<p>As to someone who was asking about extra essays - then yes, I would say that you should do SOMETHING extra. They're going to look at the kids who they think really want to go to the school when they go to the waitlist, and people who put a lot of effort into detailing why they belong there will be looked at with more consideration.</p>
<p>I guess the date to tell most BS's is April 10th. They need to have all of the accepts and declines in to see who and what they need, if any, from the lists.</p>
<p>And a lot of times they won't need ANY at that point (this happened to me) but spots will open up later due to shifting.</p>
<p>Just to clarify -- I spoke with several admissions officers and they specifically said that they would really appreciate it if students who are accepted but do not plan to come notify them as soon as possible. If your decision has been made, they would rather not wait until April 10th to find out.</p>
<p>I am not trying to rush people -- you are correct, this is a big decision; however, if you know that you will not attend a certain school, please let them know. This helps the school and those parents and students agonizing over a place on the waitlist.</p>
<p>Hsmomstef is right. No one is saying inform the schools before you are 100% sure. BUT if you got accepted to 7 schools and know that you have a top 5... Tell the top two that you aren't interested. The more time they have to adjust the list the better. Choate said that they draw from the Waitlist before April 10th if necessary(No idea if that is true for this year... Interviewer told me that was what his nephew was told when he got waitlisted last year).</p>
<p>bumpp...i think all these kind of people should read this, because they could make a difference. Even though it may not seem like it.</p>
<p>You should also be taken off any waitlists that you're on as well. The letter we received specifically said that if we accept an offer from another school, to please let them know.</p>
<p>It's a common courtesy to the people who work so hard in the admissions offices. They have to play so many guessing games with numbers. This year, especially, I'm sure they would appreciate the 20 seconds it would take to send an email.</p>
<p>happyday21:
i dont know if this will help you, but i was accepted to deerfield with a lot of financial aid and im going to let them know by tomorrow that im not attending. from what i've heard there are a lot more people on waitlists this year but the more people that decide to go somewhere else, the better chance u have.</p>
<p>thank you so much red1.</p>
<p>even though I most likely will most likely not be taken off the waitlist early, I am making a recording of my piano pieces and also, my ceramics portfolio, and sending it to Deerfield.</p>
<p>I hope you prosper at your final chosen school :O)
(and thanks for giving me a chance)</p>
<p>Hmom5 is correct - it takes 2 to 5 students saying "no thank you" to move one student off of a wait list. Hence, the need for students to say "no, thank you" as soon as they are reasonably sure.</p>
<p>example:<br>
1000 apps > 400 acceptances (40% acceptance rate) > 100 "yes, I'll come" with 300 "no, thank you" are not unusual yield numbers.</p>
<p>It takes way more than 2-5...otherwise you would have 1/4 of the wait list in by now. They over accept by a lot depending on what their usual yield is.</p>