Alternate List Questions/ Advice on Getting Off One

[Beta Cell]

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This year (as a sophomore), I applied to UF's Junior Honors Medical Program. The program is a combined 7-year BS/MD program and would have allowed me to enter medical school a year earlier than I normally would have.

Today, I received an email telling me I was on their alternate list, but being as curious as I am, I wanted to see how many people were on the alternate list if the school only accepts 12 people per year from 25 interview slots offered. As it turns out, people usually do not reject their spots if they are accepted and I am the ONLY alternate. The secretary told me people have turned down their spots in the past and that I will know by June 12th whether anyone has rejected their offer of admission.

Any ideas on what I can do?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I thought you were all set on going to a top 10 school?? You are really toying with my emotions here betacell.

 

[ksmi117]

Wait patiently. Or find out all the accepted students, call them and tell them how much they would hate it if they went there.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

what I would do..is just write them a letter stating your case.

 

[Beta Cell]

I thought you were all set on going to a top 10 school?? You are really toying with my emotions here betacell.

UF JHMP sounded so enticing though. It is just my luck that when I ask the secretary:

"One last thing, about how many people are on the alternate list for JHMP this year?"

She replies, "You."

 

[Beta Cell]

what I would do..is just write them a letter stating your case.

More information, please 😀

Also, the one big thing, I think, that may have caused me to be an alternate was that I had no prior research. The head premed advisor at my school who, while preparing me for my interview, told me that he was astounded I was even asked to interview for the program having had no prior research.

I sent them an update about being accepted to summer research programs at UCSF and Penn, so that may have helped a bit too. In all sincerity, this program is heavy on research and even requires an honors thesis to get into the medical school during what would have been your senior year.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

UF JHMP sounded so enticing though. It is just my luck that when I ask the secretary:

"One last thing, about how many people are on the alternate list for JHMP this year?"

She replies, "You."

o..haha, well I dont think theres much to do then if its only 1 person.

Just hope and pray someone declines...or do like KSMI and talk bad about the school, haha.

 

[Beta Cell]

o..haha, well I dont think theres much to do then if its only 1 person.

Just hope and pray someone declines...or do like KSMI and talk bad about the school, haha.

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise, it forces me to take the MCAT and apply like everyone else. Maybe I'll get into a top school with some application refining during the upcoming year (with some definite research and a hopefully strong humanitarian message coming)? I'm going to bring my application back to formula after I've spent the past few weeks looking at the MDapps of people from SDN who have been successful in applications.

I think I may foresee some questions coming, so I'll answer some beforehand. The program requires an SAT score instead of an MCAT score (1469/1600 average SAT score according to their website) and their average admitted student's GPA was 3.94.

 

[Beta Cell]

Wait patiently. Or find out all the accepted students, call them and tell them how much they would hate it if they went there.

Lol, but at least last year 10/12 acceptances were UF undergrads. I don't think it would help. 🙂