Advice for "On Hold" Applicants

[OntologicalDamnation]

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I got placed on hold for a school that actually does tend to give interviews to some on hold applicants later on in the cycle. Does anyone have any advice for on hold applicants. Should I send an update letter/letter of continued interest? Should letter of interests only be reserved for after an interview? Thanks.

@Goro @gonnif @LizzyM

 

[notsobabydoc]

I got placed on hold for a school that actually does tend to give interviews to some on hold applicants later on in the cycle. Does anyone have any advice for on hold applicants. Should I send an update letter/letter of continued interest? Should letter of interests only be reserved for after an interview? Thanks.

@Goro @gonnif @LizzyM

I don’t think LOI will change anything. Essentially they will likely review you again should there be an opening for II.

 

[OntologicalDamnation]

I don’t think LOI will change anything. Essentially they will likely review you again should there be an opening for II.

It seems like it would help if you showed continued interest. Take a look at this person's profile alwaysaangel profile - MDApplicants.com.

"On hold at UC Davis. This really isn\'t looking good. Plus, I recently found out that everyone I know who got put on hold at UCSD and then sent a letter of intent got an interview. I just got an email saying - \'we still can\'t decide.\' That cannot be a good sign"

"I sent the original letter to get off hold for interview, another letter of intent after my interview but before decisions and then another after I got waitlisted. It paid off - Dr. Peterson even said it was my persistence and desire to attend that got me in."

So, if anything, it has worked for some people in the past.

 

[notsobabydoc]

It seems like it would help if you showed continued interest. Take a look at this person's profile alwaysaangel profile - MDApplicants.com.

"On hold at UC Davis. This really isn\'t looking good. Plus, I recently found out that everyone I know who got put on hold at UCSD and then sent a letter of intent got an interview. I just got an email saying - \'we still can\'t decide.\' That cannot be a good sign"

"I sent the original letter to get off hold for interview, another letter of intent after my interview but before decisions and then another after I got waitlisted. It paid off - Dr. Peterson even said it was my persistence and desire to attend that got me in."

So, if anything, it has worked for some people in the past.

I don’t think it will hurt your chance at all if you send an LOI, but I also don’t think it will move the the needle either. I think if you are on the cusp of being the next in line to get in, certainly a letter can push you through.
All I am saying is that if that’s what you feel you want to do, by all means go ahead, just craft the letter to sound genuine but not obsequious. And have your fingers crossed. Really there’s no harm sending it. But the upside is very uncertain but can be great.

 

[Cheeezcake]

Was placed on hold at mayo the day after i sent an update :/

 

[OntologicalDamnation]

Was placed on hold at mayo the day after i sent an update :/

Following secondary submission, do you know what the recommended time frame is for sending an update letter?

 

[Cheeezcake]

Following secondary submission, do you know what the recommended time frame is for sending an update letter?

Not sure tbh, i heard 6 weeks, or after thanksgiving. It was around 6 weeks for me and was getting restless haha

 

[Goro]

I got placed on hold for a school that actually does tend to give interviews to some on hold applicants later on in the cycle. Does anyone have any advice for on hold applicants. Should I send an update letter/letter of continued interest? Should letter of interests only be reserved for after an interview? Thanks.

@Goro @gonnif @LizzyM

Be patient.

Love letters don't work, except for needy schools like Gtown, Jefferson and Mayo.

Updates are only worth if if they are serious updates, like a publication or a semester of great grades. You getting a new job isn't worth an update.

 

[710118]

Be patient.

Love letters don't work, except for needy schools like Gtown, Jefferson and Mayo.

Updates are only worth if if they are serious updates, like a publication or a semester of great grades. You getting a new job isn't worth an update.

Hahahah needy schools. So true. Wonder why those three value them so much

 

[Goro]

Hahahah needy schools. So true. Wonder why those three value them so much

To get credit where credit is due, I stole the term from our wise gyngyn.

 

[gyngyn]

"I sent the original letter to get off hold for interview, another letter of intent after my interview but before decisions and then another after I got waitlisted. It paid off - Dr. Peterson even said it was my persistence and desire to attend that got me in."

Dr. Peterson retired...

