The medical school waitlist process can be difficult and stressful, but understanding how it works can help ease some of your fears. Whether you’ve applied through AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS, this guide will answer most of your questions about waitlists and offer detailed and outlined steps to improve your chances of acceptance.
Being waitlisted means the admissions committee found you to be a strong candidate, but there weren’t enough spots available at that specific time. This often occurs due several different factors such as a competitive applicant pool, limited class size, or certain aspects of your application that didn’t place you in the top tier initially. But, this also means they see potential in you and want to keep you in consideration.
If you’re still interested in attending the school, accepting the waitlist spot is usually a smart move. It keeps your chances alive, although it is important that you decide how committed you are because the waiting process can be long and tedious. If you’re no longer interested, it’s better to decline so additional applicants can be offered the spot.
Every medical school uses waitlists to fill any spots that open up if accepted students decide to pursue their acceptances to medical school elsewhere. Schools generally tend to rank waitlisted applicants or group them based on priority. When a spot becomes available, they select the next candidate based on their ranking or how they believe they fit into the program.
Yes, absolutely! The more opportunities you have to join medical school, the better. You can be on multiple waitlists simultaneously. However, if you get accepted off one and decide to attend, it is general practice to inform the other schools so they can offer your spot to someone else on their waitlist.
The waitlist timeline varies by school, but you could be on the list as late as the first week of classes. The waitlist process is a long and drawn out process so don’t lose hope! Many decisions come towards the end of the application cycle. The majority of waitlist movement occurs between April and July, but some schools continue to pull from the waitlist into August.
Most waitlist movement happens after the initial round of acceptances, which is usually between April and July, as students make their decisions and decline offers. Some schools might still choose from their waitlists as late as August to ensure complete class sizes, sometimes right up until classes begin.
The number of waitlist positions varies widely by school, ranging from a few dozen to several hundred. Some schools are transparent about the size of their waitlist, while others keep this information private. Not all waitlist spots are equal; some applicants may be higher on the list and have a better chance of being accepted.
Being on a waitlist keeps your chances of admission alive, offering a potential path to acceptance into a medical school. It also gives you the opportunity to show schools your continued interest through update letters or a letter of intent. This opportunity can also help provide valuable information into your application’s strengths, which can be helpful if you need to reapply.
To boost your chances of getting off a waitlist, you should always stay proactive. Try to keep in touch with the admissions committee by providing updates on any new improvements in your academic or professional life. If you have a research manuscript that was recently published or engaged in a unique volunteering or clinical opportunity, you can always update them with this critical information. Consider submitting a letter of intent to show your strong interest in the program. Networking with alumni or current students can also help show how committed you are to the school..
A letter of intent should clearly state that the school is your top choice and that you are definitely going to attend if accepted. Highlight any new achievements since your initial application and reiterate why you’re a great fit for the program. Examples of achievements could include new research projects, publications, volunteering experiences, clinical experiences, transcript updates, MCAT score updates, and ect. Be concise, genuine, and avoid trying to come across as overly persistent.
If you don’t get off any waitlists, it’s important to plan your next steps. Consider reapplying in the next cycle and take the time to strengthen your application—whether that’s gaining more clinical experience, exploring different volunteering opportunities, improving your MCAT score, or engaging in research. Feel free to reach out to the admissions committee to see where they think your application could have been improved. You can always use feedback from admissions committees to develop your new approach.
If reapplication seems likely, start the process as soon as you know you won’t be getting off the waitlist. Try to begin preparing your application in the spring or early summer before the beginning of the next application cycle. Use this time to update your materials, gain new experiences, and improve your personal statement.
Being waitlisted is a challenging part of the medical school admissions process, but don’t believe that it is the end of the road. There is always still a chance for you to pursue your dream. Stay proactive, consider all your options, and remember that many students have successfully navigated waitlists to gain acceptance. Continue to stay focused, hopeful, engaged, and you will be able to pursue your goal of becoming a physician. We wish you nothing but the best of luck!
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