I have 2 definite seats to totally different schools. I am having trouble letting one of them go. I always thought that i will make a decision let the others go and move on. Being waitlisted and finding out at the last minute is stressful, and sometimes that applicant has to find a place to live asap so they could start school. I do not know what to do is it wrong to wait until you have to make a decision?
Holding Your med school seat until the last minute
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If you hold one of your seats until May 15 (the date past where you can't hold multiple acceptances) a waitlistee probably won't be finding out they were accepted at the last minute. However, if you hold a seat until July and then suddenly decide not to go then a waitlistee would be finding out at the last minute.
That's my observation anyway. It's always right to withdraw from a school you have no intention of going to but this isn't the case because you're undecided between the two.
That's my observation anyway. It's always right to withdraw from a school you have no intention of going to but this isn't the case because you're undecided between the two.
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you can hold until may 15. people will manage to switch locations in a hurry if they really want to go there, do what's right for you
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I agree. Do what's best for your situation. Personally, in terms of the deposit money, the sooner I get it back, the better. I was also trying to wait until financial aid came out to start withdrawing. Furthermore, if I wind up going with my top choice right now, I'd actually start in May, sooooo I need to know where I'm going by late March/early April.
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wow, May. that's an early start
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You are required to drop one of the acceptances by May 15. You can still stay on waitlists after that while you're holding one acceptance, in case a better offer comes along. Get whatever information you need to make your decision, then drop the second acceptance, even if it's at the last minute. Whoever gets that spot will be happy to have it whenever it comes.
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There is no 'wrong' here. Do what is right for you, within the rules (hold multiple acceptances until May 15).
For the record, I have 5 acceptances, and have turned down 3 already - I agree with others who say to drop schools you are no longer interested in. I am pondering the last 2, and will not make any final decisions until I get finaid information. I feel zero need to "drop one" to help out somebody else - not my problem - blame the system, don't blame me.
I also have another school I will hear from soon, and still have a few more irons in the fire for late interviews, but I am not holding my breath on those.
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Agree with the posters here. There is a reason the system is set up the way it is. Its not "wrong" to follow the deadlines established. Its why they have them in the first place.
Do whats best for your situation and make your decision, its a big one, dont rush it. If you have decided not to go somewhere you can drop that but dont rush your decision.
Do whats best for your situation and make your decision, its a big one, dont rush it. If you have decided not to go somewhere you can drop that but dont rush your decision.
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lol, yeah, it's quickly approaching. It's to get a dual degree without an extra year.
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why? if you choose now, you miss out on comparing financial aid packages and second look weekends.
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I would advise waiting for a couple of reasons:
-Financial aid
-Second looks
Financial aid was less of an issue for me personally, but the second look weekends was pretty much where I made my decision between three schools. One of those weekends wasn't until May 1. I then took a couple of weeks to really think about it and dropped two of the schools on May 13.
The waitlist won't change much - whenever you drop a school, someone else will be accepted, no matter when you chose to do so. Some people may encourage you to drop schools because they want to think it'll help them get an acceptance sooner - but its your prerogative to drop it when you're ready to do so.
-Financial aid
-Second looks
Financial aid was less of an issue for me personally, but the second look weekends was pretty much where I made my decision between three schools. One of those weekends wasn't until May 1. I then took a couple of weeks to really think about it and dropped two of the schools on May 13.
The waitlist won't change much - whenever you drop a school, someone else will be accepted, no matter when you chose to do so. Some people may encourage you to drop schools because they want to think it'll help them get an acceptance sooner - but its your prerogative to drop it when you're ready to do so.
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I'm going to agree with everyone else and say that you have no responsibility to withdraw from anywhere until May. Second Looks and cost of attendance will be making my decision. I feel sorry for people who are on waiting lists, but I need to worry about my own financial situation and happiness, too. I definitely don't feel sorry for the schools (they try to play this card at you), who have tons of eager, qualified applicants awaiting my spot if I withdraw later on.
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Schools are not "trying to play the eager applicant card." They need to know because they don't accept more than the class size allows (depending on the school). It is the whole point of waitlists. I can't believe there is a reapplicant among you saying to wait until the last minute.👎
Just imagine yourself as reapplicant, OP. You already said that it would be a last-minute acceptance to waitlisters and sometimes have to uplift their roots to another state. Acceptances to those people can be late as a week before classes start.
