Why was I waitlisted? :\

iPhone · 03-22-2008, 10:33 PM

I honestly felt like Lehigh was a safe match for me. I didn't think I would have any trouble getting in. I guess I was wrong. I was hoping someone could help me figure out where I went wrong.

Since I figured getting in wouldn't be a problem, I never called or visited the school. I also figured that if I were to end up going there, I would want to at least be in one of their more competitive programs, so I applied to the joint computer science and business program. Is this program a lot more competitive than the others at Lehigh? Well anyway, Here's my stats:

I go to a competitive public school, in state (around 800 kids in my class.)
I am an upper-middle class white male.
My school has 3 levels of classes, in order of difficulty they are: CP, GHP, and Honors/AP in that order.

Heres my stuff:

GPA:
Freshman: 3.0 weighted, 2.8 unweighted (2 honors, the rest GHP)
Softmore: 4.0 weighted, 4.0 unweighted (All GHP)
Junior: 4.5 weighted, 4.0 unweighted (2 honors, 1 AP elective, rest GHP)
Senior (expected): 4.7 weighted, 4.0 unweighted (All AP core classes, one regular elective)

Class rank: only top 18% because of crappy freshman year grades

SAT:
Reading: 680
Math: 750
Writing: 800
Total: 2230

SAT 2s:
Math 2: 740
Physics: 630

Extra Curriculars:
JV Lacrosse Team - 9
Varsity Track Team - 10-12
Varsity Cross Country Team - 11-12
Computer Club - 10-12 (Secretary/Created and edit the website)
FBLA - 11-12 (Secretary)
Mathleague - 11-12
Key Club - 11-12
NHS - 12

Volunteering:
30 hours each year from key club
around 80 hours each year volunteering at a baseball league for disabled children

Awards/Recognition:
8th in state at FBLA competition for multimedia presentation
2nd place in regional computer fair for web design
3rd place in FBLA regional competition for technology concepts
+the usual little awards

Recs: Great
Essays: Great

Other:
Competed in local team programming competition in grades 10-12
I made my High School's website
I make flash cartoons and have a website for them

So after looking at this, do you think you might know why I was waitlisted? I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks.

DHowdy · 03-22-2008, 11:07 PM

"Since I figured getting in wouldn't be a problem, I never called or visited the school"

....

that's probably why. Lehigh is huge on demonstrated interest. Accept the position and write them a letter if you truly want to go to Lehigh, otherwise just call it a day and move on.

*Ohh and to add to that: The admission rep during my info session said they had some perfect stat kid that got waitlisted because he lived in like NJ but never visited. They said had he accepted the position on waitlist they would have gladly taken him, but didn't want to be his safety. I'm sure this is not an isolated inccident but rather more in line with their general admissions process.

Muddslinger · 03-23-2008, 01:13 AM

It's definitely your demonstrated interest.

We have similar stats. You're stronger in business than I am (go figure, I'm an electrical engineering guy :P) and you have great sports accomplishments while I'm stronger with GPA, maybe classes (IB student here) and electrical engineering.

So we basically break even for Lehigh. I demonstrated interest with an interview, visiting campus from way out here in CO and talking to faculty. That interest gave me a likely letter also.

So now that you're waitlisted, here are two things that will brighten your app (assuming that admissions well re-evaluate your profile later):

1. VISIT CAMPUS!!! Since you live in-state, Lehigh is probably thinking "why didn't he visit us?" Don't let them think that any more.

2. Write them a letter explaining what you just wrote here: that you thought lehigh was a good match and therefore didn't visit, but you still think it's a great fit for you.

Between those two, your chances of getting in from the waitlist are fairly high.

ranurma · 03-23-2008, 03:39 AM

i no how u feel buddy....i didnt imagine lehigh wud put me on the waitlist....now im really scared abt the other replies :S

Muddslinger · 03-23-2008, 03:54 PM

Lehigh is a bit of a strange duck when it comes to demonstrated interest. Most other schools don't weigh it nearly as heavily as Lehigh does... if you're qualified for your other schools you shouldn't get too many rejections.

theplace · 03-23-2008, 04:08 PM

How do you know you are on the wait list?

ShahM07 · 03-23-2008, 08:09 PM

yeah.. aren't letters supposed to come in tomorrow?

mrchipmunk90 · 03-23-2008, 08:15 PM

i think letters went out on friday, so people that live very close to lehigh could have received their decisions on saturday

jcrew90 · 03-23-2008, 08:15 PM

if you are basing this on the other thread about the email addresses then this is ridiculous. its not even confirmed. many students also said that they are accepted and don't have an email address

ShahM07 · 03-23-2008, 08:21 PM

so basically we all got our hopes up for nothing... this is gonna suck if i get rejected now.. esp because i told my parents. bad move on my part.

rodney · 03-23-2008, 08:22 PM

No, he wouldn't know he got "waitlisted" based on the e-mail addresses.....

Jethan90 · 03-24-2008, 10:21 AM

Im in sort of the same position, i have 3.85 unweighted GPA, and im in the top 5% of my class. 4 years of lacrosse, 2 years of chess. I really thought lehigh was a safe bet, in fact on of my friends who is about 12% in the class got into lehighs integrated business and engineering program with a healthy scholarship, which is supposedly the most competitive program. It doesnt make much sense to me.

Muddslinger · 03-24-2008, 10:29 AM

Jethan90, it's the demonstrated interest.

With stats like yours, assuming you have the classes to back up the GPA, you're a candidate for the Ivy's. People who look like you statistically apply to Lehigh as a safety school. Since Lehigh is trying to increase its USNEWS rankings and part of the rating is based on their ratio of yield to number of admissions offers, they reject over-qualified applicants that haven't shown interest - the people who use Lehigh as a safety, not as a serious option.

radyland · 03-24-2008, 11:04 AM

The demonstrated interest got to me too, i decided to apply to Lehigh at the last moment and i never got a chance to visit. I def had the stats, but I guess they really expected to come see them, esp since im in NJ

curlyj78 · 03-24-2008, 11:18 AM

Yeah, when I visited, they said that if you live in a four hour radius of the school (or in traveling distance, really), and you don't visit, it shows you're not really interested. I don't know if I agree with their thinking, but that's what they said...