Wait Listed

[Governor]

I have been wait listed at one of the schools I've applied to.  I am wondering if there is anything I can do post application to improve my chances of moving from the wait list to the accepted list?  Or, would any such effort be fruitless?  I can bide my time with the best of them, but if there's a strategy for being on a wait list, I'd love to hear it.

[Anne]

I have been wait listed at one of the schools I've applied to.  I am wondering if there is anything I can do post application to improve my chances of moving from the wait list to the accepted list?  Or, would any such effort be fruitless?  I can bide my time with the best of them, but if there's a strategy for being on a wait list, I'd love to hear it.

Did you receive a letter with your waistlist notification? Did it tell you to do anything in particular, or did it just advise you that you'd been put on the list?

[Governor]

Did you receive a letter with your waistlist notification? Did it tell you to do anything in particular, or did it just advise you that you'd been put on the list?
[/quote]

I did receive a letter, which basically said they'd love to admit me, but right now they can't, hence the wait list.  It also said that if I need to remove myself from the wait list, or provide an updated address or phone number to let them know.  Otherwise, I could hear from them anytime between mid-April or late-August.

[Anne]

I did receive a letter, which basically said they'd love to admit me, but right now they can't, hence the wait list.  It also said that if I need to remove myself from the wait list, or provide an updated address or phone number to let them know.  Otherwise, I could hear from them anytime between mid-April or late-August.

Okay. In that case, the most appropriate step for you to take is to send a letter of continued interest. Basically, this is a letter stating why this school is your first choice (and make sure that the reasons are not only heavily researched, but also speak to more than just rankings, school offerings, or the location of the school--get deeper and more personal than that). Outside of that, you should stick to just exactly what they asked you to do: Address and phone number updates (if any). And then just sit tight and wait for an answer. If you take an offer from another school, let them know out of courtesy, so that someone else can potentially get your spot on the waitlist (or get bumped up to an acceptance).

A few outside resources that can help you:

http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/i-was-waitlisted-now-what/

http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/admissions/content_faq.cfm#23

Let me know if you have any additional questions! I'm glad to help.

[Governor]

Thanks for the information and advice, Anne.  Much obliged...

[MikePing]

There are a couple of things that will help in addition to sending them a letter:

First, call the admissions office and ask what you can do to improve your chances.  Some schools will actually tell you your location on the list and give you an idea of whether or not providing extra information can help.  Many schools will favorably consider updates to your file that show recent accomplishments.  If you have any new awards or grades that raise your GPA, you should do that. 

[Anne]

There are a couple of things that will help in addition to sending them a letter:

First, call the admissions office and ask what you can do to improve your chances.  Some schools will actually tell you your location on the list and give you an idea of whether or not providing extra information can help.  Many schools will favorably consider updates to your file that show recent accomplishments.  If you have any new awards or grades that raise your GPA, you should do that. 

As a side note, though, most schools don't rank their waiting lists anymore, so calling and asking for your "location" on the list may only yield a "our waitlist isn't ranked" response.

[discuss]