Waitlisters

[breester]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Anyone know on average about how many people are placed on the waitlist at each school??

 

[twelvetigers]

Every school is different. Only the ranked lists provide some idea how many waitlisters there may be, and most schools don't rank...

 

[LetItSnow]

Every school is different. Only the ranked lists provide some idea how many waitlisters there may be, and most schools don't rank...

Oh interesting, I didn't know that.

So how do they decide who to call off the waitlist?

 

[twelvetigers]

Well... let me rephrase. Most lists are probably ranked, but the school isn't telling you anything about your position no matter how much you beg them. 🙂 Western is the only school that reevaluates the waitlist based on the opening created in the class (looking for similar demographics).

 

[Whyevernot55]

Well... let me rephrase. Most lists are probably ranked, but the school isn't telling you anything about your position no matter how much you beg them. 🙂 Western is the only school that reevaluates the waitlist based on the opening created in the class (looking for similar demographics).

Actually Tufts doesn't rank, either - they re-eval all the alternate candidates if spots open up.
Otherwise true. Most schools DO rank, but they keep the rankings confidential. And the size of the list.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

What's the purpose of the secrecy? I don't really see why one wouldn't be open about rank... with the possible exception of attempting to avoid competition between students (she was #2, he was #37, etc.).

I mean, let's be honest, if somebody's going to be obnoxious about something like that, they're going to be obnoxious about outright acceptances vs. waitlisters anyway.

 

[LetItSnow]

What's the purpose of the secrecy? I don't really see why one wouldn't be open about rank... with the possible exception of attempting to avoid competition between students (she was #2, he was #37, etc.).

Equally opportunity fretting amongst candidates? To avoid putting people in a position where they assume they'll get in because they're number #N only to get really wrecked when they don't? Or maybe to avoid having to update people constantly as their position changes? Or ... to give themselves flexibility to pull #20 instead of #5 if they feel weak in a particular demographic?

I don't know. All those reasons feel pretty weak to me.

Have you unveiled yet in the FB group? 😉

 

[Packen]

I have been on VMRCVM's waitlist more than I care to remember, but I do know that they take about 15 WL students a year according to admissions. Also, they refuse to tell you where on the list you are - even the previous head of SA surgery (my boss at the time) could not even get a number out of them. Obviously I was never very close to the top 😉

 

[Cautionary Tail]

Equally opportunity fretting amongst candidates? To avoid putting people in a position where they assume they'll get in because they're number #N only to get really wrecked when they don't? Or maybe to avoid having to update people constantly as their position changes? Or ... to give themselves flexibility to pull #20 instead of #5 if they feel weak in a particular demographic?

I don't know. All those reasons feel pretty weak to me.

It would have been pretty horrible to have been #1 that off year MN pulled nobody off the waitlist.

I can see some potential disadvantages, but I'd think there would be advantages, too. Minnesota became my top choice post-interview. If I'd been accepted outright elsewhere, I'd have put down a deposit to secure the spot, but kept my options open (i.e. holding off on housing arrangements and the like) knowing the odds were in my favor. If the list was unranked, I'd probably just take the acceptance and decline the waitlist on the assumption that it wasn't going to happen.

Have you unveiled yet in the FB group? 😉

Nope... I feel like that would be kinda presumptuous, so I'm holding out for the call. If/when it comes, I'll be on there as soon as the screaming phone calls are over and done with. 😀