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bond80009

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I'm on a waitlist at an MD school. I already graduated so I don't have grades to update. I will be sending a letter of interest. is there anything else I can do?
 
What other substantial things have you been doing since you submitted your apps?
 
bond80009 said:
I'm on a waitlist at an MD school. I already graduated so I don't have grades to update. I will be sending a letter of interest. is there anything else I can do?
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Make sure they welcome such updates, before sending.

Timing is everything. Most waitlist movement doesn't happen until after May 15th. Sending something now can easily be overlooked, even by schools that want to see such things. Even after May, we don't need your update to know you will come if you aren't holding anywhere.
 
gyngyn said:
Make sure they welcome such updates, before sending.

Timing is everything. Most waitlist movement doesn't happen until after May 15th. Sending something now can easily be overlooked, even by schools that want to see such things. Even after May, we don't need your update to know you will come if you aren't holding anywhere.
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Is it common that schools will let you know when would be a good time to send those updates? I've had bad experiences with schools being unnecessarily secretive. Thanks!
 
sourdoughllama said:
Is it common that schools will let you know when would be a good time to send those updates? I've had bad experiences with schools being unnecessarily secretive. Thanks!
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Unless they have lots of employees with nothing to do, it seems likely that they would fully disclose their receptivity to "updates". Even if secretive, pre May 15th LOI's are likely to be poorly timed. In the spring, we will see where the waitlist candidates are holding, making such "updates/LOI's" immaterial.
 
gyngyn said:
Unless they have lots of employees with nothing to do, it seems likely that they would fully disclose their receptivity to "updates". Even if secretive, pre May 15th LOI's are likely to be poorly timed. In the spring, we will see where the waitlist candidates are holding, making such "updates/LOI's" immaterial.
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Cool, thanks for the reply! That might not still hold true for schools whose wait lists move throughout the season, right?
 
I'm in CA. I don't know any schools that accept off the waitlist before traffic day, but I'm sure that there may be a few that do. If they do, it will most likely be after the information regarding acceptances of waitlist candidates is released by the AAMC. Either way, applicants holding no acceptances do not have to update the school with their desire to attend (unless the school explicitly states that they like this type of thing).
 
gyngyn said:
I'm in CA. I don't know any schools that accept off the waitlist before traffic day, but I'm sure that there may be a few that do. If they do, it will most likely be after the information regarding acceptances of waitlist candidates is released by the AAMC. Either way, applicants holding no acceptances do not have to update the school with their desire to attend (unless the school explicitly states that they like this type of thing).
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Thanks, I appreciate the advice!
 
I'm in the same position as you, gap year with two pending waitlists. The only foolproof method is to go back in time with me so we can absolutely nail our interviews. Contact me if you are interested.

Screen_shot_2009-10-09_at_4.42.45_PM.png
 
gyngyn said:
Make sure they welcome such updates, before sending.

Timing is everything. Most waitlist movement doesn't happen until after May 15th. Sending something now can easily be overlooked, even by schools that want to see such things. Even after May, we don't need your update to know you will come if you aren't holding anywhere.
Click to expand...


Are you saying that somehow you (as an adcom member) will know whether or not any of the applicants you are considering have already gotten acceptances or not, regardless of what the applicant has told you?
 
Yes. I will see where applicants on the waitlist are holding in late Spring.

The status of applicants under review by the committee for their initial decision ( accept, waitlist or reject) is not influenced by prior acceptances. Only the status of previously interviewed candidates is available to the school via the AAMC.
 
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gyngyn said:
Yes. I will see where applicants on the waitlist are holding in late Spring.

The status of applicants under review by the committee for their initial decision ( accept, waitlist or reject) is not influenced by prior acceptances. Only the status of previously interviewed candidates is available to the school via the AAMC.
Click to expand...

Is the status of applicants continually updated after May 15? For example: if a person is waitlisted at 4 schools, but gets an offer from one of these schools, will the other 3 schools be able to see that this student was offered a spot?
 
lalalapartay012 said:
Is the status of applicants continually updated after May 15? For example: if a person is waitlisted at 4 schools, but gets an offer from one of these schools, will the other 3 schools be able to see that this student was offered a spot?
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Yes.
 
gyngyn said:
Make sure they welcome such updates, before sending.

Timing is everything. Most waitlist movement doesn't happen until after May 15th. Sending something now can easily be overlooked, even by schools that want to see such things. Even after May, we don't need your update to know you will come if you aren't holding anywhere.
Click to expand...

@gyngyn your advice has been very interesting. Would you recommend sending multiple shorter LOI scattered throughout a few months to show a history of interest, or one long update letter towards May 15th?
 
gyngyn,

all other things being equal, are applicants not holding any acceptances but only waitlist spots more likely to get an offer over someone who is waitlisted but holds an acceptance?
 
T3ckFr3s said:
@gyngyn your advice has been very interesting. Would you recommend sending multiple shorter LOI scattered throughout a few months to show a history of interest, or one long update letter towards May 15th?
Click to expand...
This would depend on an institution's receptivity to "LOIs". At institutions that are unreceptive, multiples are surely worse. After applicants have been advised that "updates" are not accepted, those that persist are perceived as entitled or exempt from rules (i.e. not what one is looking for).

A single, simple, honest, email (if you are holding another acceptance) would be welcomed by the admissions deans I know in late May.
 
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masaraksh said:
gyngyn,

all other things being equal, are applicants not holding any acceptances but only waitlist spots more likely to get an offer over someone who is waitlisted but holds an acceptance?
Click to expand...
A very good candidate holding at a school perceived to be less "desirable" by the waitlist school will still get the call ahead of a lesser candidate holding nowhere.

