accept OS offer or stay on IS wait list?

[natjoygreg]

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Hi everyone! I'm new to this site but really happy I found it. Just wondering if anybody could relate/give any advice.

I've been accepted at LMU and Purdue (both OS) and waitlisted at Cornell (my IS school). I always wanted to go to Cornell throughout my undergrad but its hard not to feel a little put off by the alternate list. I'm leaning towards Purdue because I really loved it there. The campus, curriculum, and faculty were all exactly what I am looking for. If I accept the offer at Purdue I still need to sign up for the animal nutrition course (which costs 1600). Part of me wants to just accept at Purdue so I can move forward but another part wants to see what Cornell says (can't beat that IS tutition). The big thing is I really dont want to lose my deposit and the money I'll spend on the animal nutrition course (which is not required at Cornell).

Anybody else on a wait list out there?

 

[VetToBe585]

I'm on an IS wait list, but my concern is I can't imagine someone IS is going to decline and go OOS, giving me a spot. I think getting off the wait list happens VERY rarely.

And just because you got in a place one year, doesn't mean you'll get in the next year as well. If I were you, I'd probably just go with the out of state.

 

[Foxhunter]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this site but really happy I found it. Just wondering if anybody could relate/give any advice.

I've been accepted at LMU and Purdue (both OS) and waitlisted at Cornell (my IS school). I always wanted to go to Cornell throughout my undergrad but its hard not to feel a little put off by the alternate list. I'm leaning towards Purdue because I really loved it there. The campus, curriculum, and faculty were all exactly what I am looking for. If I accept the offer at Purdue I still need to sign up for the animal nutrition course (which costs 1600). Part of me wants to just accept at Purdue so I can move forward but another part wants to see what Cornell says (can't beat that IS tutition). The big thing is I really dont want to lose my deposit and the money I'll spend on the animal nutrition course (which is not required at Cornell).

Anybody else on a wait list out there?

You probably won't move off the IS waitlist until after you're required to make your decision. So unfortunately you're probably gonna have to just take the financial hit of the deposit and animal nutrition courses. If you end up getting off the waitlist for Cornell, great you'll still be spending less money than Purdue. If you don't at least you've done your due diligence and are ready for Purdue. I know it kinda sucks but that's how it is.

Our IS waitlist definitely moves some (NCSU), I have classmates who found out in June/July that they were accepted here.

And not vet med, but my roommate got of a Nursing School waitlist 2 days before classes started. That was crazy.

 

[Foxhunter]

I'm on an IS wait list, but my concern is I can't imagine someone IS is going to decline and go OOS, giving me a spot. I think getting off the wait list happens VERY rarely.

And just because you got in a place one year, doesn't mean you'll get in the next year as well. If I were you, I'd probably just go with the out of state.

It's not just choosing to go OOS, but that does happen (some schools OOS ends up cheaper than IS). Life happens. Our IS waitlist definitely moved at least 10, maybe more spots.

 

[rushy]

Oklahoma State has an equivalent Nutrition course that is around $600.

 

[Swongy]

I'm on the same page as you. I am on the wait list for Cornell but I got into NCSU and Ohio. I plan to attend NCSU but I will remain on the waitlist.

For me, tuition is a major factor but NCSU allows OOSers to claim residency after the first year, which will end up being cheaper than Cornell!

Another factor is curriculum and program. Both have a great program for my current focus area but I feel like NCSU has more to offer in terms of outside experience.

Another factor is location- I want to be close to home. But I didn't particularly enjoy cornells winter weather since I get enough already.

But, if I get a call from Cornell (not really betting my money on that), I will have to make a tough decision!

Good luck on your decision and congrats! 🙂

 

[Maddiegirl]

As someone who didn't make the cut this year, I would definitely take an OOS acceptance over the waitlist and be happy for the opportunity to be in vet school. You just have to weigh what is important to you. As someone else stated, if you turn down a guaranteed seat for one that may never be offered then it is possible that you may not be fortunate enough next cycle to gain acceptance. It's a gamble that I personally would not take! A bird in hand is worth two in the bush...

