Waitlist Movement in 2009?

[162554]

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Hey guys,

This isn't school specific, but, i've been waitlisted at 3 schools, with one acceptance (nice school, and will attend if i have no other choice, but doesnt click as well as the other 3 waitlisted ones).

I was wondering what thoughts are on how much waitlist movement to expect. I know this year is (and last was) somewhat odd. Last year some schools accidentally over-accepted and as a result they're waitlisting huge numbers this year.

And this year, because of the economy/record number of applications, do you think we should expect less or more waitlist movement?

Thanks in advance for the thoughts and goodluck to those in similar shoes

 

[kingofthehill]

Waitlist selection is fickle and movement is unpredictable. I don't think one can ever know beyond a guess how much movement there will be in any certain year. The best thing to do, I think, would be to call the schools you're interested in and just ask them what THEY expect. They would have a much better "guess" than anyone here, IMO.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

I know nothing about waitlists, so this might be totally off:

Maybe really expensive private schools will have more waitlist movement this year than last because of the economy? I think alot more people are aware of financial issues after the last year than before and it might make people more likely to go with the 'cheaper'?

But that's just a thought

 

[cubssox2000]

LizzyM said in one thread that it may be possible for there to be a lot of movement this year. She said that because applicants are applying to less schools and going on less interviews. they are also holding less acceptances. Because of this, people who would have had 5 acceptances now have 2. Also, schools may accept fewer people straight out and give more waitlists because they know that this can happen. Therefore, it is possible that schools only gave out about 2x the number of seats they have instead of 2.5-3x. This could cause the waitlists to move quite a bit as the schools try to keep up with people choosing their schools.

I hope this is an accurate paraphrase. Hopefully LizzyM can come in and explain further.

 

[162554]

Any ideas on how to get her to come down from the Adcom heavens

 

[fizzle]

LizzyM said in one thread that it may be possible for there to be a lot of movement this year. She said that because applicants are applying to less schools and going on less interviews. they are also holding less acceptances. Because of this, people who would have had 5 acceptances now have 2.

If people have fewer acceptances, then that would mean that there would be less waitlist movement due to fewer withdrawals, not more...

 

[phospho]

If people have fewer acceptances, then that would mean that there would be less waitlist movement due to fewer withdrawals, not more...

lol, that's what i was thinking...

 

[chemnerd89]

Any ideas on how to get her to come down from the Adcom heavens

It's very similar to a rain dance.

 

[LizzyM]

First, consider that most schools hand out more acceptance letters than they have seats. They WANT to fill the class without going to the waitlist and they will extend fewer or more offers depending on whether they think this will be a year with lots offers accepted or a year with fewer offers accepted. A school that went to the waitlist for a large number of students one year may increase the number of offers it makes the next year to avoid a repeat of the waitlist roulette (a school can make offers from the waitlist and get turned down because the waitlister has gotten tired of waiting and made plans at another school).

I have no insider information on how schools figure out where this is a year when students will be gladly accepting offers (because they hold very few) or a year when applicants will be withdrawing applications right & left because they have a preferrable alternative.


You really can't guess how this will go because you don't know how many offers the applicants hold and you don't know if the schools were stingy with offers this year or very generous.

 

[Anotherface]

Last year some schools accidentally over-accepted and as a result they're waitlisting huge numbers this year.

And this year, because of the economy/record number of applications, do you think we should expect less or more waitlist movement?

Schools do give more acceptances than they have seats, but that is because oftentimes many applicants have multiple acceptances. Regardless of how big the pool of applicants was, it is unlikely that there wasn't any overlap between different school's pools. I myself am holding several acceptances and will be giving them up as soon as I can make a smart decision. Now I know I am not the only one in this position, which is why I expect there to be at least some waitlist movement.

 

[cubssox2000]

If people have fewer acceptances, then that would mean that there would be less waitlist movement due to fewer withdrawals, not more...

It does work if the schools also cut the number of acceptances they give out. By cutting there, they increase the size of the waitlist. Then, if there is too much movement from acceptees going elsewhere, then the waitlist can move faster.

 

[162554]

So I guess the consensus is that we really cant estimate (just have to hope it works out).

On a separate note, whats the feeling about Spring grades and the waitlist? Does sending in Spring grades (by around late May) help move me up the waitlist? I should have all A's in heavy bio classes.

 

[Handy388]

I have a feeling that George Washington and NYMC are going to have astronomically waitlist movements, especially GW.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

It does work if the schools also cut the number of acceptances they give out. By cutting there, they increase the size of the waitlist. Then, if there is too much movement from acceptees going elsewhere, then the waitlist can move faster.

I know Pitt is expecting large WL movement this year (and they planned for it to happen that way).

 

[mbe36]

Same as every year- UNPREDICTABLE.

 

[iish]

I have a feeling that George Washington and NYMC are going to have astronomically waitlist movements, especially GW.

Is your prediction about GW primarily based off of their probationary status?

 

[Handy388]

Is your prediction about GW primarily based off of their probationary status?

GW managed to hit the magic trifecta of high cost, medicore reputation AND probationary status this year.

When I interviewed there, I had an interviewer who told me, repeatly, to "REALLY think about school selection once I have multiple acceptances" (she was confident that I would get multiple acceptances).

 

[iish]

GW managed to hit the magic trifecta of high cost, medicore reputation AND probationary status this year.

When I interviewed there, I had an interviewer who told me, repeatly, to "REALLY think about school selection once I have multiple acceptances" (she was confident that I would get multiple acceptances).

Just out of curiosity, why is your anecdote about your interviewer relevant to the school's reputation or their waitlist movement?

 

[mbe36]

GW managed to hit the magic trifecta of high cost, medicore reputation AND probationary status this year.

When I interviewed there, I had an interviewer who told me, repeatly, to "REALLY think about school selection once I have multiple acceptances" (she was confident that I would get multiple acceptances).

Are you sure she did not mean strongly consider GW if you have multiple acceptances?