Waitlist Whyyyy

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mavikedi

mavikedi

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Soooo I've had two interviews so far, one at LECOM-Seton Hill and one at ATSU-SOMA and I have been put on the alternate list at both.

My questions are:
(1) What are reasons people usually get put on the alternate list instead of outright accepted/rejected? Is there part of the interview process I may need to work on? Or is it a problem with maybe my stats?

(2) Is there any hope? I really loved ATSU-SOMA but...they won't let anyone off the wait list till April.

(3) Whyyyyyyyyy is this process so stressful? I am getting white hair already...
 
You either had poor interviews, or your stats were borderline and the Adcom felt that you didn't offer anything to push you into the "accept" column.


My questions are:
(1) What are reasons people usually get put on the alternate list instead of outright accepted/rejected? Is there part of the interview process I may need to work on? Or is it a problem with maybe my stats?

Only patience, and maybe stellar Fall semester grades.
(2) Is there any hope? I really loved ATSU-SOMA but...they won't let anyone off the wait list till April.

It's hyper competitive.
(3) Whyyyyyyyyy is this process so stressful? I am getting white hair already...[/QUOTE]
 
bigoliver101 said:
What are your stats?
Click to expand...

MCAT: 27 (11V/9BS/7PS)
cGPA: 3.37
sGPA: 3.24

I'm thinking it's more my stats then? If I had interviewed poorly wouldn't they just have outright rejected me?
 
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Well if that sGPA isn't a typo then I am amazed you got on the wait list.. That is solid work
 
Haha ok I was wondering why you were bummed with a wait list with a 2.24! Yeah that changes it. Obviously I don't know you at all but if I had to wager a guess I would say that maybe your interview didn't stand out. Work on those interview skills for your next one, because your stats are solid enough to land an acceptance. How many schools dos you apply to?
 
AnatomyGrey12 said:
Haha ok I was wondering why you were bummed with a wait list with a 2.24! Yeah that changes it. Obviously I don't know you at all but if I had to wager a guess I would say that maybe your interview didn't stand out. Work on those interview skills for your next one, because your stats are solid enough to land an acceptance. How many schools dos you apply to?
Click to expand...

I'm slightly embarrassed but 20+...
I was rejected from NSUCOM and TouroNevada

II: Lecom-Seton Hill, ATSU-SOMA, & ACOM

aaaand AZCOM was like we don't like you enough to give you an interview but we don't dislike you to reject you.
I haven't scheduled the ACOM interview because I know it is provisionally accredited so I am on the fence about going or not.

Radio silence from everywhere else for now!
 
No reason to be embarrassed, that is what I am going to do to maximize my chances of acceptance and to (hopefully) have multiple options.

Go to the ACOM interview. All new schools are "provisionally accredited" until they graduate their first class. And there has never been one that lost its accreditation. ACOM has its act together and seems like it will be a solid school. Beggars can't be choosy so go to all of your interviews until you get an acceptance in hand.
 
mavikedi said:
MCAT: 27 (11V/9BS/7PS)
cGPA: 3.37
sGPA: 3.24

I'm thinking it's more my stats then? If I had interviewed poorly wouldn't they just have outright rejected me?
Click to expand...

Its most likely your stats, I think if you did better on the interview you would have gotten an acceptance, a better MCAT score would have definitely helped you.

ATSU SOMA's average is around a 30.
 
The MCAT is just about average too...and if his ECs don't stand out like most of the applicants with those stats applying then his chances aren't super high for an acceptance.

At my interviews almost every applicant had a lot of clinical experience and with above average stats.

General rule of thumb is that if your stats are borderline/below average then you need to make up for it with really good ECs and a good interview.

What are your EC's, OP?
 
fwiw OP.. I had ALMOST similar stats to you, a mid-3.3 sGPA and a high-3.2 cGPA with the same MCAT score (different breakdown) and was accepted to SOMA. I felt I did well during my interview but screwed up one question during my speed-dating round lol

Work on the confidence for the next interview. What you say is JUST as important as how you say it.

