ASDOH Alternate List

[DentistRob]

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So I had an interview with ASDOH last week and just got a letter today telling me that I'd be on the alternate list. Did anyone else get the same thing? What are my chances of getting in being on an alternate list? I guess that depends on where I'm at on the list, eh?

 

[xtractime]

well at your interview the dean said you would either get a rejection, waitlist, or "top group" letter from them.

they said that later closer to Dec 1st, the top group would be divided into the accepted group and the alternate group. so basically the waitlist group would be looked at only when the alternate group was exhausted.

ASDOH said that this was the first year that they were trying this out. what i really want to know are how many people are on the waitlists and top group letters. that would really give you a better idea of the likelihood of getting off the waitlist.

 

[NewMexDent]

I got a "top group" letter a week after my interview. I didn't really know what to think because they had told us there were two top groups - one that would be accepted Dec. 1 and one that would probably be accepted, but after Dec. 1.

 

[Calijellie]

I got the "Alternate Status" letter as well. 🙁
I don't know too much but I sorta accepted as a rejection letter.
I mean they only accept 60 students after all.

 

[Shunwei]

well at your interview the dean said you would either get a rejection, waitlist, or "top group" letter from them.

they said that later closer to Dec 1st, the top group would be divided into the accepted group and the alternate group. so basically the waitlist group would be looked at only when the alternate group was exhausted.

ASDOH said that this was the first year that they were trying this out. what i really want to know are how many people are on the waitlists and top group letters. that would really give you a better idea of the likelihood of getting off the waitlist.

That's kind of strange that they would tell you this a month and half before they are really supposed to give you a decision. I think this kind of information amounts to a decision-level information.

 

[xtractime]

That's kind of strange that they would tell you this a month and half before they are really supposed to give you a decision. I think this kind of information amounts to a decision-level information.

decision-level information??

well i may be wrong but i think AADSAS and dental schools agreed that Dec 1st would be the date that they would notify for ACCEPTANCES. people are rejected all throughout the cycle. ASDOH merely told us we were on the waitlist or their top group (accepted and alternates). they never made an acceptance offer. maybe its dancing around the lines but i don't see any rules being broken.

NewMexDent, i got a top group letter also. maybe i'll see ya in fall 08!!

 

[Calculus2008]

I got a "top group" letter as well...hope that means an acceptance letter soon...👍

 

[soyungil]

I interviewed there over two weeks ago and I have not gotten any letter... I hope that is not bad...

 

[xdianaax]

That's kind of strange that they would tell you this a month and half before they are really supposed to give you a decision. I think this kind of information amounts to a decision-level information.

I agree, this could potentially give false hope, which could lead to people misunderstanding their letter. This could also lead to changes in applicant performance post letter. I don't run the school to say whether or not this is right, but I personally feel that it is unnecessary. School's are going to constantly try and get to their applicant's before Dec. 1 so that they can pre-determine how much more interviewing they should do, and how much more they should invest into it. Just my 2 cents. Congrats to all those that got letters though.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I think this is an interesting step ASDOH is taking, and I actually agree with it. My opinion on this matter comes from being a former Arizona student. Arizona gets 3,000 applications, and can only interview a small percentage of those, and then accept a small percentage of those they interview. This at least gives the applicant *some* idea of where they stand so that they aren't completely in the dark come acceptance day.

 

[berad]

I got an interview on September 17th and I haven't gotten a letter back. Anyone else in the same situtation?

 

[berad]

Hey, It had been 3 weeks and I haden't gotten a letter yet. I went to go check my old address where I used to live and I found it there. It was mailed two days after I interviewed. I might try calling the school because it seems like they are pretty quick at responding.

