wait/alternate list questions...

[bubbles525]

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Hello everyone,
The wait it killing me! I've been put on the alternate list for WesternU and was wondering if anyone here could help me with any information. The FAQ they sent me says that most people hear by mid-May... I already feel like tearing my hair out! I just want to know what the next six months hold for me, I guess like everyone else still waiting. Any clues or guesses how many people they put on the list? how many they've taken year to year? or even in general how much movement there is at any school? (I know it can vary).
Thanks,
Marie

 

[wishes]

You are right that acceptance off alternate lists vary widely from school to school and also varies depending on if you are in-state or out-of-state. The in-state lists tend to move less because students are usually eager to go to their state college for financial reasons. I am an out of state applicant and two of the three alternate lists that I was on took upwards of 30 applicants off the list in recent years. I think that Wisconsin, for example, has some years taken as many as 70 out-of-state applicants off their alternate list.
I do not know that much about Western, but I suspect that their alternate list moves substantially. For one thing they are not California's State school so many people applying to Western are also looking at Davis. Their tuition is very expensive so some people would prefer to go elsewhere and their program is relatively new. Also, I do not think that Western makes a distinction between in-state and out-of-state applicants so there is probably only one alternate list.
I would definitely approach the alternate list with a degree of optimism. You might consider contacting the school directly as they may be able to give you an idea of how many students they typically call off the list each year. Now that the April 15th acceptance deadline has passed, there should be alot of movement in alternate lists.
Good luck!!

 

[tygris]

I agree with wishes that you should contact the school directly, maybe even ask them if there's anything you can do to make your application stronger in the pool of alternates. I would imagine Western has only one alternate list.
If it helps, I declined my admission offer there, so that opens up one spot at least 😉

 

[bubbles525]

I did contact the school and was basically told that they don't give exact numbers out. They would only tell me that they have taken people off the list every year. In fact, their alternate list is not ranked. Each person who declines is profiled and then the dean and assistant dean look for an alternate with a similar profile. So if a girl from the NE who is interested in small animal and avian medicine, and is just a year out of school declines their offer I get looked at and possibly called... if a guy from the west who has been in research for 10 years and is interested in large animal med declines I don't have a shot.... and so on. I asked a bunch of questions about process, numbers, and such, they just don't give out numbers. I guess I'm just blowing off some steam and frustration. Although, knowing at least one spot has opened up does certainly help.

 

[wishes]

I did contact the school and was basically told that they don't give exact numbers out. They would only tell me that they have taken people off the list every year. In fact, their alternate list is not ranked. Each person who declines is profiled and then the dean and assistant dean look for an alternate with a similar profile. So if a girl from the NE who is interested in small animal and avian medicine, and is just a year out of school declines their offer I get looked at and possibly called... if a guy from the west who has been in research for 10 years and is interested in large animal med declines I don't have a shot.... and so on.

Is that a weird way to go through an alternate list???

 

[bubbles525]

Is that a weird way to go through an alternate list???

It is a very weird way. However I think is see the point. They make a big deal of having a broadly diversified class, and I kinda like that. They really want a well rounded group of people. It's just killing me that I don't have a number or even a number of people on the list... UGH. I just have to hope that someone similar enough to me decided to go to Cornell or Tufts or anywhere else... I do have to assume there is a lot of movement; it's a new school and very expensive. I was rejected from 5 and wait listed there. Honestly, I love the program and probably would have chosen it if I had the happy dilemma of picking between schools. I've decided to re-take the GRE's and apply abroad if I don't get called, but I just want to GO...

 

[ReinaDeLuz]

It is a very weird way. However I think is see the point. They make a big deal of having a broadly diversified class, and I kinda like that. They really want a well rounded group of people. It's just killing me that I don't have a number or even a number of people on the list... UGH. I just have to hope that someone similar enough to me decided to go to Cornell or Tufts or anywhere else... I do have to assume there is a lot of movement; it's a new school and very expensive. I was rejected from 5 and wait listed there. Honestly, I love the program and probably would have chosen it if I had the happy dilemma of picking between schools. I've decided to re-take the GRE's and apply abroad if I don't get called, but I just want to GO...

are you a 21 year old hispanic girl with a primary interest in small animal medicine? cuz i just declined my spot...!

good luck getting into western!

i totally feel where you're at, i'm dying to go to my home state school (University of Florida) and am currently on the waitlist here in *agony* until they call me...which may not be until august...or ever :-(

 

[chris03333]

It is a very weird way. However I think is see the point. They make a big deal of having a broadly diversified class, and I kinda like that. They really want a well rounded group of people. It's just killing me that I don't have a number or even a number of people on the list... UGH. I just have to hope that someone similar enough to me decided to go to Cornell or Tufts or anywhere else... I do have to assume there is a lot of movement; it's a new school and very expensive. I was rejected from 5 and wait listed there. Honestly, I love the program and probably would have chosen it if I had the happy dilemma of picking between schools. I've decided to re-take the GRE's and apply abroad if I don't get called, but I just want to GO...

Hi I am a Western student (off the alternate list 3 years ago so it does happen). You also have to remember a reason they chose this way of picking alternates is the extremely high percentage of PBL in the curriculum. This makes it pretty mush impossible to do everything on your own, you sort of rely on your classmates and they rely on you...that might not work out if you have a bunch of people with the same background (like when we have equine cases I cringed but there was someone who liked equine medicine there to keep it positive and help clarify. When we had a small animal case the small animal people serve this purpose and large.....

 

[bubbles525]

are you a 21 year old hispanic girl with a primary interest in small animal medicine? cuz i just declined my spot...!

I wish I were Hispanic! Italian is my most ethnic... Just a white girl from the east with a primary interest in small and avian! I have hope 🙂 I just get those moments/days where this manic insane sensation rolls in waves over me about going to school. Most of the time I'm pretty laid back about it because I have faith it will all work out if I put in effort and I'll just reapply until I get in.

Marie

 

[NatureChic]

i think we are in the same boat bubbles!!!! i am an alternate for western too. one of the admissions reps told me last week that they offered 160 seats and 105 sent in deposits. she also told me that they prob won't go to the alternates until the class drops to around 90. but she wouldn't give me exact numbers on how many were offered alternates. 🙁 there is nothing for us to do now but wait. tick tock!!!!! good luck to you.