How do you feel you performed during the interview day?
 
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I have lower stats than OP. 7 interviews, 3 acceptances (SOMA being one of them). The interview is everything for applicants like us.
 
QueenJames said:
fwiw OP.. I had ALMOST similar stats to you, a mid-3.3 sGPA and a high-3.2 cGPA with the same MCAT score (different breakdown) and was accepted to SOMA. I felt I did well during my interview but screwed up one question during my speed-dating round lol

Work on the confidence for the next interview. What you say isn't as important as how you say it.

How do you feel you performed during the interview day?
Click to expand...

The interview is a very biased part of the application process, maybe the interviewer just was not feeling it.
 
IsWhat said:
I have lower stats than OP. 7 interviews, 3 acceptances (SOMA being one of them). The interview is everything for applicants like us.
Click to expand...

You also have a metric ton of professional patient care work experience, a significant amount of DO shadowing, and a lot of volunteering.
 
mavikedi said:
MCAT: 27 (11V/9BS/7PS)
cGPA: 3.37
sGPA: 3.24

I'm thinking it's more my stats then? If I had interviewed poorly wouldn't they just have outright rejected me?
Click to expand...

what are your ECs? Hours volunteering? Hours shadowing? Do shadowing specifically? Clinical experience?
 
Seth Joo said:
The OP's GPA is below average though. If the OP's MCAT was better it definitely would have helped.
Click to expand...
@IsWhat got 7 ii's with a 3.2 and 25.

While DO does get a little more competitive each year, I think that notion is greatly exaggerated on here. I think it is pretty clear that if someone applies early and broadly with 3.0/26+ the cycle is theirs to lose...
 
user3 said:
@IsWhat got 7 ii's with a 3.2 and 25.

While DO does get a little more competitive each year, I think that notion is greatly exaggerated on here. I think it is pretty clear that if someone applies early and broadly with 3.0/26+ the cycle is theirs to lose...
Click to expand...

Sometimes I think people do not click well with their interviewer, they are people after all. It is by far the most biased part of the whole admissions process.

Another thing to note is that clinical rotations are another part of medical school where biases come into play yet again, if your preceptor does not like you, its going to show in your evaluation, having good people skills is important.
 
Seth Joo said:
Sometimes I think people do not click well with their interviewer, they are people after all. It is by far the most biased part of the whole admissions process.

Another thing to note is that clinical rotations are another part of medical school where biases come into play yet again, if your preceptor does not like you, its going to show in your evaluation, having good people skills is important.
Click to expand...

Um this has absolutely nothing to do with OP getting into medical school...:eyebrow: But yes having a good interview is important.
 
AnatomyGrey12 said:
Um this has absolutely nothing to do with OP getting into medical school...:eyebrow: But yes having a good interview is important.
Click to expand...

Actually I just wanted to make a point that you are dealing with people, and sometimes people are not always fair, don't always like you, they can be biased against you, and sometimes biased in favor of you, usually its good if they are biased in favor of you. Its often a good idea though to exercise caution among people who are biased in favor of you because you might wind up stepping out of their good graces, don't take their favorable view of you for granted.
 
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user3 said:
@IsWhat got 7 ii's with a 3.2 and 25.

While DO does get a little more competitive each year, I think that notion is greatly exaggerated on here. I think it is pretty clear that if someone applies early and broadly with 3.0/26+ the cycle is theirs to lose...
Click to expand...

Eh, probably not.

I don't want to be disingenuous here and give false hope, my ECs are about as good as they come. I was actually told by a top 10 MD dean if I retook the MCAT and recieved a 30 - I would have been very competetive, even with my gpa. I'm non-traditional and retaking just wasn't in the cards for me.
 
mavikedi said:
I'm slightly embarrassed but 20+...
I was rejected from NSUCOM and TouroNevada

II: Lecom-Seton Hill, ATSU-SOMA, & ACOM

aaaand AZCOM was like we don't like you enough to give you an interview but we don't dislike you to reject you.
I haven't scheduled the ACOM interview because I know it is provisionally accredited so I am on the fence about going or not.

