Waitlisted EVERYWHERE and is this why??

[Shakenotstirred]

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OK, so I've had 7 interviews, 5 of which have waitlisted me, the other 2 no word yet. I got early interviews, have only applied to 11 schools, so think that my stats were competitive..apparently, I have thought wrong. So, I have been thinking about why this would happen...until, I have thought of a VERY obscure possibility....my Thank You cards were "relatively" similar to each interviewer...some were different, but they had similarities in how I wrote them, including the closing and format, similar wording (kind of), etc. Now, i KNOW this is totally "out-there," but I read a post saying that the AdmOffice photocopies the cards and puts them in the file...could they have been like, hmm, this guy is just tryin to get in and really doesnt care bout us since his cards are so alike? I KNOW this is crazy, but can't think of ANY idea why I have been continuously waitlisted...ANY IDEAS???? (waitlisting=making me crazy)

 

[missbonnie]

I personally doubt it's the thank you cards. The interviewer does a write up right after the interview so your card isn't even there yet.

I suggest calling the schools and ask what was missing that you got waitlisted and be sincere in trying to find out why you haven't been accepted. Other than that, I would go over your interviews. Did you do a mock interview and get feedback on it?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I doubt it's your Thank You cards.

 

[bobby_chamo]

You're supposed to send thank you cards?

 

[exmike]

I didnt send a single thank you card, and it didn't affect me. As a previous poster suggested, maybe you should investigate your interview skills. Did you do mocks (serious ones). Did you use trite or obviously recited answers? Good luck on the interviews you have left.

 

[Jenuine]

Shakenotstirred,
I would really doubt it if your thank you notes were the cause of this. And I would also try not to worry about it! You may be waitlisted...but it's at 7 schools! You have a very very very good chance of getting in, and in the end, you'll meet your goal...becoming a doc. 🙂 Good luck!

 

[Bones2008]

Definitely do mock interviews or something. It may be that you come across in a way you can't see because you're in your own skin.

 

[jlee9531]

i second what the posters have said...

it could be your responses....

go mock

 

[skypilot]

I'd say all this is good advice but being waitlisted is halfway to being accepted. Start crafting your strategy for getting off the waitlist. Additional materials to add to your files. Letters of interest. Strategic phone calls...

Good luck.

 

[sgilani]

if you think it's your thank you notes, you're lying to yourself. either that or you're smoking some high quality crack

 

[rgporter]

5 waitlists, 0 rejections. Not too shaby. Look around and see how many people get multiple acceptances. Your bound to get in on one of those waitlists. Good luck.

 

[AverageMan]

So which 5 waitlisted you? I'm kinda in the same boat with 3 waitlists and 3 more decisions which should be in within the next 2 weeks.

 

[Adapt]

Yes 5 waitlists puts you in a good position. However, if your stats are above average, then definitely it's your interview skills. Maybe you come off as too nervous.

 

[DrBodacious]

I agree that thank you cards arn't that big a deal. What is your GPA & MCAT if you don't mind my asking??

I'd better do a mock interview, it sounds like a really good idea.

 

[Heal&Teach]

Dido to everything that was said about the thank you cards (which typically go in your file, possibly unread, but appreciated)... or maybe it was your interview skills...

However, it's apparent that you're applying to schools with rolling admissions. There are a number of talented students like you that apply to schools each and every year, and depending on how many folks got their applications in early and their credentials, you may have gotten the short end of the stick (which isn't so short that you got rejected, a good thing). Some interviewers may have truly loved you, but people sometimes recommend outstanding applicants and adcoms don't bite at the recommendation.

All this is to say is what has been said, revamp your interview skills (if necessary), continue sending thank you letter (you could actually just send one to the adcom versus individual letters to your interviewers, just to save time and energy), and sit tight and wait for some acceptances to roll through. And depending on the school, you might be able to call and ask about your placement on the waiting list (upper, middle, lower third of the list), although you probably won't get the satisfaction of an exact answer.

Hope this is helpful. Best of luck! 🙂

Toodles!

