umdnj-som just wrecked my life!

[DesiInNyc]

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Members don't see this ad.

hi everyone. despite a great interview, umdnj has just informed me via mail, in a most sincerely diplomatic way, that i am on the waiting list for 2007. my first reaction, thank god i paid the nycom deposit.

but people, i really really, really want umdnj. can anyone provide any info at all as to how the waiting list works at umd? any time- table info? anything at all (even other schools' policies on waiting lists) will greatly help to calm my nerves. oh yeah, i'm assuming an alternate list (as umd calls it) is the same as a waiting list.

thank you, and my best2u_all.

 

[doctorperez]

Do they give you an alternate list number? that is what number you occupy?


They met on the 21 of April (the ad. com. that is) and will not meet again until May. That is why you got your letter recently. When was your interview?

 

[DesiInNyc]

I interviewed at umdnj-som in late march, was told that committee would meet on 4/21 to decide my fate. There is no sort of an alternate # on the letter, but the letter is definitely a piece of work, so I'll quote just a bit:

The committee has several options:
1. to immediately accept
2. to determine the applicant acceptable but not to accept at this time
3. to place on hold for further review
4. to reject the applicant

I am pleased to inform you that the Admissions Committee found you as an acceptable candidate.[at this point, I was deliriously ecstatic!] There are more applicants found acceptable than to whom we can immediately offer admission. Therefore, acceptable candidates are placed on our Alternate list.[..and my world came crashing down upon me.😱]

man, they had me goin' at first. whatever happened to transition words like 'however'?? ya know, give a guy a sign that something ominous lurks around the corner. 😀

but hey, their class size is like 85 kids, so, i suppose it was always a very real possibility. stupid me, it never occured to me before. i wonder if they are still interviewing.
well, cheers.

 

[Idiopathic]

Originally posted by DesiInNyc
I am pleased to inform you that the Admissions Committee found you as an acceptable candidate.[/COLOR][at this point, I was deliriously ecstatic!] There are more applicants found acceptable than to whom we can immediately offer admission. Therefore, acceptable candidates are placed on our Alternate list.[..and my world came crashing down upon me.😱]

Des- This is by far the worst way to start a semi-rejection that I could ever imagine. As one who has been through something similar, I empathize and can attest to the fact that things will work out. At the very least, you have a place somewhere and a potential spot in Jersey.

If it were me, I would call the school (unless the letter specifically says NOT to) and ask anything you can: where you are on the list, how many people they usually pull off the list, etc. Treat it as though you are not in and have to find out how to work your way in. Just my opinion. Good luck to you.

 

[doctorperez]

DesiInNyc


Yes They are still interviewing.
May I ask, do you feel number and
all round wise your application was
competitive? just curious. Thanks.

 

[DesiInNyc]

i got a 26mcat, 3.33sci gpa, 3.6overall gpa, and like i said, the interview was good. if any umdnj-som faculty/staff are reading this thread, i am not bitching so please don't hold it against me. i'm simply discussing my predicament with my peers. their feedback is valuble to me and i hope my experience will help the next bunch of applicants, to whom i say, apply early (i applied in december '02) so you get the school you trully want.

p.s.
ty Idiopathic, for giving me some good questionsto ask them. i'll not call yet but maybe they'll have some more concrete info by end of may.
😎

 

[nrddct]

ditto, I'm in the same situation. 2interviews and 2 waitlist. 3.41ovarall,3.45 sci. Wish you Luck! In the mean time, I know EXACTLY how you feel.

 

[CJLaw]

Originally posted by DesiInNyc
hi everyone. despite a great interview, umdnj has just informed me via mail, in a most sincerely diplomatic way, that i am on the waiting list for 2007. my first reaction, thank god i paid the nycom deposit.

but people, i really really, really want umdnj. can anyone provide any info at all as to how the waiting list works at umd? any time- table info? anything at all (even other schools' policies on waiting lists) will greatly help to calm my nerves. oh yeah, i'm assuming an alternate list (as umd calls it) is the same as a waiting list.

thank you, and my best2u_all.

I ALMOST felt sorry for you . .. . . until you mentioned you have an acceptance in hand. Let's put things in perspective here. No matter what NJ does, you're still going to med school--you're going to be a doctor! Do you know how many people on this and the pre-allo board would give their testicles to be in your shoes right now?