 

[deleted987519]

Hahahah needy schools. So true. Wonder why those three value them so much

My guess is Gtown and Jeff get so many applications it helps to narrow down the field to those expressing lots of interest, for Mayo I imagine it’s to have a positive culture...they (I’m assuming) would not want to have a class of bitter Harvard rejects, but rather kids that really want to be at Mayo...just my guess

 

[710118]

My guess is Gtown and Jeff get so many applications it helps to narrow down the field to those expressing lots of interest, for Mayo I imagine it’s to have a positive culture...they (I’m assuming) would not want to have a class of bitter Harvard rejects, but rather kids that really want to be at Mayo...just my guess

All that encourages people to do is lie. The only time I think letter of intent or interest is believable is when an applicant says "I got accepted to this school and will turn it down if you accept me"

 

[notsobabydoc]

All that encourages people to do is lie. The only time I think letter of intent or interest is believable is when an applicant says "I got accepted to this school and will turn it down if you accept me"

That can’t be a lie? 😉

 

[710118]

That can’t be a lie? 😉

Much less likely to lie if you mention the specific school you were accepted to because that is a yes or no question which could theoretically be verified

 

[notsobabydoc]

Much less likely to lie if you mention the specific school you were accepted to because that is a yes or no question which could theoretically be verified

how about the part I will turn down that offer if I get accepted there?

 

[710118]

how about the part I will turn down that offer if I get accepted there?

Because there’s no reason to lie about that. For example, let’s say I have an acceptance at WashU. So I tell Columbia “hey I have an acceptance at WashU but if you accept me I will go to you”. I have no reason to lie here because I already have an acceptance from a comparable school either way. It doesn’t make sense to say I will accept another offer over this one and then not follow through with it because if you preferred your other choice first, you wouldn’t have even sent the email, you would have just accepted the offer.

 

[Cheeezcake]

So as a hail mary i should send a love letter to mayo after being put on hold..?

 

[notsobabydoc]

Because there’s no reason to lie about that. For example, let’s say I have an acceptance at WashU. So I tell Columbia “hey I have an acceptance at WashU but if you accept me I will go to you”. I have no reason to lie here because I already have an acceptance from a comparable school either way. It doesn’t make sense to say I will accept another offer over this one and then not follow through with it because if you preferred your other choice first, you wouldn’t have even sent the email, you would have just accepted the offer.

yes, there's. What if you try to use the acceptance to get more aid from another school. Trust me, words are cheap.

 

[notsobabydoc]

Because there’s no reason to lie about that. For example, let’s say I have an acceptance at WashU. So I tell Columbia “hey I have an acceptance at WashU but if you accept me I will go to you”. I have no reason to lie here because I already have an acceptance from a comparable school either way. It doesn’t make sense to say I will accept another offer over this one and then not follow through with it because if you preferred your other choice first, you wouldn’t have even sent the email, you would have just accepted the offer.

if anyone comes in with that kind of statement, I will reject that person right away. It's just so transactional and base.

 

[710118]

@Goro thoughts on love letters where you mention dropping another acceptance for a particular school?

 

[theKingLT]

if anyone comes in with that kind of statement, I will reject that person right away. It's just so transactional and base.

Ya trying to get an acceptance by bargaining a current one is not a good idea. Once you have 2 acceptances, "bargaining" aid to get another school to match is a whole different story and can definitely be done, but you're not going to get very far asking for more money than you currently have, just ask to match. Also some schools absolutely will ask you to verify your other scholarship offers before matching, so it would be pretty risky to lie

Sent from my LG-H918 using SDN mobile

 

[Goro]

@Goro thoughts on love letters where you mention dropping another acceptance for a particular school?

How would you interpret a non-binding contract from a desperate candidate.

The strategy might work if one has an accept to a higher class school than the one the candidate really wants to go to, like dropping Harvard for Netter.

 

[710118]

How would you interpret a non-binding contract from a desperate candidate.

The strategy might work if one has an accept to a higher class school than the one the candidate really wants to go to, like dropping Harvard for Netter.

What about for comparable schools?

 

[Goro]

What about for comparable schools?

I don't see it working.

Keep in mind that schools have years of data on these things, which tell them that they're mostly lies.