2020 Cycle Waitlist Support Thread

[Talldoctor96]

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Strange, I’ve noticed that a significant amount of DO schools have started to pull applicants off of the waitlist even though their traffic day is 5/15.

Its not strange. As students get into allopathic schools they give up their DO seat. It makes a lot of sense !

 

[runnergirl_12594]

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

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

 

[MDMVP15]

Where is this waitlist movement at omggggggggggggggggg

 

[futuredr.n]

Where is this waitlist movement at omggggggggggggggggg

I really do think the movement is slower than in past years. What is going on!?

 

[Talldoctor96]

I really do think the movement is slower than in past years. What is going on!?

I understand you may feel that way, but its important to note that there are many schools where lots of waitlist movement IS happening. Its only been 5 days since traffic day, movement is slow and steady throughout the months of may and june. Patience 🙂 If you don't believe me go take a look at EVMS and VCU they have had a number of people get off the waitlist. At EVMS there were like 15 people that reportedly got off yesterday! I know its frustrating but it isn't practical to make general WL statement. EACH school is different.

 

[docrose]

ughhhh this is torture

 

[sam.liam]

Sitting with two waitlist spots and no acceptances so far....it is an agonizing wait.

 

[War of Arts]

if they don't want us why not just give a straight R 🙁

 

[lacrossegirl420]

i've found "peace" with not getting in this cycle at least 10 times the past 3 days lmao

 

[deleted1025690]

i've found "peace" with not getting in this cycle at least 10 times the past 3 days lmao

Literally same, and then Ik it’s not real because I’m procrastinating starting the 2020-2021 app *flips desk in frustration*

 

[yxyxyx]

do you guys think that WL movement this year has been slower? Also does anyone just feel like they can't do anything else waiting for miracle to happen... This is getting too real the nice weather outside is reminding me that this is about time to move on 🙁

 

[RJ McReady]

Just speculation but I know that with covid, admission committees are meeting virtually. So, if they have to discuss or vote on an applicant or review a waitlist perhaps not everyone can attend or vote at the same time. Therefore this delays the entire process. Movement will happen. I just wish there was a laxative to speed it up.

 

[deleted1025690]

do you guys think that WL movement this year has been slower? Also does anyone just feel like they can't do anything else waiting for miracle to happen... This is getting too real the nice weather outside is reminding me that this is about time to move on 🙁

Someone also brought up a good point in other threads that during this time there just may be less staff working on everything even if everyone’s working remotely and adcoms meet online. So decisions would likely take longer to be processed and sent out. Which is honestly so valid. Plus let’s be honest as frustrated as ik we all are, many of us wouldn’t mind waiting as long as there is an A at the end of that wait! Stay positive my friends!

 

[djiboutiman]

 

[expressojoe]

Someone also brought up a good point in other threads that during this time there just may be less staff working on everything even if everyone’s working remotely and adcoms meet online. So decisions would likely take longer to be processed and sent out. Which is honestly so valid. Plus let’s be honest as frustrated as ik we all are, many of us wouldn’t mind waiting as long as there is an A at the end of that wait! Stay positive my friends!

do you think this is different for ranked vs unranked waitlists? my 3 WL are all at ranked schools, which I would guess have much less discussion needed

 

[deleted1025690]

do you think this is different for ranked vs unranked waitlists? my 3 WL are all at ranked schools, which I would guess have much less discussion needed

I honestly don’t know, everything I’m saying is speculation tbh. Both of mine are unranked but one has had 2 waves of movement while the other has had none at all. Anything is possible. While I love speculating myself ( clearly lol) we may all very well just be wasting our time shooting in the dark by doing so haha. A lot of prayer and meditation is what’s getting me through!

 

[drgoldenboy]

I'm a little confused on this -- I understand that the schools accept more people throughout the application cycle (prior to 4/30) than there are seats available (i.e. 260 people for 130 seats). Do they do this as people withdraw (so that they are usually not over enrolled, 1 person withdraws = another acceptance offered, which eventually adds up to 260), or do they just over-enroll regardless in anticipation that people will withdraw after 4/30?