Radio silence from everywhere else for now!
Click to expand...

I was very apprehensive about ACOM as well, but after the interview, I fell in love with the school! It has been the only interview where the dean was present. Super warm faculty and really nice school, and I will likely attend here. Plus the hospital affiliation was a big plus. But like others have said, beggars can't be choosers!
 
mavikedi said:
MCAT: 27 (11V/9BS/7PS)
cGPA: 3.37
sGPA: 3.24

I'm thinking it's more my stats then? If I had interviewed poorly wouldn't they just have outright rejected me?
Click to expand...
I was accepted to soma with practically the same stats so it isn't the stats that got you waitlisted. I recommend maybe emailing the professor you interviewed with to get some feedback would be a great idea!
 
medstar11 said:
I was accepted to soma with practically the same stats so it isn't the stats that got you waitlisted. I recommend maybe emailing the professor you interviewed with to get some feedback would be a great idea!
Click to expand...

I'm definitely planning and calling them and asking. I also recognize that out of 50 people interviewing that day I may not have been exactly what they were looking for. I guess I'm just confused by the whole notion and purpose of wait listing people. Like I did some things right but not others but not not enough to get me rejected?

I guess maybe I need to re-evaluate the way I interview? I am naturally a very smiley person and I like to laugh, and I've gotten feedback that I may laugh too much? I'm not sure but I always try to keep things positive and sincere!
I thought I did well on interview day but again I wasn't sure how I stacked up against the competition. Personally, one of my best friends was rejected and I was shocked because she had an amazing MCAT score and great ECs and work experience and I so admire and look up to her.

@Endorphins98 That's really good to hear! I think I shall schedule the interview then 🙂

In general I think my EC's are good but nothing that makes me wildly different from other applicants. Lots of volunteer hours through out undergrad, I served as a volunteer committee chair for three years in the pre-med organization, hospice volunteering, shadowed mostly MD's but also a DO, worked part time as an after school teacher, worked in an internal medicine clinic during summers, etc etc.

[Edit] Also, specifically when talking to ATSU-SOMA: They rank applicants on the wait list and I was told that I was on the high end, so I think I did pretty well on the interview overall?I'm just trying to figure out what I can do in the future to knock them out of the park, but I guess isn't everyone lol
 
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Can't speak for LECOM, but ATSU-SOMA seems to interview a lot of people they aren't very interested in to begin with. I mean 50 people a day is ridiculous. I decided not to attend my interview at all after hearing about how many people get rejected/wait-listed post-interview. It's just too much $$$ for me to go out there for nothing.
 
50 people interviewing a day? I think u found your answer right there.
 
mavikedi said:
I'm definitely planning and calling them and asking. I also recognize that out of 50 people interviewing that day I may not have been exactly what they were looking for. I guess I'm just confused by the whole notion and purpose of wait listing people. Like I did some things right but not others but not not enough to get me rejected?

I guess maybe I need to re-evaluate the way I interview? I am naturally a very smiley person and I like to laugh, and I've gotten feedback that I may laugh too much? I'm not sure but I always try to keep things positive and sincere!
I thought I did well on interview day but again I wasn't sure how I stacked up against the competition. Personally, one of my best friends was rejected and I was shocked because she had an amazing MCAT score and great ECs and work experience and I so admire and look up to her.
Click to expand...
I'm 3/3 on interviews thus far, and I am also on the hiring team at my job (I interview nurses whom I will eventually train and work with) - so I'll give my 2 cents on this.

Being too excited/positive/'bubbly' or whatever is - in my opinion - the worst way to enter a medical school interview, or any interview within the medical profession. Here's why: we are on hour 16 of a 24 shift, the team is dead tired from a long day, maybe a couple patients coded and the paperwork is pilling up - the last thing I need is to be around some overly excited person. We all know THAT person.

