<p>This thread quite annoyingly pops up with every round of college decisions. With this caliber of school, there really is no such thing as an over-qualified applicant. For anecdotal evidence, which I will agree isn’t worth much, I have a 3.99+ GPA, a 2390 on the SAT, and got the National Merit $2500. I have gotten into NU, WashU, Vandy, and Emory–each of which has now been accused by others of waitlisting over-qualified applicants. Assuming I was not a complete dunce at EC’s (and I don’t think I was a complete dunce. maybe just a bit), according to your logic, I should’ve been waitlisted by some of these schools. There are oodles of others who have similar stats and outcomes, though I again admit that anecdotal evidence really proves nothing. Still, to those waitlisted, you’ll find your match soon and will probably love where you end up going. There are things about admissions and the minds of adcoms which we can’t know, so let’s not take away the joy of people who are finally receiving validation for their hard work.</p>
<p>I’ve been sort of wondering the same thing. I know about 5 extremely intelligent and well-qualified people from my school who have also been waitlisted. As for me, I have a 2180 SAT, 4.0 gpa, and great recs. I visited the campus and attended the college visit session at my school, so I thought I had shown enough interest. I just don’t really understand why me (and the other people with similar stats) were rejected. Emory was my first choice 
I do live in the Atlanta area though, so that’s something.</p>