I would ask my parents or my admissions counselor for help except my parents did not go to traditional college and I do not have an admissions counselor. So, hi.
I got waitlisted last night at my top school, Barnard College. I was honestly shocked I even got waitlisted because my stats are mid-tier compared to some of the girls I saw on Reddit (they are SO impressive and well-deserved)…but anyway, back to the main point.
I read through the email that they sent me following the news and I’ve been asked to accept/decline the waitlist (of course I immediately accepted) and then send a letter of continued interest. I’m going to read through some LOCI advice on Reddit before submitting one but if anyone reading this has any additional insight regarding my LOCI please let me know. I’ll take all of the help I can get.
I also see on my portal that there are two optional letters of rec available for me to send. Does this mean I can send two more right now? Should I send one from my senior-year math teacher? He said he could write me a strong one as we have a great relationship. Should I also send one from my rowing coach? He could also write me a strong one. I can’t even tell if this means that they will accept more but it seems like they will on the portal. I tried calling the admissions department but so far no luck. Perhaps I will send an email.
I am seeking a bit of financial aid so I am aware that may knock me down a few points when it comes time for them to potentially reevaluate my application. I do like a couple of schools that I have been accepted to, so I know everything will be okay regardless–but again, Barnard is definitely my #1 choice so I want to try to maximize my chances of getting off of this darn waitlist. I’m still so grateful for even getting this option, though. Way better than an immediate rejection!
If anyone has any tips on how to help my chances of getting off of the waitlist please let me know. If anyone has any Barnard-specific waitlist insight, even better! I’ll take any help I can get as I’m all alone here except for Reddit being my admissions counselor. Thanks in advance!
Not surprised you are WL. In the last CDS, they accepted 1754 and WL more than 2500. It’s a cruel trick these schools do for them - i.e. it’s insurance for them so that if their yield stinks , they can get more butts in seat from kids they rejected but rejected with a llifeline… They did pull of 66 so you never know.
Follow the instructions as you did.
Anyone willing to write you a strong letter - it wouldn’t hurt if they say to submit. Just know if they don’t need anyone (i.e. their yield is good) it won’t matter.
But do what you need to do - and then move emotionally. Get excited about the school you’re going to commit to - and fall in love.
Then if Barnard doesn’t come back, you won’t even realize. And if they do, you might not have interest anymore.
Aw dang…I thought it was a semi-good sign since they said twice that only a very small portion of talented people got waitlisted and it means that I am very competitive. I was like aw thanks haha! But, I was reading some CC posts from last year and it seemed as if a decent amount of girls got off of the waitlist…so maybe that’ll continue this year? I am hoping to row at Columbia so maybe that will help…who knows though. I’ll work on moving on for now (while keeping it in the back of my mind).
They can only take so many - but they have so many talented apply. But yes, some schools tend to offer to too many.
I’m hopeful for you - but it’s best to do what you need to do to stay on - but after you do it, surely you have an affordable #2 you can get giddy about - right?
Thank you! I am from VA and I currently love Virginia Tech since it is affordable and great for STEM (I hope to pursue physics/astrophysics). I am still waiting to hear back from most of my reaches (today and tomorrow) but it seems like I will plan for VT and then if I happen to get off of the WL I will happily accept. I still will be forever grateful for VT being my first acceptance and I will always think of it as a great school, no matter if I end up attending or not!
It is impossible to predict waitlist results. Best to send in a brief LOCI (no admission officer is looking for more essays to read) – confirm your interest and note any meaningful awards/accomplishments since the application. If they ask for additional LORs you can provide them especially if they will add to your profile.
THEN you need to put Barnard in your rearview mirror and focus on the colleges where you have been accepted and that are affordable.
You can go back and read last year’s discussion about this. Basically if you are asking for any financial aid you have no chance. Even without aid, your chances are very very very small. Agree with previous poster that you should focus on your acceptances and your bright future ahead!
(My daughter was in your shoes this time last year, chose another school and is so happy there!)
Waitlists aren’t that cruel. What if they overenroll? Then wouldn’t be able to guarantee housing to all admits, and class registration would be stuffed. And some schools do admit a lot of the waitlisted students, like the UCs.
I have read through their emails and FAQs but I am not seeing anything explicitly mentioning LORs. When I open up the portal it does have 2 additional spots on the checklist for more LORs so I want to see if that means I can submit two more. I have 2 potential ones that I know could definitely round out my application, so I’m hoping it’s a go.
Ah yes I am a coxswain and I have already been in contact with the coach. I have some more details regarding this but would rather keep it a bit more private so you can PM me if you want/have some more info with that
Please focus on the OP and refrain from debating why schools waitliist on this thread. If you want to start the conversation, kindly begin a new topic.
Sorry for my lack of financial aid knowledge but again my family is new to the traditional college application process (and especially waitlists), but is there a possibility IF I am admitted from the waitlist they could give me some aid but not meet my full need? And, IF that were to happen, could I apply/try to receive more aid the following year? I am not extremely tight on money since I am getting help from my extended family but Barnard’s full freight price is pretty well above our affordability range so I doubt I’d be able to go all four years let alone one without receiving any sort of aid.
If your family’s financial situation changes dramatically in the future, your federal aid would then likely change, and you could ask for a professional judgment review from the school as well, but it’s probably unwise to expect much from the school, since it’s also probable that most of the institutional aid has been given out already for this year.
If you are applying for need based aid, at most places you do this annually. So next year will be a different year. I don’t know whether your full need could be met in subsequent years by applying in those years. You need to inquire at the schools.
My understanding is that colleges will likely take need into account when pulling from the waitlist, but if pulled off the waitlist, will offer the same aid they would have for a regular RD acceptance.
As mentioned above, for most colleges, aid must be reapplied for every year, so if your family’s financial situation changes, your aid can change too (either up or down).
Do you have siblings in college now, or who will be in college over the next few years?
Some colleges might still give additional aid when there are overlapping years for siblings in college. It is up to the college to determine if they will or won’t. Most no longer will, but some still might.
Lol based on the status of the massive class action suit, need blind wasn’t ever really a thing anyway.
And while WL are “need aware” and some schools might not take a student if it is clearly unlikely they will attend, people stay on WLs for a reason, and sometimes the family of an admitted student will manage or choose to pay.