At this Point in the Season, Are Far More Interviewees Waitlisted then Accepted?

[theone1979]

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hey guys
I know that as it gets later in the season, it is harder to get accepted. However, Im not sure if this means that it gets harder to be offered an interview, or if it means that once interviewed, it is more difficult to be accepted (as opposed to being waitlisted).

It seems to me that when you look through threads from early in the season, the vast majority of those who were offered interviewed were offered an outright acceptance.

However, it seems that for those that are having their interviews now, very few members of an interview group are outright accepted, with the vast majority of them being placed on the waitlist.

Speaking for myself, I have had 3 interviews in the last month and have been placed on the waitlist at all 3. I have received "interview feedback" from the schools and they state that my interviews were very positive.
3.7 gpa and 27 MCAT.

So am I right that at this point in the season, only a minority of those interviewed are accepted and most are waitlisted?

I know that most schools state they accepted between 50-60% of those interviewed, but it seems to me that this isn't a constant percentage throughout the season. It seems that early on, 80% or more of those interviewed are accepted, but then later in the season, only 20% or so are accepted, so the AVERAGE for the whole season ends up at around 50-60%, but the number is MUCH lower Is this correct?

 

[denco88]

hey guys
I know that as it gets later in the season, it is harder to get accepted. However, Im not sure if this means that it gets harder to be offered an interview, or if it means that once interviewed, it is more difficult to be accepted (as opposed to being waitlisted).

It seems to me that when you look through threads from early in the season, the vast majority of those who were offered interviewed were offered an outright acceptance.

However, it seems that for those that are having their interviews now, very few members of an interview group are outright accepted, with the vast majority of them being placed on the waitlist.

Speaking for myself, I have had 3 interviews in the last month and have been placed on the waitlist at all 3. I have received "interview feedback" from the schools and they state that my interviews were very positive.
3.7 gpa and 27 MCAT.

So am I right that at this point in the season, only a minority of those interviewed are accepted and most are waitlisted?

I know that most schools state they accepted between 50-60% of those interviewed, but it seems to me that this isn't a constant percentage throughout the season. It seems that early on, 80% or more of those interviewed are accepted, but then later in the season, only 20% or so are accepted, so the AVERAGE for the whole season ends up at around 50-60%, but the number is MUCH lower Is this correct?

Okay... I don't want to be grammar picky, but I am actually confused about your question. Do you mean waitlisted then accepted or waitlisted than accepted?

I am asking this because that 50-60% of interviewers that are accepted include those who are waitlisted and then accepted. But then, as the interview season goes on, more people are waitlisted than accepted.

I hope this makes sense. I have gotten very little sleep! I've been traveling all day!

 

[theone1979]

Okay... I don't want to be grammar picky, but I am actually confused about your question. Do you mean waitlisted then accepted or waitlisted than accepted?

I am asking this because that 50-60% of interviewers that are accepted include those who are waitlisted and then accepted. But then, as the interview season goes on, more people are waitlisted than accepted.

I hope this makes sense. I have gotten very little sleep! I've been traveling all day!

Ha, I see your point.

What I meant is that early in the cycle, it seems that the vast majority of those interviewed were offered outright acceptances. However, it seems that at this point in the cycle, most people are placed on the waitlist (who may or may not be accepted at some later point), and very few people are offered outright acceptances.

I am basing this on what I have read on this forum. When I read posts from early in the cycle, it seems that nearly everyone who was interviewed reported that they were accepted, and only rarely did people report they were waitlisted. If you look at current posts/threads, it seems that most people are being put on the waitlist and very few are being accepted outright. Make sense?

 

[MightyMoose]

Ha, I see your point.

What I meant is that early in the cycle, it seems that the vast majority of those interviewed were offered outright acceptances. However, it seems that at this point in the cycle, most people are placed on the waitlist (who may or may not be accepted at some later point), and very few people are offered outright acceptances.

I am basing this on what I have read on this forum. When I read posts from early in the cycle, it seems that nearly everyone who was interviewed reported that they were accepted, and only rarely did people report they were waitlisted. If you look at current posts/threads, it seems that most people are being put on the waitlist and very few are being accepted outright. Make sense?

That's what they mean when they say rolling admissions... 😉 They admit as they go, so if they fill their class in December, they are going to WL everyone who interviews after December. Realistically, schools don't fill their classes by December though, but there are fewer slots available than there are in Sept., so I am sure their is some truth to what you are saying, but I doubt it's most that are WL. I just think it's a larger percent than at the beginning of the season.

If you are outright rejected after an interview, that usually means the school just didn't feel you would be a good fit.

Good luck. I hope you get off some of those WL's. I'm sure you will though, because I anticipate a lot of action/movement later in the year (just a guess though).

 

[theone1979]

That's what they mean when they say rolling admissions... 😉 They admit as they go, so if they fill their class in December, they are going to WL everyone who interviews after December. Realistically, schools don't fill their classes by December though, but there are fewer slots available than there are in Sept., so I am sure their is some truth to what you are saying, but I doubt it's most that are WL. I just think it's a larger percent than at the beginning of the season.

