Waitlists-QUESTION

[ChocolateKiss]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I don't understand waitlists. Why do schools accept people up through August off of their waitlists?

If everyone has to select one acceptance only on May 15, shouldn't all of the schools know exactly how many people they need to take off their waitlists by this date and notify them right away? Obviously, not everyone who is given a place from the waitlist will accept, but do they really need 3 months to fill these spots? After a waitlisted applicant is offered a spot, how long does he/she usually get to decide?

 

[ti89]

I don't understand waitlists. Why do schools accept people up through August off of their waitlists?

If everyone has to select one acceptance only on May 15, shouldn't all of the schools know exactly how many people they need to take off their waitlists by this date and notify them right away? Obviously, not everyone who is given a place from the waitlist will accept, but do they really need 3 months to fill these spots? After a waitlisted applicant is offered a spot, how long does he/she usually get to decide?

Ya that is a good questions. I can see it being like a week or two after that date as one may need a little time to think. I figure most major movement occurs early but one or two spots may open up late for some reasons or deferals and cause a chain reaction.

 

[ChocolateKiss]

bump

 

[Touchdown]

Two reasons this happens: the first (and largest reason) is that while you are limited to one acceptance, you can hold as many waitlists as you want. Thus lets say a person is into a 2nd tier school and gets notification that he just got in off the waitlist of Harvard, he accepts it and recinds his acceptance to the 2nd tier school. The 2nd tier school then sends an acceptance to a person who has been accepted at another school in early June, etc. etc. etc.

The other reason is that people decide up to the first day of class they dont want to be doctors anymore.

 

[kypdurron5]

Two reasons this happens: the first (and largest reason) is that while you are limited to one acceptance, you can hold as many waitlists as you want. Thus lets say a person is into a 2nd tier school and gets notification that he just got in off the waitlist of Harvard, he accepts it and recinds his acceptance to the 2nd tier school. The 2nd tier school then sends an acceptance to a person who has been accepted at another school in early June, etc. etc. etc.

The other reason is that people decide up to the first day of class they dont want to be doctors anymore.

That all makes sense, but what if you're on a waitlist and don't get in, will you automatically be accepted for the following year? If that's the case, I would think such a system would lead to a perpetual 1-year behind acceptance system. Since a school has to accept all the waitlisted students the following year, all the following year acceptances would have to be put on another waitlist for the year which follows the following year. Thanks to the thread opener, I've always wondered if being "waitlisted" was a good thing or not. I KNOW I would rather have been waitlisted than rejected, but no such luck this time around >).

 

[chandelantern]

The other reason is that people decide up to the first day of class they dont want to be doctors anymore.

This is crazy! Going through all of this and then realizing it isn't what you want...how sad! Anyway, yes, waitlists move the fastest the end of May (after everyone has to give up multiple acceptances.) However, there are some people who convince the schools they need more time, thus hanging on to two or more (I know someone who did this...waiting on sig.other to find out where he was accepted to a grad program.) When they decide, say the middle of June, they withdraw from one school and a spot opens up. Some med schools will look at all their top waitlist applicants to see who would best fill that spot, thus taking more time (others rank their waitlist right off the bat). Anyway, then that applicant gets 2 weeks to accept, we're already well into July. This applicant doesn't accept - they move to the next person and they get 2 weeks...and so on. One of my friends found out 5 days before classes started she was accepted to a school in NY (and we live in CA). I can't imagine how stressful/dramatic that would be!

 

[MollyMalone]

That all makes sense, but what if you're on a waitlist and don't get in, will you automatically be accepted for the following year? If that's the case, I would think such a system would lead to a perpetual 1-year behind acceptance system. Since a school has to accept all the waitlisted students the following year, all the following year acceptances would have to be put on another waitlist for the year which follows the following year. Thanks to the thread opener, I've always wondered if being "waitlisted" was a good thing or not. I KNOW I would rather have been waitlisted than rejected, but no such luck this time around >).

No, I don't believe acceptance is automatic the following year. You have to reapply and there are no guarantees.

