Advice for Waitlisted Students

<p>Sorry to have you bogged down with questions, but I was just curious; is there any standard method for waitlist response notifications? Is it primarily by mail, phone, or email? And if one cannot answer the phone at that time, or has an erratic mailing system, would a supplementary email usually be sent? Thanks!</p>

<p>I just had a couple of things to say to the waitlisted people this year. First of all, despite what UChicagoGrad is saying, the waitlisted people are not really missing all that much in terms of class visits, overnights etc. I heard from the class of 2017 facebook page that less than half of the freshman class actually attends(the plane ticket after all, is pricey, which is why I will not be attending). And if you really wanted to make a class visit, there is nothing stopping you, all the adcoms are saying is that it is a bit of an awkward situation if you do. </p>

<p>The second thing I wanted to say is that admissions this year was really competitive. With an acceptance rate below 9%, there’s always a degree of luck involved with getting in, imho. This year of college admissions in general was VERY competitive, and I think there’s always a degree of randomness to it. For instance, although I was accepted to UChicago, I was waitlisted to Case Western Reserve University, which I’m sure is a great school also, just not as selective as UChicago. So just remember that no matter what happens, being waitlisted does NOT reflect the success of your high school accomplishments, not for UChicago or any other school. Just the fact that you were waitlisted is a honor, because many of you on the waitlist imo are just as qualified (if not more) than I am for UChicago and other schools of that caliber.</p>

<p>Uchicagograd</p>

<p>My DD was admitted to UofC off the wait list as well, we had the same sentiment as yours. We were pressed to make a decision, flew out on a day notice to see the school. Fortunately, our friend’s DD was attending and gave her a night staying at the dorm to get a feeling of the surroundings. We were pressed to make a decision within hours of her got out of the bed at that night of staying. Even though at the end, all is good and she is almost graduating, the pressure we had to endure during the few days after off the wait list was almost unbearable.</p>

<p>But, beggars are not choosers, she was one of the few(under 10) in her class who were able to get off the wait list(over a 1000 perhaps). Consider you won the lottery when you are that close to be disappointed and at the bottom of the barrel. So, live goes on and be happy.</p>

<p>To those on the wait list, a good advice is: Do not count on it, move on , unless lightning strikes and it may.</p>

<p>Just let everyone know that I believe class of 2016 UofC did not have anyone got off the list at the end, other than a few was admitted at the very beginning of the wait list process, some thing like few days after April fools day.</p>

<p>So, all these questions above are more less academic.</p>

<p>As a general question to everyone, has anyone been admitted off the waitlist yet?</p>

<p>UChicago as May 1 draws near, based on the numbers does it look like you guys will go to the wait list this year?</p>

<p>I’m wondering the same thing as what Barbic4 just mentioned. And as I have not received a reply to my email of continued interest in Uchicago from my regional admission counselor since around April 1st, I am getting more and more nervous and anxious. Does that mean I almost have no chance (even a slim chance) to be re-considered for being taken off the waiting list?</p>

<p>As May 1st is coming, I truly hope we avid waitlisted students will be fortuntate enough to be taken off. I know there’re many guys like me who are anxious to hear of some good news!</p>

<p>Unbeatable: I share in your anxiousness! </p>

<p>For some assurance, I did email my regional counselor last night (around 11), expressing continued interest, and he got back to me today at 1:30 pm. He thanked me for showing interest and said that he will include it in my file for when they review waitlisted students… So I guess that implies that it is very possible that students will be taken off the waitlist this year, and according to a few posters on here, some have already been taken off the waitlist, others taken off the waitlist with the condition that they take a gap year and enroll in the class of '18.</p>

<p>There’s been like 5 people get off waitlist and join the 2017 class facebook - make of that what you will.</p>

<p>I suggest sending a letter re-affirming your interest in the school, as well as updating them on new activities. Sending new letters of rec also helps in some cases.</p>

<p>So this is really strange but my regional counselor just got back to me today and she said that they still don’t know whether they’ll end up going to waitlist (verbatim she said that “they’re very close to knowing but are not sure yet”), but then I’m hearing that people have already gotten off? So random</p>

<p>Has anyone else heard back from uChicago?</p>

<p>anyone heard anything?</p>

<p>Yes, I was emailed an hour ago saying that I did not get off the waitlist. I presume this is on a rolling basis, so for all who wish to see: “Thank you for your continued interest in the University of Chicago and for your patience during the waitlist process. This year’s applicant pool was the strongest and most enthusiastic in the university’s history, and we wish we were able to offer admission to every worthy applicant. However, I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a place in the Class of 2017.” And then another paragraph just trying to lighten the mood, like, apply here for grad school. Overall though, I was surprised I was waitlisted in the first place, so while I was eager to attend, this does not come as a shock.</p>

<p>zhstkd, those aren’t mutually exclusive because the two scenarios discuss people who were waitlisted for different reasons. The group the vast majority (and all of these people, certainly) belong to were waitlisted as yield backups for the regular admits; the couple or so who have already moved were qualified at the regular level already, but Chicago was not sure they would be able to enroll them. In those cases, the waitlist was a yield protection mechanism used to guard against rejection by the student. All the students in this situation had to do was get in touch, saying they would come, and they would be released. This accounts for most of those accepted from the waitlist last year and likely all of them so far this year (there may have been a few legacies/string pullings).</p>

<p>Someone I know is in this situation (Chicago has a history of doing this with my school, ever since the year they let in 6/6 and yielded none), but she’d rather not commit herself because she’s waiting for other schools at which she was legitimately waitlisted. Seems silly to risk it, considering her one safety fell through, but I guess she’s still as confident as before. Besides, while we wait and hope for Chicago, Chicago is waiting and hoping for those they were scared they weren’t attractive enough to lure from cross-admitting Ivies. I guess they can dish out rejection, but would rather repurpose the “waitlist” to cower from it themselves.</p>

<p>^Wow that is the best explanation that I have ever read about waitlisting. Clear, logical and concise. Damn dynamicsemantics, username speaks truth.</p>

<p>@dynamicsemantics Thanks for the concrete explanation. As bad as it feels not getting off of the waitlist, it’s still strangely comforting that I have the final decision and I can finally close the book on first-year admissions, and move on.</p>

<p>All of the schools use waitlists and most accept very few from them:</p>

<p>[College</a> Waitlists Offer Little Hope - WSJ.com](<a href=“College Waitlists Offer Little Hope - WSJ”>College Waitlists Offer Little Hope - WSJ)</p>

<p>[The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Penn waitlists over 2,000 students for Class of 2016](<a href=“http://www.thedp.com/article/2012/04/penn_waitlists_over_2000_students_for_class_of_2016]The”>Penn waitlists over 2,000 students for Class of 2016 | The Daily Pennsylvanian)</p>

<p>etc., etc.</p>