Holding two acceptances while on the waitlist at other schools, is it hurting me?

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plainolerichie

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I have not heard from any of the schools that I am currently waitlisted at. I was just curious if anyone thinks the reason could be partially because I am holding two acceptances? In other words, could holding multiple acceptances hurt you in the waitlist process at this point.

(FYI: I'm waiting to make a decision about NYMC when I visit there in early June. Also, I don't have my financial aid package from UT Memphis yet.)

Also, have most of the people who have gotten off of the waitlist only holding one or no acceptances?
 
plainolerichie said:
I have not heard from any of the schools that I am currently waitlisted at. I was just curious if anyone thinks the reason could be partially because I am holding two acceptances? In other words, could holding multiple acceptances hurt you in the waitlist process at this point.

(FYI: I'm waiting to make a decision about NYMC when I visit there in early June. Also, I don't have my financial aid package from UT Memphis yet.)

Also, have most of the people who have gotten off of the waitlist only holding one or no acceptances?

Uhhhh.... it's past May 15th which means that if you don't drop one of those acceptances, I don't know, say by YESTERDAY, you could find yourself standing emptyhanded. We are just a wee bit past the deadline where everyone has to be holding only one acceptance. If the schools you do have acceptances to find out you're doing this, you may very well lose admissions to both schools.
 
silas2642 said:
Uhhhh.... it's past May 15th which means that if you don't drop one of those acceptances, I don't know, say by YESTERDAY, you could find yourself standing emptyhanded. We are just a wee bit past the deadline where everyone has to be holding only one acceptance. If the schools you do have acceptances to find out you're doing this, you may very well lose admissions to both schools.

The acceptances technically wouldn't be dropped until June 15th, but you're right. To the OP, why are you holding 2 acceptances? Schools (including the 2 places you have acceptances at) can see this at this point, and I don't imagine they would be pleased...
 
plainolerichie said:
I have not heard from any of the schools that I am currently waitlisted at. I was just curious if anyone thinks the reason could be partially because I am holding two acceptances? In other words, could holding multiple acceptances hurt you in the waitlist process at this point.

(FYI: I'm waiting to make a decision about NYMC when I visit there in early June. Also, I don't have my financial aid package from UT Memphis yet.)

Also, have most of the people who have gotten off of the waitlist only holding one or no acceptances?

I did a little math, and for the med school where I was accepted there were about 33 people applying for one seat. I know that number does not reflect the complexity of the process, but if we were to take it at face value, that would mean that there are still quite a few people waiting for their shot for the 2006 class. It`s past the may 15th deadline, people just as concerned as you about their matriculation are on waitlists, and, unlike them, you already have an in. Why hold on to two?
 
WayChanger said:
The acceptances technically wouldn't be dropped until June 15th, but you're right. To the OP, why are you holding 2 acceptances? Schools (including the 2 places you have acceptances at) can see this at this point, and I don't imagine they would be pleased...

The OP says he's waiting on financial aid info from UT. The May 15th rule comes with a caveat that the schools should be mindful that all students might not have received financial aid packages from all acceptances by that date. It's on AAMC's website and also found in the MSAR:

After May 15 of the matriculation year (April 15 for schools whose first day of class is on or before July 30), each school implement school-specific procedures for accepted applicants who, without adequate explanation, continue to hold one or more places at other schools. These procedures . . .

Should recognize the problems of . . . applicants who have not yet been informed about financial aid opportunities at schools to which they have been accepted . . .


The OP should contact the schools where he holds acceptances and notify them of why he is still holding two and ask what their policies are, since each school has discretion on how they'll handle these students.
 
plainolerichie said:
I have not heard from any of the schools that I am currently waitlisted at. I was just curious if anyone thinks the reason could be partially because I am holding two acceptances? In other words, could holding multiple acceptances hurt you in the waitlist process at this point.

