Calling the Dean for Waitlisted Schools

[jyun0423]

I was wondering if it was OK to contact the dean directly for schools i have been waitlisted on. Any advice?

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[FenderHM]

I'd email him before trying..at least to set up a phone appointment or something

 

[Seen your file]

I was wondering if it was OK to contact the dean directly for schools i have been waitlisted on. Any advice?

No, don't call the dean. This is an exceptionally busy time of year, there are a large number of people on the waitlist that we don't have time to individually entertain, and a large number of accepted incoming students with more pressing business than you. We haven't forgotten you if you're worth remembering, so you do not need to call and remind the dean personally of your existence. (If you're not worth remembering, then no amount of telephone-shmoozing will change the situation, so again, there is no need to call.)

If you want an update about your status, contact the admissions office staff. If you want to send a letter of interest or intent, address it to the dean by name but fax it to the admissions office -- rest assured it will reach your file and serve its purpose. If you simply want to monger for special favors, please just don't.

 

[Catapult]

No, don't call the dean. This is an exceptionally busy time of year, there are a large number of people on the waitlist that we don't have time to individually entertain, and a large number of accepted incoming students with more pressing business than you. We haven't forgotten you if you're worth remembering, so you do not need to call and remind the dean personally of your existence. (If you're not worth remembering, then no amount of telephone-shmoozing will change the situation, so again, there is no need to call.)

If you want an update about your status, contact the admissions office staff. If you want to send a letter of interest or intent, address it to the dean by name but fax it to the admissions office -- rest assured it will reach your file and serve its purpose. If you simply want to monger for special favors, please just don't.

This response sounds like it comes from someone who has or does work in an admissions office, but I hope they understand that we as applicants don't fully know how things are supposed to work. What is the difference between "mongering" and attempting to show interest? Every student I have talked to at Columbia has implored me to persistently communicate with the dean about my interest in coming off the waitlist and whenever I have called the admissions office, the officer who answers the telephone has offered to patch me through to the dean directly. How are we supposed to know what schools will view calling as a nuisance versus showing positive interest? I would hope admissions offices would have a little patience for waitlisted applicants, because the applicants are asked to excercise a lot of patience throughout the process.

 

[randhail]

and a large number of accepted incoming students with more pressing business than you.

This makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 🙄

 

[dbhvt]

This response sounds like it comes from someone who has or does work in an admissions office, but I hope they understand that we as applicants don't fully know how things are supposed to work. What is the difference between "mongering" and attempting to show interest? Every student I have talked to at Columbia has implored me to persistently communicate with the dean about my interest in coming off the waitlist and whenever I have called the admissions office, the officer who answers the telephone has offered to patch me through to the dean directly. How are we supposed to know what schools will view calling as a nuisance versus showing positive interest? I would hope admissions offices would have a little patience for waitlisted applicants, because the applicants are asked to excercise a lot of patience throughout the process.

Seen your file is a troll.

Don't worry about it. If you are professional and appropriate, noone should fault you. You don't have the deans personal line, so it's not like you're going to be bugging her/him if you you're not supposed to. Call the admissions office, tell them you're on the wait list, and professionally, politely, ask to speak with the dean of admissions about your potential as a member of the class of 2010.

 

[phosphorus pet]

Call the admissions office, tell them you're on the wait list, and professionally, politely, ask to speak with the dean of admissions about your potential as a member of the class of 2010.

Is this a unique feature of Columbia? or are most medical schools fairly accomodating to students wishing to speak with the dean? Does anyone have any experience with this for medical schools other than Columbia?

 

[dbhvt]

Is this a unique feature of Columbia? or are most medical schools fairly accomodating to students wishing to speak with the dean? Does anyone have any experience with this for medical schools other than Columbia?

What I'm saying is that if you are professional and appropraite no school should fault you for asking to speak with the dean of admissions. They are, afterall, the dean of trying to figure out if you should go to their med school.

And yes, Columbia is known for calls of that nature ending on a very positive note for the applicant.

 

[RayhanS1282]

I would like to talk to the dean. I sent an e-mail...no response. I tried them to pass the phone....no luck. Apparently, the dean has been taken to an undisclosed location for his safety.

 

[Seen your file]

This response sounds like it comes from someone who has or does work in an admissions office, but I hope they understand that we as applicants don't fully know how things are supposed to work. What is the difference between "mongering" and attempting to show interest? Every student I have talked to at Columbia has implored me to persistently communicate with the dean about my interest in coming off the waitlist and whenever I have called the admissions office, the officer who answers the telephone has offered to patch me through to the dean directly. How are we supposed to know what schools will view calling as a nuisance versus showing positive interest? I would hope admissions offices would have a little patience for waitlisted applicants, because the applicants are asked to excercise a lot of patience throughout the process.

I can see I have offended your tender sensibilities. Forgive my candor and allow me to be more tactful instead:

Members of admissions committees recognize that applicants do not have a full knowledge of the protocol at every school. We do not fault you for attempting to make contact to ask questions, express interest, or send updates. We will not throw out your file to exact revenge if you pester us. However, we are also tremendously busy and appreciate applicants who exercise discretion in their mode and frequency of contact. We value our applicants, but we must also prioritize our time to address the needs of current students, incoming students, waitlisted students, and prospective recruits. We appreciate students whose professionalism enables rather than interferes with our ability to do our jobs. Therefore, dear applicant, it is in your best interest to first learn the rules then follow them.

How can you tell what is and is not acceptable at a particular school? The admissions office and its staff exist for a reason. Rather than calling the dean directly (as the original post indicated), call the admissions office and ask whether you can be connected. Rather than obtaining the dean's personal fax number through backchannels and sending a daily update, call the admissions office and ask how the school would prefer to receive updates, then act accordingly. Rather than hounding the dean or the admissions committee members for the sake of "staying on the radar," contact them when you have something substantive to say.

In short, until you know the rules of engagement, always go through the admissions office. Schools who operate on a philosophy of open-contact with the dean (e.g. Columbia) will certainly allow or even offer to connect you, while schools who protect their dean's time (e.g. the school RayhanS alluded to) will certainly let you know and direct you to a more appropriate channel.

 

[Hope2010]

I can see I have offended your tender sensibilities. Forgive my candor ...

Seen your file, thank you for posting here. As applicants, the interaction we get with officials from med schools tends to be highly diplomatic and slightly rose-colored, so I appreciate you for being candid even if it seems a bit more prickly than what we're used to.

🙂