Updates when on the waitlist

[StilgarMD]

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So, this cycle has had it's up's and down's, and I've ended up on a few wait lists. How do you guys suggest updating programs to let them know you are still interested if you aren't doing anything particularly interesting (i.e. Research has either stopped/nothing new, or working in an unrelated field now)?

 

[bioobgyn]

To add on to this, I've also be explicitly told by some MD/PhD program directors to update them when I've received acceptances to other programs. Would this help or hurt my chances on the waitlist?

 

[mTORC]

To add on to this, I've also be explicitly told by some MD/PhD program directors to update them when I've received acceptances to other programs. Would this help or hurt my chances on the waitlist?

None of their business... I may be wrong, but I think asking that is against AMCAS rules & regulation

 

[Fencer]

Starting on February 10th, program directors will be able to know other MD or MD/PhD acceptances for their accepted and alternate lists.

I truly think that a match would be the best thing for MD/PhD students and programs. The problem is how to make them stick, when perhaps, a MD acceptance at dream school my pull you out from a matched program.

 

[mTORC]

Starting on February 10th, program directors will be able to know other MD or MD/PhD acceptances for their accepted and alternate lists.

I truly think that a match would be the best thing for MD/PhD students and programs. The problem is how to make them stick, when perhaps, a MD acceptance at dream school my pull you out from a matched program.

I'm wondering what the reasoning is behind allowing directors to see where you've been accepted, especially if you've been wait listed at their school? By the way, is yield factored into the rankings? Why are so many directors passionate about their yield?

 

[Fencer]

Why? Because directors need to have accurate enrollment projections. The process is about trust between applicants and directors. Communication is key.

Out of the traffic rules for directors:

"Rule 5. On or before April 30*, each school or program permit ALL applicants (except for EDP applicants):

a. A minimum two-week time period for their response to the acceptance offer.
b. To hold acceptance offers or a wait list position from any other schools or programs without penalty (i.e. withholding funding support)​

Rule 6. After April 30, each school or program implement school-specific procedures for accepted applicants who, without adequate explanation, continue to hold one or more places at other schools or programs. These procedures:

a. Each school or program should permit applicants:

i. A minimum of 5 business days to respond to an acceptance offer. This may be reduced to a minimum of 2 business days within 30 days of the start of orientation
ii. Submit a statement of intent, a deposit, or both.​

b. Should recognize the problems of applicants with multiple acceptance offers, applicants who have not yet received an acceptance offer, and applicants who have not yet been informed about financial aid opportunities at schools to which they have been accepted.
c. Should permit applicants who have been accepted or granted a deferral to remain on other schools' or programs' wait lists and to withdraw if they later receive an acceptance offer from a preferred school or program."​

Bold is mine.

 

[Maebea]

By the way, is yield factored into the rankings? Why are so many directors passionate about their yield?

Rankings do not exist for MD-PhD programs. However, NIH study sections may incorrectly infer some quality metric by a program's yield. Some PD's will offer admission to the best candidates, even as they acknowledge that there is little chance they will enroll; they use historical data to predict a yield and hope for the best. Other PD's will choose not to admit potentially low-yield candidates; they do not want to tie up slots until April 30 because they know that the waitlist yield is low. I would not say that PD's are passionate about their yield. I suppose if your yield is 95% you might make sure that candidates know this, but in my many years of experience I have never heard PD's talk about their yield.

 

[mTORC]

Rankings do not exist for MD-PhD programs. However, NIH study sections may incorrectly infer some quality metric by a program's yield. Some PD's will offer admission to the best candidates, even as they acknowledge that there is little chance they will enroll; they use historical data to predict a yield and hope for the best. Other PD's will choose not to admit potentially low-yield candidates; they do not want to tie up slots until April 30 because they know that the waitlist yield is low. I would not say that PD's are passionate about their yield. I suppose if your yield is 95% you might make sure that candidates know this, but in my many years of experience I have never heard PD's talk about their yield.

Thanks. I was only asking because some program directors have emphasized it to us (the applicants) quite a lot.

 

[mynameistoolong]

Any answers to the original question (how to update programs if you aren't doing anything particularly interesting)?

 

[oxfordian]

Fencer,

Do you see where else the applicants have been accepted or just that they are holding multiple acceptances?

