The Waitlist Game

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Sorry for the title. It's approaching mid June and I am still sitting on two waitlists. One of these schools is my top choice and I would very much like to attend. The medical school in which I have been accepted and am currently planning on attending is fine and I have no problem just resigning myself to going there. However, as I said, I would rather attend either of the other schools at which I am waitlisted.</p>

<p>At this point I feel it is getting late and I really need to start searching for an apartment etc. for my current school but I obviously can't sign a lease until I am absolutely certain I will attend. This is creating the dilemma of how long I should wait on the waitlists before moving on. I do not really have any experience in this type of thing so I would really like advice (especially from current medical students who have been through this or know others who have). Thanks everyone.</p>

2

<p>By now, most of the movement on waitlists will have occurred. I'd definitely put the figure somewhere north of 80% of the total movement for this cycle. I wouldn't wait past July 1st if you already have acceptance somewhere else. </p>

<p>I'm not sure what BDM's feelings will be, but I don't think it'd be a bad thing to call your top choice and ask them if they think there will be any more movement. I don't really see the harm at this point and I'm sure you wouldn't be the first or only person who posed this question. But maybe BDM has a different take or particular insight.</p>

<p>I'm definitely a fan of schools - like Kansas - which from the very beginning tell you right away what number you are on the waitlist, and then have an on-line list that is updated on a frequent basis to keep you abreast of changes. I know other schools will tell you what quartile you are on the waitlist, which you can usually find out from older students or SDN how likely they are to reach you based on historical trends.</p>

3

<p>Nope, don't see any problems with BRM's advice.</p>

<p>The reason some schools can't work like Kansas is because they'll be looking to replace specific students with specific other students, and they don't know which of those students will enroll in the first place. So while I agree that it's extremely considerate of Kansas to do that, and that it's undoubtedly better for applicants, I do understand why some schools feel like they can't.</p>

4

<p>I wouldn't give up hope just yet. I didn't get into medical school until mid-June, and then I got into two schools at once. I'd give up on July 1 if I were you.</p>

<p>Three things:</p>

<p>1) You've been writing letters to those two schools and keeping them updating with your activities, right? </p>

<p>2) Do you know anyone at either of those schools that could put in a good word for you? Sometimes a student saying, "I like this person, I could work with this person, they're great and easy to get along with," can make a difference at the med school I attend.</p>

<p>3) Have you considered writing a short note directly to the deans of admissions to politely but strongly press your case? I started a short conversation via email with the dean of admissions at one of the schools I was waitlisted at, and that back and forth exchange ended up with an offer of admission.</p>

<p>I used #1 and #3, and it worked for me. I've only heard about #2, but I'd be shocked if my school was the only one where that could help.</p>

5

<p>shades_children,</p>

<p>I have been updating both with letters. I emailed one asking if I could schedule some sort of follow-up interview but was told they did not do that. To my #1 I thought I'd just play it straight, with a letter of intent and follow up letters updating them with what I have been doing. Would you recommend writing a letter directly to the dean of admissions? Would you do it via email? Thanks for any help.</p>

6

<p>With that said, regardless of what happens, I take it that I should strongly consider withdrawing from the other schools after July 1st? Would that be the latest I could reasonably wait to secure an apartment/living arrangements at my current medical school?</p>

7

<p>Depends on where you're looking to live, if you're definitely renting (It would be a lot to get into place, but with the housing market (for sellers) as horrible as it is right now, you could probably move pretty quick on a house if you wanted to - definitely a buyer's market in most places), and so on. Cities vary widely and even locations within the same city matter a lot as far as how likely you'll find a suitable place. Stuff closer to your school is most likely to be gone first but that depends on the neighborhood somewhat too (a great many schools are in somewhat shady areas, but not all are). Of course with gas prices what they are and are going to be, close has a lot of benefits...</p>

8

<p>I had a big cup of coffee this morning, and now I'm jittery, so sorry if I'm not quite coherent.</p>

<p>
[quote]
To my #1 I thought I'd just play it straight, with a letter of intent and follow up letters updating them with what I have been doing. Would you recommend writing a letter directly to the dean of admissions? Would you do it via email?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I emailed the deans of admissions directly. (This was in addition to my update letters, which were sent via snail mail.) To my #1 school, I came straight out and said that school ABC was my absolute top choice for medical school, and if I was accepted, I'd immediately withdraw from all the other schools. To my #2, I said that I was very strongly interested in attending, thought that I was a great fit, thought the school was fantastic, etc. - basically, everything to the point of making the commitment to attend if accepted.</p>

<p>If I were you, I'd also call the offices of admissions and ask when and how the next decisions would be made. If they're willing to tell you, that might help you gauge your chances of getting in. If they're making decisions once every two weeks in big batches, then it's a bit better than taking people one at a time as people drop out.</p>

<p>I don't know if this helped me, but when I was asking about the waitlist, I'd throw in a comment like, "I'm just asking because I really want to come here for school." As long as you're honest about it, I think those kind of things at least don't hurt.</p>

<p>Overall, in your communications with the school, I think it's important to sound positive and excited and emphasize what makes you different than the other hundred people trying to get off the waitlist without being annoying and overbearing.</p>

<p>If you still have questions about this, send me a PM.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I take it that I should strongly consider withdrawing from the other schools after July 1st? Would that be the latest I could reasonably wait to secure an apartment/living arrangements at my current medical school?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It depends on how badly you want your #1 and the housing situation at the school you're currently slated to attend. How's housing at your current school work? You have to find it on your own or the school provides it?</p>

9

<p>We have to find our own housing and from what I have gathered it does not seem to be all that difficult to find decent places. It is not in a city, its in a "college town" type environment and is separated by a mile or two from the undergrad so hopefully all of that will play in my favor if I decide to wait it out on the waitlists. </p>

<p>Bigredmed,</p>

<p>Are there pros/cons to buying your own house? Would that mean I would live alone? </p>

<p>shades_children,</p>

<p>I basically have done all you have said except email the admissions director directly at my #1. I don't think he publishes his email address on the internet and the emails sent to us by the school were never by him...</p>

10

<p>I would just wait until July 1st and then move on with your life. The vast majority of movement takes place within 3 weeks of May 15th. It's extremely rare to get off a waitlist after mid-June (unless your name is shades_children :)).</p>