Will frequently calling about your application status improve your chances?

[Beantown2006]

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Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

 

[cajunchrisbu]

Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet even when they specifically say NOT to call? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

Well genius...
if they say not to call them then generally they mean....not to call.
I know the English language is very confusing but you might want to ask your English professor what the meaning of "do not call" is before you make any decisions.

 

[Beantown2006]

Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet even when they specifically say NOT to call? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

 

[fizzle]

Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet even when they specifically say NOT to call? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

Just don't contact them at all once you're complete and just let them go at their own pace. Calling isn't going to make them review your application any faster, and look at it from their point of view...would you want to be the one at the admissions office, answering calls from every applicant? It would be a full-time, unfulfilling, useless job.

I can't believe you're asking this even as you acknowledge that they say specifically not to call. I don't mean to sound harsh here, but when they say not to call, it isn't some trick order that they use to gauge interest by accepting/interviewing those that DO call. 😛

 

[GoSpursGo]

If they specifically tell you NOT to call... what, do you think they're kidding?

I mean, if you've been complete for 2-3 months, I don't think it hurts to call ONCE just to check and make sure everything is complete at your schools (you don't want to be the person that didn't get in because your LORs were somehow lost in the shuffle or something). But the schools already know you're really interested just because you applied there.

 

[BlueElmo]

Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet even when they specifically say NOT to call? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

I think your post contains your answer.

 

[Beantown2006]

Well genius...
if they say not to call them then generally they mean....not to call.
I know the English language is very confusing but you might want to ask your English professor what the meaning of "do not call" is before you make any decisions.

geez, man, what's with the harsh words? i should've clarified that one of the schools that i applied to stated on their website they don't want applicants to call but i tried anyway when i didn't get any confirmation back. then i asked them about the whole "we don't like applicants to call" thing and the person said, "oh yeah, students call in all the time, it's fine."

i just wanted to find out if anyone knew if most schools took the same stance or if calling a lot helped your chances (the officer gave me a political answer).

 

[fizzle]

On a side note, I feel sorry for those schools that didn't put in a DO NOT CALL clause into their application process 😛

I bet they have to hire someone to answer calls full-time

 

[NotAndrew]

I think your post contains your answer.

He even underlined it and put it in bold. Much like this.

 

[Beantown2006]

i should've clarified i only asked that question cuz one of the schools that i applied to stated on their website they don't want applicants to call but i tried anyway when i didn't get any confirmation back. then i asked them about the whole "we don't like applicants to call after everything's been submitted" thing and the person said, "oh yeah, students call in all the time, it's fine."

i just wanted to find out if anyone knew if most schools took the same stance or if calling a lot helped your chances (the officer gave me a political answer). honestly, i've heard people saying they called in anyway....

 

[GoSpursGo]

My general feeling is that people tend to just call sometimes because the anxiety gets to them. It's a helpless feeling knowing that your entire application is in and that there is likely nothing that you can do to affect your application.

Honestly, the person answering the phone in the admissions office likely has nothing to do with evaluating your application. You can call if it will just ease your mind to know that it got in, but the chances that it will help you at all are vanishingly small.

 

[Beantown2006]

thanks for the input. i assume all you understand how nerve-racking the process can be.

and my bad for not detailing my entire situation in my first post but the few of you who did, was it really necessary to bash a guy just cuz he wants to be sure? for christ's sake, you're trying to be physicians - grow the hell up.

 

[vin5cent0]

So they specifically tell you not to call, but you want to call? This sounds like a no-brainer, man. Don't call unless you have a legitimate reason to (I.e, its been 3 months since you applied with no word from them).

 

[cajunchrisbu]

geez, man, what's with the harsh words? i should've clarified that one of the schools that i applied to stated on their website they don't want applicants to call but i tried anyway when i didn't get any confirmation back. then i asked them about the whole "we don't like applicants to call" thing and the person said, "oh yeah, students call in all the time, it's fine."

i just wanted to find out if anyone knew if most schools took the same stance or if calling a lot helped your chances (the officer gave me a political answer).

well then Susan if the nice lady told you it was ok to call, then by all means call away. You could even call everyday. How about you send them roses, chocolates and a love letter... because im sure it will make everything better. (oh look that rhymed).