If you are outright rejected after an interview, that usually means the school just didn't feel you would be a good fit.

Good luck. I hope you get off some of those WL's. I'm sure you will though, because I anticipate a lot of action/movement later in the year (just a guess though).

Yea, that makes sense, and it is basically what I figured.

I am just shocked about how few of those recently interviewed are being offered outright acceptances. It seems like at this point nearly everyone is being waitlisted. Those that are being outright accepted generally look to have 30+ MCAT scores (from what I am seeing).

It's just discouraging to see that at this point in the cycle, you REALLY have to stick out in order to be given an acceptance, whereas earlier in the year, you basically had to stand out (in a bad way) to NOT be given an acceptance.

 

[MightyMoose]

Yea, that makes sense, and it is basically what I figured.

I am just shocked about how few of those recently interviewed are being offered outright acceptances. It seems like at this point nearly everyone is being waitlisted. Those that are being outright accepted generally look to have 30+ MCAT scores (from what I am seeing).

It's just discouraging to see that at this point in the cycle, you REALLY have to stick out in order to be given an acceptance, whereas earlier in the year, you basically had to stand out (in a bad way) to NOT be given an acceptance.

Yeah, I can definitely understand where you are coming from. If it makes you feel any better, I know one of the schools that WL you and they have been WL people all season, myself included. I don't know what all three were, but I would still count on some movement at one of them. Don't throw in the towel just yet. 😉

 

[Goro]

hey guys
I know that as it gets later in the season, it is harder to get accepted. However, Im not sure if this means that it gets harder to be offered an interview, or if it means that once interviewed, it is more difficult to be accepted (as opposed to being waitlisted).
QUOTE]

At our school, we're still accepting people...the shift over to where the majority of interviewees get waitlisted occurs typically for us in March.

 

[selfhealer]

hey guys
I know that as it gets later in the season, it is harder to get accepted. However, Im not sure if this means that it gets harder to be offered an interview, or if it means that once interviewed, it is more difficult to be accepted (as opposed to being waitlisted).
QUOTE]

At our school, we're still accepting people...the shift over to where the majority of interviewees get waitlisted occurs typically for us in March.

....mind telling us which school you are referring to?

Also, Moose, which school were you referring to when you stated that they have been WL'ing ppl all season?

 

[MightyMoose]

....mind telling us which school you are referring to?

Also, Moose, which school were you referring to when you stated that they have been WL'ing ppl all season?

DMU. They have been WLing quite a few people, but I also know some who have already gotten in off the WL this year. I think with DMU in particular, just due to the nature of how many interviews/acceptances they will offer, it is unlikely to have a ton of WL movement, but I'm sure there will be some.

I know for myself, the WL most likely resulted from a bad interview.

 

[MightyMoose]

At our school, we're still accepting people...the shift over to where the majority of interviewees get waitlisted occurs typically for us in March.

I'm not sure which school you are affiliated with, Goro, but I have heard this from KCUMB this season as well, so if you're not affiliated with them, then that makes two schools at the very least that shift later in the season. I would have to imagine a good number of schools are like this.

 

[Lukat]

I'm not sure which school you are affiliated with, Goro, but I have heard this from KCUMB this season as well, so if you're not affiliated with them, then that makes two schools at the very least that shift later in the season. I would have to imagine a good number of schools are like this.

Is it because KCUMB start interviewing later than other schools? That's why their shifting point is later as well?

 

[MightyMoose]

Is it because KCUMB start interviewing later than other schools? That's why their shifting point is later as well?

I don't know for sure, but what makes sense to me is:

• The same top applicants are usually interviewed during the first half of the season at most schools.
• The same top applicants are usually the ones offered the initial acceptances.
• Those top applicants will need to narrow down the schools to one or two by the deadlines, thus creating a number of additional open spots.
• Each school accepts well above the number of matriculants, because there are a large number of students who ultimately decide to attend other schools.
• Schools have a pretty good idea on how many students they need to accept in order to fill the class, but my guess is they err on the low side, which is where the WL comes in. The WL is for applicants who they might or might not take if additional slots become available, so it makes sense for schools to stack this category more heavily to insure they don't under recruit (not everyone on a WL at a school will attend if they get off of it).
• Schools usually don't have all/most of their completed applicants until close to January, which is when schools know exactly what they are going to get that season, so when they extend interviews in Jan, Feb, and March, they are less concerned about the bigger, better applicant, because they already know who all their applicants are and primarily offer interviews to the ones they really want or would take.

Those are some of the reasons I can see for acceptances to roll out through March fairly regularly at most schools. The idea of rolling admissions seems to cater to the "What if" component. What if this is the best applicant we get, what if our applicant pool has changed this year, what if we don't interview this guy/girl now and they take an acceptance at another school first, etc. etc.. It's a way to get in the door and get them to make a decision before all the cards are on the table. This is how you can still win with a pair, even most of the other players have two pairs or better.