Waitlisted? Advice for making your best case for an acceptance

poetgrl
Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:29:47 +0000

Well, they can’t “keep” anyone on the waitlist. It’s an entirely voluntary position. They “could” waitlist everyone who applies, I suppose, but they won’t because they want a firm commitment from the kids they have accepted by May 1st. Why do they waitlist that many people? Probably because they can. I wonder how that would work if a student who was accepted said, “I’m going to put you on my waitlist. I’ll be getting back to you sometime before the start of the fall term. Please indicate your willingness to stay on my waitlist and feel free to submit any materials you think might influence my position: please submit newest endowment numbers and current class yield as soon as they become available, as well as anything else you think might influence my decision. Please remember that most of the schools on the waitlist are qualified and this is in no way any indication of how I view your future as a going concern.” Sincerely,

Where else were you accepted?