Alternate List Limbo

[oman313]

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Hello everyone,
I have been placed on the alternate list at the three schools I have interviewed with. It's hard being in limbo like this. I feel like I need to do something, but I don't know how I should approach this situation. I don't want the admissions committee to forget about me, but I don't want to be a pest either. Any words of advice would be helpful, Thanks.

 

[Future DOc]

It may be disheartening to hear, but just start making plans on strengthening your profile & reapply again for the next entering class. Its possible to be pulled out of the alternate list, but you never know! Have some back-up plans just in case!

I can understand your frustration for being placed on the waiting list. Unfortunately, schools place a lot of other applicants on the list as well. I hear of people being pulled out of the waiting list into acceptance, but usually a week or two after the first day of classes. Those are usually the times when schools are already gearing up for the next admissions class, but realize they may still have an empty seat or two due to last minute drop outs of matriculated students. They need to fill these spots, hence more students, more tuition to the medical school, so they look into the alternate list.

Again, you can still be pulled out of the alternate list into acceptance, but look at the flip side that you may not! I'll cross my fingers that its the former for you!! Good luck

Rob
WesternU/COMP MS II

 

[atchoo]

With all due respect, that's kind of incorrect. My pre-med advisor has told me countless times that 1/3 to 1/2 of almost every entering class is pulled off the waitlist. At the school I'm going to, they pull a whopping 2/5 of the class from the waitlist. Why? Well, when May 15th rolls around, students participating in AMCAS have to drop down to one school. Because people accepted to my school have probably been accepted to other awesome places, many drop...and as a result, many on the waitlist get offers. If you're going to be accepted off an alternate list, you'll hear anytime between May 15th and the start of classes.

Don't worry -- MANY people come off these lists. You should press your interest in a school you're really gunning for...write them a letter of intent, stating that if accepted, you'll definitely attend. Make sure you keep the school updated with your activities and maybe have an additional recommendation or two sent. If it's really late in the season and you're still on the list, request a meeting with the Dean of Admissions or another interview: at that point, what do you have to lose?

So, though it's frustrating not to receive a direct acceptance, you still have a chance at one: you just have to work at it a little.

Good luck; if you want more advice about a specific school, post again.

AAAATCHOOOOOOOOOOOO
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN '04

 

[Future DOc]

You are probably correct, atchoo(do you need a kleenx)....I just wrote based on what I have seen when I was applying way back when.

oman313, just don't lose hope!!! You never know what might happen....my fingers are crossed for you!!!

Rob
WesternU/COMP MS II

 

[oman313]

To Future Doc and Atchoo,

Thanks for the words of advice and encouragement. I will do my best to make sure that these schools know that I am very capable and motivated to become a physician. Good luck, and best wishes to the both of you as you move forward into a very challenging, exciting, and rewarding phase of life.

 

[vyparik1]

Hey Atchoo or anyone else.......Do you think that it is appropriate to send a "letter of interest" even if you have not recieved an answer from the school(ie, accepted, waitlisted, or rejected?) OR SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE...for instance if i get waitlisted??

[This message has been edited by vyparik1 (edited 03-12-2000).]

 

[atchoo]

Hey, what's up?

I think the proper advice to give here is don't use the war's artillery in one battle.

After you interviewed, you should have written a thank you letter to your interviewer as well as perhaps an additional letter of thanks to the Dean of Admissions or Committee on Admissions...after all, they did select you for an interview and that certainly deserves appreciation.

After this correspondence, wait for their decision, because you don't want to pull the ACE out yet. The ACE here is the "letter of intent." In this valuable letter you can only send to ONE school, you declare to the Committee or Dean how and why their school is your unequivocal first choice...how you would rather be there for your next 4 years than anywhere else. Of course, this is traditionally drafted by an applicant once he discovers he's been waitlisted.

If you interviewed a while ago (10 weeks or so for schools with rolling notification) and have not received notification, assume that you are waitlisted. Update them with your activities and grades, if they accept them (some schools don't like it when you send grade reports or transcripts...don't ask me why). An additional recommendation or two surely could not hurt...especially ones from research advisors/profs who attest to your desire to attend that specific school. The most important thing you need to do is determine how receptive the school is to these supplementary materials: call them and ask...if you wish, remain anonymous and refer to yourself as an "applicant still under consideration." If you can, find out if you're indeed "waitlisted"...if so, and you're juiced about that school, whip out the letter of intent.

