Hurt my chances if I don't attend second look?

[deleted329605]

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Currently at a school I interviewed and was waitlisted, I recently received an invitation to do the second look at their school. However, I will be out of the country for that weekend. Additionally, it is only 2 weeks notice.

My dilemma is that I am currently sitting on a few waitlists and have not yet been accepted to medical school. I don't believe my other plans for that day will change. Will this hurt (possibly significantly hurt) my chances at admissions? What should I include in my response to decline the invitation to the second look, but to do it in a way that indicates I am still very interested.

 

[Doctor Strange]

No. It's not going to hurt you. Just politely decline and say you'll be out of the country.

 

[jemstone]

Do we even need to reply to second look invitations if we aren't going? I thought we only needed to if we were going so they know how much food to have.

 

[darkjedi]

it might be different for different schools, but for my school, if you were waitlisted and still invited to second look, it means you are pretty high on the waitlist. Second look is basically a 'second interview' in these cases to gauge your interest in the school. Not going to it will almost certainly hurt you unless you have a very good excuse.

The lady who plans out second look is also the director of admissions for our school.

 

[deleted329605]

it might be different for different schools, but for my school, if you were waitlisted and still invited to second look, it means you are pretty high on the waitlist. Second look is basically a 'second interview' in these cases to gauge your interest in the school. Not going to it will almost certainly hurt you unless you have a very good excuse.

The lady who plans out second look is also the director of admissions for our school.

Thanks for the comment. Yea so unfortunately, I am working overseas on a sailing vessel this summer, and need to report for duty the same day as the second look day. So really there is way I can possibly attend. Do you believe this is a good enough excuse?

 

[Derv]

Thanks for the comment. Yea so unfortunately, I am working overseas on a sailing vessel this summer, and need to report for duty the same day as the second look day. So really there is way I can possibly attend. Do you believe this is a good enough excuse?

Thats about as good an excuse as you can get I think.

 

[DokterMom]

I'd suggest an explanatory LOI strongly stating your interest and how devastated to learn you could not attend. Can you maybe get by this school sometime before you report for duty? Get a little facetime in? Seems all you can do...

 

[deleted329605]

I'd suggest an explanatory LOI strongly stating your interest and how devastated to learn you could not attend. Can you maybe get by this school sometime before you report for duty? Get a little facetime in? Seems all you can do...

I am actually leaving the United States today. How does this sound: I write a polite email stating I will be unable to attend and the circumstances as to why. Then someone soon, I write a LOI (no time to do it immediately...)

 

[DokterMom]

I am actually leaving the United States today. How does this sound: I write a polite email stating I will be unable to attend and the circumstances as to why. Then someone soon, I write a LOI (no time to do it immediately...)

You do what you can, then cross your fingers -- Good luck

 

[theherowedeserv]

it's not like you can help it

 

[survivordo]

You have a legit reason. Ask if you can stop by before hand. Chances are this will actually get you more one on one time with faculty/students than a formal second look day so it may actually end up working in your benefit!

Survivor DO

 

[Daynnight]

Does getting invited to one of these while on the waitlist necessarily mean youre towards the top of the list or does it not hold that much significance?

 

[getdown]

Second look is pretty pointless overall. It's not necessary to go unless you're really having a hard time deciding between that school or another school. It doesn't help or hurt your chances, but it does hurt your wallet if you're flying across the country for this.

 

[darkjedi]

Does getting invited to one of these while on the waitlist necessarily mean youre towards the top of the list or does it not hold that much significance?

For my school it means you are very high. We pretty much put the majority of non-accepted interviewees on the waitlist, but only a dozen or so are invited to our second look. Our admissions director sits down with them during second look to discuss/gauge their interest as well.

It will be different for every school though, so you should contact your school to see how open their second look weekends are as far as number of waitlisted applicants.

Second look is pretty pointless overall. It's not necessary to go unless you're really having a hard time deciding between that school or another school. It doesn't help or hurt your chances, but it does hurt your wallet if you're flying across the country for this.

I think second looks are a good opportunity to meet your potential future classmates and serves as a 'pre-orientation' as well. I think if it's not too much cost to go you should certainly make the effort as it is definitely worth it. Additionally, attending second look as an accepted student is much different than attending second look as a waitlisted student.