Bates Class of 2021 Regular Decision Thread

Lindagaf
Sat, 18 Mar 2017 12:45:06 +0000

@s8331506 @cody27 It is very low, but last year a lot of kids got off WL. The year before though, only 11 did. It can vary dramatically from year to year. My child got off WL. If you want to be seriously considered, I will tell you what she did, as it worked.

Follow up right away with a short email stating that Bates is your first choice and you will attend if accepted. Briefly explain why you are a good fit for the school. Then, wait until closer to the May 1 deposit date. (At this point, they have probably heard back from the majority of students who plan to attend and they might have already started looking at waitlisted students.) Now compose a longer, but not too long, email, explaining why you are a good fit, what you hope to achieve and why Bates is the place to do that. Update with any new achievements or awards, etc…

Also ask your high school to send an updated progress report. If possible, ask your guidance counselor to put in a call to the admissions office and plead your case. My D asked her GC to do this, but we don’t know if that ever happened. Like other colleges, Bates will take students off the waitlist right after May 1, but due to summer melt, you could even be offered a place later.

Meanwhile, it is best to carry on as though getting off the WL won’t happen. It is very difficult, but not impossible. WL’s are utilized. Remember,they actually initially admit more students than they have room for. Some admitted studetns have to be removed from the accepted pile and moved to the WL pile. If you were one of,them, you have a much better chance of getting off the WL. You have no way of knowing any of this of course. Good luck to you, wherever you end up.