(FYI: I'm waiting to make a decision about NYMC when I visit there in early June. Also, I don't have my financial aid package from UT Memphis yet.)

Also, have most of the people who have gotten off of the waitlist only holding one or no acceptances?

Call your waitlists and tell them you'd drop your current acceptances if they offered you a spot. That way they know what they're dealing with. Knowing that you'll accept the waitlist offer might make you more attractive since they won't have to worry about you sitting on the decision for two weeks and then declining. They can move on to the next slot to fill.

You really don't have anything to lose by giving them a call. Worst case scenario is you take a seat at NYMC or UT.
 
ed2brute said:
The OP should contact the schools where he holds acceptances and notify them of why he is still holding two and ask what their policies are, since each school has discretion on how they'll handle these students.

Seconded.

Also call UT and tell them to get their Fin Aid butts in gear.
 
More to the OP:

It seems likely to me that you holding multiple spots is hurting your chances of getting off a waitlist. But that's just my opinion.

You say you're waiting on financial aid info, but at the same time you also say you want to take a trip up to NYMC. This is the part that bothers me, b/c it seems to indicate that you are holding your multiple spots not because of finances (which I can sympathize with) but because you just haven't made up your mind yet (which I am less sympathetic to). You've already been up to the schools once. What is a trip during the summer (ie when no classes are being held, no students are around, etc) going to tell you that you don't already know? And why didn't you take this trip earlier?

The may 15th deadline is well past, and there are other people who would love to attend either UT or NYMC. You need to hurry up and make a decision, out of consideration for those people.

This is just a total guess on my part, but it sounds like you're just biding your time and hoping this decision will be made for you (ie you'll get pulled off a waitlist and can withdraw from both). That's not something you can count on, and you need to make up your mind ASAP -- both for your own sake (so you don't get dropped by these schools, so you have a shot at the WLs) and for others.
 
ND2005 said:
More to the OP:

It seems likely to me that you holding multiple spots is hurting your chances of getting off a waitlist. But that's just my opinion.

You say you're waiting on financial aid info, but at the same time you also say you want to take a trip up to NYMC. This is the part that bothers me, b/c it seems to indicate that you are holding your multiple spots not because of finances (which I can sympathize with) but because you just haven't made up your mind yet (which I am less sympathetic to). You've already been up to the schools once. What is a trip during the summer (ie when no classes are being held, no students are around, etc) going to tell you that you don't already know? And why didn't you take this trip earlier?

The may 15th deadline is well past, and there are other people who would love to attend either UT or NYMC. You need to hurry up and make a decision, out of consideration for those people.

This is just a total guess on my part, but it sounds like you're just biding your time and hoping this decision will be made for you (ie you'll get pulled off a waitlist and can withdraw from both). That's not something you can count on, and you need to make up your mind ASAP -- both for your own sake (so you don't get dropped by these schools, so you have a shot at the WLs) and for others.

To the OP: How the heck have you managed to keep two acceptances up till this point?

PLEASE, everyone who still thinks they're creative at holding two schools, DROP IT!!!

PLEASE ARE WAITING JUST FOR A SINGLE ACCEPTANCE, AND WE'RE 9 DAYS PAST MAY 15 NOW...THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
 
WryTrocophore said:
I did a little math, and for the med school where I was accepted there were about 33 people applying for one seat. I know that number does not reflect the complexity of the process, but if we were to take it at face value, that would mean that there are still quite a few people waiting for their shot for the 2006 class. It`s past the may 15th deadline, people just as concerned as you about their matriculation are on waitlists, and, unlike them, you already have an in. Why hold on to two?
Word! 👍

I applied to 24 schools this year and at this time have one application 'hold' and one HPA List.

Not knowing if you are going to medical school when it is already May 24 is not too much fun. 👎
 
FutureDoc2005 said:
To the OP: How the heck have you managed to keep two acceptances up till this point?

