Getting a Pre-Match at a Low % Pre-Match School

[azul21]

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Hi y'all.

I'm a TX resident applying to TX schools. This cycle I was fortunate enough to have an interview at a school I really, really liked. This school historically gives out a very small number of pre-matches. Additionally, a few weeks ago my fiance got his dream job offer in the same city where this school is. The down-side is that the company said he has to accept the offer by late November or they will rescind it. I feel like I really meshed well with the school on interview day, and if I pre-matched I would 100% go there, but I know that my chances of getting a pre-match are very small.

When and how should I call the school and explain that, due to this personal reason, it would really help me to know my status by late November? I don't want to seem rude/entitled/impatient and hurt my chances of getting in at all, but I don't want to miss out on this potentially fantastic opportunity for the two of us. Should I wait until pre-match begins (Nov 15) to call them? Or should I call earlier so they have more time to deliberate? My LizzyM is higher than their matriculant average, if it matters.

Thanks so much!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Hi y'all.
I don't want to seem rude/entitled/impatient, but I don't want to miss out on this potentially fantastic opportunity for the two of us.

This.

Your fiance should take the job offer. You on the other hand should not call. Worse comes to worse, you two make it work with a long distance relationship until you start residency. Some MS4s at schools I interviewed at live apart from their SO while in medical school and make it work.

Don't blow your chance with the school. Since you've already interviewed, let the process play out.

 

[begoood95]

Yeah, I agree with the above poster. Unfortunately, not coming off as rude/entitled/impatient is almost impossible with these situations. I would say to wait it out, and hope for the best! Talk with your SO about the possibility of a long distance relationship, and how each of you would manage. Play it by ear for now; I don't think much in the way of something positive would come out from you emailing or calling them about this dilemma.

 

[azul21]

Thanks y'all for your perspective. I completely understand what you're saying, and I agree that sabotaging my chances is worse than having to go long distance for awhile. I guess my follow up question is: is there any way to communicate to this school that they're my #1 without sounding like an entitled applicant? I've seen a few posts about letters of intent, etc. Would anything like that be appropriate for this type of situation, or is no communication the only way to go?

Once again, thanks so much!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Thanks y'all for your perspective. I completely understand what you're saying, and I agree that sabotaging my chances is worse than having to go long distance for awhile. I guess my follow up question is: is there any way to communicate to this school that they're my #1 without sounding like an entitled applicant? I've seen a few posts about letters of intent, etc. Would anything like that be appropriate for this type of situation, or is no communication the only way to go?

Once again, thanks so much!

@Goro @gyngyn @gonnif

 

[begoood95]

Thanks y'all for your perspective. I completely understand what you're saying, and I agree that sabotaging my chances is worse than having to go long distance for awhile. I guess my follow up question is: is there any way to communicate to this school that they're my #1 without sounding like an entitled applicant? I've seen a few posts about letters of intent, etc. Would anything like that be appropriate for this type of situation, or is no communication the only way to go?

Once again, thanks so much!

If you've interviewed already, I'm pretty sure it's okay to send a letter of intent—but I'd defer to @Goro and the other handful of ADCOMs we have on here. From what I've heard, they're fairly inconsequential barring a few schools.

 

[gyngyn]

TX is another process entirely.
I wish I knew how to advise, sorry.
@wysdoc?

 

[Goro]

Hi y'all.

I'm a TX resident applying to TX schools. This cycle I was fortunate enough to have an interview at a school I really, really liked. This school historically gives out a very small number of pre-matches. Additionally, a few weeks ago my fiance got his dream job offer in the same city where this school is. The down-side is that the company said he has to accept the offer by late November or they will rescind it. I feel like I really meshed well with the school on interview day, and if I pre-matched I would 100% go there, but I know that my chances of getting a pre-match are very small.

When and how should I call the school and explain that, due to this personal reason, it would really help me to know my status by late November? I don't want to seem rude/entitled/impatient and hurt my chances of getting in at all, but I don't want to miss out on this potentially fantastic opportunity for the two of us. Should I wait until pre-match begins (Nov 15) to call them? Or should I call earlier so they have more time to deliberate? My LizzyM is higher than their matriculant average, if it matters.

Thanks so much!

First, you have to find out if the school even welcomes LOI. Do NOT call, you'll only appear desperate and/or needy.