Would you be that overly excited person in the real world? Maybe not, but your interview suggests you MAY be that person - and these old crusty docs who are on the admissions committees aren't going to have any of that.

Go into the interview with a professional demeanor. No unwarranted laughs or jokes. You are not interviewing for a kindergarten teaching job. These people want to know if you are going to be direct with a patient who was just diagnosed with cancer, act accordingly.

This is just my opinion, and I'm sure people get away with other 'techniques'.
 
IsWhat said:
I'm 3/3 on interviews thus far, and I am also on the hiring team at my job (I interview nurses whom I will eventually train and work with) - so I'll give my 2 cents on this.

Being too excited/positive/'bubbly' or whatever is - in my opinion - the worst way to enter a medical school interview, or any interview within the medical profession. Here's why: we are on hour 16 of a 24 shift, the team is dead tired from a long day, maybe a couple patients coded and the paperwork is pilling up - the last thing I need is to be around some overly excited person. We all know THAT person.

Would you be that overly excited person in the real world? Maybe not, but your interview suggests you MAY be that person - and these old crusty docs who are on the admissions committees aren't going to have any of that.

Go into the interview with a professional demeanor. No unwarranted laughs or jokes. You are not interviewing for a kindergarten teaching job. These people want to know if you are going to be direct with a patient who was just diagnosed with cancer, act accordingly.

This is just my opinion, and I'm sure people get away with other 'techniques'.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying definitely, and I understand how exhausting people who are constantly peppy can be. I think I am friendly and I make small jokes and I've been told that it's nice that I "introduce laughter into the room", but I think then my nerves get the best of me and it may go too far? That's not to say I am not serious or sincere when the situation or question I am asked calls for it, but I recognize that it's something I can definitely work on!

Also congrats on the 3/3! Send some of your good energy my way! 😉
 
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I got outright rejected from SOMA last year. 3.58 cGPA, 3.65 sGPA, 31 (11,9,11). SOMA is one of those schools that cares very little for stats, so your stats weren't the problem.
 
medstar11 said:
I was accepted to soma with practically the same stats so it isn't the stats that got you waitlisted. I recommend maybe emailing the professor you interviewed with to get some feedback would be a great idea!
Click to expand...

The interviewer probably did not like the OP, that is my guess, I am just being frank, interviews tend to be biased, and interviewers are people, they just were not feeling it and that is why the OP got wait listed, but at least it was not a flat out rejection. Or maybe one of them or both of them were having a bad day.

Its definitely not a fair part of the admissions process as the interviewer could be biased against you or biased in favor of you.
 
I'd like to add a little of my info into this discussion as well, since it seems relevant. I was interviewed at both LECOM-B and LECOM-E and was WL at both. My stats are well above their avgs, (MCAT perfectly balanced 30, cGPA 3.9, sGPA 3.8), I have well-rounded ECs (with >1000 hrs shadowing, >1000 hrs volunteering with local underserved pops, >2 years researching, and substantial leadership experiences outside of healthcare), I'm Phi Beta Kappa, annnnnnnnnd my LORs are from professors/mentors who I've known very well for roughly 2 years.

After receiving my WLs from the LECOMs, I was very confused. I thought I severely screwed up the interview and that terrified me, because I had already interviewed at an MD program and had another interview coming up. But then I remembered that, in the past, I'd always get such positive feedback from those I'd interviewed with. Never a negative thing. I think I come off confident and I had a thorough answer for every question thrown my way at the interviews.

It's a random crap shoot. I don't know if LECOM is really after fit, or maybe they practice yield protection (if that's even real..), but whatever it is- you're not alone haha
 
mayo33 said:
I'd like to add a little of my info into this discussion as well, since it seems relevant. I was interviewed at both LECOM-B and LECOM-E and was WL at both. My stats are well above their avgs, (MCAT perfectly balanced 30, cGPA 3.9, sGPA 3.8), I have well-rounded ECs (with >1000 hrs shadowing, >1000 hrs volunteering with local underserved pops, >2 years researching, and substantial leadership experiences outside of healthcare), I'm Phi Beta Kappa, annnnnnnnnd my LORs are from professors/mentors who I've known very well for roughly 2 years.

