As I've been getting my college decisions back, and am going to get some back in the next few weeks, I was wondering what to do in the scenario where I got wait listed? Is it based on a real list, or do they let you in if you seem really enthusiastic by showing initiative, sending emails, etc etc? Thanks in advance.
Its def. based on a real list, but showing initiative couldn't hurt...I guess it could make a difference to some of the smaller private schools
I had a friend who was going to Washington and Lee but got off the wait list for Vandy in June and ended up going there, so I guess there actually is a wait list. I had a friend that was in constant contact with Purdue once he was on the wait list and he eventually got off so that could work too.
Waitlists are real; don't know if you can do anything to improve your position, however. And you might have a better chance of getting into a private (expensive) university off the waitlist this year compared to others, due to acceptance / economic uncertainties. In Shifting Era of Admissions, Colleges Sweat:
I forgot to add, if you are on a wait list that your family are long time graduates of or have donated a building or something, you prolly won't get in. They will just put you on a wait list to appease you. That is really the only case where the waitlist isnt really anything.
No, that's not the situation. I've only gotten wait-listed at one school thus far - SMU. I already faxed them the acceptance to the wait-list offer, I was just wondering if sending them a letter or an updates resume would do anything.
I had friends that would e-mail the the admissions office on a pretty regular basis and that seemed to help them. Updating resumes couldn't hurt either. Also, what high school are you applying from? That could make a difference
Yes. Send them a letter telling them how they're still you're #1 and some more reasons why you want to get in. You should call their admissions office and see if there's someone in charge of the waitlist that you can talk to. While annoying/pestering them with emails/letter 24/7 is a bad idea, not sending them anything will do absolutely nothing to help your chances. I was waitlisted at Vandy Law, got in contact with the person who ran waitlist, and he put me on a "shorter waitlist". They're real, and students that show the initiative that they want to go there will have a better shot. Schools don't want to accept people off waitlist only to have them decline- makes their numbers look worse.