 

[ewotri]

that is so scary. How many people do they interview? so getting an interview doesnt mean you have a good shot at all? <sigh>

 

[REDSOX08]

i know last year they interviewed around 350 for 54 seats, not sure how many acceptance letters they sent out? but how long before you get the letter in the mail letting you know what group you are in? anyone know? thanks

 

[NewMexDent]

i know last year they interviewed around 350 for 54 seats, not sure how many acceptance letters they sent out? but how long before you get the letter in the mail letting you know what group you are in? anyone know? thanks

My letter was postmarked the day I had my interview, but my friends was postmarked a few days after the interview (we interviewed on the same day). He got the "rejected" letter and I got the "top group" letter. I think, in general, they have been pretty quick in mailing out status letters (within a week of the interview)

 

[xtractime]

i know last year they interviewed around 350 for 54 seats, not sure how many acceptance letters they sent out? but how long before you get the letter in the mail letting you know what group you are in? anyone know? thanks

54/350...and then you need to take into consideration if you are out of state or instate. if you are out of state, then you can get REALLY depressed over that %. 🙁

like others, my letter was dated 2 days after i interviewed. got it physically in the mailbox about 1.5 weeks later.

 

[jim85213]

54/350...and then you need to take into consideration if you are out of state or instate. if you are out of state, then you can get REALLY depressed over that %. 🙁

like others, my letter was dated 2 days after i interviewed. got it physically in the mailbox about 1.5 weeks later.

ASDOH is a private school so don't worry about residency status. If you are from AZ you don't have anymore of an advantage over any other applicant. Last year it was ~300 interviewed and the class size is 60. I am a D1, interviewed in January, got put on the alternate list in March, and then got accepted in April. Don't give up hope if you are chosen as an alternate.

 

[ewotri]

what kind of students does ASDOH look for? I'm kind of shy, so I'm afraid I wont be able to outshine everyone else during the group interview.

 

[harjay]

I spoke with an admissions representative, and they look heavily on community service and volunteering. This may be as important as the rest of your application, so be prepared to talk about it. [I haven't interviewed there yet, so I can't speak to that]

 

[lateedmd]

I got a letter a week later saying I was in a top group for selections but I am still a bit nervous. No need to analyze it, just got to wait like the rest of the applicants. Hope all is well Gavin, we miss you here in radiology.😉

 

[xtractime]

ASDOH is a private school so don't worry about residency status. If you are from AZ you don't have anymore of an advantage over any other applicant. Last year it was ~300 interviewed and the class size is 60. I am a D1, interviewed in January, got put on the alternate list in March, and then got accepted in April. Don't give up hope if you are chosen as an alternate.

well even if they are a private school....according to last year's stats: 21 instate, 33 out of state accepted. i'm assuming out of 3,000 applicants, there were waaay more out of state applicants than instate applicants. even though they interview more out of state applicants, at my interview there were 5 out of state and 3 instate, for the amount of instate applicants, that is a good ratio for a private school. therefore an instate applicant, by the odds, has a better chance of getting in.

but awesome for you for getting a late interview and getting off the alternate list. i heard its an great school and you are probably enjoying yourself there. i hope i end up at ASDOH!

 

[soyungil]

Well, I interviewed there several weeks ago and just got a rejection letter. I live in Mesa and pass the dental school on the freeway a lot, so I make sure I give them the bird every time I drive by now!! Thanks for shattering my dreams.......

 

[haisha ni narou]

Well, I interviewed there several weeks ago and just got a rejection letter. I live in Mesa and pass the dental school on the freeway a lot, so I make sure I give them the bird every time I drive by now!! Thanks for shattering my dreams.......

I got rejected and I work there in the Lab on Tuesdays. On top of that, while I was working in the lab at ASDOH, my wife opened my rejection letter and sent me a text that said I was rejected from ASDOH... I think I was talking to one of the faculty at the time I found out. Ya, it was pretty awesome. Good timing on my wife's part.

 

[REDSOX08]

any word from any one else on letters after they interviewed?

 

[172322]

i got an alternate letter too.... any idea how many they give out?

 

[kdawg]

Got the "alternate" too, postmarked same day of interview.

