WashU decision dates, adcom meetings

[xylem29]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I seriously wouldn't try to predict or draw any conclusions from Wash U's notification process. I work there, my boss in on the committee, was waitlisted last year, etc ... I can tell you it's extremely random as far as notifications go. Not hearing anything for over a month is very common, for instance. Also, I don't know really of anyone over 2 years of applying who has been rejected post-interview (the assistant dean said in my interview that it only happens when the interview (or one particular answer) is really bad, etc.). However, if you don't have a high MCAT, you will probably be waitlisted (apparently last year the averaged interviewed MCAT was around 32 and accepted was in between 37 and 38 ... you do the math), and Wash U has a HUGE waitlist (two-tiered), so the chances of getting off are not good (you basically have to have someone influential on the committee lobbying hard for you). It may not be what you all want to hear, but it's the truth.

Yes - this is not what I wanted to hear!

As for the person who got rejected a few days ago - maybe the Feb.8 was the sub-committee meeting? I guess you didn't make it to the main committee meeting that is taking/took place today. As for me, well - if my subcommitee met on the 8th and I was rejected, I guess I'll hear about it tommorrow or next week since I'm in Canada and the mail takes a bit longer to get here.

 

[EBI831]

so they actually inform you that a mail is on the way?

not for me, i got no email saying it. i just got a phone call from the dean and then snail mail.

 

[sprinkibrio]

I don't think the lunch counts as an interview. It is highly possible that if you weren't interested in research and didn't have high scores, they just didn't want to go further with you, because as you said, you wouldn't be a good fit. For what it's worth, though, you are one of the first people I have ever heard of not getting either waitlisted or accepted post-interview (it's not a commentary on you, just an observation about their admissions process). Sorry if my original post came off as saying you were a bad interviewer. That wasn't my intent.

Oh no, don't worry! Maybe Wash U undergrads are the exception to the rule? We are supposed to have the same interests that some of the med students do so it doesn't surprise me that they took a chance with me even if my scores were lower than average.

 

[omegaxx]

Yes - this is not what I wanted to hear!

As for the person who got rejected a few days ago - maybe the Feb.8 was the sub-committee meeting? I guess you didn't make it to the main committee meeting that is taking/took place today. As for me, well - if my subcommitee met on the 8th and I was rejected, I guess I'll hear about it tommorrow or next week since I'm in Canada and the mail takes a bit longer to get here.

It took a good 13 days before the letter arrived in my mailbox. Talk about snail😡
So yes, be patient...

 

[aardvark14]

Anyone get a call today?

 

[Hednej]

Anyone get a call today?

or called the admissions office?
I've already called them way too many times.

 

[aardvark14]

I called today...no decision yet, but I interviewed recently (2/1/07). So I'm guessing that maybe I wasnt even discussed at this meeting. What is the earliest anyone has heard back from them after an interview?

 

[aardvark14]

I seriously wouldn't try to predict or draw any conclusions from Wash U's notification process. I work there, my boss in on the committee, was waitlisted last year, etc ... I can tell you it's extremely random as far as notifications go. Not hearing anything for over a month is very common, for instance. Also, I don't know really of anyone over 2 years of applying who has been rejected post-interview (the assistant dean said in my interview that it only happens when the interview (or one particular answer) is really bad, etc.). However, if you don't have a high MCAT, you will probably be waitlisted (apparently last year the averaged interviewed MCAT was around 32 and accepted was in between 37 and 38 ... you do the math), and Wash U has a HUGE waitlist (two-tiered), so the chances of getting off are not good (you basically have to have someone influential on the committee lobbying hard for you). It may not be what you all want to hear, but it's the truth.

And by the way, why would the average invited for interview applicant have such a lower ave MCAT than average accepted? That makes no sense, niether statistically nor logically. If the average invited applicant has a 32 average and the average accepted a 38, in order for this to be possible, ther must be a huge standard deviation. That means that a lot of people with 26 MCAT scores are being invited for interview. This clearly is not the case. Also, why would they waste so many resources on interviewing people whose scores are too low too accept? It makes no sense, especially since WashU is one of the most comprehensive interview programs in the country.

 

[KardiacKiehl]

And by the way, why would the average invited for interview applicant have such a lower ave MCAT than average accepted? That makes no sense, niether statistically nor logically. If the average invited applicant has a 32 average and the average accepted a 38, in order for this to be possible, ther must be a huge standard deviation. That means that a lot of people with 26 MCAT scores are being invited for interview. This clearly is not the case. Also, why would they waste so many resources on interviewing people whose scores are too low too accept? It makes no sense, especially since WashU is one of the most comprehensive interview programs in the country.

