UNIQUE DILEMMA - Stanford and Harvard's Waitlist Protocol

[guga282]

I have to know:

Does anyone here now what is Stanford (my TOP CHOICE) and Harvard's protocol for taking people off waitlists? When do they start and how frequently do they look at their waitlist applicants?

pretty darn soon ... I know it doesn't sound interesting, or maybe annoying, but I would really appreciate the help (I dont' want to say too much about why it is unique, for fear of jinxing myself for other things that I applied to). But basically, I may have once in a lifetime opportunities to do some research that I have always wanted to do ...

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[humuhumu]

I have to know:

Does anyone here now what is Stanford (my TOP CHOICE) and Harvard's protocol for taking people off waitlists? When do they start and how frequently do they look at their waitlist applicants?

pretty darn soon ... I know it doesn't sound interesting, or maybe annoying, but I would really appreciate the help (I dont' want to say too much about why it is unique, for fear of jinxing myself for other things that I applied to). But basically, I may have once in a lifetime opportunities to do some research that I have always wanted to do ...

Harvard explains it in their waitlist letter. Waitlisters aren't ranked. Don't know about Stanford.

 

[guga282]

Ok I give in ... it's for the Fulbright to study in Oxford, now will someone please help me?

I have to know:

Does anyone here now what is Stanford (my TOP CHOICE) and Harvard's protocol for taking people off waitlists? When do they start and how frequently do they look at their waitlist applicants?

pretty darn soon ... I know it doesn't sound interesting, or maybe annoying, but I would really appreciate the help (I dont' want to say too much about why it is unique, for fear of jinxing myself for other things that I applied to). But basically, I may have once in a lifetime opportunities to do some research that I have always wanted to do ...

 

[diosa428]

Ok I give in ... it's for the Fulbright to study in Oxford, now will someone please help me?

I would imagine that neither will start moving until ~May 15th and I don't think either school takes a lot of people off the waitlist. Stanford has gone to the waitlist only once in the past three years I think.

 

[klm]

Congratulations on your Fulbright! You absolutely MUST take it. You will kick yourself for the rest of your life if you turn down a Fulbright to Oxford. I am an Oxford alum and attending Oxford was one of the best experiences of my life.

Harvard and Stanford will be fighting each other for your attendance when you return to the U.S. We used to tease the Rhodes Scholars at Oxford that the R-word attached to their names was like a magic pass to do whatever they wanted for the rest of their lives. Your Fulbright will be even better. As I'm sure you know, it is almost impossible to get a Fulbright to an English speaking country. Rhodes Scholars at Oxford are everywhere -- Fulbrights are extremely rare.

Take this amazing opportunity. Take it because you will have the time of your life at Oxford; take it because you will never experience anything like it anywhere else in the world; take it because it will be one of the most professionally rewarding and challenging experiences of your life; and take it because it will open doors for you for the rest of your life. Harvard and Stanford will be here when you get back.

(Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding Oxford. Do you know which college yet?)

 

[DrDarwin]

Harvard and Stanford will be fighting each other for your attendance when you return to the U.S. We used to tease the Rhodes Scholars at Oxford that the R-word attached to their names was like a magic pass to do whatever they wanted for the rest of their lives. Your Fulbright will be even better. As I'm sure you know, it is almost impossible to get a Fulbright to an English speaking country. Rhodes Scholars at Oxford are everywhere -- Fulbrights are extremely rare.

Even so, I doubt anyone will ever be more impressed with a Fulbright grant than with a Rhodes scholarship. After all, I assume most people who are dead set on studying at Oxford apply for both Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships. If it can be demonstrated that a significant number of applicants who receive both scholarships decline a Rhodes to pursue a Fulbright, I might believe that a Fulbright at Oxford is more prestigious. Otherwise, I am not convinced.

Also, consider PennMed. They give full rides to any former Rhodes Scholar, but no school I know of automatically accepts Fulbright Scholars, although Fulbrighters, assuming they submit a reasonably competitive application, should gain admittance to a very good medical school. Perhaps you want to argue that being a Fulbrighter at Oxford is significantly better than being a Fulbrighter elsewhere, but that is only if the project you wish to pursue can be better accomplished at Oxford.

In any case, either scholarship is a fantastic accomplishment.

To the OP,

Congratulations! As a former Fulbright Scholar, I would definitely recommend taking advantage of the experience. While I cannot guarantee schools will be fighting for you when you get back, the experience will do nothing but strengthen your application. And because you are already on the cusp of being accepted at some of the top medical schools, you are essentially assured of being accepted at an elite school upon your return. Moreover, Oxford is an amazing place--everyone at my medical school who studied there absolutely loved it--, and you seem to be very excited about the research you would pursue there. You should definitely go.

