Do Schools Know where else you've been accepted?

[theunderdog]

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so my cousin got into both RWJMS and Jefferson....

RWJMS called him and my cousin said that the deciding factor was money/scholarship. he never mentioned that he got into jefferson.

all of a sudden, the adcom lady (maybe dean?) asked: "has jefferson offered you a scholarship yet???"

my cousin was shocked. how did rwjms know that he got into jefferson??

do schools tlak to each other?

 

[bon_vivant]

Yes. Once they make a final decision on your application, they are allowed to see where else youve been admitted/rejected through the AAMC.

 

[tacrum43]

Yes. Once they make a final decision on your application, they are allowed to see where else youve been admitted/rejected through the AAMC.

Huh. I thought it was only after May 15th that they could do that. So it's just after a school has made a final decision then?

 

[lazygunner]

Huh. I thought it was only after May 15th that they could do that. So it's just after a school has made a final decision then?

Do you think being wait-listed is included under "final decisions"?

 

[beponychick]

wow, this is crazy!!! i didnt know that. I thought it was only after May 15th that they can find out this info. Is this really true?

 

[LizzyM]

As far as I know, that list doesn't become public until after May 15 because it also shows where you choose to matriculate (someone showed me the list in the past but I don't remember what time of year it came out) and obviously, that information isn't available until after May 15 (maybe not even until Sept 1 or some date where everyone is where they are going to end up).

Anyway, I'd bet that the lady had already gotten multiple calls from others who said, "I've gotten $$$ from Jefferson, what are you going to do?" So, it is only natural that she's wondering if you are another one. There are some things that happen that make one say, "I bet those guys across town are doing xyz."

 

[QofQuimica]

Maybe those schools talk to each other. The admissions people do that here in FL.

 

[Will Ferrell]

maybe he had an mdapplicants.com profile and the school matched him up to see where else he got in. it is extremely easy to do that if possible. type in GPA, MCAT, undergraduate institution, and then confirm extracurriculars...

 

[LizzyM]

maybe he had an mdapplicants.com profile and the school matched him up to see where else he got in. it is extremely easy to do that if possible. type in GPA, MCAT, undergraduate institution, and then confirm extracurriculars...

As if we have nothing better to do. More likely the volume of phone calls is up and at least one caller has spilled the beans.

 

[USArmyDoc]

As if we have nothing better to do. More likely the volume of phone calls is up and at least one caller has spilled the beans.

👍

 

[etown]

Friends have shared stories that indicate that North Carolina schools talk amongst themselves as well...

 

[firebird69guy]

Schools do not know where you applied... but they do know which schools have offered you acceptances..

 

[diosa428]

I thought schools could see where you've been accepted after MARCH 15?

 

[NikkiFSU]

Damn, so do you think if they are borderline with you and see you got in somewhere else they might take someone else who is very similar to you, in terms of competitiveness, because they haven't gotten acceptances anywhere else? Assuming they get this info before making their decision. I learn more weird things about the adcoms everyday and all of the weird things about this process. Like the SUNY Buffalo PDF with that massive math formula they use to rank applicants and proposals of how to change the denominators and fractions for weighting the mcat....and how they want to recruit more minorities but not get sued... anyone else see this? Seriously they should get a life.

 

[Bluntman]

Damn, so do you think if they are borderline with you and see you got in somewhere else they might take someone else who is very similar to you, in terms of competitiveness, because they haven't gotten acceptances anywhere else? Assuming they get this info before making their decision.

Someone said on here earlier that they can only check where else you've been accepted after they make their final decision on you. I'm inclined to think that this is true, cause if not it'd be fairly sketchy ethically.

 

[owenmichael]

Someone said on here earlier that they can only check where else you've been accepted after they make their final decision on you. I'm inclined to think that this is true, cause if not it'd be fairly sketchy ethically.

seems like alot of the schools i've interviewed at know exactly how many other schools i've been offered interviews at

 

[NikkiFSU]

seems like alot of the schools i've interviewed at know exactly how many other schools i've been offered interviews at

Yeah right! What did they say.....just mentioned it @ an interview?