With that said, stay optimistic, stay proactive, and don't assume the worst until you see it. Good luck.

AAATCHHOOOOOOOOOOO
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN '04

 

[vyparik1]

Thanks for the advice Atchoo...I interviewed for this school (my top choice) Back in Friggin SEPTEMBER....ITS NOW MARCH....Ive called them many times during this time span and they keep telling me that my application is under review.....March 15TH IS the last time they send out REGULAR ACCPETANCE LETTERS...after March they send out acceptances at intervals thereafter until the class is filled.....so im looking as if this is my last month basically...SO IF I DONT HEAR ANYTHING THIS WEEK IM GOING TO ASSUME I AM WAITLISTED.....then i guess i will send that "letter of intent"....what do you think ATCHOO????

 

[atchoo]

Yup. If you don't get accepted/rejected by next Monday, you're definitely on the waitlist. I'm glad you've been keeping in touch with the school...believe it or not, they probably have noticed how much you care about their decision.

Tell me what school it is and maybe I'll have more specific advice.

AAATTCHHOOOOOOOOOOO
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN '04

 

[vyparik1]

Hello Atchoo....First of all, as i can see from your signature, congrats on your acceptance to University of Michigan....thats a top notch medical school!!! You must have had stellar stats....Anyway, the school i wish to attend is Indiana University....Any thoughts on it?? thanks for your input...youve been very helpful!!

 

[kat96]

vyparik,
i'm in the same boat as you! i'm waiting on IU as well--and i interviewed in OCTOBER! so, i guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. it sucks, i know. but i think the way they do things at IU are screwed up anyways! i know a number of people that were pulled off the waitlist during the summer--but i also know of people that should've gotten in but didn't for some unexplainable reason. i'll be anxiously awaiting my mailbox this week, too! you're not alone! good luck to you.

 

[atchoo]

What I do know, after speaking with my pre-med advisor, about the process at Indiana is that they notify accepted applicants on the 15th of every month (including this month) and do so later at an irregular basis until the class is filled. If you don't receive anything by next Monday, post here and let me know.

I've been informed that one of my peers at school is attending Indiana next year (he's originally from Indianapolis, I believe). I'm going to ask him about your situation; perhaps he'll have some insight. Wait a bit and I'll get back to you.

AAATCHHHOOOOOOOOOO
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN '04

 

[vyparik1]

Thanks guys....I will keep you guys posted on my situation...GOOD LUCK TO YOU TOO KAT69...The wait is driving me nuts!! But keep the faith....this could be our month!! or rather our week!!

So kat69 was IU the only school you applied to??

 

[kat96]

v-
i applied to a number of DO schools also and got into CCOM--which was one of my top choices. i'm really into the whole DO philosophy, but at the same time, being close to home would be nice too. so who knows where i'll be this fall!! let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

[vyparik1]

Ok...I have not received anything from IU so far...i am leaning toward sending my letter of intent even though a decision has not been made yet...To Atchoo....did you receive any information on my situation from your friend? Does anyone have any info. on IU....Its been a long wait....thanks

 

[kat96]

hey v-
i haven't heard anything yet, either. i do have a bit of info for you, though. i hear that the march 15th date was actually pushed back to april 15th because things are really slow over there. so, hopefully we'll know one way or another by april! but no news is still good news. i heard that last year they also accepted about 60 people from the waitlist and notified them in june. (i have a number of friends that are first year students there and they give me a lot of info.) so, we're still ok. the letter of intent sounds like a good idea. good luck!

 

[atchoo]

Wow, kat actually stole my fire

I talked with my peer who will be attending Indiana next year and he said the exact same thing. He was a little pessimistic about your chances of receiving a direct acceptance, but assures me that if you were going to be rejected directly, they would have done so soon after your interview. The next time you hear from them should be right on or a little before May 1st...they'll establish a waitlist around this time too. So, you're definitely still in the running... I'd go ahead and send in the letter of intent. Keep in correspondence with them every other week or so until June 1st (letter of intent, activities update, letters of recommendation, etc). A great idea is to have your pre-med advisor write about your intent to matriculate to Indiana...that way, it's not just your credibility they'll take into account. After this date, call them once or twice a week to press your interest and track movement off the waitlist. He seemed like he knew what he was talking about, but take it for what it's worth: just another informed opinion.

Good luck and let me know what happens or if there's anything else I can do for you.

AAATCHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN '04

 

[vyparik1]

hey Atchoo...thanks for the advice...But I dont think i will tell my pre-med advisor to send in a letter of intent for me because i dont know him at all......Would it be better to have a professor that i know well send in a letter about my interest in IU?? thanks

 

[atchoo]

Hey

Here's what I would do if I were you:

If the professor you know hasn't already written a recommendation for you (i.e. IU hasn't heard from him yet), then tell him to write about your interest and how great you are, etc. and send it in. If a prof who already has recommended you writes another letter, they're likely to pass it off as fodder from the same cannon -- it won't be nearly as potent as a recommendation from someone new.

I would get to know your pre-med advisor IMMEDIATELY. This person can be your best ally in this situation...he most likely has recommended people to IU before and probably knows the admissions committee. Just schedule a meeting with him -- it doesn't take long to relay who you are and your interests. It's his job to fight for you... If you don't tap this resource, you'll be kicking yourself for not doing so if you don't get the nod...the pre-med advisor's advocacy really is the most valuable thing to have on your side besides the letter of intent.

I would actually take both these routes (if the prof is someone who hasn't recommended you to IU already). I would space the letters out (you have time to kill before May 15th). Again, I stress that you keep in constant written contact with IU and DEFINITELY stress that you get to know your pre-med advisor NOW.

Good luck.

AAATCHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN '04

 

[Nordberg]

Aatchoo or anyone else out there familiar with alternate list, and specifically Michigan. I'm also on the altnerate list at six schools, U-M being one of them (which is also my first choice.) I've found out that I'm on the bottom 1/3 of the alternate list. Any more details about alternate list information? Do they reevaluate the alternate list (so an additional recommendation would indeed be helpful.) How do they take people off from this list--is it one after another?


[This message has been edited by Nordberg (edited 04-05-2000).]

 

[lucky7377]

Aatchoo

I have been wait listed at an osteopathic medical school. They won't give me any information about my ranking besides how they do the ranking (they assign scores to all your criterias Gpa, mcat, essay, volunteer....etc and come up with a total that they use for ranking. Would you be kinf enough to help me with a letter of intent? Not sure what to write and what not to write in this letter.....I dont want to write something that might tick them off.

Thank You. ([email protected])

------------------

 

[tnkd]

hi all,

i am already accepted to an osteopathic school. at the same time, i'm on the waiting list at an allo. school. what would happen to me on May 15th? do i have to decide whether i should stick with the osteo. school and get myself off the waiting list, or can i keep both?

any responses will be appreciated.

 

[Besyonek]

TNKD,

The allopathic and osteopathic schools occupy different universes as far as application procedures are concerned. No, you do not have to give up your osteo spot. If you are interested in the allo spot, keep lobbying them and make sure you don't tell them you've been accepted at the osteo school. Otherwise, they will conclude that since you already have a spot somewhere else, they can remove you from consideration and offer late-opening positions to those who don't already have an acceptance.

 

[wiggy]

Does anyone know how many initial acceptances relative to seats schools usually give out? Do schools tend to "double up" or go through an alternate list before going to the waitlist?

 

[dugan]

okay, first of all, let me just say that this looks like a nice forum. I'm sorry I didn't find it earlier.

Like a lot of people (I guess), I'm waitlisted at a few places and am obsessed with it (particularly with my first-choice school.) I haven't been accepted anywhere and don't relish the thought of waiting until August to find out. (However, I know this is possible.)

So I've been doing some exploring. Check out http://prehealth.uchicago.edu/HPA-handbook/hpa14.html for the AAMC Recommendations. Wiggy- the policy (and keep in mind that it's only a recommendation) is that by March 15th, every school should have issued a number of straight acceptances at least equal to the number of seats in the entering class. This means that, if you applied late to a rolling-admissions school, you have a pretty slim chance of getting an acceptance letter before the summer.

But try not to stress out too much (easily said, I know), because I would estimate (from figures I heard when interviewing) that every school accepts anywhere from 80-120 students (with the exact figure depending more on the class size than anything else) more than the eventual class size. Not all these are pulled from the waitlist, of course. But still. Don't lose hope, because if you do, then I have to, too!

Oh, and "alternate list" and "wait list" are the same thing, but not every school means the same thing by either of those terms. In a lot of ways, the AAMC gives the impression that these schools are all the same--but they're not. They have different procedures and different priorities and different evolutionary pathways. (This is a good thing. (I hope.))

dugan

 

[dugan]

oh, and something a friend of mine likes to say:

"The limbo isn't the greatest dance, but at least you're still dancing."