insideout

I just got waitlisted today. I've been building myself up for a possible rejection though, so I'm okay. I figure with the volume of applicants, it's not too big of a deal. But, I'm surprised I was waitlisted and not outright rejected. Does anyone know about how many people are waitlisted? In the letter it says "over the past dozen years, we have admitted only a few and as many as 50." It says I must notify Carleton by May 1, but I need to notify my other schools by then...so if I notify Carleton, do I not accept admission at any of my other schools? If so, that's so risky because I don't feel too confident that I'll get off the waitlist. Or can I accept admission from one of my other schools and accept a position on the waitlist...that doesn't seem to make much sense. Can someone enlighten me, please?

crixx

Accepting a spot on the waitlist just tells the school that you're still interested. You are in no way agreeing to anything other than having the possibility of being accepted later. It can only help you. Once you have notified your other school that you are attending, you'll make a deposit (around $200). If you accepted off of Carleton's waitlist, you decide if you want to enroll and if you do, lose the deposit at your other school.

The only reason you would not accept a spot on the waitlist is if you know you would not go there if accepted, say if you got into a school you like better.

LACalum

This is just to reiterate crixx's summary:

If you are waitlisted, at Carleton or anywhere, DEPOSIT ON TIME to your top choice school that accepted you! You can accept a spot on the waitlist, deposit at another school, and still choose to attend the school that waitlisted you if you get in later. This is a completely accepted practice at all of these colleges and this is how they intend for the waitlist to work. You may lose your deposit at the other school, but that is it. So if you want to go to Carleton, definitely accept a place on the WL, just make sure you have another option ready to go if it doesn't work out.

Maize&Blue

For historical waitlist data for the past 10 years, check the common data sets at https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/ira/CDS1/ . Sections C1 and C2 provide data on # applications, # admitted, # yield, # on waitlist, # admitted off waitlist. For entering fall 2007 class:
4840 applicants, 1444 admitted, 509 yield
1368 offered place on waitlist, 306 accepted place on wl, 5 admitted from wl

scarsta

what do u mean..5 out of the wait listed!!! daiyum...im couting off ma chances...

ilk07

you have to keep in mind, though, that admissions was really screwed up this year. last year too many people ended up enrolling, and so now adcoms are extra careful. i think they will end up accepting a lot more off the waitlist- not a lot, obviously, but more

Jenie

Have you guys who get waiitlisted sent them "written requests"? Did you send them letters, email them or fax? I emailed the admissions office last week but they still haven't replied yet.

BB012

I emailed them and they placed me in their waiting list..You should call to confirm

christinawang

for everyone who got responses from Carleton saying they put you on wailist, did you get a letter or email? what does it say? i got a letter yesterday

scarsta

one thing guys, what kind of written statment did you all write? a formal letter or anything else..please elaborate...

Northern Lights

I wrote a formal letter and reiterated some of my desires as to why I want to attend Carleton. The statistics don't look good to come off the waitlist, but if Carleton doesn't rank its waitlist, just exactly what do they look at?