Interview offer from the waitlist

[duckie99]

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What are a person's chances of matching at a program if you only get an interview offer off the waitlist? I'd imagine you're already ranked low on their preliminary list... This is at a top IM program by the way.

 

[gutonc]

What are a person's chances of matching at a program if you only get an interview offer off the waitlist? I'd imagine you're already ranked low on their preliminary list... This is at a top IM program by the way.

Roughly 1,000,000X better than if you don't get an interview at all.

 

[Raryn]

Roughly 1,000,000X better than if you don't get an interview at all.

But gutonc, 1,000,000 X 0 is still 0. 😛

(He's right though, it's infinitely better than not getting an interview in the first place. If the travel there doesn't break the bank and you think you'd rank the program highly, go to it. Then rank based on how you like it. The algorithm favors the applicant, you have nothing to lose)

 

[duckie99]

(He's right though, it's infinitely better than not getting an interview in the first place. If the travel there doesn't break the bank and you think you'd rank the program highly, go to it. Then rank based on how you like it. The algorithm favors the applicant, you have nothing to lose)

True but thing is you are second pickings on their list and everyone knows it. I imagine it would be doubly hard (obviously not impossible) to get the spot and that this would be compounded at top programs. I'm probably just being a downer though lol

 

[C5toC9]

It sounds like you don't want to go to this program

 

[gutonc]

True but thing is you are second pickings on their list and everyone knows it. I imagine it would be doubly hard (obviously not impossible) to get the spot and that this would be compounded at top programs. I'm probably just being a downer though lol

So don't go then. And don't waste our time with your questions.

 

[mcl]

True but thing is you are second pickings on their list and everyone knows it. I imagine it would be doubly hard (obviously not impossible) to get the spot and that this would be compounded at top programs. I'm probably just being a downer though lol

Not everyone who interviews you will know that you were on a wait list, and most who knew your status won't remember. If you present yourself well during your visit, you stand a good chance of ranking higher than you'd think.

 

[gutonc]

Not everyone who interviews you will know that you were on a wait list, and most who knew your status won't remember. If you present yourself well during your visit, you stand a good chance of ranking higher than you'd think.

To add to this. If you came off the waitlist, while it's true that they wanted to interview other people more than you, those people didn't want to interview there. So you're not competing against those people anymore.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Just go...you'll (hopefully) only interview for residency once and this way you can avoid the what-ifs. You get one shot...don't let it slide b/c of irrelevant contemplations of your chances of getting a spot.

 

[fizzle]

Just go...you'll (hopefully) only interview for residency once and this way you can avoid the what-ifs. You get one shot...don't let it slide b/c of irrelevant contemplations of your chances of getting a spot.

Though admittedly, going into an interview with the impression that you're a back-up plan for the program certainly isn't going to do wonders for your confidence or performance...

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Though admittedly, going into an interview with the impression that you're a back-up plan for the program certainly isn't going to do wonders for your confidence or performance...

The potential for failure is not an excuse for abandoning the attempt

 

[ihatescience]

So don't go then. And don't waste our time with your questions.

👍

 

[shan564]

FWIW, I've heard of people matching at top places where they were initially waitlisted.

 

[LovelyBRass]

FWIW, I've heard of people matching at top places where they were initially waitlisted.

This. I hate to throw out anecdotes because of the whole n=1 thing, but in my case, n=2 🙂 so take heart!