<p>The University of Cincinnati’s DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning) program recently (yesterday morning at 11:06) called me to ask if I would like a spot on the waiting list. Sadly, I returned from my dentist appt. at 11:08 (our school was out for the day) and missed the call. The admissions rep left a voicemail with an email to pop a message to if I wanted to accept a position on the waitlist (I never heard the voicemail, but that’s all my mom told me about it). The architecture program there is second in the nation.
I live ten minutes away, 3.8 weighted GPA, many extracurriculars (16+) from PRIDE (international drug, alcohol, and tobacco free organization) to marching band, to track, to varsity bowling captain. I also have 400+ service hours accumulated from the past 4 years. Should I wait it out to see what they offer me or should I just count myself out now?</p>
<p>of course you should wait it out! Why would you count yourself out?</p>
<p>If it’s one of your top schools, go for it.</p>
<p>I’ve heard you can increase your chances by sending in extra stuff, to show that you care.</p>
<p>Yeah, send a letter of interest or something of the sort if you really want to go there.</p>
<p>They are my top school for two reasons:
- Their co-op program and job placement after graduation stats are terrific.
- My fiancee is staying in Cincinnati</p>
<p>Other than that, I got accepted into Ball State University and, with the scholarship they gave me, their out-of-state ends up being the same as the University of Cincinnati’s. An admissions rep I spoke to from UC in November (before I sent in my app) told me that if you get on the waitlist you aren’t going to get in because she’s never seen anyone get into architecture after being on a waitlist and she’s worked there many, many years. So, she pretty much dashed my hopes.</p>
<p>My grades this semester were:</p>
<p>AP Physics C:M (.75 credit weighted) - A
AP Physics Lab (.25 credit) - A
Auxiliary Marching Unit (.25 credit) - A
AP Calculus AB (.5 credit, weighted) - B
Drawing and Painting I (.5 credit) - A
Concert Band (.5 credit) - A
English 12 CP (.5 credit) - A</p>
<p>Second semester I have the same schedule except replace Auxiliary Marching Unit with American Government and English 12 CP with Fantasy Literature (a required english course at my school).</p>
<p>Well, still, it can’t hurt to try though right? Will putting yourself on the wait-list impede anything else?</p>
<p>Then why do they waitlist people instead of reject them?</p>
<p>It seems to me that there is really no downside to accepting a spot on the waitlist and there could be an upside (like actually getting in!). If it’s your top choice, why wouldn’t you take it?</p>
<p>As for what the admissions rep said: Why would UC even bother with a waitlist if they “never” use it?</p>
<p>Go for it!</p>
<p>hilsa: good question.</p>
<p>Jcancollegebound: I’m not sure. When I applied I listed Architectural Engineering Technology as my second major (that program, according to the website, has a 104.2% acceptance rate v. the 21% rate for the program I wanted.) and I’m not sure if being waitlisted will cut me off that list.</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing as hilsa, but maybe you should try to look into whether or not being waitlisted can harm you, because if it can’t, I really do think that you should still go for it.</p>
<p>Waitlists exist because colleges don’t know how many kids will accept the invitations; this year may be the toughest yet for trying to predict. Colleges can have financial and/or capacity problems if they guess wrong, when they have too few or too many kids accept.</p>
<p>If too many accept, schools have to scramble for dorm space, and classes get too big, so schools often prefer to guess a little low, and then get to their desired number by going to the waitlist.</p>
<p>If too few accept, schools just go to the waitlist, and hope they can fill the class with “qualified” students.</p>
<p>Schools often want to take the waitlisted kids who most want to attend, so do let them know if you really want to go there.</p>
<p>Well, surprise surprise.
Two days ago a lady in the DAAP department was emailing me back and forth about the wait list and what it means. She also told me that she wouldn’t really know until May 1st how many spots would be open and it may take a while til they find out if I can get in or not.</p>
<p>Well, I got a phone call earlier today… I’m in! They called today to ask if I would like a spot.</p>
<p>congratulations!</p>
<p>thanks! 
I haven’t stopped smiling since</p>
<p>I could only imagen how horrible that would be. If I was placed on a schools waitlist, that would only decrease my interest in the school… and probably would lead to me not caring anymore whether I get in or not. Why not just be place on their waitlist, though imagen the school rejected you ( in case they decide to do it again… in a way), and if you get accepted to a school better or just as good then probably go there.</p>
<p>“If I was placed on a schools waitlist, that would only decrease my interest in the school”</p>
<p>Why is a school any less desirable when you’re placed on their waitlist? If it was your number one choice before being waitlisted, what changes about the school?</p>
<p>What changes? You’ve been placed on a school waitlist out of thousands of students… it just sorta give hard feelings, and the impression that the school isn’t that sure if they want you there ( or admission officers). Which opens ideal that there is so many other schools, which are good that you may not even be placed on their waitlist… and actually want you as a student ( not often the case when your on a waiting list).</p>
<p>This is just my opinion though.</p>
<hr>
<p>Say… A student with a 3.2 GPA and was placed on University of Pennslyvania waitlist… no need to get work up about it, it was probably expected due to prestige etc… Though a student with a 3.8 GPA and was placed on Arizona State University waitlist, wouldn’t be surprise if the student interest in school decreased.</p>
<p>I know exactly what you mean. Whereas my interest didn’t decrease, my enthusiasm to go to the school did. I had almost sent in my Ball State enrollment confirmation…</p>
<p>but then I got the phone call today saying I’m in at the second ranked architecture school in the nation (aka the school that wait-listed me), so I’m happy!</p>
<p>Sounds like good news… Yeah if they are ranked top in a field of your interest … say like architec for you, then I would keep the school in mind… even with waitlist.</p>