if waitlists aren't ranked...

[ohdearhopeipass]

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then how do they decide who gets off first?

 

[fourrings]

i would imagine that all schools rank their wait-list. it would be impossible otherwise to decide the order.

just because they don't publicly announce the order doesn't mean that it doesn't exist

 

[subdoc]

.

 

[vlct0ria]

Yeah I think most schools are just withholding the information if they say their waitlist is unranked...otherwise there isn't really a way to decide who to pick off the waitlist if there is no sort of order to it.

 

[alanan84]

What if they pick someone from the waitlist with similar characteristics as the student that withdrew? (ie gender, ethnicity, background, stats)

 

[MTD52]

What if they pick someone from the waitlist with similar characteristics as the student that withdrew? (ie gender, ethnicity, background, stats)

I think it's funny that you led with gender and ethnicity. I sure as hell hope that's not what they're doing...

 

[MicroTiger]

Obviously it varies from school to school but I believe many look at the "type" of applicant they are replacing. This may mean replacing someone with low grades but killer EC and life experience with someone that has a similar profile. So in essence the alternate list is a reflection of the class the Adcom just spent days/months assembling. From their perspective they don't want a class full of 4.0's with 30 DATS (as hard as some people may find that to believe). They want balance. I've worked in industry for a number of years with many hours spent on project teams. The last thing you want is homogeneity. If you have nothing but a bunch of conservative analytical people nothing will ever get done. Likewise you don't want a team full of risk takers. It's the same for schools. This is why they really don't have a ranking of 1-50, but instead 5-6 smaller groups of 10 or so candidates that meet certain profiles.

 

[Oracle DMD]

i would imagine that all schools rank their wait-list. it would be impossible otherwise to decide the order.

just because they don't publicly announce the order doesn't mean that it doesn't exist

nope. it isn't an exact science, and it sure as heck isn't "fair" at least in any mathmatical sense. people that are remembered do well, people that are forgotten, don't. files get updated all the time so if your on the waitlist, it may not be over. there are other threads that talk about how to do well on unranked waitlists.


some schools do have a ranked waitlist, some do not. they aren't hiding a secret.

 

[NCToothDr]

What if they pick someone from the waitlist with similar characteristics as the student that withdrew? (ie gender, ethnicity, background, stats)

This is what I was told - but I would add to it the in-state vs. out-of-state factor. I agree with others, they are not "hiding" something but they have worked very diligently on a class dynamic and try to maintain that dynamic with alternate selections.

 

[The Anhedonia]

it's based on who has the best 2"x2" picture 😎

 

[waitingame]

it's based on you has the best 2"x2" picture 😎

Then I guess Im at the top of everyone's waitlist.

 

[tizom]

it is ranked

 

[Oracle DMD]

it is ranked

no. not everywhere.

 

[tizom]

no. not everywhere.

true.. i know some that are.. i didnt apply/interview to any that weren't ranked. i dont know how ya find out or if anybody has a list of which ones are ranked or not

 

[Oracle DMD]

true.. i know some that are.. i didnt apply/interview to any that weren't ranked. i dont know how ya find out or if anybody has a list of which ones are ranked or not

Midwestern doesn't rank the waitlist, so i only speak of what i know for certain 😎

 

[spud daddy]

Louisville doesn't rank their waitlist either. Must be really annoying for people waiting to get accepted there.