Another Waitlisted Kid

Applying to College
1

<p>I’m sorry if this post ends up being a bit long, but I’d really appreciate any responses!</p>

<p>I applied to six schools: Alfred University, Vassar, Oberlin, Bates, Conn College, and Wesleyan. So far, I’ve been accepted at Alfred with a fairly nice financial package and waitlisted at Vassar, Oberlin, Bates, and Conn. Needless to say, I don’t have very high hopes for Wesleyan.</p>

<p>I was a bit discouraged after this, but I’m trying to pick myself back up. I’m starting to get some supplemental information together to try and get myself moved off of these waitlists, and I have some great second semester grades to update colleges with, but I know that my chances aren’t great (just judging by the number of students that have been accepted from waitlists in the past). I’m not giving up hope, but I’m not going to kid myself either.</p>

<p>Anyway, I’ll probably end up going to Alfred, and I’m going to apply to their Honors Program which I think I have a pretty good chance of getting into. I’m going to give the school a chance, but I’m already thinking that I’m going to try to transfer to a different school after my freshman year. </p>

<p>My question is: how can I make myself a competitive transfer applicant? I know that Alfred isn’t a highly-regarded LAC, so that will probably hurt me quite a bit if I’m competing with people that are trying to transfer from more prestigious schools. I’m going to make a more well-rounded list of colleges to apply to this time. I’ll probably keep Vassar (the school I fell in love with) and Oberlin (the school that was a close second) on my list, but I’m going to look for schools with higher acceptance rates that I think I’d still be happy at.</p>

<p>Is the transfer application process very similar to the normal undergrad process? Should I get involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities at Alfred? If I’m a strong athlete (soccer) should I get involved with that? Or should I just focus on academics next year and get the best grades that I can?</p>

<p>Thanks for any guidance you guys can provide - I’m a little lost now that my plans for next year have completely changed!</p>

<p>(Oh, if it helps at all, a short resume of my highschool stats are: white female from Vermont, 3.83 unweighted GPA [at the end of junior year - that’s probably gone up a bit now], 32 ACT, President of NHS, a solid body of EC’s including four years of soccer [MVP and All-State First Team 11th and 12th grade] and a lot of community service)</p>

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<p>First of all, I am sorry about the waitlists; my D was waitlisted at five schols several years ago and although she ended up at a school that was a great fit for her the waitlisting was really disappointing. </p>

<p>As far as transferring goes, I think grades and maybe academic recommendations would be the key unless you are good enough to be recruited for soccer, which it sounds as though did not happen this year.
(Or did you not pursue soccer as an admissions tool? Is your coach any help?) Keep in mind that if you still want to attend the schools you were waitlisted at you shoud send them any new supporting information you have, and maybe a letter reiterating your desire to attend. You sound as though you have good credentiasl for these schools and it seems to me that oen or two of them might every well be going to their WL and that you might stilll get in.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>I know this doesn’t answer your transfer question…</p>

<p>Were you in touch with the soccer coaches at all? If not, contacting them (either you or your coach) might be an avenue to get your name further up the waitlist.</p>

<p>In any case, do put together a compelling update for the four schools. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>I know someone who was originally waitlisted who got into Wesleyan as a sophomore transfer. Perhaps schools look more kindly at applications of those they waitlisted a year earlier?</p>

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<p>I did not, in fact, use soccer as an admissions tool – I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make the commitment by being a recruit so I didn’t talk to any coaches. Now I’m kind of regretting that decision :)</p>

<p>Thank you to both of you for your advice! I think I will try to get in contact with the coaches at a few schools. I’ll talk to my high school coach as well about a recommendation and that sort of thing.</p>

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<p>I understand it can be a real kick in the stomach to be rejected or waitlisted. So I understand how in anger or disappointment people can say things in the heat of the moment.</p>

<p>However I do have a problem when I read posts like this; you have spent exactly zero days as a student at Alfred and you’re already planning to leave! To me, this is a recipe for disappointment. </p>

<p>First off, transferring is no sure thing, often harder than admission as a frosh. You may spend a lot of time and effort finding those perfect schools to transfer to, only to find out they don’t accept you.</p>

