May 15th emergency

[mercaptovizadeh]

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I have an MSTP acceptance at one school, and an MD acceptance and MSTP waitlist at another. I've withdrawn from all other schools. On May 15th, I need to have just one MD acceptance. What are the consequences if I don't withdraw from this other MD, MSTP waitlist? Can they rescind acceptance from the MSTP acceptance? Also, shouldn't there be some provision that if you are on an MSTP acceptance it should not be compared to an MD-acceptance MSTP-waitlist?

Any suggestions on what I should do? Has anyone else been in this position before. I don't want to risk losing the MSTP - an MD-only at the other school is not worth it.

 

[QofQuimica]

I have an MSTP acceptance at one school, and an MD acceptance and MSTP waitlist at another. I've withdrawn from all other schools. On May 15th, I need to have just one MD acceptance. What are the consequences if I don't withdraw from this other MD, MSTP waitlist? Can they rescind acceptance from the MSTP acceptance? Also, shouldn't there be some provision that if you are on an MSTP acceptance it should not be compared to an MD-acceptance MSTP-waitlist?

Any suggestions on what I should do? Has anyone else been in this position before. I don't want to risk losing the MSTP - an MD-only at the other school is not worth it.

mercapto, you're allowed to keep your waitlists after May 15. You just have to withdraw from your other ACCEPTANCES. So withdraw from the MD only acceptance, and keep the MD/PhD waitlist up until the day school starts if you want. Or are you saying that the school won't let you stay on the MD/PhD waitlist if you withdraw from the MD only acceptance? I'd be surprised if this were true, b/c most MD/PhD programs have separate admissions from straight MD.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

mercapto, you're allowed to keep your waitlists after May 15. You just have to withdraw from your other ACCEPTANCES. So withdraw from the MD only acceptance, and keep the MD/PhD waitlist up until the day school starts if you want. Or are you saying that the school won't let you stay on the MD/PhD waitlist if you withdraw from the MD only acceptance? I'd be surprised if this were true, b/c most MD/PhD programs have separate admissions from straight MD.

Yes, that's exactly the problem. I called up the school and the office coordinator said that if you withdraw from the MD you withdraw from the MD/PhD as well. I feel that that's unfortunate, because if there will be waitlist movement, it's most likely to occur right after May 15.

 

[QofQuimica]

Yes, that's exactly the problem. I called up the school and the office coordinator said that if you withdraw from the MD you withdraw from the MD/PhD as well. I feel that that's unfortunate, because if there will be waitlist movement, it's most likely to occur right after May 15.

Wow, dude, that's a tough call. You got into a great MSTP as I recall; I think I'd have to say go for the guaranteed MSTP over taking the risk of getting stuck with being in an MD-only program, unless you just really don't want to go to the MSTP acceptance school....

 

[tr]

Yes, that's exactly the problem. I called up the school and the office coordinator said that if you withdraw from the MD you withdraw from the MD/PhD as well. I feel that that's unfortunate, because if there will be waitlist movement, it's most likely to occur right after May 15.

That doesn't sound fair at all. Did you talk to the program director at U-Waitlist, or just the office coordinator? If you only talked to the administrator, I would call back and ask to speak with the director. Your position is totally understandable.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

That doesn't sound fair at all. Did you talk to the program director at U-Waitlist, or just the office coordinator? If you only talked to the administrator, I would call back and ask to speak with the director. Your position is totally understandable.

Yeah, sorta. I talked to the coordinator today and she said that they met today and said they're not going to be taking off of the waitlist this year. I talked to a bunch of other people as well. The medical school admissions director at the MSTP-waitlist school was flexible, but the MSTP-accepted school people were totally inflexible, and it sounded like my acceptance could be threatened if I don't stick with them only on May 15th. 😡

Unfortunately, I will be abroad on the 15th as well, so I can't fight this out any longer. I think that there should be some sort of extension option with the AAMC that binds the schools so they don't penalize you in situations like this - perhaps where you state and sign that you will not go to the other medical school vs. the MSTP, but just want to stay alive on the MSTP waitlist. Anyway, perhaps I can write some letters when I get back.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

The other option would be to force the MD/PhD deadline to May 1st, so that waitlists can move around a bit more before May 15th. But I have a feeling that the AAMC would have a lot less control over MD/PhD programs than MD admissions.

 

[tr]

Yeah, sorta. I talked to the coordinator today and she said that they met today and said they're not going to be taking off of the waitlist this year.

Then it probably doesn't matter a whole lot. You might ask her where you stand on the waitlist as well - if you're #1 or #2 in line, it might be worth your while to keep arguing. If you're #15, you might as well drop the waitlist spot and stop making difficulty for yourself.

I talked to a bunch of other people as well. The medical school admissions director at the MSTP-waitlist school was flexible...

That sounds encouraging.

...but the MSTP-accepted school people were totally inflexible, and it sounded like my acceptance could be threatened if I don't stick with them only on May 15th.

They like to strong-arm people verbally to try and prevent last-minute changes, but according to the AAMC guidelines you're perfectly within your rights to keep a real spot and a waitlist spot after the 15th. What you can't do is keep two acceptances.