Should I Say This in a Letter to a Waitlist School?

[AllDay24]

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Hey guys,

I am really happy with one acceptance that I have under my belt, but I am also on a waitlist for a top-10 school that I am also pursuing. For the one acceptance I have, I will be buying a condo around May 20-25 to earn in-state status for that school (the date at which I must buy the condo cannot really be delayed for a number of reasons).

I was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to say in a letter to the waitlist school something like "I would like to hear back on my waitlist status by May 20th or so since I must buy a condo for in-status at another school." I figure this would save me from the difficult situation of being accepted to the waitlist school after May 20th when I will already have the condo (though I would nevertheless accept the waitlist offer even if it means I must quickly sell the condo after purchasing it).

I feel that being direct with my situation might help out but it could also look as if I'm being presumptuous and difficult by requesting to hear back by around May 20th.

Thoughts anyone? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Can you really close on a condo in under two weeks?

 

[Guero]

To answer your original question, so long as you word it to convey that it's a financial situation that would adversely affect you, you'll be fine. I've done similar letters in the past without repercussion. Just choose your words wisely.

That said, I'd strongly advise against accepting the WL offer after purchasing a condo unless you have enough funds saved/from family to essentially pay for two mortgages during medical school. You could end up ruining your credit if you fail to make payments on your condo during med school and go into foreclosure. It's not easy to sell property. And it's not easy to live off of the meager living expenses afforded to us in loans during medical school, even if you have scholarships.

Beyond the fiscal issues, you have time constraints. Don't forget that you must be present during signing and often times during inspection, which could fall on exam days. You sure as heck don't want to miss days in lab during anatomy, either. And thinking about all of the phone calls and faxed offers eating up your study time? ::shudder:: Just be careful, very careful...

 

[plumhill]

Hey guys,

I am really happy with one acceptance that I have under my belt, but I am also on a waitlist for a top-10 school that I am also pursuing. For the one acceptance I have, I will be buying a condo around May 20-25 to earn in-state status for that school (the date at which I must buy the condo cannot really be delayed for a number of reasons).

I was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to say in a letter to the waitlist school something like "I would like to hear back on my waitlist status by May 20th or so since I must buy a condo for in-status at another school." I figure this would save me from the difficult situation of being accepted to the waitlist school after May 20th when I will already have the condo (though I would nevertheless accept the waitlist offer even if it means I must quickly sell the condo after purchasing it).

I feel that being direct with my situation might help out but it could also look as if I'm being presumptuous and difficult by requesting to hear back by around May 20th.

Thoughts anyone? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

You could send that letter, but what are you going to do if you don't hear back by the 20th? And if its a top-10 school, I'd imagine that the competition to get off the wait list is ferocious. The school might interpret your letter as you feeling entitled to get off of the wait list and pass you over for that reason.

 

[LizzyM]

You could send that letter, but what are you going to do if you don't hear back by the 20th? And if its a top-10 school, I'd imagine that the competition to get off the wait list is ferocious. The school might interpret your letter as you feeling entitled to get off of the wait list and pass you over for that reason.

+1

Stay on the waitlist until the closing and then remove yourself from the waitlist as you are no longer interested in attending that school... or stay on the waitlist and figure that you might take a haircut (lose money) trying to sell the condo after just having bought it.

 

[alpinism]

Agree with the previous posters.

In addition, most WL movement occurs at the end of May and in early June. Many WLs don't even start to move till a week or so after May 15th.

The chances of your letter convincing the adcom to "update your status" prior to May 20th are likely very slim to none. Most schools fill class openings from the WL as they become available after accepted students withdraw. If the school really wanted you to come there, they wouldn't have put you on the WL to begin with. Is the WL ranked? If so you could ask about your general position on the list and when you might be accepted.