I appreciate everyone's point and I will let FAFSA and the Army decide. I am trying my best not to wait until the last minute because realistically I know where I want to go and i do not want to have the who cares attitude that is why I declined two other interviews. as a single mother if i was waitlisted and at the last minute told I was accepted to any school there would be alot of preparations for me to do. Thanks for all your responses 😍😍😍
accepted 2014
QUOTE=mediterranean;9083806]Schools are not "trying to play the eager applicant card." They need to know because they don't accept more than the class size allows (depending on the school). It is the whole point of waitlists. I can't believe there is a reapplicant among you saying to wait until the last minute.👎
Just imagine yourself as reapplicant, OP. You already said that it would be a last-minute acceptance to waitlisters and sometimes have to uplift their roots to another state. Acceptances to those people can be late as a week before classes start.[/QUOTE]
accepted 2014
QUOTE=mediterranean;9083806]Schools are not "trying to play the eager applicant card." They need to know because they don't accept more than the class size allows (depending on the school). It is the whole point of waitlists. I can't believe there is a reapplicant among you saying to wait until the last minute.👎
Just imagine yourself as reapplicant, OP. You already said that it would be a last-minute acceptance to waitlisters and sometimes have to uplift their roots to another state. Acceptances to those people can be late as a week before classes start.
[/QUOTE]Schools are not "trying to play the eager applicant card." They need to know because they don't accept more than the class size allows (depending on the school). It is the whole point of waitlists. I can't believe there is a reapplicant among you saying to wait until the last minute.👎
Just imagine yourself as reapplicant, OP. You already said that it would be a last-minute acceptance to waitlisters and sometimes have to uplift their roots to another state. Acceptances to those people can be late as a week before classes start.
1. most schools absolutely do accept more than the class size allows. they gauge roughly how many to accept based on their acceptance:matriculation ratios from past years. and then they dip into their waitlists as a buffer. a notable exception to this is a school like umass (and i'm assuming some other state schools?) where government funding doesn't allow them to accept more than the number of seats in the class, so at a school like that, i suppose your argument holds.
2. last i checked may 15 was not "last minute." (except for anomalous cases like yours, PinkIvy!) you've got 2 or 3 months after that to gear yourself up to go wherever you're going. getting in off a waitlist in may (or even june, IMO) is not last minute.
3. this has been discussed ad nauseum in the past. you are WELL within your "rights" (though it feels silly to use that word) if you hold onto acceptances until may 15. you're not obligated to base your actions or decisions on how you assume other applicants are feeling or what other applicants are hoping for. yes, it's silly to hold onto an acceptance at a school you know you're not going to, but if you're the least bit torn... i say hold away.
Which school is it? Remind me to not apply there. My college doesnt end until halfway though may.................so it wont be physically possible for me to attend both.
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Some others have briefly touched on this, but what about for financial aid purposes? Isn't it true that come March 15th schools can see what applicants are holding multiple acceptances? Then they can offer additional grant money to those people right? Is this true, or did I just make that all up in my head?
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thats what i hear (esp about Michigan)
I would def hold acceptances til finaid clears
maybe, but you should be getting financial aid packages sometime in april. all the schools i'm applying to said we'd have them in time to make the may 15th decision. but i'm sure other schools do it differently.
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Eh, I'm a reapplicant and its not exactly "the last minute" at all. To say you will get in if someone drops an unwanted pre-match is reaching anyway. I'm sure if you received multiple offers you would take the time you needed to make the right decision for you and your family or whatnot.
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FWIW, a lot of schools don't even start taking people off the waitlist until on/around May 15th because they want to see how their class is shaping up before they make any decisions. So they wait until they can be sure everyone who is not coming has dropped their acceptance.
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It's Tulane. But, as I said, this is really optional, and only for those who want to do the MD/MPH option in 4 years. Not starting MPH courses in the summer makes your schedule down the road a bit more hectic. Might as well get some classes out of the way before we get swamped with MD information to memorize.
MacBook, were you the one debating between Tulane and DC schools? If so, have you made any progress with that decision?
I didn't mean I'd choose right away. Of course I'd give some time thinking about this, but I wouldn't hold both of the seats just because I felt bad about giving one of them away, that's just selfish.
i totally understood what you were saying, and i'm saying i disagree. it's not selfish to hold your seats until may 15th... i think my earlier post outlined my reasons for feeling this way 🙂
I'm sorry, but, are you sure that you understand? I never said that I'd hold both of the seats until may 15th, I said that I wouldn't hold both of them for a very long time, because there's somebody else expecting one of those seats. I'd just check both of the schools, and try to find out which one I like better.
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To hold seats:
-to compare financial aid packages and costs - valid
-while hoping to clear the WL of a preferred school - valid
-to sort out other factors- valid
-because one has the "right" to - not valid, seems selfish to me too. Shows an interesting lack of empathy for a future physician. Potentially several other people's lives might be impacted by releasing the unwanted seat, why not try to make it easier for others?
It's no easier to make a decision on May 14th than on April 30th, or April 15th, or earlier, assuming none of the above listed "valid" circumstances apply.