 

[Dave_med]

Huh. I thought it was only after May 15th that they could do that. So it's just after a school has made a final decision then?

I also thought schools only had access to that information after May 15th. Are there any adcom people on this board that might know the answer to this question?

I expect that state schools talk amongst themselves, but I had a weird experience at VCU. I'm from NC and the interviewer specifically asked me about applying to one of my state schools and it was a school that had already accepted me. I thought it was odd at the time, but now I am wondering if she knew I was already accepted.

 

[argonana]

i was talking to a med student at Wash U awhile ago, and he mentioned that med schools can see which schools you've been accepted to before March/May. he made it sound like this information exchange is the whole point of AMCAS.

 

[owenmichael]

Yeah right! What did they say.....just mentioned it @ an interview?

yeh its the weirdest thing. How did your interview at ?D?DS go?
Schools definately not affilliated

 

[NapeSpikes]

I expect that state schools talk amongst themselves, but I had a weird experience at VCU. I'm from NC and the interviewer specifically asked me about applying to one of my state schools and it was a school that had already accepted me. I thought it was odd at the time, but now I am wondering if she knew I was already accepted.

How's that weird? I'd assume you applied to UNC and your other state schools, too. Maybe all these adcoms are guessing about other interviews.

 

[Dave_med]

How's that weird? I'd assume you applied to UNC and your other state schools, too. Maybe all these adcoms are guessing about other interviews.

It's weird because they didn't ask me about UNC....only ECU, the school that had already accepted me.

 

[the brown note]

i was talking to a med student at Wash U awhile ago, and he mentioned that med schools can see which schools you've been accepted to before March/May. he made it sound like this information exchange is the whole point of AMCAS.

According to REL, the director of admissions at USF, from this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=241215

"Ok -- Med schools have NO access to the list of schools you applied to. They are only listed on your AMCAS printout, not ours. If you supply a med school with a copy of your application they will see the list unless you dont give them that page. You shouldnt have to show a med school your copy of your application.

Now, around mid-March, medical schools can query an AAMC database of those who have applied to their school only. If accepted by another school that school name will showup when we query our applicant. Again, we will only see other school acceptances of those who applied to our program. Never will schools have access to your application list unless you provide it."

 

[badlydrawnvik]

i think schools can see where you've been accepted once you've reserved your place in a class. for example, if someone is accepted to jefferson and then confirms his or seat, other medical schools can now see this information.

 

[Punisher]

i think schools can see where you've been accepted once you've reserved your place in a class. for example, if someone is accepted to jefferson and then confirms his or seat, other medical schools can now see this information.

Ummm, according to REL, it doesn't look like that's right.

 

[deuist]

Rel called me to say that he knew that I had been accepted elsewhere. Whenever a school accepts you, it has to report that information to the AAMC for all other schools to see it. Hence, if you're holding onto multiple acceptances after May 15, schools will start calling you to say, "Are you coming here or not? You haven't released your other acceptances!"

On the other hand, medical schools do not know where you've applied. AMCAS keeps that part of the application private. Don't be surprised, however, when UFlorida asks you to list all of the other schools to which you've applied on the secondary.

 

[NapeSpikes]

But what about before May 15th? Do schools see other acceptances or not? I dunno whom to believe anymore.

 

[REL]

But what about before May 15th? Do schools see other acceptances or not? I dunno whom to believe anymore.[/QUOTE

I just checked my access to determine acceptances of applicants to my school. AMCAS has not activated those reports so the only way medical schools can determine where you have been accepted is by you providing that information or direct discussions with other schools. I do expect this information to be available to schools sometime in ?mid?-March. Trust me. Really.

 

[NapeSpikes]

I just checked my access to determine acceptances of applicants to my school. AMCAS has not activated those reports so the only way medical schools can determine where you have been accepted is by you providing that information or direct discussions with other schools. I do expect this information to be available to schools sometime in ?mid?-March. Trust me. Really.