As for your pm...it was awesome 👍 hope you enjoy the p.s.👍

 

[cajunchrisbu]

since you blocked my pm here is my response

*Edited*

if you want to really be a doctor perhaps you should learn the meaning of simple phrases like do not call. And perhaps develop a little thicker skin... Or you could continue to whine and get your panties in a twist.

its your call susan

oh and p.s. i've already gotten into medical school...where are you going again?

 

[cajunchrisbu]

oh and since you blocked my pm here is my response

*Edited*

if you want to really be a doctor perhaps you should learn the meaning of simple phrases like do not call. And perhaps develop a little thicker skin... Or you could continue to whine and get your panties in a twist.

its your call susan

oh and p.s. i've already gotten into medical school...where are you going again?

 

[megamega]

What an interesting post. I just think that you should have some compassion for the Admissions staff and not call unless it is some kind of emergency. Most of the time the admissions people are very friendly, but they are people too. On one of my interviews I was sitting in the Admissions office and people were calling every 3 minutes. I talked to the staff and they didn't seem happy about it, but they still answered the phone very nicely. So, even if they say it's alright on the phone, they are really just as annoyed as you would be to have to answer the same silly questions all day.

 

[aznb0y129]

Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet even when they specifically say NOT to call? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

There is no reason to call that frequently. It won't speed the processing of your application and will only alienate the admissions office against you. Once you verify that your application is complete, just try and keep yourself occupied so that you don't go crazy waiting to hear back from schools.

 

[drizzt3117]

I've found learning to follow directions a useful skill in medical school.

 

[PepperMD]

Honestly, the person answering the phone in the admissions office likely has nothing to do with evaluating your application. You can call if it will just ease your mind to know that it got in, but the chances that it will help you at all are vanishingly small.

This is probably true for the vast majority of places, but I know at my school from giving interview tours, etc, that the admissions staff is probably less than 10 people and generally is pretty close-knit. In fact, when I called to confirm my acceptance, the dean of admissions actually answered the phone herself! So while calling once or twice to check your status might not be a big deal, I can definitely see where drawing attention to your desperation might be counterproductive in some cases (particularly if they say don't call!).

 

[Depakote]

merged duplicate threads into pre-allo

 

[NotAndrew]

merged duplicate threads into pre-allo

You mean he started two threads where he answered his question in the original post? And then he underlined and put in bold answer? Long live this guy.

 

[MilkmanAl]

There is no reason to call that frequently. It won't speed the processing of your application and will only alienate the admissions office against you. Once you verify that your application is complete, just try and keep yourself occupied so that you don't go crazy waiting to hear back from schools.

Pfffft. Ridiculous. OP, don't listen to this nonsense. Calling the admissions office frequently lets them know you're interested in the school. When you call, make sure you give them your name and AMCAS ID to make sure they know who you are. Also, you should make an effort to obtain the admissions staff's personal numbers so you can contact them directly even outside of business hours. Again, be sure to identify yourself when calling. That kind of personal attention and commitment is what med schools are looking for.

However, all the other savvy applicants will also be aware of this strategy. Make sure you call every hour or two to keep up with the other applicants. This method will be particularly effective after you've obtained every adcom member's and admissions official's personal information. Yes, that's a lot of calling, but it'll be worth it when you get that glorious acceptance letter. As always, be sure to identify yourself to whomever you're speaking with. If you are sent to the person's voicemail, be sure to leave a message with the appropriate identifying info. If you find that you're sent to voicemail often, you should try increasing the frequency of you calls. Every hour or every half hour would be appropriate. You can't afford to let this opportunity for personal professional interaction slip by, so get to it! If you do it correctly, you'll certainly have an acceptance before you know it.

 

[phospho]

well then Susan if the nice lady told you it was ok to call, then by all means call away. You could even call everyday. How about you send them roses, chocolates and a love letter... because im sure it will make everything better. (oh look that rhymed).

