interview for a waitlist spot?

[Adcadet]

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in a few threads now I've noticed people talking about interviewing late in the app cycle, and wondering if they were interviewing for waitlist slots, as poosed to acceptance slots. Is there any evidence that any medical school does this? It seems crazy to interview people who you think are only good enough for a waitlist slot. I'm sure every school gets enough apps to only have to interview those they are very serious about accepting, and then having the luxury of putting a few of those they interview on a waitlist.


discuss

Adcadet

 

[Natalie03]

Yes, in fact USUHS says so outright to those who interview after some time in Dec. They fill up the class pretty quickly, but due to those who are accepted declining their offers, the movement from the waitlist is supposedly pretty rapid. As far as the admin for this school say, everyone who is given a waitlist spot is essentially accepted, but the class is full. Of course, not everyone from the waitlist gets in, but (again supposedly) much more do at this school than at others.

I'm not sure how it works for other schools, but here is at least one confirmed example.

 

[nero]

south florida did this......i was ther about a week ago and was told that the class was full and that we would be fighting for a high position on the waitlist..........they told me when they called me for the interview itself............it was a 2 hr drive, so i went......prolly woulnd't have gone if i had to fly and all that sh**.........anywya, you can get in........a week and half after my interivew, i was called and told that i was in good shape, but they couldn't offer me an acceptance.......the next day they offered me a spot..........so i guess it was worth going.........depends on the school though.

nero

 

[SouthernGirl]

Originally posted by Adcadet
It seems crazy to interview people who you think are only good enough for a waitlist slot. I'm sure every school gets enough apps to only have to interview those they are very serious about accepting, and then having the luxury of putting a few of those they interview on a waitlist.

If they really did not think an applicant was "good enough," then they would reject that applicant. Being put on a waitlist is not some sort of lesser honor in comparison to an acceptance, especially at this time of the application cycle. It can become an actual acceptance at any time.
I don't think the problem is that they don't think the applicants are only good enough for a waitlist spot; I think the problem is that the committee has already accepted a large number of students and is waiting til May 15 or whenever to offer any more acceptances to avoid overfilling the class.

 

[Adcadet]

it still makes no sense to me why a school would do this, unless they accidently overfilled the class (nearly everyone who is offered a spot sends in a deposit), or if you just applied really late and/or the school took too long to get your stuff in order.

 

[manicmaven]

Tulane told me straight out at the end of the interview day that the class was full and I was interviewing for a waitlist spot. I knew that I was, it was actually kind of nice that they told me. (I did have to find an assistant dean to ask.)

I wish that schools didn't do this thing where they put 700 people on a waitlist. That's just ridiculous. GW, Tulane and a few others reject only a few out of the interview and the rest are put on this huge ass list. I actually think that georgetown's a little more respectable in that they'll actually reject a good number out of the interview...only because a waitlist of over 250 people seems just pointless. Am I bitter? A little.
🙂

 

[chrys42]

I have a feeling that it depends on the acceptance procedures of each school. I suppose that it's possible with schools that have a 'rolling acceptance', as seen by the other posts. I know of at least one school (Wake) that accepts students in blocks throughout the interview period, so that when you apply has no bearing on your chances of getting accepted. I'm sure that there are schools that complete their interviewing process before deciding on who will fill the class. From what I've seen, the process is pretty variable.

 

[lola]

how does tulane's waitlist work? my interview is not until march 21st!

 

[manicmaven]

It's not ranked. Send letters of intent, updates and email dean pisano frequently. Just show them a lot of love and they might pull you from the pile. It's a huge 'acceptable range' pool.

Congratulations on your interview!

 

[greenatp]

I have worries about an interview at Pitt. I just received snail mail from Pitt a few days ago and I scheduled an interview for mid March. I know that Pitt is non-rolling but I am not too what that even means. Pitt says that the med school sends out notifications March 1st. I think that I might be just interviewing for a wait list spot - I sure hope not...because I have to fly all the way from California.😕

 

[cbpremed]

Pitt was awesome when I went. I loved the school and I'm from Cali too. They notify in March, so you aren't interviewing for waitlist. Loyola told me today that I was invited for an interview for the alternate list. A friend of mine that works in Student Affairs there said not to take that to heart, since it's inevitable that many people are selected from the alternate list. Just my 2 cents.
🙂
Good luck

 

[Ginza]

Originally posted by Adcadet
it still makes no sense to me why a school would do this, unless they accidently overfilled the class (nearly everyone who is offered a spot sends in a deposit), or if you just applied really late and/or the school took too long to get your stuff in order.