So what I want to have clarified is exactly what the "alternate" group at ASDOH is. At some schools alternate = waitlist, but from the sound of this thread, they are very different. Specifically, can anyone confirm what xtractime has said...namely that the "top group" is made up of planned acceptances and alternates?

I was under the impression that they were operating off the same tier system as last year where there were three distinct groups. The top group were shoe-in's, the 2nd group only maybe's, and the 3rd group fat chance's. Under this system, I'm not sure where alternates would fit in.

In any case, has anyone confirmed with ASDOH exactly how they will offer acceptances? Will it go: acceptances (top group)--> alternates--> second group--> waitlisters?????

Confused.......😕

 

[xtractime]

Got the "alternate" too, postmarked same day of interview.

So what I want to have clarified is exactly what the "alternate" group at ASDOH is. At some schools alternate = waitlist, but from the sound of this thread, they are very different. Specifically, can anyone confirm what xtractime has said...namely that the "top group" is made up of planned acceptances and alternates?

I was under the impression that they were operating off the same tier system as last year where there were three distinct groups. The top group were shoe-in's, the 2nd group only maybe's, and the 3rd group fat chance's. Under this system, I'm not sure where alternates would fit in.

In any case, has anyone confirmed with ASDOH exactly how they will offer acceptances? Will it go: acceptances (top group)--> alternates--> second group--> waitlisters?????

Confused.......😕

well i posted twice on this thread previously with what i thought i remembered from the dean. i was under the impression that there were "top group", WAITLIST, and rejection letters. i didn't know they had "alternate" letters. i thought alternates were going to be the top group letter people that did not get in on dec 1st. you may have been put in an alternate group (top group that was not accepted on dec 1st) prematurely. i would assume then that this puts you above the waitlisters. but who knows. we'll find out Dec 1st.

kdawg, are you sure about top group letter recipients being a shoo in? it was under my impression that we still have some ADCOM decision making in november which may affect our status on dec 1st. my top group letter said i was not guaranteed a spot yet. i know my chances are better....but its not a shoo in from what i thought. the dean said this was the first year they were sending out letters of status. seems like you had some experience with this last year.

 

[harjay]

I've discussed it with an adcom:
The top group means you will either be accepted or on the ALTERNATE list. The list is usually around 50 people.

The second group means you are on the wait list.

The third group (if I remember correctly) is rejection?

The school chooses to accept people in the top group (not everyone here is a shoe-in). The rest go on the alternate list, which gets chosen from after all of the other top levelers get accepted. They CAN go through the entire alternate list (varies by year depending on how my accepted people choose to go there).
Last year they went through the whole alternate list (all top-group peope were accepted).
Sometimes they only go through a couple alternates.

 

[golfer]

I talked with the adcom on Friday.
There are four tiers
Top tier - will receive acceptances Dec 1st
2nd tier - will receive acceptances as they become available
3rd tier - is an alternate list used when the first and second tiers are exhausted
4th tier - is rejection.
They will send out 40 acceptances on Dec 1st. Those who received top group letters are in the first and second tiers. Granted there might be more than 40 in the first tier but they have first dibs.
I just spoke with (name of admissions lady on my letter) for clarification. She was glad to explain it to me.

 

[kdawg]

So have we come to a conclusion? harjay & golfer both claim to have spoken directly with ASDOH adcom but have conflicting ideas.

With ASDOH's tier system it does not seem to make much sense of having alternate spots. Wouldn't they just accept applicants straight on down the tiers until all seats are filled? Exactly WHAT is an alternate and where does it fit in in this system??? I can definitely see it being as either harjay or golfer described.

I will call on Monday and report what I am told. In the mean time, if there is anyone else who interviewed and had a different understanding of the system, please fill us in.

xtractime...when I said that all of the top group were acceptances, I was referring to how ASDOH was operating last cycle. I was a second tier last application cycle, and from what I understand, they did not accept ANY from their second tier (2nd year in a row). Therefore, there is a HUGE difference between having the "alternates" being placed after the 2nd tier versus being part of the "top" group.