PLEASE, everyone who still thinks they're creative at holding two schools, DROP IT!!!

PLEASE ARE WAITING JUST FOR A SINGLE ACCEPTANCE, AND WE'RE 9 DAYS PAST MAY 15 NOW...THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

It's ok man, if medicine doesn't work out for you, you can find a different career. It's not the end of the world. 👍
 
g3pro said:
It's ok man, if medicine doesn't work out for you, you can find a different career. It's not the end of the world. 👍
This is the best post I've seen in a long time.
 
wait.... holding on as in they are from before may 15th? or is one of them a waitlist position that you just got off of recently? cuz if it's the latter, i think generally you have 2 weeks from when they notify you to decide.
 
World ain't fair, folks.

I agree with you holding on to the acceptances to get the best deal.

The schools "allowing" the holding of acceptances have the power to release those seats, and they are choosing not to. I think that this situation simply exists quite broadly, and that the OP is not all that unique. Much of my medical school class got off the waitlist in mid to late June. That doesn't add up if everyone with acceptances had released when they were supposed to.

Just happens.

Good luck to those waiting, and congrats to those with acceptances.

dc
 
I understand that it is a difficult decision to make when presented with not one, but two or more acceptances.

That being said, if you are waiting for UT's financial aid information, have you contacted them to let them know you're still waiting and that it is a LARGE part of your consideration? I would send them correspondence via email and follow up with 1st class mail, and hurry! It would be tragic for you to lose your acceptances if you didn't have response from them by June 15th.

I would have to think that schools that have you on a WL are not going to pull you since they see you have TWO acceptances at this point, and their school would then only have a 1/3 chance of being picked by you. Just a hunch. But then again I have heard and understand the theory that just because schools CAN see the info on applicants doesn't mean they CHECK all of the people on their waitlist.

If all else fails, flip a coin between the two schools, and continue to WL simmer. Congratulations. You're going to be a doctor. You can't make a bad decision between the two schools you've been admitted to. :luck:
 
jackieMD2007 said:
I understand that it is a difficult decision to make when presented with not one, but two or more acceptances.

That being said, if you are waiting for UT's financial aid information, have you contacted them to let them know you're still waiting and that it is a LARGE part of your consideration? I would send them correspondence via email and follow up with 1st class mail, and hurry! It would be tragic for you to lose your acceptances if you didn't have response from them by June 15th.

I would have to think that schools that have you on a WL are not going to pull you since they see you have TWO acceptances at this point, and their school would then only have a 1/3 chance of being picked by you. Just a hunch. But then again I have heard and understand the theory that just because schools CAN see the info on applicants doesn't mean they CHECK all of the people on their waitlist.

If all else fails, flip a coin between the two schools, and continue to WL simmer. Congratulations. You're going to be a doctor. You can't make a bad decision between the two schools you've been admitted to. :luck:

not really, if the other schools know they are a more popular choice than UT or NYMC, then they wouldn't have an issue with pulling him from the waitlist. THen it's a matter of whether or not they like him enough.
 
I am on the waitlist at UT and would appreciate it if you would relinquish your seat, please!
 
I am on the UT waitlist and would appreciate it if you would relinquish your seat, please!
 
ed2brute said:
Call your waitlists and tell them you'd drop your current acceptances if they offered you a spot. That way they know what they're dealing with. Knowing that you'll accept the waitlist offer might make you more attractive since they won't have to worry about you sitting on the decision for two weeks and then declining. They can move on to the next slot to fill.

You really don't have anything to lose by giving them a call. Worst case scenario is you take a seat at NYMC or UT.


SORRY! SORRY! SORRY! people for having two acceptances. I have some slight idea knowing how frustrating it might feel with the waitlists (i.e. People holding multiple acceptances off the waitlist, or people who are still on the waitlist at schools I want to go to but who do not want to go to those school unless they get a full scholarship or something). Sorry again, I'm really not that bad of a guy.

