Next step (re: LOI), now that I'm wait-listed x2

[momentaryaffliction]

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Hi there, thanks for stopping by! I have a little bit of a dilemma, and was wondering if I could get your frank opinion.

This cycle is pretty much over, and I am now wait-listed at 2 MD schools, both of which are unranked wait-lists. (Yes, I know I should be planning for re-application just in case. That's a given.)

Let me make it clear that I would be so grateful to get into either one (better than re-applying), and I like both schools. That being said, I'm now at the point of considering where I would like to send a letter of intent. I know that this decision falls on me- I have some ideas- but there are multiple factors to consider so I am looking for some feedback.

School 1: OOS state school
Tuition/year: 61k
Area: suburban, not a major city (i.e. affordable cost of living)
WL: unranked, and selective (they select you to be put on the WL)
Historic wait-list movement: people have reported it "good." MSAR reports taking 50/75 off the WL.

School 2: OOS private school
Tuition/year: 57k
Area: major city (probably higher cost of living, even if I find suburb at which to reside)
WL: unranked, and non-selective (everyone interviewed and not accepted is WL'd. That's like 700 people.)
Historic wait-list movement: little info available. No MSAR info available.

From these statistics alone, I would judge School 1 to be the definitive recipient of LOI, as I would have a better chance of coming off of the wait list.
What is holding me back? The fact that I have a major support system- my church- from my undergrad that has a branch very close to School 2. I would really like to stay nearby, and if I had the luxury of a choice, I would choose School 2.

So, is it worth it to write my LOI to School 2? In other words, is it a gamble to send a LOI to a riskier WL?

Thx.

 

[Goro]

Work on your Plan B, unless School 2 encourages LOI or is a needy school.

 

[momentaryaffliction]

Work on your Plan B, unless School 2 encourages LOI or is a needy school.

Hi goro, thanks for your speedy reply. I am already working on my plan B, but am planning on writing a LOI. I'm just trying to determine if it's more worth it for the LOI to go to School 1 or School 2. Or if such deliberation will make a difference, for that matter.
Both schools accept update letters.

 

[Goro]

Hi goro, thanks for your speedy reply. I am already working on my plan B, but am planning on writing a LOI. I'm just trying to determine if it's more worth it for the LOI to go to School 1 or School 2. Or if such deliberation will make a difference, for that matter.
Both schools accept update letters.

The fact that you're considering sending the LOI to one of the two schools shows why Admissions deans treat them as worthless.

If the two schools are of equivalent class, they're not going to care about your wanting to come. After all, how would you interpret a nonbinding contract from a desperate camndidate?

Let's put it another way:
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Harvard, Harvard doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Albany, Albany doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Drexel, Drexel will care
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Yale, Yale will care

Capeesh?

 

[Microbug]

The fact that you're considering sending the LOI to one of the two schools shows why Admissions deans treat them as worthless.

If the two schools are of equivalent class, they're not going to care about your wanting to come. After all, how would you interpret a nonbinding contract from a desperate camndidate?

Let's put it another way:
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Harvard, Harvard doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Albany, Albany doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Drexel, Drexel will care
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Yale, Yale will care

Capeesh?

Do you think Columbia (WL’d) will care if you’re accepted at NYU?

Please don’t reach across the electron cloud and smack me.

 

[momentaryaffliction]

I was under the impression that applicants understood the risks, benefits, and alternatives of sending a letter of intent. I.E. if you send it but don't go, then you'd be blacklisted across medical schools for not keeping your word.

So, perhaps I'm misunderstanding that, and it's actually "nonbinding" and means nothing. If that is indeed the case, then maybe adcoms should be clarifying across all SDN threads that letters of intent mean nothing. Maybe that's already happening.

Anyways, thanks for the input.

 

[gyngyn]

So, perhaps I'm misunderstanding that, and it's actually "nonbinding" and means nothing. If that is indeed the case, then maybe adcoms should be clarifying across all SDN threads that letters of intent mean nothing. Maybe that's already happening.
.

These things mean nothing.

 

[momentaryaffliction]

These things mean nothing.

That's the clarity what I was lookin' for.

 

[MDhopeful324]

The fact that you're considering sending the LOI to one of the two schools shows why Admissions deans treat them as worthless.

If the two schools are of equivalent class, they're not going to care about your wanting to come. After all, how would you interpret a nonbinding contract from a desperate camndidate?

Let's put it another way:
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Harvard, Harvard doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Albany, Albany doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Drexel, Drexel will care
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Yale, Yale will care

Capeesh?

If you're accepted at Albany with a scholarship but WL'd at Drexel, will Drexel care? Curious about where scholarships come into play with WLs.

 

[Goro]

If you're accepted at Albany with a scholarship but WL'd at Drexel, will Drexel care? Curious about where scholarships come into play with WLs.

It's a pre-med delusion that schools care where you might get a full ride, unless you're a superstar.

 

[Goro]

That's the clarity what I was lookin' for.

We Adcoms have only made several gazillion posts about this.

 

[momentaryaffliction]

We Adcoms have only made several gazillion posts about this.

Appreciating your 3-gazillion-and-first post here. thx goro

 

[PreMedMissteps]

School 1: OOS state school
Tuition/year: 61k
Area: suburban, not a major city (i.e. affordable cost of living)
WL: unranked, and selective (they select you to be put on the WL)
Historic wait-list movement: people have reported it "good." MSAR reports taking 50/75 off the WL.

