Am I the only one who got waitlisted at Pritzker?

[kwanny]

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Man, I was all excited when I got an early interview from Pritzker, but now that I became one of the unlucky few who were put on the wait list, I feel like crap... 😡

Anyone else on the same boat?? We're the minority among the interviewees, folks. 🙄

 

[calebho501]

I'm sorry Kwanny, after all the waiting and stuff...

I haven't heard back yet despite a Mid-Sept interview, but I already don't have a good feeling about it.

 

[kwanny]

Oh yeah... quite contrary to what the dean said at the interview, they don't "call" the interviewees put on the wait list... so if you get a phone call from pritzker, it could only be good news.

 

[calebho501]

I heard stories like that too....I think someone from SDN got a waitlist letter without the phone call a few weeks ago.

There's this one girl from my interview group who also got the letter.

 

[IrishOarsman]

Sylvia Robertson, who may be the nicest adcom member ever (she's actually that nice and couldn't turn it off if she tried), explained that although they told people they would call everyone, they aren't anymore because it was too hard on everyone.

Essentially, people would get all excited hearing it was someone from U of C and then be depressed as they heard the real news... she said they had discussed it and it did not help anyone.

On a positive note, the kids who get into U of C get in all over the place so the waitlist does move. Essentially, the real cut off was getting an interview and not screwing it up so badly as to be flat rejected (which she said they only did to *3* people last year). If you really want to go, tell them that and you have a great shot at it. If you're unsure, don't worry about it till we really start having to decide in the spring. If you got an interview there, I'm relatively certain you'll be getting into other places you can see yourself.

 

[calebho501]

IrishOarsman,

I've always wondered how Pritzker select people for interviews. I know people who got flat-out rejection post-secondary at Pritzker but interviews at other good schools. I mean I know schools look for applicants that fit their schools, but wouldn't it be hard to tell if an applicant is a good fit or not w/o an interview?

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by calebho501
IrishOarsman,

I've always wondered how Pritzker select people for interviews. I know people who got flat-out rejection post-secondary at Pritzker but interviews at other good schools. I mean I know schools look for applicants that fit their schools, but wouldn't it be hard to tell if an applicant is a good fit or not w/o an interview?

Isn't that why med school admissions is a crapshoot?

Even my P.I. who I research under(and is also part of adcomms for graduate school) mentioned being careful how I wrote and presented myself. He told me that you don't want to piss off your reviewers or bore him/her, still tho, you really don't know who is reading your file and what mood he or she is in...

I wonder if perfumed paper or paper laced with LSD for my applications would help?

 

[IrishOarsman]

The end result of the adcoms deliberation, at this end of the stick, will inevitably look like a crapshoot. However, the schools I really enjoyed visiting were those that were able to promote a specific ethos/mood/ideal among their students and I think that the ad process is essential to that. Guys (gals?), we need to realize that they are not picking the best future docs, they are picking people who will flesh out their vision for their school.

The only reason why any of us are able to go into a top 20 school and say "no, not for me" without being totally pretentious is that we, like the adcoms, are looking for that kind of fit as well. Yes, this process bites and it lays itself open to lots of criticism, but I think we need to recognize that it is as important for the school as it is for us.

As for Pritzker in particular, I'm sure that two things are probably at work to some degree: 1) they have choice. They have enough candidates with great stats that they can pick those they think will really fit in without thinking they're missing out on the next nobel winner. 2) it takes up a lot of resources in time and money of both the school and the applicant to visit. I like that UC had so few interviewees because (yeah, I got one) but also because it showed that they understood and respected that commitment, especially undertaken by the applicants.

Now, granted, it is inevitable that they will miss some people who they reject preinterview that are both brilliant and would fit in exceedingly well, but there has to be a point where the school decides enough is enough. WashU doesn't worry as much about that... they have 1000+ interviewers for only a few dozen more slots. Is WashU better or worse? It all depends on perspective... if you don't get an interview at UC and do at WashU you might well say WashU is better. If you do get one at both but then don't get into WashU then you'll feel opposite emotions.

Just ride the wave gentlemen and ladies, and try to remain calm. Do what you can to help yourself along, but don't stress 'cause that ain't a help. (apologies for my hypocracy)

 

[IrishOarsman]

Funny, I don't think that UC is the best med school nor that they have the best process, but I do think they are honest in it. That I do respect deeply.