Woah! There you have it folks, from the horse's mouth. Schools will know by mid-March!

 

[QofQuimica]

Don't be surprised, however, when UFlorida asks you to list all of the other schools to which you've applied on the secondary.

Anyone can ask you anything they want, but you don't have to answer this question. It says in red letters right there on the UF secondary form: OPTIONAL. So I opted to leave it blank, and I got no hassles about it. 😛

 

[the brown note]

But what about before May 15th? Do schools see other acceptances or not? I dunno whom to believe anymore.[/QUOTE

I just checked my access to determine acceptances of applicants to my school. AMCAS has not activated those reports so the only way medical schools can determine where you have been accepted is by you providing that information or direct discussions with other schools. I do expect this information to be available to schools sometime in ?mid?-March. Trust me. Really.

Thank you, REL! You're always so kind and helpful! Makes me wish I was a FL resident, so I'd have had a chance at your school.... 😉

 

[REL]

Thank you, REL! You're always so kind and helpful! Makes me wish I was a FL resident, so I'd have had a chance at your school.... 😉

Thanx. Cutting through the smoke and mirrors and getting the right info can only help applicants ?understand? this confounding process and minimize bogus info. If applicants understand, then admissions offices wont have to spend time answering the same questions over and over.

As a side note, USF has matriculated non-Florida residents for the last two years.

 

[kkbmd2b]

Thanx. Cutting through the smoke and mirrors and getting the right info can only help applicants ?understand? this confounding process and minimize bogus info. If applicants understand, then admissions offices wont have to spend time answering the same questions over and over.

While on the topic of getting the real truth about medical school admissions, I've been wondering--are interviewers allowed to ask interviewees to which other medical schools they've applied? I've been volunteering as an alumna admissions interviewer for my undergrad institution for several years now and the admissions office keeps emphasizing to us that we're not, under any circumstances, to ask the student where else they applied. Does the same policy hold true for medical school admissions? If so, what is the appropriate response to being asked that question by the interviewer? Just curious!

 

[RxnMan]

I've been wondering--are interviewers allowed to ask interviewees to which other medical schools they've applied?

Right or wrong, I've been asked that question every time I've interviewed for medical school.

 

[MollyMalone]

Right or wrong, I've been asked that question every time I've interviewed for medical school.

Interesting. I've never been asked.

 

[zook]

Right or wrong, I've been asked that question every time I've interviewed for medical school.

I've only been asked at two schools, but I felt that they were both worried I would get in elsewhere and decline their acceptance. While I see their logic in that they don't want to offer acceptances to people who will never step foot on that campus, it also makes them look like they are not confident about their school's chances of recruiting quality applicants. If they aren't confident about their own school, it makes me less confident about that school, so I think it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[REL]

I've only been asked at two schools, but I felt that they were both worried I would get in elsewhere and decline their acceptance. While I see their logic in that they don't want to offer acceptances to people who will never step foot on that campus, it also makes them look like they are not confident about their school's chances of recruiting quality applicants. If they aren't confident about their own school, it makes me less confident about that school, so I think it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I've read these types of remarks for several weeks --- something to the tune of "schools want to know where I am accepted so they will know whether to, or not to, make an offer...." I can only respond based on my frame of reference which is my school and the state of Florida for the most part. We may have an renegade interviewer or two who may ask where you have been interviewed or even accepted. We prefer that they dont ask. We have never, ever, in my 5 year association in this admissions office considered where an applicant has been accepted prior to offering a seat and not made an offer when the time came. We go strictly by the ranked wait list that we have from our admissions committee. If the next applicant on the list has been accepted by several schools, we still make the offer. I have a strong feeling that that is the case throughout the Florida schools.

Maybe it happens elsewhere, I cant say for sure, but based on many meetings with other admissions officers at national and regional meetings, I cant say that I have ever heard any chit chat that an admissions office would pass up an offer because the applicant was accepted elsewhere. I dont question that applicants are being asked. I do question the thought that applicants are not being offered acceptances because of where they have already been accepted.

