OniLawliet

Hey everyone

I applied to Grinnell College for admission to the class of 2012 and was wait listed. Here is some back round info:

GPA: 3.4/4.0 (school doesn't weigh)
ACT: 28
Taken only 2 APs, but school only offers only 7. Rigorous curriculum in general.
Really involved ECs. I've done a lot with the visual arts in my school and town community.
I'm not in need of fin. aid. My dad went to Grinnell, so I have a legacy.

My dad was given a courtesy call from a Grinnell admissions officer and was told of my waitlist status. She proceeded to tell him that I'm apparently I high priority candidate on the waitlist.

I've since then written and sent a new essay that speaks to why I want to attend Grinnell, why I think I would do well there, what I would contribute to the school, etc. I've also sent a list of recent achievements, and a teacher will be mailing a rec later this week. My GC has spoken with the head of admissions and has written a letter of sorts to them.

So I've done a lot. I really would love to be at Grinnell next year, and I keep thinking there's more I could do...Is there? I know that colleges can't really look at their waitlist until they know how many spots are left to fill in the class, but how soon could I hear in May? I've made a very clear and confident statement to Grinnell that I will attend if admitted, but I just can't help but feel anxious!

Is there anything else I can do? Do you think I stand a shot at getting off the waitlist? How have others handled waitlists? Any waitlist admission success stories??

Thanks!

nhsharvard

With LACs, I heard writing letters, calling them, and possibly, setting up interviews all help. Just try not being too pushy to them.

OniLawliet

bump 10char

hpg90

Too bad that your dad didn't ask her what you could do to strengthen your chances to get in off the wait list when she called. If he got her name, maybe he/you could do that now. I wouldn't recommend it if she hadn't called, but she opened the door... Also, I'd have your school college advisor call on your behalf.

Grande Antilles

I do not know if anyone did that but this is what happened to a friend (X) of mine who will be attending an Ivy ( Z university) next year. X was rejected by most of the school she applied to and waitlisted by Zuniversity she also needed full aid to attend. Our HS counselor as everyone to send a rejection letter to extra schools after we chose where we wanted to go so those who were on the waiting list could have a better chance. Even after that my friend did not receive an acceptance letter.

All our friends who rejected Z university sent a second individual letter saying that they chose to go to another school but thought that X will be a good match for their school therefore they asked the admission office to recosider X application. They wrote about him as a person and how bad it will be if he does not get in. Their letters were not dramatic nor did they praise X's quality as a God. It was a really nice gesture but we graduated without hearing anything from the school. Someday in the middle of summer, X sent a mass email telling us that she received a letter from Z university, telling her that she was offered a place for the 2012 class. Z happily took a GAP year and will start school in the fall. If you have a lot of friends who rejected Grinell, they can maybe do the same for you. Even if some of the students are not your friend, you can still ask them to do that for you. I know that you might have your pride and might not one people tell you later that you get into Grinell because of them but I think that it's worth it. I wish you the best.

Grande Antilles

By the way, they did not send a generic printed letter. They wrote it by hand

OniLawliet

Grande Antilles, that's a really nice thing that your classmates did. I come from a very small graduating class though, and only one other person in my class applied to Grinnell (he's a friend of mine). He got in, received some good aid, visited the campus and loved it. He will likely go there, unless Middlebury can sway him.

hpg, my Dad did get her name and I got it too. I have spoken with her over the phone and via email, and have expressed a clear interest in Grinnell. And she told him what it is I could do strengthen my chances (and I asked her too) and I've done all that she has told me to do. And my GC/headmaster called, as did my academic advisor. So, yeah...I've done that whole route. Thanks for the advice though.

Further suggestions?

mtngoat1

I got waitlisted at a top LAC as well, and am going for an interview in a couple days. I'm bringing several pieces of writing, since that's really all I've got going for me.

Grande Antilles

Hey In case you never heard from Grinell after graduation , keep track of their information on the website where you can check your account. I know someone who was waitlisted for Grinell but Grinell never told him anything at the end of May nor during summer. They never sent him any mail too. Guess what? In the middle of the fall semester while she was attending another college, she suddently felt like checking his admission status for the schools that waitlisted him, she found out that she was actually accepted. So don't loose hope!

Grande Antilles

and if your friend ends up going to Middlebury , you know what to ask him but hopefully you will get the good news by then.