I guess I understand the rationale but I also kinda find it to be an invasion of privacy if they know where you hold acceptances.

 

[Fencer]

Beginning on Feb 10th, Program Directors are able to see each program type and school who has accepted an applicant that has been accepted to their own school/program. You are not able to see that information until after you have offered the applicant an acceptance. We also don't see if they are waitlisted to a particular program.

It is not an invasion of privacy as this is part of the application consent, and FERPA laws also apply to this information.

 

[oxfordian]

^I'm sure it's legal, I just don't necessarily agree with the policy.

 

[stannislaus]

Beginning on Feb 10th, Program Directors are able to see each program type and school who has accepted an applicant that has been accepted to their own school/program. You are not able to see that information until after you have offered the applicant an acceptance. We also don't see if they are waitlisted to a particular program.

It is not an invasion of privacy as this is part of the application consent, and FERPA laws also apply to this information.

Fencer, just to clarify:

After Feb. 10, other program directors will be able to see an applicant's other acceptances if and only if they have also accepted that applicant. If their program has not accepted the applicant (yet), then they would not be able to see the applicant's other admission offers.

^is that correct?

I'm wondering because a few of my top choice schools are planning on making decisions mid february - march, and if they are able to see my other acceptances after february 10, I wouldn't want that to affect their decision-making...

 

[mTORC]

Fencer, just to clarify:

After Feb. 10, other program directors will be able to see an applicant's other acceptances if and only if they have also accepted that applicant. If their program has not accepted the applicant (yet), then they would not be able to see the applicant's other admission offers.

^is that correct?

I'm wondering because a few of my top choice schools are planning on making decisions mid february - march, and if they are able to see my other acceptances after february 10, I wouldn't want that to affect their decision-making...

On a previous post, Fencer said if they accept or waitlist you

 

[plumazul]

On a previous post, Fencer said if they accept or waitlist you

It's part of a two step process. In April they can see everything even if they haven't accepted you. I believe this is necessary in order for the system to work properly. It's all spelled out in the application instructions. (you know, the pdf , page 82, we were supposed to read)

 

[bioobgyn]

Just curious - will Program Directors be able to see acceptances or waitlists that we've rejected already? Or the dates as to when we received the acceptance?

 

[Fencer]

Not the dates. Withdrawals after acceptance (but not before) are seen.

 

[Fencer]

Fencer, just to clarify:
After Feb. 10, other program directors will be able to see an applicant's other acceptances if and only if they have also accepted that applicant. If their program has not accepted the applicant (yet), then they would not be able to see the applicant's other admission offers.
^is that correct?

That is correct. If an applicant has not been accepted at that point, we are not able to see anything. The program has to commit to the applicant in AMCAS in order to see those other acceptances.

^I'm sure it's legal, I just don't necessarily agree with the policy.

From here on, there are many regulating boards and agencies that collect your information whether we like it or not. They are required by several federal and state laws to do so aiming to keep the integrity of the MD process. NIH is also deeply interested in workforce and how to predict who does well.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I don't want to hijack this thread but I figure this question goes better in here than in its own topic.

My problem is that I haven't been sending update letters yet. I've got a lot to update schools about, but I don't see much else happening after this. The only new stuff I've got planned a couple of science-related community outreach activities which will both happen later this month. My application didn't have much of these types of activities so it's something I'd like to add. However, I hear it's also good to send multiple update letters over the course of months to schools. Since these two activities haven't happened yet, should I save them for a future letter which would probably be sent around April?

Also, for one of the schools I included a bit in my update letter about how they're my top choice. Will that preclude my ability to send an LOI later even if it's just a short paragraph at the end? I know from an adcom member that this school places a lot of weight on knowing that they're an applicant's top choice, so it's not something I really want to hold back, but again, I'd like to have something to warrant keeping me in contact with this school.

 

[pipettequeen]

I am also curious to hear thoughts about LOI. Does anyone have suggestions for what to include in the LOI? I have started writing mine, but it is hard to make it sound unique - "I am still very interested, loved the students/research/environment, ect". One of the main reasons the school is my top choice is because my boyfriend will be in that city. Is this something that is appropriate to mention in a LOI? (It is a huge factor after all)