 

[pp9]

I think it's important to really decide whether or not you accept the risk of reapplying in hopes of getting in-state tuition. You might get all rejections next year, you might not. However, if the debt is really stopping you, it's worth considering. Your chances of getting off the IS waitlist are slim, but it can happen. It all depends on where you are on that list. I knew a girl who got called off the waitlist a week before classes started! I'm sure there are some years where no one gets called off.

Really, if you think about it, losing a deposit is less painful than paying OOS tuition if you end up backing out. You've got some thinking to do. You either take on more debt, or risk never getting an acceptance again. See if Cornell will do a file review with you ASAP, and see what they recommend you change/improve and go from there.

 

[LetItSnow]

Does Cornell give you the ranking on the waitlist? There's a big difference between #1 and #20.

I disagree that IS waitlists don't move. Most schools have two separate waitlists (IS/OOS). They waitlist enough people to ensure they can fill their seats. It's not like they put an equal number on the OOS waitlist as the IS waitlist. Sure, the IS waitlist won't move as much as OOS .... but there are fewer people on it, most likely.

I dunno the difference in tuition between IS-Cornell and OOS-Purdue. If it's significant ... and it were me .... I'd probably take the Purdue seat, start the course, and then withdraw/drop if I got into Cornell. Even though you lose that Purdue deposit and course tuition, that's still going to be FAR less (again, if the tuition difference is significant) in the end. May seem sucky to lose a thousand or two now, but it's better than having tens of thousands more in debt after vet school.

 

[Kpowell14]

I'm leaning towards Purdue because I really loved it there. The campus, curriculum, and faculty were all exactly what I am looking for. If I accept the offer at Purdue I still need to sign up for the animal nutrition course (which costs 1600). Part of me wants to just accept at Purdue so I can move forward but another part wants to see what Cornell says (can't beat that IS tutition). The big thing is I really dont want to lose my deposit and the money I'll spend on the animal nutrition course (which is not required at Cornell).

Anybody else on a wait list out there?

If I were you, I would put the deposit down on Purdue / the nutrition class and then if you end up off the waitlist for Cornell - decide from there. During my application cycle ( for the class of 2017) Cornell went through their entire Waitlist - and ended up accepting people who were initially rejected. There is evidence of this somewhere on SDN ... See Below... Does this happen every year? - No Way, but it happened in the past and who knows what will happen in the future. Best of Luck!

 

[Kpowell14]

From the 2017 waitlist page:

So, I am completely dumbfounded because I was not on the waitlist. I was rejected, but they said they have gone through the waitlist already. Still in complete shock!

Cornell: PuffPastry (OOS, phone call)

 

[pp9]

If I were you, I would put the deposit down on Purdue / the nutrition class and then if you end up off the waitlist for Cornell - decide from there. During my application cycle ( for the class of 2017) Cornell went through their entire Waitlist - IS and OOS and ended up accepting people who were initially rejected. There is evidence of this somewhere on SDN ... See Below... Does this happen every year? - No Way, but it happened in the past and who knows what will happen in the future. Best of Luck!

Seriously? They couldn't hang onto any IS applicants? Maybe I'm missing something, but that seems so strange to me.

 

[Kpowell14]

Seriously? They couldn't hang onto any IS applicants? Maybe I'm missing something, but that seems so strange to me.

After some thinking, I can't say 100% that the entire IS wait list moved like the OOS wait list did... We don't know if once they went through the OOS wait list if they immediately started accepting OOS people who were rejected or if they accepted IS wait list people from that point.. So that is my fault. I still hold firm on my recommendation though (Accept Purdues offer and just wait and see and decide if it happens.)

ETA- just looked back and PP was accepted May 1st...

 

[natjoygreg]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I think I will put the deposit down at Purdue and just see what happens with Cornell. Tuition of course is a huge factor but i'm really just excited to be going to vet school anywhere. Best of luck to everyone else in their decisions!

 

[onisteverina]

I was procrastinating from studying for my neuro final and saw that there were a couple people on the successful applicant thread who are NY residents, got into Cornell, and are going somewhere else... so that IS waitlist may do some moving..

 

[Swongy]

You give me hope @onisteverina! Good luck on your final! 😀