<p>Second, when you show up on campus and ALREADY have an eye to leaving (unless, I guess, the school surprises you and turns out better than you expect) a few bad things tend to happen. You don’t want to put a lot of effort into getting to know profs since you’ll never see them after this year anyway. You don’t work to build a strong circle of friends (keeping in touch over breaks, etc) because these aren’t going to be your “real” college friends; you won’t meet those friends until next year and the kids around you now will disappear into the dim recesses of memory. You don’t join clubs and set up a foundation for later leadership positions because you won’t be there when the time comes for those slots. And so on. </p>

<p>Third, since you’re planning from Day 1 to leave, its easy to walk around with a chip on your shoulder; the kids at the school you’re going to transfer to, the one that should have taken you THIS year, are having a better time of it and this can foster resentment.</p>

<p>I’m not saying Alfred is the end-all in colleges. And I’m not saying that transferring is wrong. What I am saying is that you should show up in the fall at Alfred full of excitement at being there and charging ahead to make the most of what it has to offer. Become the frosh that is going to make the absolute MOST of the place! If experience and reflection during the year cause you to believe it isn’t a good fit, or that some other place would be a better fit, then apply to transfer.</p>

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<p>I can definitely understand where you’re coming from mikemac, and I’m sorry I came off that way in my post.</p>

<p>If I don’t get off any waitlists I’m not going to Alfred expecting a horrible time. I applied there for a reason, I know I’m not going to hate it there, and I am excited at the prospect of going somewhere next year. Like I said before, I’m planning on giving it a chance. I’m going to one of the accepted student days in April so that I can get a better feel of how it will be there.</p>

<p>However, I made this thread just in case I do decide to transfer. From what I know so far, Alfred isn’t the absolute best-fit for me, and although I will probably be happy there, I might decide to look elsewhere. I thought that it would be better to find out now, before I start college, what would make me a solid transfer candidate. </p>

<p>I am a bit disappointed and I realize that came across in my original post. I’m a pretty easy-going person and I truly am excited to be going to college next year, regardless of where it is. I want to have good relationships with my professors and fellow students and I want to make the most of my college experience. I do, however, want to be well-informed if it comes time to look into transferring. I’ve heard it’s a difficult process and I just want to be ready.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply - I will keep your advice in mind next year. I certainly don’t want to start off my college experience negatively with a chip on my shoulder!</p>

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<p>Kate, I’m glad to hear you have a good attitude about Alfred; maybe I misread your earlier post a bit.</p>

<p>As for best preparing for transferring in case that’s what happens, here’s a few tips. It boils down to being the best you can at Alfred. Get good grades, most importantly. A tougher school wants to see you could handle the work where you are. Just as important is getting to know your profs; not as buddies, but as seasoned pro’s in the field of education who can provide mentoring and who see first-hand your dedication and drive for learning. A personalized letter of rec means much more than a generic “Kate was in my class and got an A”. Not only that, profs are well connected in the college world and if they come to agree with you that a transfer is best they may be able to suggest some places that may not have occured to you. </p>

<p>But the funny thing is that the things that make you look good to other schools also make the most of your education at Alfred even if you don’t transfer!</p>

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<p>one more bit of advice – don’t give up on the waitlists yet! You can contact the colleges and ask how many kids they put on the waitlist this year, and how many they took from the waitlist in the previous 2 or 3 years. This can give you an idea of your chances. And ask them how their waitlist works; will they just take kids off it in the next few weeks, or might they call someone the week before classes start if they have a last-minute opening?</p>

<p>Also check with the waitlist schools to see if financial aid is available to kids taken from the waitlist, if this is a concern to your family. At many schools the money for financial aid is all gone when they take waitlist kids.</p>

<p>There is some good advice in an article from CollegeConfidential at <a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_admissions/deferral.htm[/url]”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_admissions/deferral.htm&lt;/a&gt; about waitlists. Did you mention your soccer awards in your apps, or have you received any new ones since apps were submitted in the fall? If so, you might want to submit an update letter for your file reiterating your interest in the school and mentioning new awards.</p>

<p>One thing not mentioned in the article but that I’ve heard can help is to write a letter to one waitlist school that tells them they’re your number one choice and that if accepted off the waitlist you WILL enroll. This can be quite advantageous because when they’re turning to the waitlist its to fill an opening, and a kid who’s in regular contact as per the link above and has promised to enroll is likely to be picked ahead of someone who merely returned the postcard and hasn’t been heard from since.</p>