admitted off the waitlist, now what?

lamiller2008
Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:32:13 +0000

Last Friday I finally got the call…I was admitted off the waitlist to the College of Wooster! I was incredibly excited, but then I came crashing down. Exactly one week prior I had mailed in my deposit to Wittenberg University…ugh…

A little background info is in order. I’ve always wanted to go to Wooster, and I’ve known that since Spring of 2005. I started busting my butt to get my grades up and everything. My rank between the end of my junior year and beginning of my senior year was 45/107 or in the top 42% and has gone up to a current level of 30/99 or top 30%. Although that’s not considered outstanding by CC standards, I’m really happy with it, especially keeping in mind that I go to a fairly rural school. Anyways, I have been involved in the music camp that Wooster’s music department holds every summer for four years, three in high school and one during junior high. I have also played in the Community Band since it began in Fall 2005 and have been the head of the section as well. I have admired/wanted to have the kind of quality education that Wooster has to offer. They are one of the top schools In Ohio that turn out the best Music Ed. majors, which is what I’m going for.

I originally applied to Wittenberg because they offered a similar academic program to that of Wooster. It was supposed to be a good back-up plan for me in the case that Wooster rejected me outright. I wasn’t really all that interested in Wittenberg until I went to campus for my music entrance/scholarship audition back towards the end of February. It started to grow on my, especially the quaint cafe they have down the road from campus, and I knew that I would definately be happy there if I attended. I had also recieved my acceptance letter and a nice 6k/year scholarship.

Precisely two days later I recieved the waitlist letter from Wooster. As soon as I finished the sentence that said “unfortunately we are unable to offer you a place in the class of 2012 at this time,” I started to cry right there in the post office. I wanted to burn the letter and the reply card to wash my hands of them. I didn’t attend Community Band that night and just slept on the couch and cried some more. I called my mom before I went home to sleep and asked her what I should do, and I ended up sending the reply card back the same day indicating that I was still interested in attending Wooster if a place was available.

But now that I got that call and acceptance packet from Wooster, I don’t know what to do. I still am completely lost. Wittenberg offered me an extremely attractive financial aid package. My admissions counselor at Wooster told me not to send my stuff in to them until I found out if I would end up being accepted or not. So, I called Wooster two days ago, and he told me to drop it off at the Office of Financial Aid so that they could create my award package and get it to me so I could make a final decision. As I was walking to and from the office, I started to remember how at home I felt there and how much I enjoyed the whole atmosphere. But I also know that I’d feel almost the same way at Wittenberg as well.

This is where I need advice. What should I do? I have been considering calling my counselor at Wooster and asking for an extension on the decision deadline for no later than May 8th so my mom and I can go to my grandma’s financial advisor and get an honest appraisal of both awards. I know I’d have the option of transferring, but I’d rather not do that unless I absolutely had to. Thank you all so much, I really appreciate the help and guidance!