It may not make a lot of sense, but it is reality (I've seen the statistical breakdown from last year via my boss). You're right about the standard deviation, but take into account that Wash U interviews WAY more applicants than most schools. There are only so many people who score 38+, so to interview that many people, they have to (and do) interview a lot more people with scores ranging from 30-32. As I recall, the average may have been closer to 33 than 32 (like 32.7 or so), so this is feasible with a large interview pool. When it comes time for acceptance, barring a connection with an influential committee member or great research background (like multiple first-authored publications), MCAT seems to be the definitive factor in admissions.

I went to Wash U for undergrad so trust me when I say 1) Wash U has no qualms about wasting resources at any level ... they're all about raising awareness levels right nationwide beyond just the Midwest, medical school and otherwise. Think back to undergrad and getting pestered with mailings to come there, etc. 2) Stats are imperative to Wash U, hence the reliance on the MCAT. To gain recognition nationwide, for better or worse, Wash U's chancellor has made it a goal to ascend up all the US News rankings. Within medicine, research dollars and selectivity (MCAT, etc.) are the way to do that.

 

[sprinkibrio]

I went to Wash U for undergrad so trust me when I say 1) Wash U has no qualms about wasting resources at any level ... they're all about raising awareness levels right nationwide beyond just the Midwest, medical school and otherwise. Think back to undergrad and getting pestered with mailings to come there, etc. 2) Stats are imperative to Wash U, hence the reliance on the MCAT. To gain recognition nationwide, for better or worse, Wash U's chancellor has made it a goal to ascend up all the US News rankings. Within medicine, research dollars and selectivity (MCAT, etc.) are the way to do that.

I second that. Their marketing campaign is insane. You must have been in my year, KK, I took a year off. Also stayed in St. Louis.

 

[aardvark14]

So you guys think they interview so many people just for publicity? I think they were just toying with me and my 33 MCAT. We will see...

 

[KardiacKiehl]

I second that. Their marketing campaign is insane. You must have been in my year, KK, I took a year off. Also stayed in St. Louis.

What was your major? The question now becomes ... do we know each other (yes, I graduated last year)?

 

[sprinkibrio]

What was your major? The question now becomes ... do we know each other (yes, I graduated last year)?

Spanish. Your mdapps said you were in engineering. Were you BME? Those were the only engineers I knew. I'm trying to think if I knew anyone reapplying.

 

[KardiacKiehl]

Spanish. Your mdapps said you were in engineering. Were you BME? Those were the only engineers I knew. I'm trying to think if I knew anyone reapplying.

Yea I was a BME/Econ double major. Maybe I know you directly or indirectly through your BME friends?

 

[sprinkibrio]

Yea I was a BME/Econ double major. Maybe I know you directly or indirectly through your BME friends?

Yeah, prob indirectly. I'll pm you my facebook profile.

 

[KardiacKiehl]

Yeah, prob indirectly. I'll pm you my facebook profile.

Same.

 

[Shake_yabooties]

I called today...no decision yet, but I interviewed recently (2/1/07). So I'm guessing that maybe I wasnt even discussed at this meeting. What is the earliest anyone has heard back from them after an interview?

I heard 3 weeks

 

[greysanatomyfan]

I def got a rejection letter on Valentines Day...i would have never actually gone but it was really unexpected since they have the reputation of not rejecting anyone but hey, its a good thing to know! 🙂

 

[Falco2525]

should I call and ask what my status is since I have heard nothing and interviewed Oct 13th

 

[Hednej]

I called them this morning and they said that all decisions will be mailed out by April 15th. WTF!!!!!!!?

 

[KardiacKiehl]

I called them this morning and they said that all decisions will be mailed out by April 15th. WTF!!!!!!!?

Yea, they are generally very late in notifying people compared to other schools. Last year, I think it was very early April that I received my waitlist notification. My guess is that if you get an acceptance (not via the waitlist), you'll find out before 4/15, given that's the second look weekend.

 

[PropofolandPorsche]

.

 

[xylem29]

I heard 3 weeks

i guess you're a shoe-in if they take the high MCAT scores eh?

 

[xylem29]

anyone who is waiting to hear back from washu, and who really wants in - let's form a collective channeling of our energies...on three, we should all just wish and pray and wish with all the energy that exists in our materal selves...one...two....three....

 

[xylem29]

I read in the vandy post that some people had to call and email the dean a lot to get off the waitlist - do you think that we will need to keep bugging the office a lot and contact dean dodson a lot if we want to get off the waitlist?

i mean, what else can a person do to show their interest other than sending ONE email or making ONE phone call saying: "i just want to let you know that this is my first choice school and that I really hope I get off the waitlist, I will def attend if i do"....what would someone say in the second email or call?

