<p>I am still trying to gain acceptance off of the Ada waitlist but I wanted to share something different for now.</p>
<p>Last summer, I bought this antique diary belonging to a woman named Mary Kimball Hale, who attended Smith a century ago and graduated in 1907. I scanned it and made a website of the diary, where you can read the entries yourself. The files are pretty big but I think they are worth it. I wanted to post about it here and would love to hear feedback about it. The address is:</p>
<p>Cereus...this is priceless stuff! Thanks for the great reading. I'm only into January, but there's something voyeuristic about reading someone's diary; even back in 1907. Good luck on your ADA acceptance.</p>
<p>Megan - you could use the diary as a "hook" to support getting off the waiting list. If I were an admissions rep., I'd be very wowed by the fact that you put in that effort.</p>
<p>Wow, that is amazing! You got that off ebay? It reminds me of the diary we found of my grandmother's from her high school days in the late 30s/early 40s. Priceless stuff. </p>
<p>I'm a new Ada this year, too - I hope you get in as well! Best of luck.</p>
<p>I agree with Mini...make a point of talking about this the next time you talk to Admissions...and make sure you talk to Admissions in the next 37 minutes. You can say how inspirational it is and that you want to become part of the Long Pink Line...uh, scratch that last...I'm sure that someone can work out something better.</p>
<p>I sent them off a lettter on Monday, along with an email when I first found out about the waitlisting decision. The post office lost the letter, predictably, so I am sending off a copy tomorrow via FedEx, along with a good paper I wrote for a college class. I also plan on sending them this website, but wanted to wait until late, late April to do so so it would be fresh in their minds if and when the waitlist is used. Can you give me any advice or help? You seem very knowledgeable.</p>
<p>Cereus, I'm not picking on you in particular, but it drives me nuts that students--of which, as an Ada, are older than the ones coming out of high school--are so reluctant and averse to using the best tool available: the telephone. Pick up the frickin' phone and call! Speak to an admissions officer as a routine follow-up and weave the story of the diary into it. Following up by mail is nice but the most immediate emotional connection you can get with someone is talking to them...in person works even better but telephone is <em>FAR</em> superior to mail/e-mail. </p>
<p>You <em>do</em> understand that your case for getting off the wait list is better if someone inside Smith likes you and is your advocate, don't you? At the <em>worst</em> case you become known in discussions as "the Ada with the antique diary." Which is a lot better than being file # 24598-C.</p>
<p>I've probed this topic before and I don't get it. I don't know whether it's fear of rejection in actually talking to another human being instead of getting them a piece of paper or an e-mail where you don't have to experience their reactions but neither do you have a chance to establish a dialogue and make yourself more "real" to them.</p>
<p>Think about it: would you agree to take on a boyfriend just by mail and e-mail? I dunno, maybe your generation would. But you taking a college and a college taking you is probably going to be at least one of the top ten, if not top five, decisions that you make in your life...isn't worth the extra effort and a little risk?</p>
<p>You've got a nifty hook-ish Providence-given opportunity here. Make the most of it.</p>