Advice with schools/acceptances/waitlist

[mikemiller123]

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Hey guys,

I have been accepted to 4 DO schools, and waitlisted at my state school top choice MD school (also my alma mater). I really want to go to my state school because I see myself settling down here and practicing here with my current fiancee who is doing her grad school here.

I thought my interview at my MD school was really good and the only reason I think I got waitlisted there was because my MCAT scores were not on the average. My real question is what can I do to get off the waitlist? Should I retake the MCAT? Do they accept MCAT updates? I still live in town, do you think I can go visit and talk to admissions committee?"

Also, if I were offered the masters that gets you straight into their program would you guys do it over a DO acceptance or should I just take the DO (very grateful for).


Any tips are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[purplefrog13]

I think your best bet would be to talk to the school--see if they accept updates, if there is anything you can do to boost your application, write a letter of intent, that sort of thing.

Schools have different methods for their waitlists-is this a ranked list? Can they tell you where you are on the list? Or is it more of a pool that they review when spots open up?

Regarding Master's+MD in a year or two vs DO now...that's a choice you have to make. Which would you rather do?

 

[mikemiller123]

I think your best bet would be to talk to the school--see if they accept updates, if there is anything you can do to boost your application, write a letter of intent, that sort of thing.

Schools have different methods for their waitlists-is this a ranked list? Can they tell you where you are on the list? Or is it more of a pool that they review when spots open up?

Regarding Master's+MD in a year or two vs DO now...that's a choice you have to make. Which would you rather do?

Nobody knows anything about their waitlist. Like they even in their email they said don't call and ask about your location on a waitlist and wouldn't release any information. I'm just trying to see what usually works when trying to get off a watlist.

 

[purplefrog13]

Well saying not to call and ask about your location on the waitlist implies that there is a ranking. I would guess that sending an update/letter of intent can't hurt, unless they said not to contact them period. You can probably at least update with grades from this semester.

 

[mikemiller123]

Well saying not to call and ask about your location on the waitlist implies that there is a ranking. I would guess that sending an update/letter of intent can't hurt, unless they said not to contact them period. You can probably at least update with grades from this semester.

Thanks for your input!

Is there a specific way that med schools rank their waitlist? Is it based on your interview performance or your stats or a combination?

They encouraged to update with stuff. Does that hint that they might want me to retake my MCAT? Also I am not sure if it is ranked because their exact wording is that they can't provide any feedback on their decision.

Thank you again for answering

 

[DokterMom]

PLAN an update campaign with two letters maximum.

What are your current 'weak links'? If MCAT is one and you think you can do significantly better, it might be something to try. But can you even be ready in time to retake and get new scores before all the spots are gone?

What else can you do to enhance your application? Grades are a given, but more 'filler' material than update-worthy -- unless your GPA is only recently good and another semester of strong academic performance could help 'change the picture.' Research? Any publications? Presentations? ECs - Anything noteworthy?

Remember - you've got 1, maybe 2 letters. Make 'em count.

 

[mikemiller123]

PLAN an update campaign with two letters maximum.

What are your current 'weak links'? If MCAT is one and you think you can do significantly better, it might be something to try. But can you even be ready in time to retake and get new scores before all the spots are gone?

What else can you do to enhance your application? Grades are a given, but more 'filler' material than update-worthy -- unless your GPA is only recently good and another semester of strong academic performance could help 'change the picture.' Research? Any publications? Presentations? ECs - Anything noteworthy?

Remember - you've got 1, maybe 2 letters. Make 'em count.

My GPA is around a 3.8, but my MCAT is a mediocre 504. My problem was with only the reading section being lower because I lived in Asia most of my life and English has been a second language. So to be honest, I dont see myself improving because I studied my butt off.

ECs have been the same since I submited my app, so I haven't really done anything different. Should I start diversifying?

 

[mikemiller123]

No, schools have published deadlines for last MCAT accepted. To accept an MCAT after that date would require a waiver.



Why did you go thru the time, costs and effort apply to DO schools, be accepted, and not attend.?

If your goal was to go to MD then you should have applied only MD. Any applicant should apply only to a school then intend on attending

I mean this is a pretty silly question, because we aren't talking about me not caring about DO. I already said I am pretty grateful to be accepted there and will most likely attend if I dont get off of my school's waitlist. This isn''t a DO vs. MD this is one school vs. another. If my state school happened to be a DO school I would still pick it over any other school..

 

[mikemiller123]

It was the question about taking a masters as direct acceptance that garnered my ire.

My point is that no applicant should apply to a school they may decide not to attend

With 5% acceptance rates naturally people are going to try to increase their chances to get in somewhere. Once they have acceptances they can start being picky.

As here- my number one was my state school. Number two was a DO school nearby. I didn't apply to schools I wasn't interested in. Plus interests change throughout the cycle- you might interview and not like the school or the location.

Regardless you are missing the point. My interest is more geographic proximity to my future wife and family. If you have a shot at your number one preference you should pursue- which is what I'm doing everything else will be fine it's not about do/md here.

 

[Moefsu]

I don't think schools take mcat updates at this point in the cycle. But congrats on your acceptances!

 

[mikemiller123]

I don't think schools take mcat updates at this point in the cycle. But congrats on your acceptances!

Thanks. Yea MSAR says December 2016, which is essentially now. There are no mcats between september and december anyways

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Once they have acceptances they can start being picky.

From my perspective you have a DO acceptance and no MD acceptances so I don't really see how you can be picky. This is what I would do:

1. Pay the deposit to the DO school you want to go to the most out of your acceptances
2. Plan strategic updates to your state school.
3. Hope you get off the wait list. If you don't then go to the DO school.

Here is the big if, IF you get a masters program offer AND they promise you a seat if you complete it (and not like a 3.7 deal, like if you just pass it) then I would think about doing it. If it is not guaranteed in any way then just take the DO acceptance.