Basically, I told the three schools that I am waitlisted at (Tufts, Keck, and Vanderbilt) that I WOULD withdraw all offers if accepted in one of those schools and definitely accept. I told them that about 3 weeks ago. I was banking that that would happen. But since it didn't, now I really have to make a decision.

But, as to why I have not made a decision yet, UT Memphis has told me that I would get a scholarship, but they have not told me how much it will be. The minimum is 13400. UT costs 19000$ less than NYMC, where I have also received a scholarship for roughly equal amount as the minimum. I believe the schools are relatively equal in rank (both unranked in US News and about equally difficult to get into), but I really liked NYMC…for the 2 hours I was there, I had missed my flight and arrived very lat.

Anyways, the whole "visiting NYMC" thing is more or less because I'll be stopping through NY for three days either way in two weeks to go to Europe (a whole other bunch of problems in and of itself with regards to med school admissions and waitlists.) I'll make my decision based on money more than anything else before I go there, not so much the visit. I really would like to know how much more NYMC will cost before I decide between the two; however, UT is not telling me anything yet. Sorry, it’s really not an easy decision w/o knowing how much UT will cost.

Edit: I heckled UT Memphis just now, it will be for 13400.
 
If you have the time and money to go to Europe now, pick a school and release the other. You may well not hear about waitlist spots until later this summer. You are able to cross that bridge if and when it happens. Please be sensitive to the many people who may be waiting without any acceptances.
 
I am not getting mad you have mulitple acceptances, in fact I am envious, I just wish you would pick NYMC because it would greaten my chances at UT. I have always wanted to go there because of the research they are doing with Saint Jude. Being on a waitlist yourself you know what it is like to wait you whole life to go to med school then get a letter to wait some more. Although money is a huge consideration it shouldn't be your most important. Choose a place where you know you will be happy. Being a future doctor you will eventually gain back the money taken out in loans. Enjoy your memorial day everyone.
 
plainolerichie said:
Basically, I told the three schools that I am waitlisted at (Tufts, Keck, and Vanderbilt) that I WOULD withdraw all offers if accepted in one of those schools and definitely accept.

If I understand correctly, you wrote a Letter of intent to three different schools saying that you would accept their offer and no others (because you would withdraw all other offers)...doesn't this bring up ethical concerns to you? What if you got into all three schools as a result of that letter?

EDIT: Or am I misunderstanding and did you tell school X that you were waitlisted at schools X, Y, and Z, and would take the first offer from the three?
 
Avalanche21 said:
If I understand correctly, you wrote a Letter of intent to three different schools saying that you would accept their offer and no others (because you would withdraw all other offers)...doesn't this bring up ethical concerns to you? What if you got into all three schools as a result of that letter?

EDIT: Or am I misunderstanding and did you tell school X that you were waitlisted at schools X, Y, and Z, and would take the first offer from the three?

i doubt that anyone would do the second option, which to me sounds like you are saying "i'm waitlisted at these schools, so if you're quick enough, you might get me." especially if they are already holding two acceptances.
 
etf said:
i doubt that anyone would do the second option, which to me sounds like you are saying "i'm waitlisted at these schools, so if you're quick enough, you might get me." especially if they are already holding two acceptances.

I agree, I'm just putting it out there so I don't get accused of jumping to conclusions.
 
Saying that I would "withdraw all other offers" = "I would withdraw the acceptance offers I have". That's the way I thought of it and meant it. Well, you'll be happy to know that I'm withdrawing from both schools (NYMC and UT Memphis) to go to USC.
 
I will withdraw from other schools still considering my application=every school you are waitlisted at
 
Touchdown said:
I will withdraw from other schools still considering my application=every school you are waitlisted at

I never said I will withdraw from "all other schools still considering my application." I said all schools that already "offered" me acceptances which would be "offers." Being on a waitlist is not an "offer" at all. That's a big difference.
 
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