Balancing Interest and Annoyance When On a WL

[jr doctor in sd]

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Hey everyone 🙂,

Unfortunately, I got a letter in the mail today from my top choice school that I have interviewed thus far at saying I was placed on the waitlist. It said to keep in mind that the majority of people get in after may 15th and that "congratulations" to be placed on the WL which is crap news haha.

However, I am trying to stay optimistic and see this as an opportunity to show them my interest and that they really are the school that I want to attend.

I was thinking, since it is so early, how often do you guys think it is a good idea to send them a letter of update/interest? I was going to send one in about a week updating some activities im doing and then send another letter around the new year restating my interest.

I wont have many updates after the new year (because I will hold the same job/ volunteer gig until entering medical school) so if I cannot update them with new activities is it OK to just send another letter letting them know i am still interested?

I am sorry to ask a bunch of questions on the subject but I am kind of lost right now in terms of what to do 😳.

Thanks a bunch 👍

 

[runawayclock]

Hey everyone 🙂,

Unfortunately, I got a letter in the mail today from my top choice school that I have interviewed thus far at saying I was placed on the waitlist. It said to keep in mind that the majority of people get in after may 15th and that "congratulations" to be placed on the WL which is crap news haha.

However, I am trying to stay optimistic and see this as an opportunity to show them my interest and that they really are the school that I want to attend.

I was thinking, since it is so early, how often do you guys think it is a good idea to send them a letter of update/interest? I was going to send one in about a week updating some activities im doing and then send another letter around the new year restating my interest.

I wont have many updates after the new year (because I will hold the same job/ volunteer gig until entering medical school) so if I cannot update them with new activities is it OK to just send another letter letting them know i am still interested?

I am sorry to ask a bunch of questions on the subject but I am kind of lost right now in terms of what to do 😳.

Thanks a bunch 👍

Depends on what school it is - Columbia likes letters... others might not care so much. I'd say every month or whenever you have a new significant activity (new clinical activity, new job, new research, etc), it's wise to update, and always emphasize how good of a fit you are for the curriculum, location, student body, etc. Even if you don't have new activities, you can let them know about any major progress or get new letters of recommendation from the activities you started after the interview.

 

[MightyMoose]

Hey everyone 🙂,

Unfortunately, I got a letter in the mail today from my top choice school that I have interviewed thus far at saying I was placed on the waitlist. It said to keep in mind that the majority of people get in after may 15th and that "congratulations" to be placed on the WL which is crap news haha.

However, I am trying to stay optimistic and see this as an opportunity to show them my interest and that they really are the school that I want to attend.

I was thinking, since it is so early, how often do you guys think it is a good idea to send them a letter of update/interest? I was going to send one in about a week updating some activities im doing and then send another letter around the new year restating my interest.

I wont have many updates after the new year (because I will hold the same job/ volunteer gig until entering medical school) so if I cannot update them with new activities is it OK to just send another letter letting them know i am still interested?

I am sorry to ask a bunch of questions on the subject but I am kind of lost right now in terms of what to do 😳.

Thanks a bunch 👍

Why not send a letter of intent? One that says, "If you accept me I will attend." Obviously you might want to spice it up with why they are a good fit for you, but I would say that's your best approach now. But only if it is your top school. Oh, and don't pussyfoot around the issue and say, "You're one of my top choice schools." That's about as good as having a girl you want to get serious with say that she thinks you're cute, but she has a few other boys on her mind too. It doesn't show a specific interest in them and I think sometimes that can be the impetus that can push you off "the list" faster, because they know you will attend, or at least they will have a pretty good shot of you attending, plus you showed initiative.