Note to Zook: The way I selected the reply it appears that I am responding to your post. I am not, I meant to respond to the subject at hand. In fact the postulation at the end of your post may be more on target in that schools may be fearful of losing an applicant, but I think most will make the offer of acceptance. Most admissions offices are competitive enough to make an offer in hopes of luring a good candidate to their program even though already accepted elsewhere. In some cases it may be like the Texans beating the Colts, not likely to happen often, but it will happen enough times just to keep you trying.

 

[zook]

I've read these types of remarks for several weeks --- something to the tune of "schools want to know where I am accepted so they will know whether to, or not to, make an offer...." I can only respond based on my frame of reference which is my school and the state of Florida for the most part. We may have an renegade interviewer or two who may ask where you have been interviewed or even accepted. We prefer that they dont ask. We have never, ever, in my 5 year association in this admissions office considered where an applicant has been accepted prior to offering a seat and not made an offer when the time came. We go strictly by the ranked wait list that we have from our admissions committee. If the next applicant on the list has been accepted by several schools, we still make the offer. I have a strong feeling that that is the case throughout the Florida schools.

Maybe it happens elsewhere, I cant say for sure, but based on many meetings with other admissions officers at national and regional meetings, I cant say that I have ever heard any chit chat that an admissions office would pass up an offer because the applicant was accepted elsewhere. I dont question that applicants are being asked. I do question the thought that applicants are not being offered acceptances because of where they have already been accepted.

Note to Zook: The way I selected the reply it appears that I am responding to your post. I am not, I meant to respond to the subject at hand. In fact the postulation at the end of your post may be more on target in that schools may be fearful of losing an applicant, but I think most will make the offer of acceptance. Most admissions offices are competitive enough to make an offer in hopes of luring a good candidate to their program even though already accepted elsewhere. In some cases it may be like the Texans beating the Colts, not likely to happen often, but it will happen enough times just to keep you trying.

Thanks for your insight. It's always nice to have someone who can tell us what goes on behind the smoke screens and mirrors. 🙂

 

[NapeSpikes]

Maybe it happens elsewhere, I cant say for sure, but based on many meetings with other admissions officers at national and regional meetings, I cant say that I have ever heard any chit chat that an admissions office would pass up an offer because the applicant was accepted elsewhere. I dont question that applicants are being asked. I do question the thought that applicants are not being offered acceptances because of where they have already been accepted.

REL, I have a question regarding your comments. Why would letters of intent matter then? It seems like schools are influenced by LOIs, even before official waitlists, i.e. the applicant sends in an LOI after an interview and that influences the school to offer them an acceptance. It seems like schools waitlist applicants whom they think may not matriculate, and then offer an acceptance when they are sure, or conversely, the applicant withdraws.

Do Florida schools take LOIs into consideration post-interview? The whole point of a LOI is to let the particular school know that, despite other acceptances, the applicant wants to go to that school. Doesn't it follow that other acceptances can influence whether or not that particular school offers an acceptance as well? Or does that not become an issue until a LOI is presented?

 

[REL]

REL, I have a question regarding your comments. Why would letters of intent matter then? It seems like schools are influenced by LOIs, even before official waitlists, i.e. the applicant sends in an LOI after an interview and that influences the school to offer them an acceptance. It seems like schools waitlist applicants whom they think may not matriculate, and then offer an acceptance when they are sure, or conversely, the applicant withdraws.

Do Florida schools take LOIs into consideration post-interview? The whole point of a LOI is to let the particular school know that, despite other acceptances, the applicant wants to go to that school. Doesn't it follow that other acceptances can influence whether or not that particular school offers an acceptance as well? Or does that not become an issue until a LOI is presented?