 

[omegaxx]

I read in the vandy post that some people had to call and email the dean a lot to get off the waitlist - do you think that we will need to keep bugging the office a lot and contact dean dodson a lot if we want to get off the waitlist?

i mean, what else can a person do to show their interest other than sending ONE email or making ONE phone call saying: "i just want to let you know that this is my first choice school and that I really hope I get off the waitlist, I will def attend if i do"....what would someone say in the second email or call?

Ditto. I imagine that a letter of intent promising matriculation upon acceptance would work well given their low (compared to other top 10s) matriculation rate and desire to climb the rankings.

Are they definitely your first choice tho? I'm just kind of curious, especially after being totally wowed by Toronto.

 

[xylem29]

Ditto. I imagine that a letter of intent promising matriculation upon acceptance would work well given their low (compared to other top 10s) matriculation rate and desire to climb the rankings.

Are they definitely your first choice tho? I'm just kind of curious, especially after being totally wowed by Toronto.

No - not my first choice, BUT they are my first choice in the US. After your confirmation/impressions of Toronto's comparsion to Harvard, hell yea I would rather pay half the tuition to go to Toronto...but...it is a very strange story of circumstance omegaxx, but there is a good chance U of T will not even be interviewing me. You can PM me if you want to know why - anyway, this is why I feel so lucky that I even got an interview at WashU. If I get rejected from Toronto, then my desires lean towards WashU...and this is very likely to happen as I mentioned earlier...but then again, I might get rejected from WashU too - and if this happens, then my decisions about where to go won't be that difficult.

I'm not saying that I will definitely go to WashU - but if accepted, they will make my decision making a VERY difficult process. There are just so many factors to consider like: cost of living, tuition, safety of the area, opportunities in US vs Canada, where I want to be in 10 years and which school will help me get there, research opportunities, etc.

I mean WashU is my first choice - but it sorta isn't - ahhhhhhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhhhhh i just don't know....this is all so confusing.

 

[kevinp2]

Does anyone know if the last meeting really was on Thursday? Seems like no one's been accepted

 

[xylem29]

Does anyone know if the last meeting really was on Thursday? Seems like no one's been accepted

Well - not everyone uses SDN, so even if they called/emailed people on friday with acceptances, we may not hear about it on SDN. Also, they maybe waiting for this coming week to make their calls/emails...it's all very confusing b/c I have read that some people were called about their acceptance, others were emailed, and others just got a snail mail letter with no prior notification. That would suck large though, if no one on the last meeting got accepted - I wonder if the committee has quotas for how many people must be accepted at each meeting and how many should be waitlisted...

 

[new_doc]

Just got an express letter from Wash U. - on a Sunday! I interviewed mid-January, so the latest adcom meeting yielded at least one acceptance.

Off to chill the champagne!

 

[Falco2525]

Just got an express letter from Wash U. - on a Sunday! I interviewed mid-January, so the latest adcom meeting yielded at least one acceptance.

Off to chill the champagne!

congrats! hope i get a damn letter...though at this point it is a long shot

 

[Shake_yabooties]

Just got an express letter from Wash U. - on a Sunday! I interviewed mid-January, so the latest adcom meeting yielded at least one acceptance.

Off to chill the champagne!

dang congrats!

did they email/call you to notify that the mail is on the way?

 

[new_doc]

They didn't email and I got no phone call that I know of. Just an unexpected and very welcome ring of the doorbell.

 

[omegaxx]

Just got an express letter from Wash U. - on a Sunday! I interviewed mid-January, so the latest adcom meeting yielded at least one acceptance.

Off to chill the champagne!

Congratz!!!

 

[Shake_yabooties]

They didn't email and I got no phone call that I know of. Just an unexpected and very welcome ring of the doorbell.

wow.. that must have been a really nice surprise. I wonder if they came to my house too (I'm away right now) fingers crossed😀

 

[Lorienne7]

They didn't email and I got no phone call that I know of. Just an unexpected and very welcome ring of the doorbell.

Congrats! Come say hi in the Wash U Class thread!

And about this whole email/phone call thing, I think the vast majority of applicants get no such prior warning before the express letter comes (at least I know I didn't!)

 

[xylem29]

Just got an express letter from Wash U. - on a Sunday! I interviewed mid-January, so the latest adcom meeting yielded at least one acceptance.

Off to chill the champagne!

hot dang buddy - congratulations...I didn't know mail arrived on sundays! I also interviewed mid-Jan - let's hope we all be receiving one this week!!!

