Acceptance off waitlist after May 1st

[angelino]

Would anyone know how many days an applicant has to accept getting off waitlist post May 1st? On AAMC website traffic rules it says refer to the school site if acceptance is after May 1st. But if the school site doesn't have any specific information, is there a default # of days for acceptance. I read on some website (not AAMC or school) that it is seven days but not sure how credible that information is. I don't want risk missing the deadline, but it is very unclear. I don't want to outright accept yet as there are other waitlist decisions that haven't come in. Not sure how to handle this situation. Any suggestions? Thank you very much.

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[usagimd]

I don't know if there is a default but for one of the schools I'm WL at, the deadline is 5 days after the offer letter is received. I would just email the school specifically to ask about their guidelines. However, accepting the offer doesn't remove you from your other waitlist decisions unless they are requiring you to CTE instead of PTE.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

The MSAR Report for 2024-2025 is here (PDF) including PTE/CTE deadlines.
The MSAR Report for 2025-2026 is here (PDF).

Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants

The AAMC recommendations to help ensure that all M.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. applicants receive timely notification about the outcome of their AMCAS application.

students-residents.aamc.org

Once the timeline goes beyond May 1, it is up to the schools to set the deadlines. I think the general convention for all graduate programs is about 1 week (5 business days), but the response window may shorten as orientation approaches. If it's not on the offer letter (which at this point would be a glaring omission), ask. If you have a reason why you can't meet the deadline, ask for an extension and propose your expected date to fulfill the obligation to confirm your seat.

I don't want to outright accept yet as there are other waitlist decisions that haven't come in. Not sure how to handle this situation.

At this point, don't play around. Take the offer. There are no guarantees other waitlists will fall to your favor; at this point, you should only hold one acceptance.

 

[wysdoc]

Do your reading up now, about the costs of attendance at each medical school where you have a WL position.
You must be ready to make your decision with the deadline given, probably without knowing about your financial aid.
I don't know if you have been accepted anywhere yet- if not, it is unlikely to get more than one offer from your WLs so definitely accept the first one you get.

 

[angelino]

Thank you for the advice.

 

[Goro]

Would anyone know how many days an applicant has to accept getting off waitlist post May 1st? On AAMC website traffic rules it says refer to the school site if acceptance is after May 1st. But if the school site doesn't have any specific information, is there a default # of days for acceptance. I read on some website (not AAMC or school) that it is seven days but not sure how credible that information is. I don't want risk missing the deadline, but it is very unclear. I don't want to outright accept yet as there are other waitlist decisions that haven't come in. Not sure how to handle this situation. Any suggestions? Thank you very much.

Impossible to answer. This would be school- and applicant-dependent.

Some schools are rude and never tell their wait-listed folks that they're rejected.