 

[harjay]

So have we come to a conclusion? harjay & golfer both claim to have spoken directly with ASDOH adcom but have conflicting ideas.

My top tier combines his 1 and 2. (acceptances and alternates)
his tier3 ("alternate") is my waiting list (2)

an "alternate" is someone that they will take, but they hold off on accepting you until they have reviewed all the other applicants and already accepted everyone in the top level above you

 

[kdawg]

kdawg, are you sure about top group letter recipients being a shoo in? it was under my impression that we still have some ADCOM decision making in november which may affect our status on dec 1st. my top group letter said i was not guaranteed a spot yet. i know my chances are better....but its not a shoo in from what i thought. the dean said this was the first year they were sending out letters of status. seems like you had some experience with this last year.

LOL. Thanks for the correction. I have always thought that the expression was "shoe-in". After some research, you are absolutely correct...it's "shoo-in", after an old horse racing term suggesting that a horse was such an easy winner that all one had to do is "shoo" it into the finish line!

Now I'm just hoping you're right about ASDOH's alternate system!

 

[DentistRob]

When I interviewed down there, they explained that there were 4 tiers. Top Tier (acceptances Dec 1), 2nd and 3rd tier (alternates), and 4th tier (rejections). Since I was given an alternate letter, is there any way of knowing if it's a 2nd or 3rd tier alternate?

 

[JMC07]

I just interviewed this week and they said that there are four tiers. I asked about them specifically and this is what they told me:

1) Top tier- december acceptances
2) second tier- kind of a waitlist
3) alternate list- if after interviewing everyone through March they have extra space from their top tier and second tier acceptances.
4) rejection

 

[xtractime]

I've discussed it with an adcom:
The top group means you will either be accepted or on the ALTERNATE list. The list is usually around 50 people.

this is what i believed was told to me also at my interview. the top group comprises of accepted and alternates. only after dec 1st will we know who the accepted and alternates are from the top group are. the top group is going to be divided into 2 groups (accepted and alternate) groups. this is not to be confused with the waitlist which i think is technically the "2nd group" at this point in time. and like harjay said, the alternates from the top group are technically "accepted" but only after those above them have made their decision as to whether they want to attend ASDOH.

I talked with the adcom on Friday.
There are four tiers
Top tier - will receive acceptances Dec 1st
2nd tier - will receive acceptances as they become available.

from what i know top tier and the 2nd tier are the top group letter recipients right now. there will be 2 tiers after dec 1st branching from the top group, which is shown by what golfer said.

I just interviewed this week and they said that there are four tiers. I asked about them specifically and this is what they told me:

1) Top tier- december acceptances
2) second tier- kind of a waitlist
3) alternate list- if after interviewing everyone through March they have extra space from their top tier and second tier acceptances.
4) rejection

seems as if we all have the same idea of how many tiers there are and how they are divided. i think all of these are correct, just that i thought there were only 3 letters being sent out now. i think those that are recieving "alternate" letters now are for the waitlist....not the group that is considered after accepted students make their decision.

...........
also were some of you saying there were about 40-50 top group letters sent out pre-dec 1st? or were you saying that there could be 90 people with top group letters and only 40 of us will be accepted on dec 1st. from most people's experience from last year, if you were in the top group, you got in eventually? kdawg talking about students not getting accepted were ones with with waitlist letters right? harjay said last year all those that were in the top group (both top tier and 2nd tier) got in, correct?

we should all probably just chill and save ourselves the stress. only 40 more days!!!!!! 😱

 

[golfer]

All the people I know, except one, who have interviewed there (around 10) have received the top group letter. I am trying not to get my hopes up.

 

[kdawg]

So I called and spoke with Vicky Hawk and she confirmed what some of you had understood about the system.