 

[wetlightning]

yeah, OP, congrats!

but, i have to add that the only reason there are tons of Rhodes floating around oxford is b/c that is the only school they may attend according to Cecil Rhodes' will. the Rhodes is still significantly harder to get and more prestigious than a Fulbright, even though a Fulbright to England is harder than a Fulbright elsewhere. both are great accomplishments. congrats. take the fulbright and run with it! you'll have no problem getting into med school afterwards.

 

[guga282]

Congratulations on your Fulbright! You absolutely MUST take it. You will kick yourself for the rest of your life if you turn down a Fulbright to Oxford. I am an Oxford alum and attending Oxford was one of the best experiences of my life.

Harvard and Stanford will be fighting each other for your attendance when you return to the U.S. We used to tease the Rhodes Scholars at Oxford that the R-word attached to their names was like a magic pass to do whatever they wanted for the rest of their lives. Your Fulbright will be even better. As I'm sure you know, it is almost impossible to get a Fulbright to an English speaking country. Rhodes Scholars at Oxford are everywhere -- Fulbrights are extremely rare.

Take this amazing opportunity. Take it because you will have the time of your life at Oxford; take it because you will never experience anything like it anywhere else in the world; take it because it will be one of the most professionally rewarding and challenging experiences of your life; and take it because it will open doors for you for the rest of your life. Harvard and Stanford will be here when you get back.

(Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding Oxford. Do you know which college yet?)

Hey guys, thanks so much for your kind words. I appreciate it very much! I am kind of in shock really ... and I will definitely take this opportunity up. I think I'll just mention it in my letter and hope for the best. I am honestly too exhausted to think about it any more. I will PM each of you individually with questions and what not, but I thought I'd say thanks in this post 🙂.

Best,
Guga

 

[Saluki]

Guga-Do you have an acceptance somewhere? Will Harvard and Stanford let you defer if you get in off the waitlist before a certain date or why do you feel rushed?

I guess I'm in a similar situation.... I got a Fulbright (not to England- how boring would that be 😛 ) But I'm also on a waitlist at my top choice school and they'll only let me defer if they accept me before May 1!

 

[guga282]

Hey Saluki,

No I don't, I didn't apply to that many schools, and only interviewed at a few. I am still waiting to hear back from 2 schools, probably next week I am hoping?

I am not sure about the deferring thing (except Harvard is automatic for a Fulbright, I guess, but I don't know if that applies if you are off the waitlist) ... to be honest I've been to too afraid to call Harvard or Stanford (I know I know, I'm a ******, but I always sound like a bumbling idiot), and was hoping people here knew. I feel rushed because it's been 3 weeks since I've been waitlisted and I still have not sent them a letter saying that I accept a position on the waitlist, etc. Also, I need to let the Fulbright people know soon, so if I don't take it, they'll give it to someone on the alternate list. (but yes, I'll be taking the Fulbright for sure, thanks so much to everyone with their suggestions). Where are you doing your Fulbright in? Dude the UK Fulbright system is so incredibly incredibly weird, it's different from all the other countries.

Which school are you waitlisted in? CCLCM is awesome though, not a bad place to be. One of my friends is going there (you can PM me later too if you want, I'm actually from the Cleveland area).

Guga-Do you have an acceptance somewhere? Will Harvard and Stanford let you defer if you get in off the waitlist before a certain date or why do you feel rushed?

I guess I'm in a similar situation.... I got a Fulbright (not to England- how boring would that be 😛 ) But I'm also on a waitlist at my top choice school and they'll only let me defer if they accept me before May 1!

 

[needinformation]

Peole defer all the time. And I think once they accept you, either though the regular pool or from the wait list, they need to honor that acceptance and you're entitled to defer. People defer for various reasons, traveling, health issues, relationships...etc, and I think to do a Fulbright is an once-in-a-life-time experience that any reasonable dean of admission will honor and allow.

 

[boomuntilnoon]

Since we're stroking our egos and name-dropping prestigious graduate scholarships/fellowships all around, what do you think is the most coveted one of them all?

I think the "Trifecta" would be Rhodes+Cooke+(insert 3rd name here), if that's even possible to achieve.

Here's my breakdown (of course I could be somewhat off-base here, so feel free to chime in):

In terms of actual value + flexibility/opportunity:
Cooke > Rhodes > Gates > Marshall/Watson > Fulbright

Competitiveness:
More difficult to judge because some applications require interviews but some do not. A non-interview, paper-only scenario would seem to create a more competitive process overall.

