On the top 10% waitlist. Should I respond?

[deleted444768]

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Got a post-interview email that says I'm in the top 10% of the waitlist. It says I have to reply whether I want to go to the school if they have a spot, or if I am planning to attend another school.

I have yet to hear from about 8 schools, including my state one. I also have not had any acceptances yet. Should I take the spot or wait for more interviews?

 

[Gerudo]

You can and should do both.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but at this point schools cannot legally or ethically bind you to accepting a position. They can ask if you are interested but if you say yes they cannot take that to mean that you will absolutely go to their school.

 

[deleted444768]

So it's not binding, right? The way they worded it "...will attend if position is available" confused me.

I'd be more than happy to attend this school, but just wondering if it's wise or if I should wait it out for the other schools. But if it's not binding, then it's not a problem.

 

[Gerudo]

...will attend if position is available

That certainly sounds like they are asking you to make a decision at this point. That being said, I am still confident schools under AAMC aren't supposed to be forcing anyone to make this decision this early on.

It may be helpful if you could say which school this is or give the full body of the email.

 

[Cambino]

So it's not binding, right? The way they worded it "...will attend if position is available" confused me.

I'd be more than happy to attend this school, but just wondering if it's wise or if I should wait it out for the other schools. But if it's not binding, then it's not a problem.

Woah. That's a little early.

 

[gyngyn]

Just take the spot. You don't have to decide between acceptances until May 15th (for MD schools). If you are offered an opportunity after May15th you are free to consider the new offer as well.

 

[MedPR]

Got a post-interview email that says I'm in the top 10% of the waitlist. It says I have to reply whether I want to go to the school if they have a spot, or if I am planning to attend another school.

I have yet to hear from about 8 schools, including my state one. I also have not had any acceptances yet. Should I take the spot or wait for more interviews?

Yes.

 

[thlaxer]

Accept the waitlist spot. I doubt it's going to be binding, especially since it's for the waitlist. Last year, there were acceptance letters where the options appeared to be binding, e.g. (paraphrasing) "I will be attending X SOM" vs. "I decline this acceptance." People were still able to withdraw from these schools though after having accepted the acceptance.

 

[qwe7791]

What happens if someone does break the binding? What will happen then?

 

[gyngyn]

What happens if someone does break the binding? What will happen then?

Multiple acceptances may be held until at least May 15th and are not binding. There is nothing to break. After May 15th you may accept new offers for a finite period of time (often a week or two depending on the school) before reliquishing one of them. If a school sees that a candidate is holding multiple acceptances, they may contact the student to let them know that they need to reduce to one. The school may remove them from the accepted pool if they do not.

 

[xGeorgettex]

AAMC doesn't even publish the list of schools an applicant has been accepted to for other med schools to see until May 15th. They can't and won't know if other schools take you before then and, given that you didn't (by the sounds of it) sign any sort of early decision agreement, they can't force you to attend. Besides, they offered you a wait list spot, not an actual acceptance. If they aren't giving you any sort of promise, you don't have to give them one. Take it with a clear conscious and congratulations.

 

[Mako555]

take the spot. congrats! it seems like you'll probably get in. they're just trying to clear out the waitlist a little bit, to get rid of the people who aren't actually interested.

 

[gyngyn]

AAMC doesn't even publish the list of schools an applicant has been accepted to for other med schools to see until May 15th. They can't and won't know if other schools take you before then and, given that you didn't (by the sounds of it) sign any sort of early decision agreement, they can't force you to attend. Besides, they offered you a wait list spot, not an actual acceptance. If they aren't giving you any sort of promise, you don't have to give them one. Take it with a clear conscious and congratulations.

Actually we will se the waitlist acceptances on April 1st.

 

[Frazier]

Yes.

 

[vilanmary]

there were acceptance letters where the options appeared to be binding

 

[girlonfire]

Reply and say yes. State your interest with something specific to the school. Get your name on that list.

 

[itsmcv2015]

They want it to feel binding but they can't be binding until you have matriculated. Even the May 15 guideline is just that -- a guideline. All schools can do to enforce it is not refund your $100 (or whatever) after that deadline. I haven't even heard of schools rescinding an offer over it, although I suppose they could.

 

[xGeorgettex]

Actually we will see the waitlist acceptances on April 1st.

Point. I'd forgotten about that.

Either way, as it stands, take the wait list position and run with it. May 15th/April 1st/whenever, accepting the spot is still non-binding. The worst anyone could justifiably say (coming from admissions) is that it's 'in bad taste' to go back on your 'word' that you'll attend, but it's hardly a crime.

 

[gyngyn]

They want it to feel binding but they can't be binding until you have matriculated. Even the May 15 guideline is just that -- a guideline. All schools can do to enforce it is not refund your $100 (or whatever) after that deadline. I haven't even heard of schools rescinding an offer over it, although I suppose they could.[/QUOTE]

I have.

 

[SOMBound13]

That is not a contract. If it were, it would include more legalese. They're just trying to get a feel for where you're at. For instance, if you had acceptances to a more fav school, then you wouldn't likely accept.