There are four groups:

1)Acceptances will be chosen from this group until exhausted. There could be more people in this group than number of seats.
2)Acceptances will be chosen from this group only when group 1 is exhausted.
3)Alternates. Acceptances only chosen from this group after 1 and 2 are exhausted.
4)Not getting in.

From speaking with Vicky, she suggested that there is no telling how large any of these groups are. If groups 1 & 2 are relatively small (which isn't very likely) then alternates could have a chance. She also said that alternates would only be considered after all interviews have been conducted in March! For us alternates, don't hold your breath.

I don't know what the "top group" letter looks like. If they told you very first group, then you're getting in. If they told you second group, you've got a shot.

Hope this helps clear up the confusion I was having.

 

[xtractime]

I don't know what the "top group" letter looks like. If they told you very first group, then you're getting in. If they told you second group, you've got a shot.

Hope this helps clear up the confusion I was having.

the thing is that i i think there are only 3 letters being sent out. my top group letter just says that i'm in ONE OF THE TOP GROUPS. doesn't say #1 or #2. its a bummer to hear that the "top group" might be huge. someone else get a different top group letter from me that says otherwise?

 

[BigDentoncAMPus]

I also received a letter today saying "one of the top groups." I dono exactly what that means but it can't be bad. I'm pretty sure there was only 3 groups they are sending out this year but I missed that part during the interview bc i was interviewing during that time. If anyone has this clarified that would be cool!

 

[dentaljon]

I also got "one of the top groups" letter. I feel that this makes me even more nervous. Also when we went they said that they were going to interview 400 kids out of 4000 applicants, so if you are one of the 40 that get accepted on Dec. 1st, that means you were one of the 1% of all applicants that got accepted!👍

 

[ewotri]

how was the interview, you guys? world current events and geography questions? 🙁

 

[REDSOX08]

for those who got top group letters, do you mind sharing your stats?

 

[NewMexDent]

for those who got top group letters, do you mind sharing your stats?

I'll share mine, but I think of all the schools ASDOH cares less about stats. I don't think good stats alone can get someone into ASDOH. Compared to other schools they have low stats, yet they have more applicants per seat than any other.

My stats
3.17 sci
3.53 overall
21/21/27

My friends stats (and he got the "rejection" letter after the interview)
3.2 Sci
3.35 Overall
21/22/21

 

[harjay]

I also received a letter today saying "one of the top groups." I dono exactly what that means but it can't be bad. I'm pretty sure there was only 3 groups they are sending out this year but I missed that part during the interview bc i was interviewing during that time. If anyone has this clarified that would be cool!

don't quote me, but i believe ^ "one of the top groups" means group 1 or 2 from kdawg's list

 

[REDSOX08]

any news anyone?

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'll share mine, but I think of all the schools ASDOH cares less about stats. I don't think good stats alone can get someone into ASDOH. Compared to other schools they have low stats, yet they have more applicants per seat than any other.

Very, very true on all points. The stats are lower than some schools (but not the lowest by far!), yet it is one of the most difficult to get interview/accepted to based on number of applicants.

 

[ItsGavinC]

By the way, good luck to all the Arizona applicants. It will provide you with a TREMENDOUS clinical education (I felt the basic sciences were lacking, but this was 5 years ago now).

 

[prettysmile]

The good thing about being in one of the top groups is, you get in by a high chance. They will call 90 people on Dec 1st to fill 40 seats.
Remember these people did not apply to ASDOH only. Paying like 80000 for first year(42000 tuition plus other expenses) is not every body's intrest. If they get accepted in cheaper schools, they will choose that over ASDOH.

Good luck with top groups and Alternate group.

 

[THDental]

I got 'one of the top group' letter today. I thought I did really really really bad on the interview, and I have no idea ..hehhe..anyway, I'm very happy right now. I hope that I can get in. Btw, I did post my stat many times before, so if anyone wants to know my stat, just check it out!!

 

[REDSOX08]

got my top group letter, hope thats a good sign.