Name Recognition:
Rhodes > > > Fulbright > Marshall/Watson > Gates > Cooke

Honorable Mentions:
Truman, Soros, NSF, Madison, Mellon

 

[Saluki]

The Rhodes would definitely be the most prestigious, but I didn't even apply... My professors wanted me to, but even if I could have gotten it I really didn't want to take two years off before med school.... In any case, any scholarship that pays you to go abroad is all right by me 😀

 

[guga282]

hey dude, im gonna just go ahead and keep it real. PLEASE don't be offended, i really don't mean it in a bad way at all, nor do I want to make it sound like im lecturing you. to be honest, i don't care which is more prestigious, just which will help me the most to achieve what i want to achieve and in return which i can get that will allow me to give back the most. sounds idealistic ... i know ... but i don't feel like these sorts of posts are practical or helpful at all ... in fact i didn't really want to mention the fulbright, but people werent' really responding much until they understood what was my "unique dilemma"

Since we're stroking our egos and name-dropping prestigious graduate scholarships/fellowships all around, what do you think is the most coveted one of them all?

I think the "Trifecta" would be Rhodes+Cooke+(insert 3rd name here), if that's even possible to achieve.

Here's my breakdown (of course I could be somewhat off-base here, so feel free to chime in):

In terms of actual value + flexibility/opportunity:
Cooke > Rhodes > Gates > Marshall/Watson > Fulbright

Competitiveness:
More difficult to judge because some applications require interviews but some do not. A non-interview, paper-only scenario would seem to create a more competitive process overall.

Name Recognition:
Rhodes > > > Fulbright > Marshall/Watson > Gates > Cooke

Honorable Mentions:
Truman, Soros, NSF, Madison, Mellon

 

[Saluki]

Since we're stroking our egos and name-dropping prestigious graduate scholarships/fellowships all around, what do you think is the most coveted one of them all?

I think the "Trifecta" would be Rhodes+Cooke+(insert 3rd name here), if that's even possible to achieve.

Here's my breakdown (of course I could be somewhat off-base here, so feel free to chime in):

In terms of actual value + flexibility/opportunity:
Cooke > Rhodes > Gates > Marshall/Watson > Fulbright

Competitiveness:
More difficult to judge because some applications require interviews but some do not. A non-interview, paper-only scenario would seem to create a more competitive process overall.

Name Recognition:
Rhodes > > > Fulbright > Marshall/Watson > Gates > Cooke

Honorable Mentions:
Truman, Soros, NSF, Madison, Mellon

What is the Cooke scholarship?

 

[guga282]

well, since this thread is basically dead, if you guys want to ... let this be the post about all post-graduate scholarships or any national scholarships or awards in general. let the games begin. And btw, Rhodes is the best one in the world. Goldwater is another good one too.

Since we're stroking our egos and name-dropping prestigious graduate scholarships/fellowships all around, what do you think is the most coveted one of them all?

I think the "Trifecta" would be Rhodes+Cooke+(insert 3rd name here), if that's even possible to achieve.

Here's my breakdown (of course I could be somewhat off-base here, so feel free to chime in):

In terms of actual value + flexibility/opportunity:
Cooke > Rhodes > Gates > Marshall/Watson > Fulbright

Competitiveness:
More difficult to judge because some applications require interviews but some do not. A non-interview, paper-only scenario would seem to create a more competitive process overall.

Name Recognition:
Rhodes > > > Fulbright > Marshall/Watson > Gates > Cooke

Honorable Mentions:
Truman, Soros, NSF, Madison, Mellon

 

[HMSNeuro]

well, since this thread is basically dead, if you guys want to ... let this be the post about all post-graduate scholarships or any national scholarships or awards in general. let the games begin. And btw, Rhodes is the best one in the world. Goldwater is another good one too.

i can answer the question about hms. unfortunately, if accepted off the waitlist you cannot defer.

 

[guga282]

i can answer the question about hms. unfortunately, if accepted off the waitlist you cannot defer.

yup, just checked w/ them, well screw it, i can't turn down the fulbright to oxford man, just too great of an opportunity... i guess its stanford or nothing

 

[Archdelux]

Bringing back an old thread--I have a question: If you get a Fulbright and are accepted to med school, then you can most likely defer it to next year... However, can you apply again to different schools? How does this work? I assume that getting Fulbright and doing the project abroad will help your app significantly (and possibly get you into 'better' schools than you got into initially)--has anyone done this?

 

[Flopotomist]

In order to get off the waitlist, you must first be able to identify the appropriate thread to post pre-allo issues.