As far as a timeline, I don't know when the best time to send it would be, but I don't think it would be bad to send it now.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

I was thinking of sending a letter of intent but maybe doing that later on in a few months? Because if i sent that now wouldn't that maybe lose its strength all the way until may? I thought of maybe sending a last letter to remind them how much I want to attend maybe in april? But before that sending an update in a week or so about new work to let them know im still interested NOW and then again later? 😕

Why not send a letter of intent? One that says, "If you accept me I will attend." Obviously you might want to spice it up with why they are a good fit for you, but I would say that's your best approach now. But only if it is your top school. Oh, and don't pussyfoot around the issue and say, "You're one of my top choice schools." That's about as good as having a girl you want to get serious with say that she thinks you're cute, but she has a few other boys on her mind too. It doesn't show a specific interest in them and I think sometimes that can be the impetus that can push you off "the list" faster, because they know you will attend, or at least they will have a pretty good shot of you attending, plus you showed initiative.

As far as a timeline, I don't know when the best time to send it would be, but I don't think it would be bad to send it now.

 

[IlDestriero]

Send a letter now indicating that you want to matriculate there, they're number one, specifically why, etc. Send another after your last interview explaining that you are done interviewing and they are your first choice, why, updates, etc. Follow up with a call or email to the dean of admissions a week or so later. It works. One of my friends was waitlisted at his top choice, and the dean was surprised to discover that his school was his first choice as he had offers from Hopkins and his state school, and some others. (they know this information) He was offered an admission that day. Sometimes they just need to hear that you really want to go to their specific school, everyone says that they want to go there in the interview.

 

[HolySmokes]

I was thinking of sending a letter of intent but maybe doing that later on in a few months? Because if i sent that now wouldn't that maybe lose its strength all the way until may? I thought of maybe sending a last letter to remind them how much I want to attend maybe in april? But before that sending an update in a week or so about new work to let them know im still interested NOW and then again later? 😕

I'd hold off on a letter of intent if you are still waiting to hear back from other schools. It may get you accepted, but you're forfeiting any financial incentive. If the school knows that you will matriculate if they accept you, then they don't need to bother offering you a scholarship. A letter of interest/update would be recommended (depending on the school, some don't accept updates post-interview).

 

[juliedi]

OP, I'm in a similar situation to you. I'm going to send the school I was waitlisted at an update/interest letter now, saying that I'd be a really great fit at the school and I can see myself there, blah blah blah. But I'm not going to be so absolute as to say I will 100% go there if accepted. (I still have at least one more interview, so I don't want to make any promises that I'm not completely sure I can keep.) But I think that sending a letter indicating your strong interest, followed with an additional letter later on if/when you know the school is still your #1 choice, is a good way to go. Best of luck!

 

[ronaldo23]

OP, I'm in a similar situation to you. I'm going to send the school I was waitlisted at an update/interest letter now, saying that I'd be a really great fit at the school and I can see myself there, blah blah blah. But I'm not going to be so absolute as to say I will 100% go there if accepted. (I still have at least one more interview, so I don't want to make any promises that I'm not completely sure I can keep.) But I think that sending a letter indicating your strong interest, followed with an additional letter later on if/when you know the school is still your #1 choice, is a good way to go. Best of luck!

Perhaps LizzyM could chime in on this thread...

From what I hear, sending a letter once a month is reasonable.

Unfortunately, I won't really have anything to update significantly from now until May, since I will be doing the same thing more or less and already got a rec letter pre-interview. Is it okay to keep sending letters (once a month) that primarily details that you are still interested, and why you would be a good fit in the school, even if you aren't necessarily updating them with new grades or activites?

 

[LizzyM]

I don't have a role beyond decisions to admit/waitlist/deny so I don't know what the Dean does with letters of interest/update when it comes to the waitlist.... it doesn't have any affect on "holds" (delayed decisions of applicants who have already been interviewed-- depending on the rest of the pool these applicants might be admitted or waitlisted). Of course, I'm only talking about one school and just my little piece of the elephant as an adcom member.

 

[VolunteerMoose]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

Will sending an update / intent letter delay a decision on my application post-interview? In other words, will the adcom need more time to process and review the letter prior to making a decision?