The reason I ask is that I see people withdrawing acceptances from schools that I am WL at. But their withdrawal may not have much relevance to me if schools over enroll, as the number of acceptances are just getting closer to the amount of seats for the first class as withdrawals happen. But, if schools accept throughout the cycle as people withdraw, then 1 withdraw at this point in time = 1 open seat to be filled. Anyone know? Thank you mucho.

 

[minn#4]

I'm guessing it is the latter. They over accept and as people withdraw they get closer to their actual class size. Then they have to dip into their waitlist once they drop below their actual class size.

 

[cbdblmad]

I'm guessing it is the latter. They over accept and as people withdraw they get closer to their actual class size. Then they have to dip into their waitlist once they drop below their actual class size.

Yup, the degree that a school has to dip into their waitlist varies, some places will get half of their class from the waitlist even though they accept twice as many people as they have seats for and some places will accept only 30% extra and get less than 10 students off the waitlist. Schools are generally good a predicting yield such that they can take from the waitlist and accurately fill the class.

 

[drgoldenboy]

I'm guessing it is the latter. They over accept and as people withdraw they get closer to their actual class size. Then they have to dip into their waitlist once they drop below their actual class size.

Yup, the degree that a school has to dip into their waitlist varies, some places will get half of their class from the waitlist even though they accept twice as many people as they have seats for and some places will accept only 30% extra and get less than 10 students off the waitlist. Schools are generally good a predicting yield such that they can take from the waitlist and accurately fill the class.

Got it, thank you.

Oh lawdy, waitlist support, give me the strength

 

[minn#4]

Right now I’m on two waitlists. One of them is a ranked weight list and I’m #2 on the OOS list. And the other is not ranked. Saw pretty good movement on April 30th, but hoping for a little more. Since we’re past the 30th, will I primarily be waiting for those already accepted to get off of another waitlist?

 

[coffee&scrubs]

You know what's worse than none of your waitlists moving? Them moving and not being taken off them... 😢

 

[1Luv]

Who else is still waiting to hear back from their interview months ago? No waitlist, no rejection, no acceptance. Either just silence or an email saying your application is still being reviewed?

 

[GA_arYonkees_82]

i don’t really understand the PTE/CTE system. If people PTE to a school, but have multiple WL, what stops them from sitting on their waitlists until their CTE deadline?

Since many CTE deadlines are in June/July wouldn’t this delay people who are only on WL with no acceptances? Why don’t Med schools just move up their CTE deadlines to speed up the cycle?

 

[yerrrrrrrrrrrrr]

i don’t really understand the PTE/CTE system. If people PTE to a school, but have multiple WL, what stops them from sitting on their waitlists until their CTE deadline?

Since many CTE deadlines are in June/July wouldn’t this delay people who are only on WL with no acceptances? Why don’t Med schools just move up their CTE deadlines to speed up the cycle?

preeeeaaaaccchhh! there are people in the school specific threads i follow who are blatantly staying on other WL's despite having an acceptance / scholarship to top choices. I assume people are waiting for better financial aid offers but if it were me I would just take what I got and want to be done with the cycle. Also I don't get why CTE dates are basically like the day before classes start at so many schools, realistically, who is actually waiting until then to commit??

 

[washhyyy]

i don’t really understand the PTE/CTE system. If people PTE to a school, but have multiple WL, what stops them from sitting on their waitlists until their CTE deadline?

Since many CTE deadlines are in June/July wouldn’t this delay people who are only on WL with no acceptances? Why don’t Med schools just move up their CTE deadlines to speed up the cycle?

Isn’t that the point of PTE...? It allows people to hold an acceptance as well as stay on WL’s in case they get into a school that they like more than the one that gave them an A.

I agree they could move the CTE deadline up to speed up the cycle, but overall I think the system makes sense.


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[rdyotz]

Be thankful. You used to be able to come off the waitlist AFTER starting at another school.

 

[GA_arYonkees_82]

Yeah I get that, I just don’t get the point of dragging out the cycle, it seems pretty inefficient.

Why wouldn’t Med schools just wait until their own CTE deadlines to pull off the waitlist since they’ll know exactly how many spots are left then.

 

[jfijiefjieji]

Yeah I get that, I just don’t get the point of dragging out the cycle, it seems pretty inefficient.

