So I have recently been waitlisted by a top university and am wondering if it would be a good idea to have my parents send an email saying that we can afford full pay if admitted off the waitlist. It goes like this:
“We are writing to inform you that we are fully capable of financing (my name)’s tuition at (university) should s/he be accepted off the waitlist with little to no financial assistance. (University) is his/her top choice and s/he will enroll if admitted.”
Any advice on this?
I think the email should come from you. But it depends on the college. What school is it?
They already know that you are full pay. If you applied for financial aid, they have seen your numbers and know that you don’t need aid. If you didn’t apply for aid, they know that too.
Is this for Cornell? You can try, but if you also have to send in the 3rd quarter grade report with several lower grades than your mid-year report it may not help. You don’t know if you don’t try though.
Yes, this is for Cornell. But Cornell does not seem to require updated grades so I am not sending that in.
Most wait lists are need aware, so while it couldn’t hurt, it may not help. and yes- YOU send it, not parents.
A couple of comments:
–Cornell is need-blind so I don’t think that a letter stating you are full pay will do much. however, if you want to send it go ahead. I imagine they already know you have not applied for financial aid.
–While not required Cornell specifically states that “We are particularly interested in receiving new grade reports, information about new honors or awards, and updates on your activities.” https://admissions.cornell.edu/sites/admissions.cornell.edu/files/2017%20About%20the%20Waiting%20List.pdf I think not having strong third quarter grades you want to share is a negative.
–I’d focus your time and energy in getting excited about a school you have been accepted to. Hopefully you have a number of good choices available.
Schools that are need blind aren’t always need blind for their waitlist. But they know if you didn’t apply for FA (or did apply, and didn’t get any) that you are full pay. Knowing that they are your first choice and that you will enroll if accepted can’t hurt, though.
This is my personal take on it, so obviously heavily influenced by opinions that may or may not be shared by AOs, but… think about not just sending the letter from you (not your parents) but also using a more personal tone. Admissions even off a wait list have a subjective element and frankly if I were an AO and received a letter like the one listed in the OP, I’d think the writer was being a bit of a jerk and a pushy one at that. Bill collectors and bureaucrats write “to inform you” of legal requirements; it’s not exactly an endearing way to make what is actually a request, not an instruction.
Rather than focusing on the financial aspect of things, I would recommend that you update them with additional achievements and merits that would make them want you even more. There is an option where they could accept you on the condition that you study at a different institution for a year and transfer in as a sophomore.
I agree with the previous comment. Your focus should be letting them know that you will attend if accepted and any updates. The lack of financial need can be a comment after the more relevant admissions information.
@Lowkeymeow
–In another post the OP stated his/her third quarter grades were lower than his/her midterm grades so that is why he/she is not sending them in.
–The guaranteed transfer program is an option that Cornell offers to a limited number of candidates – it is not something one can request. Of course the OP would be free to try to transfer into Cornell.
It’s a mistake not to send in updated grades. They aren’t likely to take a student off the waitlist who doesn’t send updated grades, when probably the most interested students will. And yes, any communication needs to be from you.