Waitlisted at UCI (UC Irvine) :(

[smartievan]

Hi Guys, I interviewed at UCI on 3/14/05 and just checked my status page and found out that I'm on the alternate list. I just wanted to see if anyone knows if there is only 1 alternate list (and everyone who interviewed that didn't get in is on there)?

I plan to send in a letter of intent pleading to Gail and Dr. Peterson. Is there anything else I should do. UCI is my top choice and any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would do whatever it takes to get in!

Does anyone know if the waitlist at UCI move quickly? And what are my chances now of getting in? Anyone holding a spot and will decline their acceptance?

I'm just kinda bummed, but thx for hearing me gripe! 😎

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[sdnstud]

Welcome to the club. I have been a member of UCI's alternate list since feb. As far as I know, there is only one alternate list and this list is made up of everyone who interviewed and have not been accepted.

Dr. Peterson welcomes update letters and letters of intent. However, in my case it has not led to a positive respond. Immediately after my interview, i sent Dr. Peterson, Gail and the AdComm a letter of intent/thank you letter. About two weeks ago, I wrote the same people an update letter and again reaffirm my desire to go to UCI.

Historically speaking, UCI has decent waitlist movement, which starts mid-April and peaks mid-late May. In fact, someone on SDN was taken off UCI's alternate list last week. The chances of an alterante getting in depends on year of application. Of all the UCI acceptees I know (on SDN and personally), 75% of them are going somewhere else. About 25% of them are leaning towards UCI.

Hi Guys, I interviewed at UCI on 3/14/05 and just checked my status page and found out that I'm on the alternate list. I just wanted to see if anyone knows if there is only 1 alternate list (and everyone who interviewed that didn't get in is on there)?

I plan to send in a letter of intent pleading to Gail and Dr. Peterson. Is there anything else I should do. UCI is my top choice and any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would do whatever it takes to get in!

Does anyone know if the waitlist at UCI move quickly? And what are my chances now of getting in? Anyone holding a spot and will decline their acceptance?

I'm just kinda bummed, but thx for hearing me gripe! 😎

 

[traveladdict]

Hi guys, I've been a not-so-proud alternate list member since November (oh, the shame). Sent the updates/LOI's. Now it's all about continuing the waiting game----I'm really sick of it!!! I got an e-mail response from Dr. Peterson saying they're basically still waiting around for people to decline their acceptances. Best of luck!

 

[Code Brown]

I've been a member since Nov 1st. However, I've decided to go to MCW regardless of whether or not UCI accepts me. So for all you still waiting, there is one less person on the list to worry about 🙂 . Good luck!

 

[Spitting Camel]

I've been a member since Nov 1st. However, I've decided to go to MCW regardless of whether or not UCI accepts me. So for all you still waiting, there is one less person on the list to worry about 🙂 . Good luck!

Then withdraw and save the office the trouble of having to contact you. That'll just make others get accepted faster.

 

[secretasianman]

i am anxious 🙁.

 

[cammy1313]

Yes! I knew a UCI alternate support group would eventually come about. Hi, my name is cammy1313 and I've been on the alternate list since December 20th.

I think all we can do at this point is to keep sendin' in those update letters. Course, sounds like everyone is doing it so find it hard to see how my letter would be better than anyone else's.

This is the perfect place for any lucky alternates to post an acceptance so for the next couple of months don't be shy!

 

[nairay]

Hi all, I've been on the alternate list since February.

I have a friend who's an MS1 at UCI and when I asked him about how the UCI waitlist works, this is what he said:

***From what I hear, the waitlist is in 2 halves. The "probably not" half, and the "when someone drops an acceptance we review this half, unranked, all at once, to find a new one." Make sense? I don't REALLY get it either. ....
You might try calling Peterson, I hear she'll talk for an hour if you want.... but if you call her, be ready to explain yourself, she's been known to not only talk to applicants on the phone, but talk for a WHILE!***

Hope this helps...somehow. Good luck!!!

 

[sdnstud]

***From what I hear, the waitlist is in 2 halves. The "probably not" half, and the "when someone drops an acceptance we review this half, unranked, all at once, to find a new one." Make sense?

Yes, I get it. Basically, there is an "upper half" waitlist and a "lower half" waitlist. When a space becomes available, everyone in the "upper half" waitlist is reviewed first.

I hope I make it to the waitlist. Remember, there is a final cut coming in mid-May where alternates are either 1. rejected or 2. invited to the waitlist.

 

[curiouslygeorge]

I'm just kinda bummed, but thx for hearing me gripe! 😎

Similar situation. I feel your pain.

 

[traveladdict]

Remember, there is a final cut coming in mid-May where alternates are either 1. rejected or 2. invited to the waitlist.

😕 What?! crap, and here I thought I could sit pretty until the end of June. Well, at least that might end the waiting game....

 

[Spitting Camel]

Hi all, I've been on the alternate list since February.

I have a friend who's an MS1 at UCI and when I asked him about how the UCI waitlist works, this is what he said:

***From what I hear, the waitlist is in 2 halves. The "probably not" half, and the "when someone drops an acceptance we review this half, unranked, all at once, to find a new one." Make sense? I don't REALLY get it either. ....
You might try calling Peterson, I hear she'll talk for an hour if you want.... but if you call her, be ready to explain yourself, she's been known to not only talk to applicants on the phone, but talk for a WHILE!***

Hope this helps...somehow. Good luck!!!

That info is not true. The person who gave you that info obviously doesn't really know how the alternate list works.