Why wouldn’t Med schools just wait until their own CTE deadlines to pull off the waitlist since they’ll know exactly how many spots are left then.

Then they would have less to choose from because everyone with an acceptance would have given up the waitlist spot

 

[djiboutiman]

Yeah I get that, I just don’t get the point of dragging out the cycle, it seems pretty inefficient.

Why wouldn’t Med schools just wait until their own CTE deadlines to pull off the waitlist since they’ll know exactly how many spots are left then.

They might miss out on an applicant who got into a school with an earlier CTE date.

 

[GA_arYonkees_82]

Then they would have less to choose from because everyone with an acceptance would have given up the waitlist spot

Right, but theres still plenty to go around aka people with only WL no acceptances.

yeah I get it tho, that’s how medicine is. Big F U to those at the bottom of the pole while we kiss the butts of those at the top haha

 

[yerrrrrrrrrrrrr]

Right, but theres still plenty to go around aka people with only WL no acceptances.

exactly, its not like ppl with no A's are lower quality applicants anyway, otherwise they would have already been rejected

 

[djiboutiman]

Right, but theres still plenty to go around aka people with only WL no acceptances.

For the unranked WL that might contribute to lack of a balanced class.

 

[bluethroat]

I still find it unsettling that ranked WLs haven't had much movement yet

 

[justrandomthings]

anyone else starring at their interview badges and sometimes thinks how sad this whole process was ? ....
Hoping for some miracle to come through 🙁

 

[sun_flower580]

anyone else starring at their interview badges and sometimes thinks how sad this whole process was ? ....
Hoping for some miracle to come through 🙁

As we speak

 

[sun_flower580]

I think today is the most dejected and dehumanized I have felt in a while regarding this process.... frustration is through the roof. just sad and overwhelmed and stressed. feeling like a chicken w my head cut off. and all in the midst of final exam week sigh

 

[justrandomthings]

I think today is the most dejected and dehumanized I have felt in a while regarding this process.... frustration is through the roof. just sad and overwhelmed and stressed. feeling like a chicken w my head cut off. and all in the midst of final exam week sigh

100% feel the same way today 🙁 feeling so defeated ....


edit: i blame the full moon lol

 

[sun_flower580]

100% feel the same way today 🙁 feeling so defeated ....

im so sorry fam :/ you are not alone. in the midst of this torture it is slightly comforting to know that many are sharing the same sentiments 🙁

 

[GA_arYonkees_82]

I think today is the most dejected and dehumanized I have felt in a while regarding this process.... frustration is through the roof. just sad and overwhelmed and stressed. feeling like a chicken w my head cut off. and all in the midst of final exam week sigh

I’m feeling the same way as you. And I think it’s because I expected some movement the past few days but there really hasn’t been much. Even if my name isnt getting called for an acceptance I still wanted to see something happen!!

But anyways don’t let this Med school cycle BS overwhelm you and get in your head. Doing well on your finals is just as important.its hard but just think about how good it’ll feel when you get your grades back and you see that you killed your exams instead of getting caught up overthinking about waitlists and stuff.

 

[sun_flower580]

I’m feeling the same way as you. And I think it’s because I expected some movement the past few days but there really hasn’t been much. Even if my name isnt getting called for an acceptance I still wanted to see something happen!!

But anyways don’t let this Med school cycle BS overwhelm you and get in your head. Doing well on your finals is just as important.its hard but just think about how good it’ll feel when you get your grades back and you see that you killed your exams instead of getting caught up overthinking about waitlists and stuff.

Thank you so much, hang in there!!!!! We will get through this... 🙁 🙁

 

[deleted1025690]

Saw this and couldn’t help but laugh because I personally think it’s accurate lol. Goes to show that sometimes this process does not make the most sense and that’s ok. We should in no way take that to think less of ourselves. The fact that we’ve made it this far is a sign in itself and even if we do have to reapply we have so much more information going into a reapp cycle than we originally did and that’s going to put us at an advantage! I’m confident that I WILL be calling you all colleagues in due time, I feel it in my soul!!!

