Helping Students on Waitlist

Did you know that one of the most common questions asked during the ever growing in popularity Multiple Mini Interview is “How would you console a friend who has been placed on the medical school acceptance waitlist?”

At this time of year, students have received acceptances and rejections, but some have received the limbo response of the waitlist – and that’s a tough spot to be in. By May 15^th, accepted Medical School students for the Fall Class may only be holding a spot at one medical school, so the time of students getting called off the waitlist is approaching us (if not already here). So it’s a good time to reflect on how to console and advise your students that are on the waitlist. Here are a couple of ideas:

1.  Students should be ready to make a decision about a school if they are offered a spot off the waitlist, but at the same time, students on the waitlist can proactively reach out to the school to offer new information that would enhance their application. Remember, they are almost in, the school liked them enough to put them on the waitlist, now its more than likely a matter of timing and space.

2.  Students should get ready for the worst case scenario of not being accepted by being prepared to apply early for the next cycle. Students should decide whether they want to reapply sooner than later, and begin to prepare their updated Primary Application. Its generally not wise to resubmit the same personal statement, because students are a “different” person this year than last, so students should update the essay with anything that has changed through the last year and, hopefully, reconfirmed their interest in pursuing medicine.

3.  Letters of recommendation similarly should be updated, along with transcripts, and activities.

4.  Finally, have students prepare to turn around their secondary applications sooner. It never hurts for students to reach out to the medical schools they have been waitlisted for, but its generally not a good idea to bombard and nag them either.

Hopefully, this won’t be an issue that comes up a lot for you.