Also, I have NEVER heard of there being a final cut or anyone being asked if they would like to stay on the alternate list - and I was accepted in June.

 

[Supernova]

That info is not true. The person who gave you that info obviously doesn't really know how the alternate list works.

Also, I have NEVER heard of there being a final cut or anyone being asked if they would like to stay on the alternate list - and I was accepted in June.

So how does it work? May I ask

 

[charliemd]

Hey all,

I intrviewed late November got waitlisted in Feb and got the good news call last week. So dont give up hope!! It looks like there is some movement going on.

Good Luck!!!

 

[RaaMD]

Hey guys/gals, Glad to see this thread cuz I needed a support group for my UCI waitlist. I interviewed on Feb. 1st and was waitlisted on Feb. 22. What a disappointment. I hope that those who get in off the waitlist will update us of their acceptance.

 

[sdnstud]

Also, I have NEVER heard of there being a final cut or anyone being asked if they would like to stay on the alternate list - and I was accepted in June.

Really? No final cut? For some reason, I thought there is one. Perhaps on a SDN post from two or three years ago or from Dr. Peterson herself during the interview. *Shrug* I am probably wrong.

thanks for the info Spitting Camel and i hope you're doing well at uci.

 

[calberkeleygrl]

Did anyone interview after 3/19? There is supposed to be an adcom meeting tomorrow said Gayle Pierce.

 

[tic112]

Yes, I get it. Basically, there is an "upper half" waitlist and a "lower half" waitlist. When a space becomes available, everyone in the "upper half" waitlist is reviewed first.

I hope I make it to the waitlist. Remember, there is a final cut coming in mid-May where alternates are either 1. rejected or 2. invited to the waitlist.

wow, this is scaring the hell out of me. so there is no truth to this 'final cut', right?
by the way, i've called the admissions office and asked for advice for people who are waitlisted and the only advice i got was to be patient and wait until may. did anyone receive any other advice from uci?

 

[sdnstud]

Bump. Any news from last thursday's AdCom Meeting?

 

[synapse]

any recent acceptances??

i heard there is a cut like you described, sdnstud

 

[sdnstud]

Yup...I thought there is a cut before we get on the official waitlist. Apparently, this is not true according to Spitting Camel, who is a very nice and informed first year student I met at the interview. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

BTW...no one got accepted from last week's meeting???

i heard there is a cut like you described, sdnstud

 

[Spitting Camel]

any recent acceptances??

i heard there is a cut like you described, sdnstud

May I ask where you are getting this info from? If this is in fact true, it's new policy. It did not happen last year. We definitely would have heard about it on SDN. I think what happened last year was that people who weren't invited to interview were rejected around this time, but that already happened for this year.

A lot of people get accepted later on (May, June... July even!) Relax (easy for me to say, I know), keep your file updated, and hope you are in the 50% that gets accepted post-interview.

Good Luck,
SC

 

[3baerg]

🙁

 

[AcousticDoc]

UCI = University of Chinese Immigrants 😎

 

[sdnstud]

I was in the same situation 2 years ago- waitlisted at one school, kicked out of undergraduate (over units), and had no idea what to do for my lay-year. My advice is you is hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. It's time for you to come up with plan B, perhaps find a job, get a post-bac NIH intership, enroll in a one year master program, or whatever. If things work out for you and UCI, great! Take the acceptance and run with it. If things do not work out, you have plan B to fall back on.

Good luck 3baerg, hopefully we will both get good news soon. 👍

Was Spitting Camel your interviewer or one of the people that spoke to us at the beginning?

And yeah, I have been on the waitlist since like February too. The thing is, Gayle was unwilling(or not able or doesn't know) to tell me if I should just give up now. Then, I could just focus on reapplying next year. Or next month. Time flies, eh?

UCI's kicking me out of their undergrad program because I have too many units... so I'm kinda lost right now trying to figure out what to do with my life next year. Sometimes when I'm adding to my folder, I feel like I'm wasting time that I should be spending on next year's app.

 

[Spitting Camel]

Was Spitting Camel your interviewer or one of the people that spoke to us at the beginning?

And yeah, I have been on the waitlist since like February too. The thing is, Gayle was unwilling(or not able or doesn't know) to tell me if I should just give up now. Then, I could just focus on reapplying next year. Or next month. Time flies, eh?

UCI's kicking me out of their undergrad program because I have too many units... so I'm kinda lost right now trying to figure out what to do with my life next year. Sometimes when I'm adding to my folder, I feel like I'm wasting time that I should be spending on next year's app.

I tried finding out info last year, too, and didn't get anywhere. Looking back, I think I was wrong to ask to be given preferential treatment over other applicants. I was getting ready to sign a lease at another institution, just like a lot of other people.

What sdnstud said is true, though. You need a back-up plan. It doesn't have to be as drastic as doing research with the NIH. You can get a job, maybe take a couple CC classes to keep your brain working, nothing too profound. Definitely have your PS re-written, a new rec letter in your file, and the rest of your AMCAS updated. If the MCAT/GPA is low, maybe improve them.

SDNSTUD: Please remember that you have great acceptances - be grateful for those. Hopefully you're not still holding on to all of them.

 

[Spitting Camel]

UCI = University of Chinese Immigrants 😎

That one's real original. You mind if I write it down? I'll put it right under University of Civics and Integras and Under Construction Indefinitely

🙄

 

[drpac]

Hey guys - have any of you moved off the alternate list since May 15th??