Sending Post-WL updates to schools that rank their waitlist

[965978]

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So there are some schools that heavily encourage updates from waitlisted people and, in some shape or form, also rank their waitlist. This seems kind of counter-intuitive to me because if a school goes through the effort of ranking their waitlist, then they've pretty much made their mind about where certain candidates stand amongst others. So I guess it begs the question, how flexible is the ranking? Can your ranking be changed through sending updates?

 

[deleted967981]

Schools may use updates to gauge interest and may move people on the waitlist with similar stats up if they're showing continual interest with updates. You may also get moved up if you fit a diversity profile of a student who just released a seat.

 

[gyngyn]

So there are some schools that heavily encourage updates from waitlisted people and, in some shape or form, also rank their waitlist. This seems kind of counter-intuitive to me because if a school goes through the effort of ranking their waitlist, then they've pretty much made their mind about where certain candidates stand amongst others. So I guess it begs the question, how flexible is the ranking? Can your ranking be changed through sending updates?

Schools with a ranked waitlist (as defined by the LCME) must move relentlessly down the list without deviation.

 

[965978]

Schools with a ranked waitlist (as defined by the LCME) must move relentlessly down the list without deviation.

So there is no point in sending an update??? Why would some schools who rank their waitlist so heavily encourage updates then?

 

[gyngyn]

Why would some schools who rank their waitlist so heavily encourage updates then?

I have no idea. Maybe they just want to be wanted...
Relatively few schools actually have a ranked waitlist from what I can tell, though.

 

[965978]

I have no idea. Maybe they just want to be wanted...
Relatively few schools actually have a ranked waitlist from what I can tell, though.

Maybe those schools are allowed the update ranks every so often?

 

[gyngyn]

Maybe those schools are allowed the update ranks every so often?

If they have a ranked waitlist, they are not permitted to do so.
A ranked waitlist is precisely numerically ordered (not in clumps, tiers or strata).
A school with a ranked waitlist will be cited by the LCME for deviations in their acceptance order (if audited).

 

[Warmkittens]

Some schools with ranked waitlists will wait until a certain date to release said ranked waitlist. Before then, they probably pull people to fit their class profile as best they can, but after a certain date, they just can't afford to take the time to frantically find someone to fill in their missing seats.

 

[Med Ed]

Can your ranking be changed through sending updates?

Yes, it can be lowered.

At this point in the year 99% of the updates/LOIs we receive are generated by people we don't want to hear from.

 

[scrapy]

Schools with a ranked waitlist (as defined by the LCME) must move relentlessly down the list without deviation.

Do you have a source for this? Also, if a school says they rank all applicants on their waitlist, can we assume they are, in fact, a ranked waitlist?

 

[965978]

Do you have a source for this? Also, if a school says they rank all applicants on their waitlist, can we assume they are, in fact, a ranked waitlist?

1) We don’t question gyngyn. What gyngyn says is fact.

2) Probably, unless they mean to say that they have tiers.

 

[scrapy]

1) We don’t question gyngyn. What gyngyn says is fact.

2) Probably, unless they mean to say that they have tiers.

So then tiers (such as top 1/4, top 1/2, etc) wouldn't be considered to be a ranked WL?

 

[965978]

So then tiers (such as top 1/4, top 1/2, etc) wouldn't be considered to be a ranked WL?

No. Although it’s probably unlikely that you will move up a tier simply due to an update.

 

[gyngyn]

So then tiers (such as top 1/4, top 1/2, etc) wouldn't be considered to be a ranked WL?

That is correct.

A ranked waitlist (as defined by the LCME) is one in which waitlisted candidates must be accepted sequentially in precise numerical order.
This order is pre-determined by the admissions committee and is executed by the Admissions Dean and their designated staff.