 

[xylem29]

congrats! hope i get a damn letter...though at this point it is a long shot

keep the faith my friend - keep the faith.

 

[Falco2525]

keep the faith my friend - keep the faith.

thanks xylem...i am trying...with every passing day it gets more difficult

 

[DuckHunter]

bump

 

[Big XII Fanatic]

does anyone know WashU's procedure for notifying individuals with P.O. boxes? I only ask because Express carriers don't deliver to P.O. boxes.

 

[Falco2525]

does anyone know WashU's procedure for notifying individuals with P.O. boxes? I only ask because Express carriers don't deliver to P.O. boxes.

no idea sorry...but in addition to this does anyone know if express mail is delivered on holidays such as President's Day?

 

[xylem29]

When people say express post - are they referring to the express post of USPS or of companies like fedex, ups, purolator, etc?

Does anyone receive regular ol'snail mail from WashU? B/C omegaxx said that she receieved her letter 13 days after it was dates - now that seems pretty slow for "express post" doesn't it?

 

[Lorienne7]

When people say express post - are they referring to the express post of USPS or of companies like fedex, ups, purolator, etc?

Does anyone receive regular ol'snail mail from WashU? B/C omegaxx said that she receieved her letter 13 days after it was dates - now that seems pretty slow for "express post" doesn't it?

Most of the Wash U acceptances are sent via USPS Express Mail (ie mine was sent on a Friday and I received it on Saturday at noon). Wash U then sends all other info (about research opps, scholarships, etc) via regular snail mail.

 

[xylem29]

Most of the Wash U acceptances are sent via USPS Express Mail (ie mine was sent on a Friday and I received it on Saturday at noon). Wash U then sends all other info (about research opps, scholarships, etc) via regular snail mail.

Do you know what they would use for letters going to Canada?

If they use Express Mail domestic - the speed is "next day" and costs them about $14 (hence how you guys can receive the acceptance by sat or sunday)

For Express Mail Intl - speed is 3-5 days and costs about $16.

The next lowest priority mail at about $4 and takes about 2 days longer.

Anyway, I think we've established that any acceptances that have been sent out were sent out on friday - so I'm expecting to hear by this friday (23rd) or my hear will be broken...

 

[Shake_yabooties]

bump

 

[kevinp2]

Do you know what they would use for letters going to Canada?

If they use Express Mail domestic - the speed is "next day" and costs them about $14 (hence how you guys can receive the acceptance by sat or sunday)

For Express Mail Intl - speed is 3-5 days and costs about $16.

The next lowest priority mail at about $4 and takes about 2 days longer.

Anyway, I think we've established that any acceptances that have been sent out were sent out on friday - so I'm expecting to hear by this friday (23rd) or my hear will be broken...

As long as we're on the topic of mailing I was wondering if acceptences were sent to your permanent or school address?... I'm at school right now and the mail room never has anything together so if it were sent here I would probably get my express letter several days after it was actually delivered.

 

[xylem29]

As long as we're on the topic of mailing I was wondering if acceptences were sent to your permanent or school address?... I'm at school right now and the mail room never has anything together so if it were sent here I would probably get my express letter several days after it was actually delivered.

I would assume your "current" address is where they would send all correspondance to....anyway, I think they use regular airmail letter delivery for canada, so if i do receive anything, it will be in the next 2 weeks...not likely this week...staying optimistic.

 

[xylem29]

I'm bored so I did a profiles search on mdapps to see what my chances are with a 35...checked last years and this years...it doesn't look promising for me.


This cycle, there's only been 3 people (on mdapps) who've been accepted with a 35 or lower...2 are urms. Everyone else on mdapps...the lowest was a 38..hahahahaha...sigh....



good nite folks...I dunno why i'm putting my hopes so high...even after learning they interview a disproportionately large number of students to begin with...i still feel like there's a chance...no more posting here for me untill i hear from wustl...i feel like total crap.

 

[sprinkibrio]

I'm bored so I did a profiles search on mdapps to see what my chances are with a 35...checked last years and this years...it doesn't look promising for me.


This cycle, there's only been 3 people (on mdapps) who've been accepted with a 35 or lower...2 are urms. Everyone else on mdapps...the lowest was a 38..hahahahaha...sigh....



good nite folks...I dunno why i'm putting my hopes so high...even after learning they interview a disproportionately large number of students to begin with...i still feel like there's a chance...no more posting here for me untill i hear from wustl...i feel like total crap.

Don't lose hope!! 🙁 At least hope that it won't be so much of a waiting game.