In general how much movement do wait lists have?

[yanks26dmb]

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Just trying to gauge how realistic it'll be to land interviews off a wait list. I'm currently sitting on 5 wait lists, one is to program I would love to attend. Curious if there's typically a lot of movement or if it's more of a long shot. Thanks.

 

[LABrondo]

i'm on a few as well..hoping for movement!

 

[24blue8]

I'm a PGY-III now. I interviewed mainly in CA. I was on a waitlist ... even sent a LOI. Never got off of it. Never even got a rejection now that I think about it.

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm under the impression that programs are a bit overwhelmed with the volume of applications they received for a limited number of interview spots. I think there are a few folks sitting on a lot of interviews and they'll likely start to drop them as they realize that they're in a decent spot and that it's not really fun to go to 15 interviews. There should be some movement from the mid tier places and down starting within the next 2-3 weeks I'd imagine.

I've emailed a few programs and I've heard many respond saying that they're still reviewing applications. Whether that's a nice way of telling me to F off... I can't say.

I've had other PD's respond saying that they were all out of interview spots and put me on a waitlist. One of those waitlist spots led to an interview a couple of days later.

I've also had a few rejections, which is nice. There's also definitely a regional bias because I haven't heard anything from places in the south or cali, but then again I'm not really a standout applicant and have a couple of hiccups in my application which I'm totally fine with.

The most annoying thing I've had happen so far is an offer with a singular date, which has led to radio silence due to a conflict. So it was like a pseudo offer.... Yay.

TLDR; no one quite knows what to expect right now because many places are swamped with apps. I personally think that some waitlist movement is likely as folks on the pointy end of the stick hear from more competitive programs and likely drop some of the interviews they're less jazzed about. Or they're gonna stay paranoid and go to 20 interviews. Who the F even knows....

 

[psychattending]

Historically the month of November tends to be when I see the biggest number of people calling to cancel a previously scheduled interview.

 

[psychapp121]

Will programs just ignore you or actually tell you you’re on a waitlist or have been rejected. There are 30 programs that have not made any contact with me whatsoever. Does that mean I’m rejected or waitlisted?

 

[clausewitz2]

I got waitlisted at my #1 and eventually did get an interview there. I wound up at my #2, for what it is worth.

 

[Old&InTheWay]

Will programs just ignore you or actually tell you you’re on a waitlist or have been rejected. There are 30 programs that have not made any contact with me whatsoever. Does that mean I’m rejected or waitlisted?

Probably means that they either 1) don't send rejections, or 2) you are in the large group of applicants who look pretty good on paper but didn't get an invite. As people cancel interviews, applicants from this pile will be offered interviews.

 

[psychapp121]

Probably means that they either 1) don't send rejections, or 2) you are in the large group of applicants who look pretty good on paper but didn't get an invite. As people cancel interviews, applicants from this pile will be offered interviews.

What are these psych programs looking for? Like it seems they want psych extracurriculars so if you discover psych late in the game you’re pretty screwed because obviously good scores and grades aren’t enough for interviews anymore

 

[Old&InTheWay]

What are these psych programs looking for? Like it seems they want psych extracurriculars so if you discover psych late in the game you’re pretty screwed because obviously good scores and grades aren’t enough for interviews anymore

I'm not sure that grades and scores were ever valued all that much by psychiatry programs. But yes, as more and more people have applied to psych, programs are probably having to find ways to differentiate the applicants. I'm not sure if programs are thinking about this, but at my school, I know of at least two people who made the switch to psych late in 3rd year for mainly lifestyle reasons. As psych become more competitive, they will want to see evidence of interest in and aptitude for the field. I think it is really helpful to have experience in the field, and to have psychiatrists as letter writers who are able to talk about your interest in and potential as a psychiatrist.

 

[whackamole21]

I've had some good success with IV's this year (knock on wood), all I can say regarding the "showing interest" is that about a third of my interviewers thus far at least mentioned that it was clear from my PS, research, LOR, and/or whatever else that I had a demonstrated interest in the field and had deeply thought through my decision to pursue Psychiatry. Their connotation struck me almost as if there's been many apps they've read this year where that isn't as obvious.

FWIW

 

[ridethecliche]

Will programs just ignore you or actually tell you you’re on a waitlist or have been rejected. There are 30 programs that have not made any contact with me whatsoever. Does that mean I’m rejected or waitlisted?

Lets go with: it ain't over till its over... for both our sakes!

Historically the month of November tends to be when I see the biggest number of people calling to cancel a previously scheduled interview.

Oh this is good to know!

What are these psych programs looking for? Like it seems they want psych extracurriculars so if you discover psych late in the game you’re pretty screwed because obviously good scores and grades aren’t enough for interviews anymore

I really don't think that this is the case. Having extracurriculars really helps, but I kinda doubled down on psych at the end of third year and many interviewers/training directors told me that it wasn't too late during interviews.

I'm not sure that grades and scores were ever valued all that much by psychiatry programs. But yes, as more and more people have applied to psych, programs are probably having to find ways to differentiate the applicants. I'm not sure if programs are thinking about this, but at my school, I know of at least two people who made the switch to psych late in 3rd year for mainly lifestyle reasons. As psych become more competitive, they will want to see evidence of interest in and aptitude for the field. I think it is really helpful to have experience in the field, and to have psychiatrists as letter writers who are able to talk about your interest in and potential as a psychiatrist.

I've been asked about grades or blips during all my interviews. I wouldn't call them red flags, but they're certainly flag-y enough for folks to ask about them.