 

[kirexhana]

That all makes sense, but what if you're on a waitlist and don't get in, will you automatically be accepted for the following year? If that's the case, I would think such a system would lead to a perpetual 1-year behind acceptance system. Since a school has to accept all the waitlisted students the following year, all the following year acceptances would have to be put on another waitlist for the year which follows the following year. Thanks to the thread opener, I've always wondered if being "waitlisted" was a good thing or not. I KNOW I would rather have been waitlisted than rejected, but no such luck this time around >).

haha, i wish..... waitlisted at UCSF, UCLA, Vandy, NYU..... i'd have my pick of school next year if this were true 🙄 but alas, this won't happen because waitlists are automatically trashed when the school starts class, i believe.

 

[4176]

are any of you on waitlists planning on reapplying for next year even though we would submit our AMCAS in June and we could get pulled off a waitlist in August?

 

[Depakote]

are any of you on waitlists planning on reapplying for next year even though we would submit our AMCAS in June and we could get pulled off a waitlist in August?

*sigh*

I'm in very early prep for it.

This could be round 3 for me.

 

[n3ur05ur930n]

This is crazy! Going through all of this and then realizing it isn't what you want...how sad! Anyway, yes, waitlists move the fastest the end of May (after everyone has to give up multiple acceptances.) However, there are some people who convince the schools they need more time, thus hanging on to two or more (I know someone who did this...waiting on sig.other to find out where he was accepted to a grad program.) When they decide, say the middle of June, they withdraw from one school and a spot opens up. Some med schools will look at all their top waitlist applicants to see who would best fill that spot, thus taking more time (others rank their waitlist right off the bat). Anyway, then that applicant gets 2 weeks to accept, we're already well into July. This applicant doesn't accept - they move to the next person and they get 2 weeks...and so on. One of my friends found out 5 days before classes started she was accepted to a school in NY (and we live in CA). I can't imagine how stressful/dramatic that would be!

AMCAS now has a new policy in place. After June 15, anyone holding multiple acceptances will be removed from all schools where they hold acceptances.

This should help make the waitlist movement more efficient.

 

[4176]

So what are you doing to "change" your application? I've finished another year of coursework and have worked a full-time job for a year, but in order to reapply shouldn't we do something to beef-up the next application? Also, are you completely re-writing your PS, or just editing it more?

I sure hope I get pulled of a waitlist!

*sigh*

I'm in very early prep for it.

This could be round 3 for me.

 

[jebus]

So what are you doing to "change" your application? I've finished another year of coursework and have worked a full-time job for a year, but in order to reapply shouldn't we do something to beef-up the next application? Also, are you completely re-writing your PS, or just editing it more?

I think this is a pretty important point. If I don't get in anywhere, I'm taking a year to substantively address my clinical deficiencies, write a new PS (why keep a losing horse?), work on my pecs, biceps, and shoulders, and fill in other sundry holes in my application.
Come June 2007, I'll be back stronger, sexier, and as a better applicant.

 

[kypdurron5]

So what are you doing to "change" your application? I've finished another year of coursework and have worked a full-time job for a year, but in order to reapply shouldn't we do something to beef-up the next application? Also, are you completely re-writing your PS, or just editing it more?

I sure hope I get pulled of a waitlist!

That's a great question, I've been wondering about whether to change my PS or not, especially since certain quotes from it were big hits during my interview. As for my two cents, I’m retaking the MCAT and trying to boost my score by a few points, I’ll be much more content if I can get into even the low 30’s (I’m currently at 27). I’m also trying to get some direct shadowing experience which I was missing last time. The latter issue is actually the only one mentioned during my interview. Good luck to all us 1st round losers >). Dang... I never thought about it that way, you know, this is worse than being a 2nd round draft pick since even professional football players don't have to wait an entire extra year for the next draft round. Ack!

 

[4176]

That's a great question, I've been wondering about whether to change my PS or not, especially since certain quotes from it were big hits during my interview. As for my two cents, I’m retaking the MCAT and trying to boost my score by a few points, I’ll be much more content if I can get into even the low 30’s (I’m currently at 27). I’m also trying to get some direct shadowing experience which I was missing last time. The latter issue is actually the only one mentioned during my interview. Good luck to all us 1st round losers >). Dang... I never thought about it that way, you know, this is worse than being a 2nd round draft pick since even professional football players don't have to wait an entire extra year for the next draft round. Ack!

as for us first round losers, it is almost relieving though. I am applying straight out of undergraduate and now i think i am going to take two years and go abroad and live somewhere else and then come back, retake the MCATS (since my scores will have expired by then) and reapply. Don't get me wrong, I still really, really want to get pulled off the waitlist, but if not, I'm going to enjoy my time away from the books!