Classof 2015: Waitlisted!

EmmyBet
Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:36:37 +0000

I’m willing to assume that we’d have to turn around an answer very quickly - kind of hoping for a happy surprise that we might have a week or two.

Are your D’s mini-apps or just postcard responses? I’m impressed, too, that D is doing the work. And it’s helping her settle her mind about both the WL school and current #1, honestly. Anything is good that helps them understand what they want.

She’s kept her grades up (well, she has 2 Bs 3rd quarter, down from 1 1st semester, but I can’t imagine that is so horrible). She’s had some exciting arts opportunities and accomplishments. When she sends the update to the adm rep, I’ll have her ask if another recommendation would help - she hadn’t used her AP Lit teacher originally since her junior English teacher knew her better, but of course now the senior teacher knows her very well, in ECs as well as in English class. We’ll see what they say.

I’ve encouraged my D to write these things VERY personally, try to give them a very clear picture of what SHE is like, and what she’d be like as a student there. This isn’t time for “X is a wonderful school and I know I’ll get a great education there.” It’s time to be vivid and distinct - not that she’s the coolest most exciting candidate they’ve ever seen, but that she could fill a niche if that’s what opens up. She’s an artsy, intellectual in an off-beat, creative way, and if that’s what they have space for, she needs to look like a good fit.

We’ll see what happens … this brings us back to the original apps, in many ways, just trying to be positive, but not counting on anything. In our case, we all continue to feel the value of the WL outweighs the risks. She knows absolutely that she has “made it,” whether she gets this offer or not, and won’t take it personally.

Adding to mom2and: Good luck to your S! I guess this little group of ours can be very supportive through the next few weeks. It sounds like you all know what you’re doing and why.

We keep hearing of kids who get accepted to Brandeis off the WL - sadly, we know many kids turn it down because of lack of FA (very clear from the Brandeis threads). My D is fortunate that this isn’t an issue for her, particularly because my H and I feel Brandeis is a world-class education and will mean so much for her in the future. She can make her current #1 work for her in wonderful ways, but a chance at Brandeis is worth trying. She’s turning down her other WL because the fit isn’t anywhere near as good, and to her it isn’t worth the financial outlay as well.

Thanks to you, too!