I can tell you that a LOI has no influence at all on our process. We dont solicit them, they're nice to receive, but we havent violated the integrity of the wait list in my time in the admissions office. Next is next is next. I cannot speak for the other schools in Florida, since it has never come up in our conversations my impression is that it isnt a factor for them either, but I could be misimpressed. I think those who have interviewed at the other Florida schools may be able to comment on whether LOI's were mentioned or desired.

 

[NapeSpikes]

I can tell you that a LOI has no influence at all on our process. We dont solicit them, they're nice to receive, but we havent violated the integrity of the wait list in my time in the admissions office. Next is next is next. I cannot speak for the other schools in Florida, since it has never come up in our conversations my impression is that it isnt a factor for them either, but I could be misimpressed. I think those who have interviewed at the other Florida schools may be able to comment on whether LOI's were mentioned or desired.

Interesting...thanks for the info. 🙂

 

[ruglazier]

Rel called me to say that he knew that I had been accepted elsewhere. Whenever a school accepts you, it has to report that information to the AAMC for all other schools to see it. Hence, if you're holding onto multiple acceptances after May 15, schools will start calling you to say, "Are you coming here or not? You haven't released your other acceptances!"

On the other hand, medical schools do not know where you've applied. AMCAS keeps that part of the application private. Don't be surprised, however, when UFlorida asks you to list all of the other schools to which you've applied on the secondary.

I interviewd at yale and they knew where else I had applied and i didnt give them the info prior, how is this possible?

 

[QofQuimica]

I interviewd at yale and they knew where else I had applied and i didnt give them the info prior, how is this possible?

They could have talked to the other schools, or you might have told them and forgotten. Sometimes schools ask where else you've applied on your secondary, or you might have sent them a copy of your AMCAS without removing the page listing the schools, or you may have mentioned it in a previous communication (phone or email) with the school before you went to interview. AMCAS didn't send them the list, but if you did it yourself, well.... 😳

 

[DrKitty]

Right or wrong, I've been asked that question every time I've interviewed for medical school.

Ditto.

 

[Arsenic]

schools only find out from the AAMC where you've been accepted AFTER they accept you. like people said though, they tend to get around this by just asking you directly at your interviews.

 

[REL]

schools only find out from the AAMC where you've been accepted AFTER they accept you. like people said though, they tend to get around this by just asking you directly at your interviews.

Where are you accepted? Not a preferred question here. We really dont care. We interview about 350 of 2100 applicants. If we invite you for an interview, then we have an interest in probably matriculating you. We firmly believe that our clinical MD training is superior to most other programs. If it is time for us to make an offer to you, we will make the offer regardless as to where you have been accepted.

As noted in previous posts the AAMC will open a window in mid-March for schools to look for those who applied to that school which will show where else the applicant may have been accepted. If the schools know where you are accepted it is because you told them in some way or the school admissions folks are communicating that to one another. To my knowledge is it absolutely impossible for a school to know that information otherwise.

 

[deuist]

I think those who have interviewed at the other Florida schools may be able to comment on whether LOI's were mentioned or desired.

I've interviewed at all of the other Florida schools. None of them have ever mentioned LOI's. To the person who originally asked about interest letters: what makes you think that they've worked? Did an admission committee member tell you? I would think that others who say that LOI's earned an acceptance are confusing association with causation. They may have sent a letter to a committee that was already planning to accept them. Sanford J. Brown tells a story about LOI's that have worked. However, I suspect that these cases are the rare exception.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

We may have an renegade interviewer or two who may ask where you have been interviewed or even accepted. We prefer that they dont ask.

what if that renegade interviewer is the chairman of the admissions committee?????

 

[REL]

what if that renegade interviewer is the chairman of the admissions committee?????

Firstly - the trunk monkey is an amazing tool which should be include in every vehicle.

Secondly, help me to understand your question. Are you telling me that our Admissions Committee Chair asks this question or are you talking about a chair at another institution.

 

[deuist]

Firstly - the trunk monkey is an amazing tool which should be include in every vehicle.

http://www.trunkmonkey.com/