Waitlisted ... need advice with how to move forward

[Alaskan _Polarbear]

I was wait listed at UNE and UB.

I don't like waiting in limbo like this and have decided to start thinking about applying again the next cycle. My problem is that UNE requires microbiology and lab and my university only offers this in the winter but I also took my DAT in 2017 and my scores will be expiring and I also want to raise my DAT score (TA/TS 19. My 2 plans are:

I can either pay around $1400 to take microbio + lab over the winter and hope that i get off the wait list. If I don't get off any waitlist by the second cycle in January, I plan on retaking the DAT in May and studying throughout my senior year.

OR

I drop microbio over the winter and study for my DAT and retake it around February/March. And if I need/get accepted into UNE during the 2020 cycle I would have to take microbiology at another college over the summer as a postgrad and pay around $1800

 

[flosslikeaboss1]

Did you get notified that you were on the waitlist via email for UNE?

You can do microbiology through Straighter line and should accepted by UNE as many of their students use the program for prereqs. You should definitely call to verify though. This way, you have the flexibility to take it whenever is best for you.

 

[Alaskan _Polarbear]

My application changed on Dec 2 to received/completed so im assuming at this point im unofficially wait-listed. I wont know my status for sure with UNE until the first week of january and by then I will either have to have already dropped microbio or take it because my school starts January 7th

 

[DiscoverWeakly]

My 2 cents would be that you should take microbio in the Winter. I'm assuming you indicated in your planned courses that you were going to take micro during the winter? If I were UNE and accepted you then saw you hadn't taken micro like indicated, it would give me pause for sure. I also think that retaking your DAT in May/early June would give you more time to adequately study in hopes of improving your scores. Regardless, you'll need to take the class, why not take the course during the timeline you indicated previously, for a cheaper price?

 

[Phonzie]

I was wait listed at UNE and UB.

I don't like waiting in limbo like this and have decided to start thinking about applying again the next cycle. My problem is that UNE requires microbiology and lab and my university only offers this in the winter but I also took my DAT in 2017 and my scores will be expiring and I also want to raise my DAT score (TA/TS 19. My 2 plans are:

I can either pay around $1400 to take microbio + lab over the winter and hope that i get off the wait list. If I don't get off any waitlist by the second cycle in January, I plan on retaking the DAT in May and studying throughout my senior year.

OR

I drop microbio over the winter and study for my DAT and retake it around February/March. And if I need/get accepted into UNE during the 2020 cycle I would have to take microbiology at another college over the summer as a postgrad and pay around $1800

First thing I will do if am in your shoes is to contact them via email to say you are still interested and ask what you need to do between now and when school starts. Dean of admissions at UConn told us to do that. Remember that after the first round of offers, the school does not know who got an offer somewhere else vs who is still interested. Contacting them could move you up the list because they are now certain you are waiting on THEM.

 

[Alaskan _Polarbear]

First thing I will do if am in your shoes is to contact them via email to say you are still interested and ask what you need to do between now and when school starts. Dean of admissions at UConn told us to do that. Remember that after the first round of offers, the school does not know who got an offer somewhere else vs who is still interested. Contacting them could move you up the list because they are now certain you are waiting on THEM.

I sent a letter of intent to one school i was waitlisted at. I am currently in finals week and after this I plan on sending a letter of update to schools i didnt interview at yet as well as the schools I did interview at. I don't know though if the letter of update is a good idea since I am also updating my application with the final grades.

 

[Phonzie]

I sent a letter of intent to one school i was waitlisted at. I am currently in finals week and after this I plan on sending a letter of update to schools i didnt interview at yet as well as the schools I did interview at. I don't know though if the letter of update is a good idea since I am also updating my application with the final grades.

Nice! I don't think sending an update (interest) counts against you. It will either help your chances or have not effect.

 

[DocStranger]

I sent a letter of intent to one school i was waitlisted at. I am currently in finals week and after this I plan on sending a letter of update to schools i didnt interview at yet as well as the schools I did interview at. I don't know though if the letter of update is a good idea since I am also updating my application with the final grades.

As far as I know, I think when waitlisted, it could be a good idea sending updates and what you’ll be doing in the winter to show 1) you’re still interested in the school and 2) you’re being productive with your time. A letter of intent just seems to be wasteful just because you applying to their school shows you’re already interested (aka it’s technically your letter of intent). Some dental schools will even personally email you after your waitlisted that they don’t want you to contact them with a letter of intent, update on curricular changes, or even extracurricular activities you’ve done/will do.