Does this SOM tell you if you’re upper third, middle third, lower third on WL

WL: unranked, and non-selective (everyone interviewed and not accepted is WL'd. That's like 700 people.)

That 700 number doesn’t sound right. Imagining that they interviewed about 500-700 students. Probably accepted 300ish. Still a large waitlist. Do they tell WL students where they are on the WL

 

[makku]

Looking for some clarity. Any help is greatly appreciated.

When does an Acceptance from USUHS becomes a binding contract. I have heard that happens when the Oath is taken/signed. Also heard that it is binding only on the first day of school.

Also, how lat can we wait to take the oath. I am waiting to find out from Waitlisted schools, which would likely happen only after April 30.

Thanks

 

[chlory]

The fact that you're considering sending the LOI to one of the two schools shows why Admissions deans treat them as worthless.

If the two schools are of equivalent class, they're not going to care about your wanting to come. After all, how would you interpret a nonbinding contract from a desperate camndidate?

Let's put it another way:
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Harvard, Harvard doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Drexel but WL'd at Albany, Albany doesn't care that your accept is at Drexel
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Drexel, Drexel will care
If you're accepted at Harvard but WL'd at Yale, Yale will care

Capeesh?

To OP: It doesn’t really matter if it’s worthless or not. At this point, you don’t have acceptances so the only thing you can do this cycle is send a LOI with a “why x school” paragraph. The worst thing in this case will be the letter having no impact, but that’s probably better (for your conscience) than doing nothing, especially since the school said they welcome updates.

And I’d send to school 1 to max chances, but I’d also send a letter of interest to school 2.

 

[momentaryaffliction]

To OP: It doesn’t really matter if it’s worthless or not. At this point, you don’t have acceptances so the only thing you can do this cycle is send a LOI with a “why x school” paragraph. The worst thing in this case will be the letter having no impact, but that’s probably better (for your conscience) than doing nothing, especially since the school said they welcome updates.

And I’d send to school 1 to max chances, but I’d also send a letter of interest to school 2.

This is my line of thinking, too. Very helpful to hear you second it! thank you.

 

[momentaryaffliction]

Does this SOM tell you if you’re upper third, middle third, lower third on WL

That 700 number doesn’t sound right. Imagining that they interviewed about 500-700 students. Probably accepted 300ish. Still a large waitlist. Do they tell WL students where they are on the WL

Thanks for your input! Both schools are unranked, so no section of WL listed.
W/ regard to School 2, they interview approx 1000 and accepted 300ish, leaving 700ish on the WL. That's just my estimate, though. Their WL movement is the usual, with ppl historically coming off the WL in April, May, and June. Rarely, but possible, is July.

 

[gyngyn]

Looking for some clarity. Any help is greatly appreciated.

When does an Acceptance from USUHS becomes a binding contract. I have heard that happens when the Oath is taken/signed. Also heard that it is binding only on the first day of school.

Also, how lat can we wait to take the oath. I am waiting to find out from Waitlisted schools, which would likely happen only after April 30.

Thanks

You may be accepted off the waitlist of another school up until the beginning of orientation or a pre-matriculation program.

 

[fldoctorgirl]

I think that unless the school specifically mentioned to send in letters if you end up waitlisted, you shouldn't do it.

I am waitlisted at a school I loved and their waitlist is also unranked. I was all ready to send a LOI, despite reading the countless points about how useless they are, until I got the official waitlist letter in the mail from the school asking to please not send any letters outside of the "update" section on the portal.

I know it sucks being in this place where you really want to go to a school and feel like you can't convey it, but the truth is-- they interviewed you, they know you want to come already. I think a LOI unless the school has said they like them risks you coming off as needy.

 

[makku]

You may be accepted off the waitlist of another school up until the beginning of orientation or a pre-matriculation program.

Thank you gyngyn for your feedback. Is there any specific doc or reference from AMCAS on this. My concern is that there seems to be no clarity from USUHS side, from previous years threads, I will,ask,admissions too. Since this is my only acceptance at this time, with other WL I don't me want to mess it up .
Thanks

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you gyngyn for your feedback. Is there any specific doc or reference from AMCAS on this. My concern is that there seems to be no clarity from USUHS side, from previous years threads, I will,ask,admissions too. Since this is my only acceptance at this time, with other WL I don't me want to mess it up .
Thanks

Here is traffic rule #9 for admissions officers: "No school make an offer of acceptance, either verbal or written, to any individual who has officially matriculated/enrolled in, or begun an orientation program immediately prior to enrollment at, an LCME accredited medical school. Medical programs should enter a matriculation action for students in AMCAS immediately upon the start of enrollment or the orientation immediately preceding enrollment."

 

[makku]

Here is traffic rule #9 for admissions officers: "No school make an offer of acceptance, either verbal or written, to any individual who has officially matriculated/enrolled in, or begun an orientation program immediately prior to enrollment at, an LCME accredited medical school. Medical programs should enter a matriculation action for students in AMCAS immediately upon the start of enrollment or the orientation immediately preceding enrollment."

Thank you, this is very informative. So, I would see starting the COT program coming under this rule.
Now, to attend the COT program, the final document would the Oath, after which the Order to attend the COT would be issued. Here, would signing the Oath constitute "orientation enrollment".

Again, thanks for your valuable feedback.