As for your pm...it was awesome 👍 hope you enjoy the p.s.👍

since you blocked my pm here is my response

*Edited*

if you want to really be a doctor perhaps you should learn the meaning of simple phrases like do not call. And perhaps develop a little thicker skin... Or you could continue to whine and get your panties in a twist.

its your call susan

oh and p.s. i've already gotten into medical school...where are you going again?

Well genius...
if they say not to call them then generally they mean....not to call.
I know the English language is very confusing but you might want to ask your English professor what the meaning of "do not call" is before you make any decisions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorazepam

Not that I don't think the OP is ridiculous, but wow, you are truly an ass...👎

 

[aznb0y129]

Pfffft. Ridiculous. OP, don't listen to this nonsense. Calling the admissions office frequently lets them know you're interested in the school. When you call, make sure you give them your name and AMCAS ID to make sure they know who you are. Also, you should make an effort to obtain the admissions staff's personal numbers so you can contact them directly even outside of business hours. Again, be sure to identify yourself when calling. That kind of personal attention and commitment is what med schools are looking for.

However, all the other savvy applicants will also be aware of this strategy. Make sure you call every hour or two to keep up with the other applicants. This method will be particularly effective after you've obtained every adcom member's and admissions official's personal information. Yes, that's a lot of calling, but it'll be worth it when you get that glorious acceptance letter. As always, be sure to identify yourself to whomever you're speaking with. If you are sent to the person's voicemail, be sure to leave a message with the appropriate identifying info. If you find that you're sent to voicemail often, you should try increasing the frequency of you calls. Every hour or every half hour would be appropriate. You can't afford to let this opportunity for personal professional interaction slip by, so get to it! If you do it correctly, you'll certainly have an acceptance before you know it.

Lol, well played sir

 

[richse]

I don't think pre-interview calling will help very much unless it's for some kind of update to your app. However, at the interview for one school they actually said if you get waitlisted give us a call once a week to let us know you are still interested. Apparently it helps at that school, but I don't think it would work at most places.

 

[cajunchrisbu]

if beantown wouldn't have been such a coward and blocked me after calling me an a****** over p.m......

but alas he is, and i kinda enjoyed my response

 

[235009]

this is basically like sitting in the backseat when you were 5 and asking your parents "are we there yet" every 10 minutes....if it isn't clear yet, you should have outgrown this impatient tendency by the time you get around to applying to med school

 

[cajunchrisbu]

this is basically like sitting in the backseat when you were 5 and asking your parents "are we there yet" every 10 minutes....if it isn't clear yet, you should have outgrown this impatient tendency by the time you get around to applying to med school

haha i like this. 👍

 

[aznb0y129]

this is basically like sitting in the backseat when you were 5 and asking your parents "are we there yet" every 10 minutes....if it isn't clear yet, you should have outgrown this impatient tendency by the time you get around to applying to med school

"Am I under review yet? Am I under review yet? Am I under review yet?"

 

[Depakote]

Just a friendly reminder, you may go here to edit your ignore list. 😀

 

[engineeredout]

It does get frustrating though that the end of application season is coming soon, theres schools who haven't rejected you after being complete for SIX MONTHS, and you've already sent fall grades/LOI so theres really nothing more to be done but compulsively check your e-mail and hoping to hear SOMETHING. EVEN A REJECTION WOULD MEAN CLOSURE!!!

 

[cajunchrisbu]

oops

 

[Demas567]

Does anyone know if it's a bad idea to call schools every two weeks to see if they've made a decision yet? (I'm talking about BEFORE receiving any invitations for an interview and AFTER you've submitted all materials)

I know most schools allow students to check their status online but I wasn't sure if calling every now and then increased your chances of being accepted because it shows them you're really interested.

I just wanna be sure not to aggravate some admissions officer to the point that he/she "accidentally" pushes my application to the bottom of the list.

Now I know why most secretaries for med school admission offices sound so pissed off and annoyed whenever I call them, even if it is for a legitimate reason (like, to schedule an interview)... because they have to deal with people like you on a daily basis.