Should I goto an alternate list interview?

[xanthines]

I got an e-mail from MCW for an interview invite for the alternate list today. At first I was excited, but then I saw it was for the alt-list? Should I even bother?

I'm still waiting for news from 3 schools I at which I've already interviewed (in-state schools). I've also been put on an alternate list already at another school, in-state. Plus, I've gotten more than few rejections (all pre-interview).

The trip is going to be pretty costly which is why I'm wondering if it is worth it. It would be different if it were a shot at an acceptance OR if I'd been accepted anywhere already!

So what would you do?

-X

 

[lizzylu]

My first question was, are you in anywhere yet?
If so, then the answer is obvious..don't go.

But if you're still waiting to hear from 3 schools post interview, your chances of getting into at least one of these schools is good.

However, MCW could be the one, so here's what I'd do. Find out when the latest you can interview for this "waitlist" is, and sign up for that (at this point the time won't matter). If you hear something in the meantime from the other schools you can cancel the MCW interview and save some $. If nothing is heard, then go and do the MCW interview, and if you're a confident interviewee than they may accept you very quickly after interviewing, you never know.

Good luck

 

[Heal&Teach]

Xanthines,

I'd consider going. At many of my interviews, I already know that I was going straight to the waitlist b/c the interviewers revealed this to me in person. At least you know in advance where you stand. If MCW is a top choice for you, I would definitely say invest the money and go, b/c you really never know. I'm in a similar boat, three pre-interview rejections, no acceptances, one official waitlist, and waiting to be placed on the waitlist of two other schools (based on the outcome of the interviews, which went pretty well), so I am going to every last one of my interviews. But believe you me, if I get something before my last scheduled one in late March, I'm cancelling that to save money and possible heartache. I wish you the best.

Best of luck,
H&T

 

[xanthines]

Tell me about it! But no, I am sadly acceptance-less.

Good advice on the waiting to last minute, though...

-X

Originally posted by lizzylu
My first question was, are you in anywhere yet?
If so, then the answer is obvious..don't go.

Good luck

 

[xanthines]

I feel your pain!

-X

Originally posted by Heal&Teach
<snip!>

I'm in a similar boat, three pre-interview rejections, no acceptances, one official waitlist, and waiting to be placed on the waitlist of two other schools (based on the outcome of the interviews, which went pretty well), so I am going to every last one of my interviews.

 

[Brickhouse]

Originally posted by xanthines
I got an e-mail from MCW for an interview invite for the alternate list today. At first I was excited, but then I saw it was for the alt-list? Should I even bother?

-X

Hey I got the same interview! I was like "thanks a lot people"! Fortunately I do have an acceptance so I turned it down. Maybe you can just schedule it and cancel if anything happens before then? You probably have a good chance with your state schools, tho, don't you think?

 

[meanderson]

xanthines, you're from georgia right? If not, disregard all of this If you interviewed at all four schools(emory, mcg, morehouse, mercer), I've got to believe you will find an acceptance later in the cycle somewhere. When the emory waitlist moves a little this forces the mcg waitlist to kick into gear which forces the same at mercer. MCG only has one or two more adcomm meetings until waitlist letters are sent out, and I think mercer is on a similar timetable this year.

But I'm not sure that you can get an MCW date that late in the cycle. It's a tough call. If it were me, I'd try to schedule the interview as late as possible and go if you have to. I did the same thing with out of state virginia schools and it worked. Good luck....

 

[Adapt]

You should not think that one of your 3 interviews will be an acceptance. Since you have no acceptances right now, you should jump at every opportunity to interview.

With that said, you definitely should go to the interview. You don't want to be kicking yourself in July when your sitting on no acceptances and you turned down another opportunity to get accepted.