@Halemaxw Seems very fishy that an applicant as qualified as you with those scores would be waitlisted… I also had stats well above what I thought I would need (although not as good as yours) and was waitlisted. Are they trying to protect their yield percentage? It’s almost as if they know that certain applicants have scores that are too high and think they’re a safety school. Very frustrating
Syracuse has definately changed it up this year. They waitlisted a number of people on the second week, but so far I have only heard of a very few acceptance (just enough to string everyone along). I haven’t heard many people say they are still waiting, but also haven’t heard many people report rejections, so they either consolidated rejections and waitlist into one cycle or next week will be lots of rejections.
This is a very educated guess for the kids with high scored that were waitlisted. It seems that those kids were not going to be offered amazing scholarships (the top scholarships are done prior to March 15th) and therefore if they accept those students with amazing grades but not amazing packages, they expect you will reject them. If Syracuse is still your top choice with the expectation of no scholarship money, then send an email telling them that they are your first choice.
My daughter was waitlisted with very similar stats to the above poster (1420, 4.0uw, 4.99w). Students from her school with lower scores were admitted as were students with very high scores (1500’s). Maybe they waitlisted High/Medium kids. In any case, she is not happy and confused to the point I don’t know if she would consider Syracuse.
I’m not sure I understand how it could be yield protection though? I know several kids who were accepted with near perfect stats, why would they be accepted (with low scholarship) if Syracuse was trying to protect their yield??
I still haven’t heard anything from Syracuse should I be worried?
Thats pretty typical of a lot of schools these days. UMich is notorious for this. Did you visit the school?
@Siena19 I think some of the kids who had near-perfect stats did get accepted because if they weren’t that would really raise some red flags. But a lot of kids that were still well above what they need but not quite at that same level were waitlisted to help the yield rate a little bit.
If the yield rate is indeed a factor for doing this to students, it’s very unfair and wrong. I don’t see how it even would make an institution look more elite! I read some articles on it and it seems to be referred to as “Tufts Syndrome” by many.
The common data set will tell you if “demonstrated interest” is a factor in admissions. At Syracuse it is. When they value demonstrated interest, they are probably also trying to protect their yield. The formulas behind this have little rhyme or reason that will make sense to us, and it’s really not worthwhile to try to figure it out. Students with very high stats who were accepted were either so desirable that it was worth it to the school to try to get them even if it seemed unlikely, or were deemed more likely to actually attend based on demonstrated interest, essays, major, finances, etc. No school wants to reject all of the most qualified candidates. They are trying to guess who is using them as a “safe school”. Sometimes they will guess wrong. Also please remember that a student with 1500 SATs is not necessarily a “better” candidate than one with 1400. It also depends on GPA, which is not necessarily comparable between HSs and thus between CC posters, particular talents and skills, HS coursework, extracurriculars, recommendations, perceived leadership potential, essays, diversity, etc, etc.
I also want to comment that at Syracuse, I’m fairly certain that many of the admissions decisions or at least recommendations are made at the college level — Whitman, Newhouse, VPA, etc. Each college has an admission office specifically for their programs. And while I can’t say for sure it matters, both of my kids had interviews/conversations with their college’s admission dept. I do believe that it does not just boil down to stats.
Also regarding demonstrated interest, it is possible that some decisions came down to your supplemental essays. I think it’s probably pretty easy for admissions officers to decide whether or not someone is genuine when talking about why they believe Syracuse is the right school for them.
However, as some have said earlier and in other threads: you will probably never know why you/your child was waitlisted/accepted/denied. It is extremely frustrating and we all want to think the best but sometimes you never get an answer. Trust that wherever you end up you will flourish as long as you make the best of it.
Just received my acceptance in the mail from CA, got accepted 3/15
Waitlisted (3/22)
Whitman- Marketing
34 ACT
97.2 GPA
Successful admissions interview
3 SUPA classes taken (A in all)
Family connection at Cuse
5 APs taken
Long-term marketing agency internship
Dean of business admissions looked my my transcript and said I looked like a good candidate for the renee crown honors
Accepted to Northeastern with merit scholarship
I was really disheartened to see I was waitlisted 
How much does a legacy weight?
Yea, formed a band over Reddit, called Roma, check us out on Soundcloud, we just put out an EP
D received acceptance into the B.Arch program on March 15. There is no financial aid info yet on myslice. Anyone else has any news on financial aid?
@Sam4818 FA was there for us when my son was accepted on 3/15.
S waitlisted last Friday, English major. so disappointed it was his first choice. Great stats, band, orchestra, Eagle Scouts, lots of community service, theatre, AP student with four exam scores of 4, honors straight through, legacy.
Are more decisions coming out tomorrow
@Giaskky HOPEFULLY today my son gets his acceptance. They have until Monday to release the rest of the decisions, I believe. Good luck to you!