing (and corona willing lol), any tips other than apply to more schools?
 
I got the blessed acceptance email yesterday after 4 waitlists and no acceptances. Still holding on for my top choice to give me some love, but feel like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders
This thread really kept me going so STAY STRONG YALL. I didn’t expect to get off this early as I saw myself as a rather “average” applicant, so I know all of you guys have something special that will stand out and hopefully you’ll get your call soon!
 
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psm1127 said:
This is kind of out of context, but as I prepare to reapply while on 2 waitlists, I only applied to 5 schools. I was told by one of the schools the only reason I wasnt accepted was my mcat wasn’t quite what they wanted. Other than retaking the MCAT, which I intend to do God willing (and corona willing lol), any tips other than apply to more schools?
Click to expand...

I'd have to look at your app, to say anything more specific. I mean it's great that you got two interviews from five which means your a strong applicant. I will say some of these reasons why schools give for not accepting you outright are very subjective. One school's low MCAT may be just fine for another school. Like the last cycle, I asked feedback from a few different schools they all gave me different reasons why I wasn't accepted. This exactly why I say everyone needs to invest in themselves and apply broadly and have lots and lots of options. You're at a higher risk having a year in limbo otherwise. Becoming a doctor is a long journey, learn from my mistakes, dont make it any longer.

Also my advice only applies really to the average applicant (3.6-3.8 gpa, 511-514 MCAT, cookie cutter ecs). If your someone who needs a reinvention I am sure there are others who can advise you on that.
 
whatshouldimakemyusername said:
How early is too early to start asking for feedback from schools that provide application overviews? Is it reasonable to reach out in June and then turn around their feedback for this next cycle?
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I was about to ask this! I would want to know before I submit my app in case there is something I need to fix but also don’t want to ask too early while there is still a chance of getting off a waitlist


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
studentdoctor! said:
I was about to ask this! I would want to know before I submit my app in case there is something I need to fix but also don’t want to ask too early while there is still a chance of getting off a waitlist


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
So I’m on a visible ranked WL and asked for a meeting about by app for next week. Do you think this would negatively affect my WL situation? Since it was a visibly ranked WL I didn’t think asking for advice early would be an issue but now I’m paranoid lol
 
green0902 said:
So I’m on a visible ranked WL and asked for a meeting about by app for next week. Do you think this would negatively affect my WL situation? Since it was a visibly ranked WL I didn’t think asking for advice early would be an issue but now I’m paranoid lol
Click to expand...
I think that just shows you're being proactive, so no I don't think that will negatively affect your WL chances for the current cycle
 
coffee&scrubs said:
Okay, so there has been no movement at any of my 4 waitlist schools, and I’m sad. Just wanted to throw that out there.
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Hang in there! My schools have started moving, without me.. But I am trying to not lose my spirit over that even though its hard... You made it this far the schools like you already, now its just patience over things we can't control...
 
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Anyone else struggling to figure out future plans? This is my second consecutive year applying and getting waitlisted. If my current 2 waitlists don’t work out then I’m probably going to take about 2 more years before I apply a third time, but I’m struggling to decide what to do between a SMP, changing jobs, etc. And with waitlists it’s hard to figure out when to put effort toward these decisions...makes things more stressful
 
tugman said:
Anyone else struggling to figure out future plans? This is my second consecutive year applying and getting waitlisted. If my current 2 waitlists don’t work out then I’m probably going to take about 2 more years before I apply a third time, but I’m struggling to decide what to do between a SMP, changing jobs, etc. And with waitlists it’s hard to figure out when to put effort toward these decisions...makes things more stressful
Click to expand...
on the same boat! know that you aren't alone! I'm trying to figure out whether to apply again or apply to the available post bac and master's programs that are still open. I think it couldn't hurt to keep your options open and just apply to other programs
 
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