From the wise Med Ed: [What med schools…] accept and desire are two different things. My institution, for instance, will accept practically anything a given applicant wants to forward along, but only rarely do we consider it a worthwhile addition to the package.

And yes, some of us have gotten a little jaded about LOI's. I could fill a barrel with all the post-interview correspondence I have received that has not translated into a single matriculant. This has all gotten mighty complicated and burdensome for what is essentially a zero sum game.

It's generally not burdensome for an applicant to upload something to the portal, and once in a great while it does tip us off with some useful info. I can think of one individual who had a stellar application, like Harvard/Yale/Stanford-worthy, and a superb interview, who sent us several updates and a LOI. We were somewhat perplexed by this person's tenacious interest in our program. Turns out there were family/geographical reasons behind the whole thing, the applicant just never felt comfortable directly playing that card.

When it comes down to waitlist time I will scan through what folks have uploaded post-interview. The vast majority of times it has no impact. Occasionally I have seen it hurt people's chances. Come to think of it, in my experience this is probably more likely, than such correspondence having a positive impact.

Also See LOI and Interviews? for a classic example of why most Admissions deans treat LOI as lies.

 

[wysdoc]

TX is another process entirely.
I wish I knew how to advise, sorry.
@wysdoc?

Like anywhere else, it's important to see what the school's policies are about this sort of thing. This school only accepts the kinds of updates that can be sent via TMDSAS, like publications, awards etc. So, it is better to wait for a prematch offer which could come in mid November. I also messaged OP privately but won't share specifics here.

 

[Med Ed]

Hi y'all.

I'm a TX resident applying to TX schools. This cycle I was fortunate enough to have an interview at a school I really, really liked. This school historically gives out a very small number of pre-matches. Additionally, a few weeks ago my fiance got his dream job offer in the same city where this school is. The down-side is that the company said he has to accept the offer by late November or they will rescind it. I feel like I really meshed well with the school on interview day, and if I pre-matched I would 100% go there, but I know that my chances of getting a pre-match are very small.

When and how should I call the school and explain that, due to this personal reason, it would really help me to know my status by late November? I don't want to seem rude/entitled/impatient and hurt my chances of getting in at all, but I don't want to miss out on this potentially fantastic opportunity for the two of us. Should I wait until pre-match begins (Nov 15) to call them? Or should I call earlier so they have more time to deliberate? My LizzyM is higher than their matriculant average, if it matters.

Thanks so much!

This represents one of the unusual instances where I believe it is completely appropriate to contact the admissions dean. Just say "My fiancé is taking a job in your city, if you want me you got me." That's the sort of update that is helpful.

 

[wysdoc]

This represents one of the unusual instances where I believe it is completely appropriate to contact the admissions dean. Just say "My fiancé is taking a job in your city, if you want me you got me." That's the sort of update that is helpful.

If he takes it, not "if he might take it"

 

[SpoiledMilk]

In this instance, Med Ed's advise might end up hurting OP's chances at the TX school, if OP decides to do what they advised. I don't know about Med Ed's level of knowledge regarding TMDSAS and the TX schools, but @wysdoc has been very helpful and very knowledgeable about TMDSAS, and very active on the specific TX school threads.

Wysdoc has already wisely (pun intended) advised OP that the specific TX school that OP is considering does not accept LOI/updates except through TMDSAS. Should OP not follow the specific instructions of the school, emailing the TX school's Dean might end OP's chances of an offer because they are not able to 'follow directions.'

 

[Med Ed]

In this instance, Med Ed's advise might end up hurting OP's chances at the TX school, if OP decides to do what they advised. I don't know about Med Ed's level of knowledge regarding TMDSAS and the TX schools, but @wysdoc has been very helpful and very knowledgeable about TMDSAS, and very active on the specific TX school threads.

Wysdoc has already wisely (pun intended) advised OP that the specific TX school that OP is considering does not accept LOI/updates except through TMDSAS. Should OP not follow the specific instructions of the school, emailing the TX school's Dean might end OP's chances of an offer because they are not able to 'follow directions.'

For the sake of clarity, I am not suggesting the OP go outside of the proper channels of communication.

 

[Med Ed]

If he takes it, not "if he might take it"

I thought that was self evident. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[wysdoc]

I thought that was self evident. Sorry for any confusion.

I will add that the spouse factor can play a bigger part in residency search, and is more often taken into consideration. I was able to get a residency in the same city as my husband's residency due to his heartfelt advocacy on my behalf.