If a school didn't accept you in the first round, why would they later?

[alexamasan]

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This is simply a question that I could never understand. Most of the people that I know that are in dental school got accepted in the 2nd/3rd round and didn't get in the 1st round. I'm just wondering because since they were qualified, why didn't they get in the first time around? Could it be dental schools limit the amount of people they accept in the 1st round to a specific number? Do they just simply change their mind after a while? I'm sure different dental schools undergo different processes of selecting students, but what do you guys think?

 

[Maygyver]

I would assume that it is because, in general, the quality of the applicants decreases as they get later in the cycle, so people are competing with less-wanted applicants.

 

[K Niner]

Above, and that they can't send out 300 acceptances on dec. 1st and hope to fill their class exactly. Not eveyone who gets an acceptance somewhere is guaranteed to go though. People apply to many schools and get many acceptance offers.

Assume a class size of 100. So a school sends out 140 offers dec. 1st and usual 60 of those end up matriculating. Then they send out maybe 40 acceptances and 30 of those matriculate. Then they just send out the remaining 10 (in case all 10 accept). Then, as they hear back from those remaining ten as yea or nay, they send out acceptances one by one until they have exactly 100 people matriculating.

They can't send 300 offers out, even if usual only 60 people matriculate based on prior years, b/c what if all 300 accepted, they would have a big problem.

And, of course, they send their first offers of acceptance to the students they want the most, and go down from there.

 

[alexamasan]

Above, and that they can't send out 300 acceptances on dec. 1st and hope to fill their class exactly. Not eveyone who gets an acceptance somewhere is guaranteed to go though. People apply to many schools and get many acceptance offers.

Assume a class size of 100. So a school sends out 140 offers dec. 1st and usual 60 of those end up matriculating. Then they send out maybe 40 acceptances and 30 of those matriculate. Then they just send out the remaining 10 (in case all 10 accept). Then, as they hear back from those remaining ten as yea or nay, they send out acceptances one by one until they have exactly 100 people matriculating.

They can't send 300 offers out, even if usual only 60 people matriculate based on prior years, b/c what if all 300 accepted, they would have a big problem.

And, of course, they send their first offers of acceptance to the students they want the most, and go down from there.

Good logic, good man. Thanks

 

[Hordel]

Understand, I was accepted in 2nd/3rd round. BUT bottom line, other applicants (who they really wanted more) choose another school leaving an open spot for someone who was NOT at the top of the list, but not at the bottom either.

 

[trieuhoney]

when i interviewed at buffalo, one of the admissions committee members said they sent out a little over a hundred offers. deadline to accept isn't until the end of the month, which is when the next wave of offers is made.
but if you look at their stats on the website (i'm not sure how many schools show it) only 52% of people offered seats actually accepted for the class of 2014, which means that they were still looking to fill half the class after the first offers are made.

 

[davidae85]

This is simply a question that I could never understand. Most of the people that I know that are in dental school got accepted in the 2nd/3rd round and didn't get in the 1st round. I'm just wondering because since they were qualified, why didn't they get in the first time around? Could it be dental schools limit the amount of people they accept in the 1st round to a specific number? Do they just simply change their mind after a while? I'm sure different dental schools undergo different processes of selecting students, but what do you guys think?

Great Question OP!! this has been on my mind but never thought of actually discussing it. lol

First of all, I didnt know that many students who interview pre-dec 1st will get their acceptance during the 2nd and 3rd round of acceptances. That is very interesting, and also very motivating. I was one of UCSFs first interviews, and I am really hoping for a January acceptance call. Im so desperate that during my sleep Ive literally had about 10 dreams about getting accepted into UCSF since my Dec 1st disappointment. I probably sound crazy, but I just dread the thought of going through this pain staking process applying again next year. Im almost 26 years old, and I just want to get my life on the road.

Secondly, one of the reasons that I have contemplated why some students get accepted 2nd and 3rd rounds is that the school might be interested in Fall semester grades. Maybe the schools want to make sure the student is academically strong still? I dont know, just a hopeful guess for me.


On the UCSF thread some people were saying that for UCSF not getting a Dec 1st acceptance is essentially equal to a rejection, but this thread seems to oppose that idea. 😀

 

[ducks8]

I've been thinking the same thing, had 2 pre-dec 1st interviews and haven't heard anything.. I keep thinking "at least I don't have a rejection yet.." Hope we all get in 2nd or 3rd round! Good luck you guys!