After receiving my WLs from the LECOMs, I was very confused. I thought I severely screwed up the interview and that terrified me, because I had already interviewed at an MD program and had another interview coming up. But then I remembered that, in the past, I'd always get such positive feedback from those I'd interviewed with. Never a negative thing. I think I come off confident and I had a thorough answer for every question thrown my way at the interviews.

It's a random crap shoot. I don't know if LECOM is really after fit, or maybe they practice yield protection (if that's even real..), but whatever it is- you're not alone haha
Click to expand...

Well, it was different for me. I got accepted at both LECOM-B and LECOM-E. I thought I didn't do well at LECOM-E (It felt like I was partially being a gunner.) I did super well at LECOM-B. At my CCOM interview, I completely bombed it so hard (stuttered, didn't answer questions directly) and I was still accepted.

I believe my stats and EC's saved me from these interviews that I felt didn't go well. I had about a 3.7 GPA and 31 MCAT.
 
mathnerd88 said:
Well, it was different for me. I got accepted at both LECOM-B and LECOM-E. I thought I didn't do well at LECOM-E (It felt like I was partially being a gunner.) I did super well at LECOM-B. At my CCOM interview, I completely bombed it so hard (stuttered, didn't answer questions directly) and I was still accepted.

I believe my stats and EC's saved me from these interviews that I felt didn't go well. I had about a 3.7 GPA and 31 MCAT.
Click to expand...

Usually high stats, excellent ECs, a well written PS, will save you from a not so a great interview. However the OP had only average stats at the school they were applying to so I guess they did not make such a good impression on the interviewers.
 
Seth Joo said:
Usually high stats, excellent ECs, a well written PS, will save you from a not so a great interview. However the OP had only average stats at the school they were applying to so I guess they did not make such a good impression on the interviewers.
Click to expand...

The poster above mine has similar stats and got wait listed for both LECOMs.
 
mathnerd88 said:
Well, it was different for me. I got accepted at both LECOM-B and LECOM-E. I thought I didn't do well at LECOM-E (It felt like I was partially being a gunner.) I did super well at LECOM-B. At my CCOM interview, I completely bombed it so hard (stuttered, didn't answer questions directly) and I was still accepted.

I believe my stats and EC's saved me from these interviews that I felt didn't go well. I had about a 3.7 GPA and 31 MCAT.
Click to expand...
Our stats are fairly similar. I spent a good while reflecting on my interview and trying to find opportunities in which I messed up... LECOM uses group interviews, so it's really hard to mess up in that setting (unless you're speaking over people or not contributing or just not providing solid answers). Dunno what it was. Really wish I could call them up and inquire about it.
 
mayo33 said:
Our stats are fairly similar. I spent a good while reflecting on my interview and trying to find opportunities in which I messed up... LECOM uses group interviews, so it's really hard to mess up in that setting (unless you're speaking over people or not contributing or just not providing solid answers). Dunno what it was. Really wish I could call them up and inquire about it.
Click to expand...

You have absolutely no red flags in your application at all? No IA's, no F's, no retakes?
 
mathnerd88 said:
The poster above mine has similar stats and got wait listed for both LECOMs.
Click to expand...

You really never know, as I said as a student its impossible to overcome personal biases in the interview, if the person interviewing you has a negative initial impression of you, chances are you are not getting in, if you have rapport with them, its likely they are biased in your favor. One of my interviews I had really good rapport with the interviewer and I got into the school, he happened to be a baseball fan and was from Boston, and clearly biased in my favor.
 
