<p>How exactly are those accepted from the waitlist chosen? I know many schools do not rank their waitlists, and I know the method of choosing those from the waitlist varies from school to school. I wouldn't think they are chosen randomly, so how exactly does it work? Is there some sort of formula?</p>
<p>Does what minority group you belong to or where you live play a big role in the process? Thanks.</p>
<p>Anybody care to answer? I guess these waitlist questions are getting annoying... sorry.</p>
<p>What school? That's the only way we can help.</p>
<p>I asked the same question at Reed, and they said their list was not ranked. Instead, the admissions committee made notes and recommendations about each applicant, and will choose them accordingly.</p>
<p>I was waitlisted at Oberlin and Colby, so both.</p>
<p>What about Vandy? How does their waitlist system work?</p>
<p>I was waitlisted at Emory, so there may be some similarities...</p>
<p>According to them, things such as geographic diversity, racial diversity, special talents, or anything that can "round out" their incoming freshman class are of higher priority on the waitlist. I think the above are pretty common for most schools, not just Emory. I wouldnt despair if those things dont apply to you, as certainly students that dont meet the listed things get in off the waitlist, but i would be ready to enroll in another college and send in a deposit. Good luck to us both!!!</p>
<p>Given the ivy massacre I would expect yield to go up at schools like Colby, Oberlin and Vandy. They are likely backups for the ivy applicant. But who knows, maybe their yield guess already reflects that......</p>
<p>Only 10% get in off the waitlist. Urgh..
Thank you guys for giving me some hope.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers, guys. Good luck to you, norskvkng07.</p>
<p>I think both Colby and Oberlin are trying to get more diverse, so I think that might help me a bit. Although I don't know how much living in NYC helps...</p>
<p>Actually, that brings me to another question... does anybody know if Oberlin and Colby see NYC as "regional diversity."</p>
<p>Art, you do have a better chance as a URM. URMs have long been hard to attract to Colby so the liklihood of many they accepted turning it down are good. Again, that may well be already controlled for in yield predictions.</p>
<p>Apply the OP's question to Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia? regarding race and ethnicity...?</p>
<p>The colleges work hard to have aprox. the same race distribution year over year. Some are trying to increase certain populations.</p>
<p>If you are black you are likely to get off the wait list if an accepted black candidate declines. Some schools (meet full need) also have to consider your financial need against those in your pool that declined.</p>
<p>Harvard, Princeton and Columbia probably have a much higher URM yield than Colby or Oberlin.</p>
<p>art: No. NYC does not represent geographical diversity for either for those schools.</p>
<p>For 2005-2006:</p>
<p>Oberlin
891 offered a waiting list spot
640 accepted a spot on the waiting list
33 accepted off waiting list</p>
<p>Colby
624 offered a waiting list spot
320 accepted a spot on the waiting list
1 accepted off waiting list</p>
<p>Yeah, that's what I thought. Thanks for confirming it. How about economic diversity? Would coming from a working class background be considered a hook for either of those schools?</p>
<p>I don't know about that. Are you the first in your family to go to college? That might carry a little weight. (Emphasis on little.)</p>
<p>Actually, last spring we accepted in the neighborhood of forty students off our Wait List, not just one. A much lower number was taken in the previous year. This year's Wait List at Colby comprised almost 900 students, which (if previous years are an indication) will most likely halve itself before the end of the month, as students elect to enroll elsewhere. </p>
<p>Like some of our peer institutions, we do not "rank" our Wait List, partly because we won't know what we will "need" to round out the class come early May. For example, if 2/3 of the incoming class is female, and we have an additional twenty spots to fill, we most likely will be looking for males to balance the numbers. Similarly, if we realize that 2/3 of the class hails from New England, we would perhaps look outside these six states for the remainder. If we have financial aid left, we will certainly look to the Wait List for students who have applied & qualify for assistance, to spend those precious dollars. In reality, there are too many variables to count, too many ways to "rank" students, some of which work against each other. </p>
<p>My advice to any student our our Wait List is to send back the card indicating your decision--if you wish to remain in consideration or not--and, if the former, perhaps write a short note, reaffirming your desire to attend. Also, if any new information comes up, pass that along, too; our review of files ended in late March, and any number of awards, new grades, or changes to one's application/status might aid our continued efforts in the ensuing month and a half (we won't know anything about, nor will discuss in depth, anything regarding our Wait List until early May). And for those who do elect to remain on the Wait List, thanks for hanging in there with us, and please be patient.... I recognize that's a very difficult thing to ask, but hopefully we'll have some news & updates in the next few weeks.</p>
<p>I called Oberlin today to ask whether a visit would increase my chances. The representative was a bit reluctant to say whether it would theoretically increase my chances, but he did say it could be a good idea since I haven't visited at all. I live in NYC, and my family does not own a car, so it would be quite an expensive trip to visit the school... it would also be a hassle since there aren't a lot of buses that go to Cleveland from NYC. </p>
<p>Do you guys think it's worth taking a risk? Oberlin is clearly my first choice at this point... I don't know how much of an impact my visit will make, but I'm not confident a personal statement would be enough.</p>
<p>Then go visit it. It can't hurt!</p>
<p>i don't know about all waitlists, but according to my guidance counselor (vandy at least) chooses students off the waitlist to replace a certain accepted student who chose to enroll elsewhere. say i accepted a place on a waitlist, so if another asian-american girl that wanted to study languages didn't enroll, i could have her place.
i hope that makes sense.
good luck!</p>