how to get of waitlists?

[smck27]

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I know there are a lot of people who successfully get off the waitlists for med school every year. How did you do it? Would you be willing to share your success stories? Did you write the schools every week, or did you just get a package in the mail? I've been writing the schools, but being near the end of June, I can't help but get anxious.

 

[MEDADMSUCKS]

Hey,
You have the right to be anxious and don't give up communicating with schools. I hope everything works our for you. Do you have any acceptances at this point?

 

[smck27]

No, unfortunately I'm on two waitlists. One of them being my top choice. I feel as though it's too late. When one of the schools mentioned they had little movement from the waitlist on May 15, I started to fear the worst.

 

[dr barb]

I was in your shoes this time last year. 3 waitlists (one at my top choice) and no acceptances. I sent them something in writing at least once a month - either a letter updating them on my current activities, or a letter showing my continued interest, or I had new people send letters of recommendation. Calling is risky. I managed to piss off 2 schools just by calling twice in one month. However, the guy that always answered the phone at my top choice school was pretty easy going so I dared to call there once every three days. Time went on and no acceptances. Waitlists weren't moving. Then finally it came down to the Friday before classes started. I called and was told not only that there was no chance of getting in that year, but also that I should not apply the following year because if I wasn't good enough to get in this year, I wouldn't be good enough next year. Monday morning classes started, and I received the call. Needless to say I just finished my first year at my top choice med school. So don't give up hope! Good luck!

 

[smck27]

Thanks so much for the bit of courage! I'm hanging in! I'm even packing my suitcases for a "when they call me, and I have to leave that same day".

 

[MSV MD 2B]

its the law of buggaration ( or beggaration) I pestered them and whined until i got in!

 

[JM.]

The only school I didnt bug was the one that took me of of the waitlis. Go figure.

 

[thedman]

hey dr barb

i gotta a question for you....was it difficult to get settled in being you were accepted once school started. did you miss anything. was it difficult since you didn't go to orientation? what did you do about housing? financial aid? and all that other "stuff"

 

[thedman]

note....the above post is not directed only to dr barb
anyone can feel free to reply
thanks

 

[md2banthony]

I made contact with my top choice school before I applied so they knew me. When interview time came, they knew me. When I got waitlisted, they knew me. I sent in a packet describing my activities since the interview and met with the dean of admissions...who knew me. I got accepted off the waitlist in May. It is all about making sure they know who you are and how much you want to go to their school.

AJ

 

[nygirl6464]

does it help to write an update letter and letting them know of another acceptance but that you would rather go to their school? the reason is that i have been accepted to a good school but would rather go to a state school...is it not okay to let them know that or is it just a given that you probably have acceptances??

 

[cytanaka]

Yeah, for me, sending constant updates and stuff didn't really work at u mich. i basically did nothing for wash u except send them a transcript of my grades in may, and i just got pulled off. go figure...

btw, sorry, i know this info does nothing to help, but i guess it says something about how random and stupid this whole process is.

Good luck

 

[zzeyfzz]

I was on four wait lists and basically kept sending unofficial transcript updates along with really short letters just saying that I was very interested in their school and that an official transcript would be sent as soon as it was available. I also asked a professor of mine to send a recommendation directly to my wait list schools. Then I wrote new letters of interest and a letter of intent to my top school. Three weeks ago, I got off the school that I said was my top choice.

I didn't hear it mentioned that my letters helped, but I'd like to think that they did. I know that the professor who wrote the new letter of rec writes really good letters though . . . and I tried to have a few people help me to fix up my letters of intent and interest. I didn't really do that whole two week thing. I sent things out spaced out by maybe one or two months.

Anyway, I'm sure you've heard some of this before, but that's my story. Good luck! I know that quite a few schools say their greatest movement is in June and July.