Wait List Movement Friendlier to High Stat Applicants?

[nyny87]

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On the initial post-interview review it seems like non-trads and applicants heavy on work experience have an equal shot at acceptances against high stat applicants. However, wait lists seem to favor high GPA, high MCAT applicants in higher proportions.

Is there any truth to this or do you think that this is completely misguided?

 

[blizzah]

Acceptances are friendlier to high stat applicants to begin with.

 

[Longshanks]

On the initial post-interview review it seems like non-trads and applicants heavy on work experience have an equal shot at acceptances against high stat applicants. However, wait lists seem to favor high GPA, high MCAT applicants in higher proportions.

Is there any truth to this or do you think that this is completely misguided?

Not necessarily. Higher stats will always help you and lead to more acceptances. However, concerning wait lists, if the school uses unranked wait lists they may pull people off for a panoply of reasons: dedication/motivation demonstrated through LOI's/updates/etc, URM status, race/ethnicity, diverse ECs or work experiences, etc beyond simply just GPA/MCAT. These will be factored in as well with ranked wait lists, but it isn't as transparent how these factors may influence your ranking.

 

[flatearth22]

Depends on the school. Depends on the applicant. Some schools have ranked waitlists and others don't.

I could imagine some schools with unranked waitlists trying to fill quotas. eg - if a non-trad with a cool life story withdraws then maybe they try and fill his spot from the waitlist with another non-trad with a cool life story....as opposed to filling it with a cookie cutter college senior

 

[Geekchick921]

Not necessarily. Higher stats will always help you and lead to more acceptances. However, concerning wait lists, if the school uses unranked wait lists they may pull people off for a panoply of reasons: dedication/motivation demonstrated through LOI's/updates/etc, URM status, race/ethnicity, diverse ECs or work experiences, etc beyond simply just GPA/MCAT. These will be factored in as well with ranked wait lists, but it isn't as transparent how these factors may influence your ranking.

👍

FWIW, at least one school I interviewed at suggested WL movement is affected by who withdraws to free up the spot. They want to have certain demographics represented and may choose to accept someone off the WL of comparable age, gender, race, etc. to the person that withdrew.

 

[nyny87]

Acceptances are friendlier to high stat applicants to begin with.

No way!

What I really wanted to know is whether the proportions of acceptance are higher off of the wait list than from the initial review for high stat applicants. Not if high stat applicants have a better chance of acceptance in general. Or if the Pope is Catholic. Or if a bear ****s in the woods. Or if Raggedy Ann has cotton t!ts. etc. etc.

 

[Geekchick921]

 

[nyny87]

Nice, just saw everyone else's feedback. Very helpful. I was unaware that there was such a thing as an unranked wait list. Thank you!

 

[Ursa]

I have average stats (3.7/30Q) and have gotten two waitlist acceptances in the past couple of weeks. But n=1.

 

[Longshanks]

👍

FWIW, at least one school I interviewed at suggested WL movement is affected by who withdraws to free up the spot. They want to have certain demographics represented and may choose to accept someone off the WL of comparable age, gender, race, etc. to the person that withdrew.

When I interviewed at NYMC they told us this too.