Do schools know what waitlists I'm on?

[Catterwaul]

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I've been accepted to one of my dream schools, but I am holding several waitlist spots at other places that offer great financial aid (my dreams are expensive). I'm worried that my chosen school will be able to see this or, even worse, that my waitlist schools will see how many waitlists I'm on and not admit me, thinking that I have very little chance of attending their school.

Does anyone know if: a) my chosen school can see what waitlists I'm on; or b) the schools that haven't yet admitted me can tell how many waitlists I'm on?


(Sorry about the additional thread-- maybe my search skills stink, but I couldn't find a similar one.)

 

[iniquus]

I'm fairly certain that schools cannot see your waitlists, or even whether or not you've even been offered an interview at another school. They can only see where you have been accepted.

The only thing I'm unsure of is if schools that waitlisted you can see where you've withdrawn from. Does anyone know? My irrational logic would be that you would seem like a more impressive applicant with more acceptances, then just the one you're holding on to after May 15. Or maybe a school that sees you withdrew from a place of similar location/reputation may be less likely to accept you from waitlist?

 

[OoEeOoAhAh]

I'm fairly certain that schools cannot see your waitlists, or even whether or not you've even been offered an interview at another school. They can only see where you have been accepted.

I had the same question as Catterwaul. Can any of the administrators (LizzyM?) confirm whether schools can see what other waitlists you're on?

I've looked at the AAMC traffic rules and they weren't any help.

 

[mmmcdowe]

They are definitely able to see what accepted schools you are on, but I don't recall if they can see waitlists. I want to say yes.

 

[premed0]

They are definitely able to see what accepted schools you are on, but I don't recall if they can see waitlists. I want to say yes.

I second this. I had someone in a medical school's admission office tell me that all schools can see where you have been offered an admission, even before May 15... but that it has no bearing in their evaluation of your application.

 

[Dr Love]

I can confirm that all schools that have accepted you or have you on a waitlist can see where else you have been accepted or put on a waitlist.

And yes, this could affect whether you are offered a slot off of a waitlist. If they think you will not accept an offer of admission because you have been accepted to a school they think you would rather attend, they will pass over you and go to the next person on the waitlist. That is why it is so important if you are on a waitlist to express strong interest in that school.

 

[motomed]

I can confirm that all schools that have accepted you or have you on a waitlist can see where else you have been accepted or put on a waitlist.

source? I was told schools can only see where you actually hold an acceptance. they get access to this sometime in april.

 

[Dr Love]

source? I was told schools can only see where you actually hold an acceptance. they get access to this sometime in april.

I interviewed with an admissions dean at one school, we had a conversation about the waitlist game.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm not privy to that information... that's in the dean's hands at my school.

 

[jm192]

I'm failry certain they can see the schools you have applied to from AMCAS. They also get something telling them which schools you have been accepted to.

I don't think however waitlists are made public, thus how would any one school know which waitlists you are on?