-to compare financial aid packages and costs - valid
-while hoping to clear the WL of a preferred school - valid
-to sort out other factors- valid
-because one has the "right" to - not valid, seems selfish to me too. Shows an interesting lack of empathy for a future physician. Potentially several other people's lives might be impacted by releasing the unwanted seat, why not try to make it easier for others?
It's no easier to make a decision on May 14th than on April 30th, or April 15th, or earlier, assuming none of the above listed "valid" circumstances apply.
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that was another poster but I am doing some debating as well. I am thinking Tulane at the moment tho. How about you?
😆
yes, i'm sure i understand. you are saying "there's somebody else expecting one of those seats," and earlier you said holding onto them is "selfish."
i am disagreeing with you.
i do not think holding the seats until may 15th (the last day you're allowed to do so) is "selfish," nor do i think you are obligated "to base your actions or decisions on how you assume other applicants are feeling or what other applicants are hoping for. yes, it's silly to hold onto an acceptance at a school you know you're not going to, but if you're the least bit torn... i say hold away."
direct quote from my earlier post. are we clear now? 🙄
Yes, I said holding both of the seats is selfish, because there is somebody else expecting one of them. IF he finds it hard to choose, of course, hold the seats until you can choose, but don't hold them just because you can. THAT'S selfish. And by the way, I don't care if you agree or disagree.
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Yep this is my biggest concern.
What difference does it make? If you're going to give it up then one more person is getting your seat that wouldn't have before. If it's in March or May it doesn't matter, they're getting accepted. Some people need time to figure things out or need to talk to people to gain perspective. There very well could be a difference between May 14th and April 30th. That's the right they've earned, to take their time and decide when they feel comfortable.
Settle down there. She is clear on what you're trying to say as you should be clear on what she was trying to say by now. I don't think anyone here is advocating to hold the seat because you can.
I understand what she's trying to say, and I'm perfectly calm. This is just a misunderstanding.
i know that's what you said.
we disagree.
that's all.
i said this like 80 posts ago. goodbye.
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Nah. No real debating here. Got quick rejections from 2 of the 3 DC schools, and withdrew from the third. Personally, I'm not a DC fan. With a cost of living rivaling NY, yet with far fewer things to do, I'm alright not going to school there. Tulane's program is unique and, with all this recent cold weather, it'll be a nice 4yr getaway.
Surprisingly, my state school impressed me far more than I had anticipated. Granted, IS here isn't that cheap, but if they make a nice offer, it might shake things up.
But, I was pretty sold on Tulane interview day. I don't really see it changing. I can't wait. Gl with the rest of this process and with making your final choice!
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You can't possibly be a current applicant with multiple acceptances to hold this opinion.
There is nothing selfish about holding on to any and all acceptances until May 15 for any reason, mainly because wait lists don't start moving until after this date anyway, plus most med schools don't provide definitive finaid info until around this time, too.
Come back next year, when you have 2+ acceptances in January, and tell us about your views on selfishness then.
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honestly if you are in school/working/doing something during this application process things go by so fast that you kind of need the time to reflect on where to go. now its not a big deal to some (its just school to be honest) but you still want to take the time to fully consider things if you are remotely interested in the school.
i think if you are waitlisted, its your responsibility to plan for finances or any other possibility that might come about if you were to get into a waitlisted institution. getting in May 15-June ish, it still leaves you a decent amount of time
i think if you are waitlisted, its your responsibility to plan for finances or any other possibility that might come about if you were to get into a waitlisted institution. getting in May 15-June ish, it still leaves you a decent amount of time
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Along those lines of taking your time to reflect: most people apply to a ton of schools, and attend every interview they can. The fortunate ones have multiple acceptances, and even though these folks had reasons for everywhere they applied, there is a continual learning process going on. I know that my opinion pre interview has changed quite a bit on the schools post interview reflection.
I have multiple acceptances, and I have been using my time to dig down much deeper into the schools, and to talk to current students, and recent grads, too. And I hope to attend several "revisits" to get another perspective of the schools and potential classmates, too. And I don't know too many people for whom finaid isn't important, so I am waiting for that info, too, before I cut down my list any further.
If this is selfish, then color me "selfish."
I did not want to start a debate but to be clear one school has my vote and I am 99 percent there due to the curriculum, cost of living of the city, facilities, class size, the "fame", the weather, scholarship money, research, technology
the school with my one percent has my emotional feeling of wanting a black school on my resume. walking through the hospital on my interview day literally made me choke up knowing that I would be doing clinicals for patients that are like me physically, financially, and mentally
the school with my one percent has my emotional feeling of wanting a black school on my resume. walking through the hospital on my interview day literally made me choke up knowing that I would be doing clinicals for patients that are like me physically, financially, and mentally
That's a tough one, Faith. I admire your heart. If we both attend UCF, it will be great to get to know you!
