Advice for getting off the Duke waitlist?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>So I was waitlisted to Duke, which was pretty crushing. It was my top choice as I absolutely loved the campus and environment when i visited, and wanted to study BME there. Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of getting accepted off the waitlist, such as writing a letter of interest or anything else? As of right now I will most likely head to JHU for BME, but I would jump at the opportunity to attend Duke.</p>

<p>(Of course there is always the dreaded chance that no spots become available for waitlist applicants at all....)</p>

2

<p>I’m sorry about the waitlist, it’s really a crapshoot these days. </p>

<p>At this point in time, a letter of interest might be the only thing you can really do. As definite as you can possibly make it, for example:</p>

<p>“If I get in, I will drop everything else and enroll” would probably help much more than
“Duke is really great, I would really like to come”</p>

<p>But I would caution you to not make any commitments that you can’t keep down the road. For example, if in June Duke got back to you and accepted you but you’ve already put down a deposit at JHU, how likely would you be to accept Duke’s offer?</p>

<p>Anyways, best of luck!</p>

3

<p>I am wait listed too and totally bummed. I think I got some really bad advice from my college counselor. She discouraged me from applying ED to any school, but I now realize it would have greatly increased my chances of getting admitted to Duke. Can I sue for guidance counselor malpractice? LOL!! Also, it seems like the same people applied to a lot of the same schools-- Harvard, Cornell, Princeton, Duke etc. I’m hoping that reduces yield this year and increases the chance of getting off the “list”. Perhaps I am delusional! Or just reluctant to give up. I have heard to not be too pushy with the admissions office. However, at this point, it seems like it is better to err on the side of being too aggressive or enthusiastic vs. taking the low key approach. Any thoughts? Also, I am not eligible for any financial aid and on some websites I have heard that is actually a plus as far as getting off the waitlist. My counselor told me it is irrelevant. Once again, any thoughts???</p>

4

<p>Sigh, I am on the waitlist for Duke also. I am waitlisted to 4 other schools so it really was a disappointment.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know approximately how many candidates are on the Duke undergrad wait list for 2010?</p>

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<p>Over 3,000 applicants are on this year’s wait-list.</p>

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<p>^Where did you get that number?</p>

<p>I, too, am waitlisted at far too many schools :/</p>

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<p>^ The number was in an article in the Mon. NY Times …</p>

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<p>do you guys know when they’re gonna notify waitlisted applicants?</p>

10

<p>They’ve already started, several people have posted on CC in the recent days of their acceptance off the waitlist.</p>