Not everyone that an admissions committe offers acceptances to will end up going there. Students who get multiple acceptances may not decide until later in the cycle. The schools can't just accept the exact number of students that they hope will matriculate. They could end up with considerably fewer students than desired, throwing the whole budget off. That's why they need to keep the waitlist pool pretty big.

 

[Moskeeto]

So has anyone called up ahead of time to see if their interview is going to be for a waitlist spot? I have a couple of interviews next month and i sure as **** don't want to waste money to fly out there and miss school and work for a waitlist spot. I know I haven't been to many interviews but as it is, my grades are already taking a HUGE hit because of the one's I've had to go to. I'm starting to think its not worth it because if I don't get in this year, my odds of getting in next year could be a lot worse due to a massively declining grades. 🙁 .

 

[lola]

you might not be interviewing for a waitlist spot at pitt. they give out a bulk of acceptances before your interview, and after that accept students on a non-rolling basis. i'd imagine several people will decline the acceptances, so depending on how many they initially accept & how many decline, you may get accepted.

 

[batman123]

The way it was explained to me, if you interviewed at Pitt between Sept and early Feb, you application is being considered for the first batch of acceptances in late Feb/early March. If you interviewed after that, you are put in pool that is evaluated on a rolling basis, and the acceptances from then on are rolling. So if you're interviewing in March, your application will be considered on a rolling basis, so no, you are not interviewing for a waitlist spot.

 

[whatfun]

Originally posted by Adcadet
in a few threads now I've noticed people talking about interviewing late in the app cycle, and wondering if they were interviewing for waitlist slots, as poosed to acceptance slots. Is there any evidence that any medical school does this? It seems crazy to interview people who you think are only good enough for a waitlist slot. I'm sure every school gets enough apps to only have to interview those they are very serious about accepting, and then having the luxury of putting a few of those they interview on a waitlist.


discuss

Adcadet

Hey Adcadet,

Since you're planning on going to Minnesota next year and you started this thread, I was wondering if you knew whether U of Minnesota is still interviewing for spots in the class or is interviewing for their waitlist. Also, would appreciate any info on the interview and the school, including the school of public health (i'm interested in the MD/MPH program.)

My interview is March 10th and I was pretty surprised to get this as I'm out of state. Would appreciate any info.

 

[Adcadet]

Originally posted by whatfun
Hey Adcadet,

Since you're planning on going to Minnesota next year and you started this thread, I was wondering if you knew whether U of Minnesota is still interviewing for spots in the class or is interviewing for their waitlist. Also, would appreciate any info on the interview and the school, including the school of public health (i'm interested in the MD/MPH program.)

My interview is March 10th and I was pretty surprised to get this as I'm out of state. Would appreciate any info.

I've never heard of Minnesota interviewing for waitlist spots, so I doubt they do that. The admissions director claims that the timing of your application and interview makes no difference in your chances (although I find this hard to believe), so you're probably sitting good. I would also think you interest in the MD/MPH program will help you - I don't see that program as being any more selective than the regular MD program. And as of this year ALL out of state accepted students are granted a tuition waver so they pay the in-state rate.

 

[whatfun]

Originally posted by Adcadet
I've never heard of Minnesota interviewing for waitlist spots, so I doubt they do that. The admissions director claims that the timing of your application and interview makes no difference in your chances (although I find this hard to believe), so you're probably sitting good. I would also think you interest in the MD/MPH program will help you - I don't see that program as being any more selective than the regular MD program. And as of this year ALL out of state accepted students are granted a tuition waver so they pay the in-state rate.

Thanks for the very helpful info!! 🙂

 

[lola]

Originally posted by lola
you might not be interviewing for a waitlist spot at pitt. they give out a bulk of acceptances before your interview, and after that accept students on a non-rolling basis. i'd imagine several people will decline the acceptances, so depending on how many they initially accept & how many decline, you may get accepted.

for anyone curious, i was told today by a pitt admissions person that i was not necessarily interviewing for a waitlist spot at my interview today. she said they would give out some outright acceptances if they really liked you even after the first batch went out.

 

[Anxious27]

Does anyone know how do RWJ and NJMS waitlists work?

Thanks!