I understand that its your first choice, but honey, we don't always get everything we want--its called life. Your post reminds me of a three year old at McDonald's who gets the brown toy instead of the blue toy and stomps their feet, screams at the top of their lungs, and acts like a ***** until their mommy goes and asks the cashier for a blue toy instead. Suck it up--you spoiled little brat--stop being a drama queen--and wait just like everyone else. What's the worst thing that could happen to you at this point--oh yeah, you become a doctor from NYCOM!

 

[DesiInNyc]

CJ,

I didn't write in for your sympathies. i wrote to get some info on what i'm dealing with here. nycom is way better than another year wasted. but man, goin' to nycom means having to live at home. 😱 i live very nearby (w/parents) to nycom campus and it wouldn't make sense to flush more money down the toilet to live on my own, especially in this neighborhood-- the rent is sky-high!

noone can study their best at home-- y'll know that. i want peace and silence, that's all. no TV noises coming from parents' room when a guy is tryin' to sleep!!!! and hey, it's pretty easy to get lost in a sea of 300 students at nycom (yes, that is their class size!).

anyway, CJ, don't take offense..move on.

 

[jgrieco]

Guys, hey we are all in the same boat here. Be nice to each other. Congrats on the NYCOM acceptance. Personally I would rather live at home and go to NYCOM. Just be patient. The reply about finding out what number you are is good, they usually number the alternates and then as accepted student decline the alternates are moved into those spots.

At this point in the year I think that the tension is high for those who are still waiting to hear if they are into a school. You have to forgive that not so nice post.

Good luck!

 

[oceandocDO]

Hey DesiNYC, I'm not trying to bash UMDNJ, but I'm from jersey and i chose nycom over umdnj for alot of reasons. First off, of late, the governor of NJ has decided that the UMDNJ system needs a major restructuring, modeled after the Univ of Calif system. I've talked to UMDNJ students, both in newark and stratford, and they're worried about this. While in 5-10 years it may work out for the better, in the meantime there's going to be alot of changes, with new administration probably being the least of the issues. No one wants to be a guinea pig and there will be some growing pains within that system in the next few years. I wouldnt want to deal with that.

Next, nycom's clinical rotations far outshine umdnj's. The Kennedy health system, which is affiliated with the stratford school, is respectable, but you're not going to be exposed to the same pathology you will in NY. There's some damn fine hospitals nycom students rotate through, affiliated with the likes of NYU, Cornell, Yale, Einstein, etc. The class size may be large, but remember 40 of them are APEP students, who dont take labs or some other courses with you, so the most important classes where interaction with professors is required have better faculty:student ratios than most schools. The match list of late proves the school finds its respect among the "power programs". PM me if you want details.

I understand you wanting to get away from home, but I know plenty of people who live with mom and dad and actually find it better than living away from home. Why? Because med school is much different than undergrad. You need much more support than before and free time to party is much less frequent anyway. Having family there to help you out every now and then with a hot meal or some laundry service isnt a bad thing because time otherwise may not allow for it. Plus the cash saved for rent, it's a win-win.

Anyway, like another poster said, be thankful for what you have, because you may find it to be a blessing in disguise in a year or two.

 

[Fenrezz]

Originally posted by DesiInNyc
I interviewed at umdnj-som in late march, was told that committee would meet on 4/21 to decide my fate. There is no sort of an alternate # on the letter, but the letter is definitely a piece of work, so I'll quote just a bit:

The committee has several options:
1. to immediately accept
2. to determine the applicant acceptable but not to accept at this time
3. to place on hold for further review
4. to reject the applicant

I am pleased to inform you that the Admissions Committee found you as an acceptable candidate.[at this point, I was deliriously ecstatic!] There are more applicants found acceptable than to whom we can immediately offer admission. Therefore, acceptable candidates are placed on our Alternate list.[..and my world came crashing down upon me.😱]

man, they had me goin' at first. whatever happened to transition words like 'however'?? ya know, give a guy a sign that something ominous lurks around the corner. 😀
cheers.

Damn, you just reminded me that the same thing happened to me with UMDNJ. I was reading the letter ready to start dancing and calling everyone. Thank God I finished reading the letter, or else I would have had a lot of retractions to make.

With all due respect to the adcom at NJ, but those boneheads need to reconstruct their alternate list letter. I can only imagine what their rejection letter looks like ( "Congratulations!! You've been officially considered for the class of 2007! We regret to inform you you're shyt outta luck." )

 

[DesiInNyc]

😀 😀

yo fenny, u're killin' me here, bro. that was dead-on hilarious. u yanked the very thoughts outtamy head!
cheers