 

[openstage]

Here’s some more speculation...in a normal year I presume many of the administration and staff would be in cruise control for Match Day, Commencement and other spring events. But with Covid 19, their time and energies may have to be given to these more pressing matters, including the health and well being of the community. They may also be working on planning how to kick off orientation and the start of school this summer. I’m sure some of this is having a timing impact.

 

[docrose]

Here’s some more speculation...in a normal year I presume many of the administration and staff would be in cruise control for Match Day, Commencement and other spring events. But with Covid 19, their time and energies may have to be given to these more pressing matters, including the health and well being of the community. They may also be working on planning how to kick off orientation and the start of school this summer. I’m sure some of this is having a timing impact.

yeah honestly really banking on that covid has been slowing the process down and there will be more movement just later in the cycle. hoping for another “traffic day”

 

[justrandomthings]

Here’s some more speculation...in a normal year I presume many of the administration and staff would be in cruise control for Match Day, Commencement and other spring events. But with Covid 19, their time and energies may have to be given to these more pressing matters, including the health and well being of the community. They may also be working on planning how to kick off orientation and the start of school this summer. I’m sure some of this is having a timing impact.

I agree. I'm also assuming that most of those admitting folks are actual doctors who are working on the frontlines. I want to think that they're significantly understaffed which I think is a very likely possibility.

 

[GA_arYonkees_82]

there has been a lot of movement in school specific threads that hasn't been posted here

Yes but as a whole there doesn’t seem to be as much movement this year compared to last year.

Source:
My neurotic ass went back to most if not all threads last year and checked/compared them to this year

 

[probablyneedassistance]

Yes but as a whole there doesn’t seem to be as much movement this year compared to last year.

Source:
My neurotic ass went back to most if not all threads last year and checked/compared them to this year

I find so much solidarity with the neurotic energy here haha. My one WL school (UNC) started waitlist movement 4/29 last year, so I've been so anxious these past few days. No movement reported on our school specific thread yet, and since LOI and updates aren't accepted, there's nothing I can do except search everywhere I can for any clues/info

 

[Hiddenleaf09]

Hey guys! Thanks for making this whole process somewhat bare able. It feels good to know there’s people feeling what I’m feeling. I am in a ranked waitlist. I am top 1/3rd but it’s honestly so frustrating to make this wait. We have three schools in the state. One of the schools is already down to their middle tier; yet somehow we’ve barley moved in our school. It seems as though everyone who has been accepted to multiple schools in the state has been choosing two specific schools (mine included) over the other which is causing soooo much waitlist movement at that other school. While ours barley moved. The question I have is should I be losing hope because of the April 30th deadline? I see that you guys are saying the waitlist movement is just beginning, but don’t you feel that most of the movement should’ve happened right before the April 30th deadline?

 

[deleted1025690]

Hey guys! Thanks for making this whole process somewhat bare able. It feels good to know there’s people feeling what I’m feeling. I am in a ranked waitlist. I am top 1/3rd but it’s honestly so frustrating to make this wait. We have three schools in the state. One of the schools is already down to their middle tier; yet somehow we’ve barley moved in our school. It seems as though everyone who has been accepted to multiple schools in the state has been choosing two specific schools (mine included) over the other which is causing soooo much waitlist movement at that other school. While ours barley moved. The question I have is should I be losing hope because of the April 30th deadline? I see that you guys are saying the waitlist movement is just beginning, but don’t you feel that most of the movement should’ve happened right before the April 30th deadline?

No you should not be losing hope! Even without pandemic related delays, schools have a lot of movement around April 30th (for the most part after) and throughout May. Of course this could be school dependent but you’d have to look into those trends for your schools. Also as someone mentioned earlier it’s really only been 3 business days since the April 30th suggested deadline so I do honestly believe it’s too early to lose all hope.

 

[HopefulDoctor109]

COVID-19 is affecting admissions. I just spoke with an admissions officer and they said the process is delayed. Just give it time guys. Please stop worrying. WL movement will be about the same as last year. If you are curious then please direct these types of questions to @Goro or other moderators/ adcom members. They will probably say something more insightful than the average SDNer.

If you have 0 acceptances then now is the time to work on your application for next cycle.