Post-Waitlist Timeline Questions

[deleted1194639]

Hi all! Was wondering if someone could give me insight on how post-waitlist movement works and what the timeline is for this. Given that students have to pick a school and withdraw acceptances by April 30, 2025, I assume that waitlist movement takes place after this. Hence, if I were to ask for additional LORs or aim for new updates, would I aim to get these in by a similar time? Is there a difference if I get these new updates in by March or does it really not matter as long as they're in by April?

Another tangential question. Is it possible to renege on a commitment if you get off the waitlist of a better school later in May/June? I'm assuming no and hence, it seems like people who accept positions that open up via the waitlist in May typically have not committed to a school yet. Would appreciate some clarity here on if this is indeed the case. Thanks!

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[deleted1194639]

@LizzyM , if you could comment on this, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much!

 

[LizzyM]

I'm not up-to-date with the newest requirements regarding narrowing one's choices and making a commitment but I have been led to believe that one can stay on a waitlist (or more than one) up until the point where you matriculate at a medical school. If you get off a waitlist you have a limited amount of time to take the offer (and decline the one you are holding) or decline the waitlist offer (maybe because the net cost turned out to be more than you expected compared with the financial aid at the school that made the offer you're holding). You shouldn't stay on waitlists if you don't like the school as much as the school where you're holding an offer but sometimes things change quickly.

In any case, as you can imagine, there is a domino effect as a student drops Duke to take Vandy, someone commited to Emory then gets off the waitlist at Duke freeing up a seat at Emory for someone holding an offer at .... Overall most schools have one or two slots to fill, not a ton of waitlist movement unless there is something going on at the school that makes applicants hesitant to say "yes" (my school experienced this the year they announced a major curricular change). In those cases, the waitlist movement is generally earlier as the school has a bunch of empty seats when the music stops on May 1.

 

[deleted1194639]

I'm not up-to-date with the newest requirements regarding narrowing one's choices and making a commitment but I have been led to believe that one can stay on a waitlist (or more than one) up until the point where you matriculate at a medical school. If you get off a waitlist you have a limited amount of time to take the offer (and decline the one you are holding) or decline the waitlist offer (maybe because the net cost turned out to be more than you expected compared with the financial aid at the school that made the offer you're holding). You shouldn't stay on waitlists if you don't like the school as much as the school where you're holding an offer but sometimes things change quickly.

In any case, as you can imagine, there is a domino effect as a student drops Duke to take Vandy, someone commited to Emory then gets off the waitlist at Duke freeing up a seat at Emory for someone holding an offer at .... Overall most schools have one or two slots to fill, not a ton of waitlist movement unless there is something going on at the school that makes applicants hesitant to say "yes" (my school experienced this the year they announced a major curricular change). In those cases, the waitlist movement is generally earlier as the school has a bunch of empty seats when the music stops on May 1.

Thank you so much! With all of this being said then, when is it appropriate to send updates that could trigger WL movement? i.e. is just by April more or less the same?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Read

From Waitlist to Offer: Inside an Admissions Committee - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi all! Was wondering if someone could give me insight on how post-waitlist movement works and what the timeline is for this. Given that students have to pick a school and withdraw acceptances by April 30, 2025, I assume that waitlist movement takes place after this. Hence, if I were to ask for additional LORs or aim for new updates, would I aim to get these in by a similar time? Is there a difference if I get these new updates in by March or does it really not matter as long as they're in by April?

You might as well prepare for reapplication if you are thinking about a new LOR as an update. If you have no II's, none of these updates matter. If you are on a waitlist, you can try a letter of intent, but, as the article I posted suggests, most schools will have a process where your place on the waitlist is baked/determined. Movement is dictated through a process (possibilities described in the article).

Another tangential question. Is it possible to renege on a commitment if you get off the waitlist of a better school later in May/June? I'm assuming no and hence, it seems like people who accept positions that open up via the waitlist in May typically have not committed to a school yet. Would appreciate some clarity here on if this is indeed the case. Thanks!

The deadlines are for those with offers and those in admissions offices. As someone on the waitlist, you can get off at any time. Some offices might give you the benefit of knowing where you stand (especially if you are "on deck" for the next spot), but for medical school, the offices are so busy, you probably won't.

This means you can stay on the waitlist and get a call on orientation week for a spot. Can you drop your entire life and get yourself to medical school for orientation? Or even after classes start? Many have started medical school this way, but they at least got in.

Can you decline your seat in the class? Of course. There are rules about this, including a non-binding notification on CYMS if we're talking AMCAS schools. Follow the "traffic rules." If it happens in May, make sure you let the school you are leaving know about your decision immediately. You will lose your deposit (if it's not refundable) and have to place your new deposit down. Financial aid gets figured out, but you would make that change.

Most people who get into medical school have only ONE offer. Do not believe there is that much shifting around unless someone has been holding multiple offers or multiple waitlist spots. The big sort happens.

 

[AJS59]

Thank you so much! With all of this being said then, when is it appropriate to send updates that could trigger WL movement? i.e. is just by April more or less the same?

Realistically April or later, but don't expect WL movement. Treat it like a mild surprise that you MIGHT get but no guarantee