 

[Shakenotstirred]

Thanks guys. Thing is, I know that my interviews have gone really really well. Even some of the Orientation directors/Deans said that they noticed how relaxed I was. I haven't been stuck on questions, answers aren't rehearsed, and I end up just having a really nice conversation....which STILL leaves me wondering if I should ask the offices why Im on the waitlist.

To DrBodacious, my gpa is a 3.9, science and non, and mcats were 29, evened out (which I know arent the best, but are pretty much average, and my advisor said the GPA would balance it out, but I know this is a way controversial theory, so I won't even go there...)

 

[Tezzie]

We went through the exact same thing with another poster. Shaken i think that there must be something wrong you did during the interview process for you to get waitlisted at all those places. Care to tell us which schools btw?

The best thing you can do right now is :

a) relax ( i know it's hard but try - no need to drive yourself insane)

b) sent letters of interest to the schools (spam their mailbox, leave messages on their machine whatever). You need to show that you absolutely want to go to their school.

c) If you receive more interviews you need to be super prepared for them. Try a different approach.

Btw did you show interest in the school when you interviewed? Did you point out how you like the city, how happy you will be there, how you enjoy the students you met etc?

 

[Adapt]

Originally posted by Shakenotstirred
Thanks guys. Thing is, I know that my interviews have gone really really well. Even some of the Orientation directors/Deans said that they noticed how relaxed I was. I haven't been stuck on questions, answers aren't rehearsed, and I end up just having a really nice conversation....which STILL leaves me wondering if I should ask the offices why Im on the waitlist.

To DrBodacious, my gpa is a 3.9, science and non, and mcats were 29, evened out (which I know arent the best, but are pretty much average, and my advisor said the GPA would balance it out, but I know this is a way controversial theory, so I won't even go there...)

I have a 3.7gpa, 3.5sci and a 29 MCAT. It is not your stats. I found it helpful to have certain major points I wanted to talk about for each common question that I knew was going to be asked. That way, when it was asked, it sounded like I had a lot to say.

Obviously 5 waitlists is telling you something. They weren't impressed by what you had to say. Anyone can walk into an interview and say what's off the top of their head. It takes effort to organize main ideas in your head and include examples when necessary that would make you stand out from the rest at your interview.

 

[AndyDufrane]

as a current 1st year med student and student interviewer, the first thing I take into consideration when doing a write up to evaluate an applicant is the thank you note, specifically the constituents of the paper( e.g the quality of the material making up the paper, the texture, smell, visual appeal of the paper), then I begin to consider the font of the actual text, noting any discrepancies, because we all now times roman size 10 can look quite similar to that always tricky arial size 11, I also consider the hue of the text as an important indicitor of the future success in making a differential diagnosis, and finally, I will check to see if the note has a hint of Chanel #7, and after which I will...ok,
you need to chill out, it'll be ok

 

[DrBodacious]

Originally posted by AndyDufrane
as a current 1st year med student and student interviewer, the first thing I take into consideration when doing a write up to evaluate an applicant is the thank you note, specifically the constituents of the paper( e.g the quality of the material making up the paper, the texture, smell, visual appeal of the paper), then I begin to consider the font of the actual text, noting any discrepancies, because we all now times roman size 10 can look quite similar to that always tricky arial size 11, I also consider the hue of the text as an important indicitor of the future success in making a differential diagnosis, and finally, I will check to see if the note has a hint of Chanel #7, and after which I will...ok,
you need to chill out, it'll be ok

I found it funny that, I think it was in Northwestern's secondary app instructions they specified the weight of the paper you should use. Too bad I didn't read the instructions and I used paper I made with denim fibers and other scraps like we used to do in elementary school and sent it in on that. I thought they would appreciate the personal touch!

 

[calebho501]

Although interview may be the reason for the waitlist, schools do interview people that they know they will put on waitlist. Sometimes the decision is almost made before the interview, and interview is just a formality, or a chance for the applicant to significantly change the impression the school has about him/her.