Interviewed at a school, longer-than-usual wait until decision...what does this mean?

[deleted436726]

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I went to a school for an interview earlier this month. Based on that school's forum history, applicants who interviewed earlier in the cycle almost always heard back in 2 weeks. However, my group was told that decisions would take 4-6 weeks. Indeed, I have passed the 2-week mark and have not heard back yet. What does this mean? Is it possible that because it's so late in the game, they no longer have any spots left and are waiting for people with multiple acceptances to withdraw and open up spots before extending offers? Today is April 30, after all. However, if this were the case, why wouldn't they just be up front about it and waitlist us instead of making us wait even longer?

 

[Goro]

They might be interviewing one last round s) of interviewees.

The only other thing that comes to mind is that some important decision maker(s) won't be available and thus the delay.

I went to a school for an interview earlier this month. Based on that school's forum history, applicants who interviewed earlier in the cycle almost always heard back in 2 weeks. However, my group was told that decisions would take 4-6 weeks. Indeed, I have passed the 2-week mark and have not heard back yet. What does this mean? Is it possible that because it's so late in the game, they no longer have any spots left and are waiting for people with multiple acceptances to withdraw and open up spots before extending offers? Today is April 30, after all. However, if this were the case, why wouldn't they just be up front about it and waitlist us instead of making us wait even longer?

 

[gyngyn]

I went to a school for an interview earlier this month. Based on that school's forum history, applicants who interviewed earlier in the cycle almost always heard back in 2 weeks. However, my group was told that decisions would take 4-6 weeks. Indeed, I have passed the 2-week mark and have not heard back yet. What does this mean? Is it possible that because it's so late in the game, they no longer have any spots left and are waiting for people with multiple acceptances to withdraw and open up spots before extending offers? Today is April 30, after all. However, if this were the case, why wouldn't they just be up front about it and waitlist us instead of making us wait even longer?

Any of your theories might be correct. At least they gave you a time frame within which you could expect a decision.
Arbitrarily wait listing you is not a preferable outcome.

 

[deleted436726]

Arbitrarily wait listing you is not a preferable outcome.

Right...but if they really have no more spots left at that point in time, then by definition we have to be waitlisted...right? Unless there's some sort of situation that prevents the admissions committee from reviewing all the interviewees in a timely manner (as @Goro pointed out) I can't imagine why they would wait any longer than necessary.

 

[gyngyn]

Right...but if they really have no more spots left at that point in time, then by definition we have to be waitlisted...right? Unless there's some sort of situation that prevents the admissions committee from reviewing all the interviewees in a timely manner (as @Goro pointed out) I can't imagine why they would wait any longer than necessary.

I can think of a few! Any number of technical problems ranging from personnel to software can delay decisions. And leadership change, policy revisions (LCME)...

 

[Goro]

I simply can't fathom why they wouldn't just tell you that "you've been accepted for a wait list spot. Your number is X"

Right...but if they really have no more spots left at that point in time, then by definition we have to be waitlisted...right? Unless there's some sort of situation that prevents the admissions committee from reviewing all the interviewees in a timely manner (as @Goro pointed out) I can't imagine why they would wait any longer than necessary.

 

[deleted436726]

Well, with all that in mind I'm going to be optimistic and hope that the delay doesn't have anything to do with spots being (un)available. Thanks @Goro and @gyngyn.

 

[gyngyn]

I simply can't fathom why they wouldn't just tell you that "you've been accepted for a wait list spot. Your number is X"

Their program crashed and they don't know how many seats they have left!
This happened to us once.