Bryn Mawr hold/deferred . . .

[randomkyle]

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Howdy.

I interviewed at Bryn Mawr last Monday and received notification yesterday that I've been placed in the "deferred" category; they'll reconsider my application later in the spring, after their class is closer to full. I was just wondering . . . what do people usually do in hold situations like this? What can I do to improve my chances? The letter invited me to call the program director with any questions; I think I should definitely do that. Is there anything else? Has this happened to anyone around here who's later been accepted from the deferred/hold list?

Feel free to post in response or to private message me. Thanks in advance for anything anyone has to suggest.

 

[blackadder]

as you say, you should def contact bm to express your continued interest in the program and try to find out why you were put on hold. once you firgure out if you can do anything to address the issue, you can then call bm back and let them know what you are doing to fix the problem. so if they say, for example, that they would like to see a bit more medical exposure...then get your butt over to a hospital/clinic and volunteer ASAP.

i think the worst thing you could do would be to call them 100x and bug the crap out of them (but I'm sure you won't do this 👍 ). if it makes you feel any better, being but on hold/deferred happens to a lot of people. i was put in a hold situation by goucher. just try to play it cool and keep you're head up--if bm didn't reject you it means you're prob gonna make it to med school just fine if you play your cards right. that said, i hope to see you at bm next year! good luck

 

[BMLowen]

Once PBPMs accept someone, the often give them 2 weeks to accept or reject. If you get accpeted by one school, but you are on hold from you top choice, you may want to call your top choice and tell them your situation. Just tell them that they are your first pick- but that you do not want to risk not going to a program if you hold out and they pass on you later. They may consider pushing up your acceptance, or at least give you a better idea of where you stand.

 

[blackadder]

Once PBPMs accept someone, the often give them 2 weeks to accept or reject. If you get accpeted by one school, but you are on hold from you top choice, you may want to call your top choice and tell them your situation. Just tell them that they are your first pick- but that you do not want to risk not going to a program if you hold out and they pass on you later. They may consider pushing up your acceptance, or at least give you a better idea of where you stand.

yeah, this is exactly what happened to me. put on hold at goucher one week, accepted to bm the next. i didn't greatly prefer one over the other but i called goucher to see if they could decide before i had to get back to bm so i could make the most informed decision possible. when goucher got back to me a bit later, they said they still couldn't make up their mind. i wasn't too pleased with how goucher was unfolding, so the next day i sent a check off to bm and couldn't be happier (although a bit nervous for this summer when the fun begins!).

for me, each program had one thing that i found really attractive that the other didn't offer...
goucher: i really liked the small class size here compared to bm
bm: i think their linkage school list is way better than gouchers

i don't know if this helps anybody trying to make up their mind between the two...both programs are solid and have great advisors...you won't make a bad choice.

 

[randomkyle]

Thanks so much to both of you for your replies. I did in fact call Jodi at BM, and she put things into a better perspective for me. As she expressed it, some cases take a longer time to decide than they have in their adcom meetings, so they postpone those cases for later meetings when they have more time. Additionally, between now and then, I can provide them with extra information to help them make their decision. She admitted that a particular sticking point in my application is my lack of patient exposure and direct medical volunteer work, so, she said, if I get involved in any of that in the next month or so, I should definitely let them now.

But now my new big question: how in the world can I speed up the process of becoming a volunteer? I've been trying to set this up for weeks. I feel like I keep leaving voicemails with volunteer coordinators, or emailing them, but never hearing back from people, or being called back only to find that most hospitals want a long commitment than I can make if I end up going to BM or Goucher (my Goucher interview, incidentally, is tomorrow). Should I just keep calling? Look for free clinics that need volunteers? Call doctors' offices instead of just large hospitals? There must be some more accessible volunteer options than I've found so far.

Oh, also a small question: I've also been accepted by Columbia (I live in New York now); should I mention that to BM? It is my backup school, but its admissions process seems so much less competitive than BM's and Goucher's that I can't imagine an acceptance there will mean much to either program. Right?

Thank you both again!

 

[longhornl]

Hey, Kyle...

Have you heard back from BM and made a decision? I'm off to my interviews for BM and Goucher next week. Any tips you could spare?!?

As for volunteer opportunities, smaller hospitals that aren't subsidiaries of a large system are easier for volunteer opportunities. I think showing up in person is helpful too to speak directly to the volunteer coordinator (since a majority of volunteers are retired people that would just show up anyway). Clinics and even getting certified as a phlebotomist or EKG Tech are good ideas as well (other than something like a volunteer EMS program). Don't neglect volunteer opportunities in nursing homes or mental rehabilitation homes either (direct care positions is the term I believe).

Anyway, I hope that helps!

 

[ewinston]

hi everyone,

i just thought i would throw in my own experience-- i know its a hard process. i got into goucher and bryn mawr and since i was abroad i could not visit either school.

what it came down to for me was: i preferred the size of bryn mawrs program (though i love small classes after having gone to a small libarts college) and most of all, i really appreciate the undergraduate academic scene. i think it is a school where studying in the library and living will be really nice and where i will feel supported not just within the program but in general on campus. granted im a woman, perhaps it is not the same for male applicants, but i do think its a special place.

anyway, best of luck. i was very impressed by both schools-- they are both amazing and you cant go wrote either way.