General Waitlist Question

[Goblue89]

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I apologize in advance if there is another thread on this. Do you think Adcoms view applicants on the waitlist with no acceptances more favorably than those with an acceptances? Or vise versa?

My instincts tell me they prefer applicants who have other acceptances. No one would (should) remain on a waitlist if they have an acceptance unless they really would rather go to the school they are waitlisted at. It also would, in my mind, increase the desirability of that applicant since another school accepted them. However, if the purpose of the waitlist is to fill the class, maybe Adcoms would pick someone more desperate? Just curious to hear other peoples' thoughts...

 

[235788]

I apologize in advance if there is another thread on this. Do you think Adcoms view applicants on the waitlist with no acceptances more favorably than those with an acceptances? Or vise versa?

My instincts tell me they prefer applicants who have other acceptances. No one would (should) remain on a waitlist if they have an acceptance unless they really would rather go to the school they are waitlisted at. It also would, in my mind, increase the desirability of that applicant since another school accepted them. However, if the purpose of the waitlist is to fill the class, maybe Adcoms would pick someone more desperate? Just curious to hear other peoples' thoughts...

I'd imagine so. I'm sure schools don't want to think they're scraping the bottom of the barrel.

 

[otggwmfs]

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[AnthroMD]

At my interview day I met with a professor (not for a formal interview) and he asked me how many interviews and acceptances I had received. It was a little disheartening because I was only able to tell him that I had been interviewed at one other place (DO school) and received an acceptance from them as well. Not sure how much weight the conversation had in their decision but I'm still waiting to get off the wait list.

I've since then had another interview but I don't see how they would know that now unless I specifically told them in an update. Plus it was for another DO school so I have absolutely no idea if MD and DO schools communicate or how they would know who has been interviewed and where they have been accepted.

Regardless, I can see things both ways. It seems logical that students on the wait list with multiple known acceptances elsewhere would be considered to be better candidates overall (to some adcoms). However, just because someone does not have an acceptance does not mean they are "the bottom of the barrel." In fact, it also makes sense that they would consider this person to be more likely to attend their school rather than someone with multiple acceptances, because the overall probability of them choosing their school is inherently lower.

 

[LizzyM]

You'd be surprised how many times the admissions officer gets burned making an offer to someone who already has an offer. Logically, it would seem that the applicant would prefer the waitlist school but oopsie! some people forget to remove their names from the waitlist and they make irrevokable plans to matriculate elsewhere (lease, moving, etc) and then say "no, thanks" when offered a spot from the waitlist. I remember one former colleague who was so steamed when that happened. I guess some of you are happy to hear that the shoe is on the other foot at this time of year and the applicants drive the admissions offices crazy.🙄

 

[tantacles]

You'd be surprised how many times the admissions officer gets burned making an offer to someone who already has an offer. Logically, it would seem that the applicant would prefer the waitlist school but oopsie! some people forget to remove their names from the waitlist and they make irrevokable plans to matriculate elsewhere (lease, moving, etc) and then say "no, thanks" when offered a spot from the waitlist. I remember one former colleague who was so steamed when that happened. I guess some of you are happy to hear that the shoe is on the other foot at this time of year and the applicants drive the admissions offices crazy.🙄

God willing, I hope they keep driving the office crazy. It means that my LOI pre-acceptance will hold more weight!

 

[LizzyM]

God willing, I hope they keep driving the office crazy. It means that my LOI pre-acceptance will hold more weight!

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