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by IrishOarsman
The end result of the adcoms deliberation, at this end of the stick, will inevitably look like a crapshoot. However, the schools I really enjoyed visiting were those that were able to promote a specific ethos/mood/ideal among their students and I think that the ad process is essential to that. Guys (gals?), we need to realize that they are not picking the best future docs, they are picking people who will flesh out their vision for their school.

The only reason why any of us are able to go into a top 20 school and say "no, not for me" without being totally pretentious is that we, like the adcoms, are looking for that kind of fit as well. Yes, this process bites and it lays itself open to lots of criticism, but I think we need to recognize that it is as important for the school as it is for us.

As for Pritzker in particular, I'm sure that two things are probably at work to some degree: 1) they have choice. They have enough candidates with great stats that they can pick those they think will really fit in without thinking they're missing out on the next nobel winner. 2) it takes up a lot of resources in time and money of both the school and the applicant to visit. I like that UC had so few interviewees because (yeah, I got one) but also because it showed that they understood and respected that commitment, especially undertaken by the applicants.

Now, granted, it is inevitable that they will miss some people who they reject preinterview that are both brilliant and would fit in exceedingly well, but there has to be a point where the school decides enough is enough. WashU doesn't worry as much about that... they have 1000+ interviewers for only a few dozen more slots. Is WashU better or worse? It all depends on perspective... if you don't get an interview at UC and do at WashU you might well say WashU is better. If you do get one at both but then don't get into WashU then you'll feel opposite emotions.

Just ride the wave gentlemen and ladies, and try to remain calm. Do what you can to help yourself along, but don't stress 'cause that ain't a help. (apologies for my hypocracy)

Very good points IrishOarsman.

 

[ewing]

how long does it take to hear from them? I got an e-mail saying I was complete there like a week ago...

Also, what are the odds of being put in the "hold for re-evaluation" pool instead of getting an interview or a rejection?

Thanks guys (and gals).

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by ewing
how long does it take to hear from them? I got an e-mail saying I was complete there like a week ago...

Also, what are the odds of being put in the "hold for re-evaluation" pool instead of getting an interview or a rejection?

Thanks guys (and gals).

They are really fast in terms of getting back to you for an interview or (hold) - 1-2 weeks.

 

[calebho501]

I guess the question I was hinting at was: How can Pritzker, or any med school in that matter, determine whether a person's a good fit for the school? Personal statements, LOR's and even the interviews can sometimes be misleading...

Oh well, I guess the process is indeed a crapshot.

 

[IrishOarsman]

Originally posted by calebho501
I guess the question I was hinting at was: How can Pritzker, or any med school in that matter, determine whether a person's a good fit for the school? Personal statements, LOR's and even the interviews can sometimes be misleading...

Oh well, I guess the process is indeed a crapshot.

You may be right that all those methods cannot reveal a person's true capacities and perfectly predict someone's success at a given school. However, none could. Looking ahead, I cannot *know* what my experience in medical school will be... how much harder must it be for someone else to judge?

 

[TheFlash]

Originally posted by ewing
how long does it take to hear from them? I got an e-mail saying I was complete there like a week ago...

Also, what are the odds of being put in the "hold for re-evaluation" pool instead of getting an interview or a rejection?

Thanks guys (and gals).

I was complete at Pritzker way back in August, and they hit me with the "hold" email within two weeks. Of course, there's much more traffic in their admissions office now (vs. August) so you might not be hearing back as quickly as I did.

On the topic of hold--- it stinks! I know that they do flat-out reject the vast majority of their applicants, but IMO hold isn't necessarily such a "good" thing. I'd almost rather that they reject me right away than torture me into the winter with no decision.

Eh, such is life I guess. pleaseoplease let me have an interview, I love you Pritzker!....

TF

 

[JulianCrane]

I had my interview on Sept. 9th. .. still no decision yet. They told me to wait another 4 -6 weeks after it was 6 weeks after my interview. Hmm. . .

 

[kwanny]

Well, for your reference, I interviewed at Pritzker on September 30th... I heard they're pretty backed up making phone calls to everyone who got accepted, so if you interviewed before me and haven't heard back, good news is coming your way!😉

 

[calebho501]

I interviewed on Sept 14 or 15, not sure the exact date. I haven't heard back yet. There's guy from my interview group who got accepted 2 weeks ago, another guy who just got the waitlist letter a few days ago.

I called them early on last week but the lady said a decision hasn't been made yet, but I should expect to hear back later last week....well nothing yet 😛