In your scenario, unless there is a "pre-ranked" waitlist, the expedient choice is the candidate holding nowhere.
 
gyngyn said:
A very good candidate holding at a school perceived to be less "desirable" by the waitlist school will still get the call ahead of a lesser candidate holding nowhere.

In your scenario, unless there is a "pre-ranked" waitlist, the expedient choice is the candidate holding nowhere.
Click to expand...
Gyngyn, I was under the impression that a school will not know where else an applicant was accepted to until the school accepts the applicant. Are you saying that a school that waitlists an applicant will still be able to see where the applicant was accepted?
 
Syndicate said:
Gyngyn, I was under the impression that a school will not know where else an applicant was accepted to until the school accepts the applicant. Are you saying that a school that waitlists an applicant will still be able to see where the applicant was accepted?
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Yes, when the multiple accepts list is distributed.
 
Syndicate said:
Gyngyn, I was under the impression that a school will not know where else an applicant was accepted to until the school accepts the applicant. Are you saying that a school that waitlists an applicant will still be able to see where the applicant was accepted?
Click to expand...

"Yes. I will see where applicants on the waitlist are holding in late Spring."
 
gyngyn,

Are there often waitlisted applicants who call the school endlessly to express intent/interest?
Have you heard of PIs/letter writers/etc calling on behalf of waitlisted applicants?
Applicants parents 😱?

Any stories?
 
masaraksh said:
gyngyn,

Are there often waitlisted applicants who call the school endlessly to express intent/interest?
Have you heard of PIs/letter writers/etc calling on behalf of waitlisted applicants?
Applicants parents 😱?

Any stories?
Click to expand...
Don't get me started!
 
You can't leave me hanging like that!
 
gyngyn said:
Make sure they welcome such updates, before sending.

Timing is everything. Most waitlist movement doesn't happen until after May 15th. Sending something now can easily be overlooked, even by schools that want to see such things. Even after May, we don't need your update to know you will come if you aren't holding anywhere.
Click to expand...
What's the worst thing that can happen if you send a update to a school that doesn't accept them (like I did)
 
chillaxbro said:
What's the worst thing that can happen if you send a update to a school that doesn't accept them (like I did)
Click to expand...
If this is clearly posted on their website or appears on routine emails, some consideration for your lack of attentiveness (or failure to follow instructions) may be indicated. We know that the nature of the application experience is frustrating, though, and a single misstep will probably cause no harm. Repeated missteps will.
 
bond80009 said:
I'm on a waitlist at an MD school. I already graduated so I don't have grades to update. I will be sending a letter of interest. is there anything else I can do?
Click to expand...

Sure and be sure to tell them, "Take me off your F***in' alternate list OR ELSE!"

I can guarantee you that with an interest letter like that you will be off their wait list in no time!
 
Rename thread to "Ask GynGyn Anything"
 
If one got wait listed at an MD school and was accepted to a DO school will the MD school see that or not because AAMC and AACOM are separate entities?
 
gyngyn said:
If this is clearly posted on their website or appears on routine emails, some consideration for your lack of attentiveness (or failure to follow instructions) may be indicated. We know that the nature of the application experience is frustrating, though, and a single misstep will probably cause no harm. Repeated missteps will.
Click to expand...

Do most schools have the no update policy post interview? The only school that told us not to send updates if we're waitlisted was USC. Hopefully I won't have to worry about that though :[
 
gyngyn said:
Welcome, and good luck!
Click to expand...
Are you able to access past-year acceptance/alternate status lists after the fact? If a reapplicant is interviewed, would you ever go and look to see where they were waitlisted from the year before?
 
HopefulReapp said:
Are you able to access past-year acceptance/alternate status lists after the fact? If a reapplicant is interviewed, would you ever go and look to see where they were waitlisted from the year before?
Click to expand...
We can only see the acceptances of our waitlisted candidates. We do not see where they are waitlisted.

A reapplicant who was waitlisted here and never got in (anywhere) on the previous cycle would have no available information on record.

There is a national database of acceptances, though.
 
Or just plain stupid.


After applicants have been advised that "updates" are not accepted, those that persist are perceived as entitled or exempt from rules (i.e. not what one is looking for).
 
gyngyn said:
We can only see the acceptances of our waitlisted candidates. We do not see where they are waitlisted.

A reapplicant who was waitlisted here and never got in (anywhere) on the previous cycle would have no available information on record.

There is a national database of acceptances, though.
Click to expand...

Do you see all acceptances? ie if one were accepted to multiple schools but is currently only holding 1 acceptance would you still see all the other schools they were accepted to?
 
pacman2018 said:
Do you see all acceptances? ie if one were accepted to multiple schools but is currently only holding 1 acceptance would you still see all the other schools they were accepted to?
Click to expand...
Right now we don't see anything on accepted or waitlisted applicants. Later this Spring we will be able to see where accepted candidates are holding multiple acceptances. Candidates will reduce to a single acceptance by May 15th. We will only see where they previously held an acceptance if we keep an archive.
 
gyngyn said:
We can only see the acceptances of our waitlisted candidates. We do not see where they are waitlisted.

A reapplicant who was waitlisted here and never got in (anywhere) on the previous cycle would have no available information on record.

There is a national database of acceptances, though.
Click to expand...
It's very interesting to get a view from the opposite end of the table. Thanks for the input!
 
Thanks for the AMA gyngyn!
 
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