Seth Joo said:
You really never know, as I said as a student its impossible to overcome personal biases in the interview, if the person interviewing you has a negative initial impression of you, chances are you are not getting in, if you have rapport with them, its likely they are biased in your favor. One of my interviews I had really good rapport with the interviewer and I got into the school, he happened to be a baseball fan and was from Boston, and clearly biased in my favor.
Click to expand...
In a group interview setting, though, it's so difficult to build that rapport. Especially since the adcom interviewers at LECOM instructed us, the 6 in the group, to converse amongst ourselves. Sigh.
 
mayo33 said:
In a group interview setting, though, it's so difficult to build that rapport. Especially since the adcom interviewers at LECOM instructed us, the 6 in the group, to converse amongst ourselves. Sigh.
Click to expand...

I had a group interview, and I actually built amazing rapport with my panel, so much that I overshadowed the other people in my cohort.
 
mayo33 said:
In a group interview setting, though, it's so difficult to build that rapport. Especially since the adcom interviewers at LECOM instructed us, the 6 in the group, to converse amongst ourselves. Sigh.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a tough time too. I thought my interview went poorly at LECOM-E...
 
mayo33 said:
In a group interview setting, though, it's so difficult to build that rapport. Especially since the adcom interviewers at LECOM instructed us, the 6 in the group, to converse amongst ourselves. Sigh.
Click to expand...

That's very interesting! In my group interview they would throw out a question and each person would go around and give their answer. I thought my answers were different and unique from those I interviewed with and I made an effort to try and make a conversation by adding to what people were saying? I don't know! It was just all very stilted and felt like there was no flow.

I never thought my interview was my weak point, and in fact thought that because of my below average numbers my interviews went well, but perhaps not well "enough", to be put on the wait list? ATSU-SOMA has like five different interview scenarios including 2 group activities, 3 patient simulations, 1 speed-dating interview format, and 1 one-on-one soooooo it is completely possible that I did well in other areas and not in others.

I was often told by my pre-med committee in undergrad that the admissions committee is trying to determine not only whether you will be a good fit for your school, but also be confident that you will succeed as a medical student as it requires so much work, dedication, and is extremely stressful. Maybe I did not assure them enough that I could succeed?

ALSO, another random thought. I am currently in a post-bacc program and I was wondering if adcoms see that and develop some sort of doubt or want to almost put a pin in my application to see how I will do in the program?
 
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mavikedi said:
Soooo I've had two interviews so far, one at LECOM-Seton Hill and one at ATSU-SOMA and I have been put on the alternate list at both.

My questions are:
(1) What are reasons people usually get put on the alternate list instead of outright accepted/rejected? Is there part of the interview process I may need to work on? Or is it a problem with maybe my stats?

(2) Is there any hope? I really loved ATSU-SOMA but...they won't let anyone off the wait list till April.

(3) Whyyyyyyyyy is this process so stressful? I am getting white hair already...
Click to expand...
1) The interviewers didn't feel you were bad enough to outright reject, but that you weren't so good that they feel they won't have a better candidate come along in the next few batches of interviews.

2) Yes. DO waitlists tend to move FAST.

3) Because there are too many qualified candidates, and competition is incredibly high.
 
Just if anyone is curious:

ATSU-SOMA: I called and spoke with them and they said they mostly had academic concerns.
LECOM: They say that feedback is confidential and I need to self-reflect!
 
Ways to not get off the waitlist: pestering admission staff, particularly if done poorly. Be careful in your dealings with them, or your app can end up in the round file.
 
mavikedi said:
Just if anyone is curious:

ATSU-SOMA: I called and spoke with them and they said they mostly had academic concerns.
LECOM: They say that feedback is confidential and I need to self-reflect!
Click to expand...

What absolutely worthless advice... Why would feedback on an interviewer, be confidential from said interviewer. It's like telling an employee he needs to be better at something and then not telling him what "something" is.
 
I think you were at my interview day (9/4 Seton Hill). I don't know who you were or if you were in my interview group but I'm surprised you got waitlisted! It seemed like a really good group interviewing. Everyone seemed very well spoken. I got rejected and didn't get any feedback either =/
 
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