trackie10x

thanks, diectsm, for the encouragement. people don't realize that the encouragement they give helps as much as it really does.


definitely definitely call them and send in more stuff. when i first called, the receptionist connected me with mark hines, and i had to leave a voicemail. when i emailed, i emailed the basic office of undergraduate admissions, and i also emailed mark hines (he's my region's admissions counselor) and patsy lakey, who was on the washu website as my application processor. i think if you call the office they'll be able to tell you who to email. i never did get anybody to tell me what the weaknesses in my application were, however.


when i sent my package, i sent a cover letter that had my three main reasons why i wanted to go to washu/thought i would "fit" at washu, an updated resume, an essay i wrote for a scholarship about my basketball team, a new recommendation from my basketball coach, a recommendation from my instructor at an alternative-spring-break program at northwestern u, and i know this sounds cheesy... but i sent pictures of myself wearing my washu sweatpants, sweatshirt, and tshirt.


good luck!

concretejungle

That first article bothers me. Not only are their acceptance rates outdated, but suggesting UChicago as a school to "fall back on" is ridiculous.

ANYWAY. I had to comment on that, sorry.

Good luck at WUSTL!

trackie10x

concretejungle, i noticed that! also georgetown as a safety? who would think that? uchicago, while its acceptance rate may be higher than some of the other top schools, is extremely hard to get into, AND it attracts some of the most learning-oriented students and discourages not-serious applicants with its deep essay topics

M'sMom

OP,
Were you planning to run track or participate in any other sports at WUSTL? If so, then maybe the coach can go to bat for you. As long as you are otherwise qualified, which you clearly are, then I think the coach can have some say in admissions.

ohakkila

i dunno, but it seems really ridiculous for accusing schools of tufts' syndrome - even tufts itself! we all know that they're excellent institutions, so why can't some of us accept that they're just pulling the semi-random acceptances that the Ivies pulls. if Harvard doesn't accept someone with a 2400, then people accept that Harvard probably was looking beyond the scores and didn't the student was a best fit. If WashU, which is a super-great school - ivy quality and all that, rejects someone with a 2400, people assume they're just doing it to raise their stats. maybe, just maybe, WashU doesn't think the student is a great fit.

trackie10x

There are a certain number of "recruits" that each coach gets to be automatically admitted, and it's usually the tippy top athletes. I'm good for track, but i'm not tippy top. The coach does know I would plan on trying out for the track team, however, and I've asked him to say something to the admissions office, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet... That's where we are on that.

cgarrett101@aol.

D got waitlisted at WUSTL, and accepted early action to Stanford. She's not asking to stay on the waitlist.

trackie10x

yeah at first i thought about not accepting the waitlist spot because it kind of doesn't really feel great to know you're a college's backup person...

HomeschoolDad

trackie10x,

If you really want to go to WashU, and won't ditch it for Brown or Penn, making contact BEFORE April 1 was the right course. They'll realize that you aren't appealing because you were rejected by higher choices. Also, if you do get into Brown or Penn next week, and if WashU is truly your first choice, you should immediately have your AC contact WashU and let him/her inform the school of these Ivy admissions, and that you prefer WashU over them.

Wash U will admit you, because it will make the admissions people feel really good about themselves and you that you hold WashU in such high regard that you're going to send "regrets" to two other great schools if WashU takes you.

AVDude

Hello everyone!

I just got waitlisted for Duke, one place that I really wanted to go to. I have been reading over the thread and getting some good advice on how to stand out as someone on the waiting list..does duke usually pull from their waiting list?

LaLaLa12345

AVDude, I am waitlisted at Duke as well, and it is also my first choice. From what the letter said, the average number ranges between 10 and 75, but has gone as low as 1 and as high as 200..this year is going to be a little different than most too, so we'll see how it goes. Good luck!

oldfort

Duke went to their waitlist last year. But it changes from one year to another. My sense is that schools like Duke will go to their waitlist because they have a lot more applicants from Harvard and Princeton's EA/ED pool.

GleasSpty

I was waitlisted and I read in a couple posts that, if waitlisted, to send additional recommendations. I've alreadyy had one of my professor write a recommendation, but should I send more than one? I'm sure I could find someone who would be happy to write a great recommednation for me, but as I already sent 3 recs when I applied early, and am sedning another one now, would one more be too many?

Also, I think a couple posts suggested calling the school or at least keeping in contat with your admissions counselor. This may sound stupid, but how exactly do you do this? I mean, I wrote a letter indicaiton interest, I e-mailed my counselor with updates, and I called to make sure that they received everything I had sent so far, but what to do after this? I can't think of any more reason to call or e-mail anyone in admissions as I've already given them everything I've got (at least for now), but I still want to show interest. i also don't want to annoy them with meaningless calls or emails containig just the smallest tidbits of new information. Have I done everything I can, or is there something more I could do?

Thanks very much

trackie10x

i would recommend calling to "confirm" that they received anything you sent by snail mail and asking if they have any new information for you


also, what types of recs were the first three you sent? were they a counselor and two teachers? if so, you might want to think about sending a rec from a coach, employer, or somebody else who knows you in a different context

Adultparentmom!

HomeschoolDad's response is brilliant. All I will add is OF COURSE you should appeal. There is nothing to lose. Sometimes a really outstanding candidate DOES slip through the cracks. Refresh their memories about how great you really are.