Hi all. I was waitlisted at Boston College and was wondering what the chances are of getting off. It’s my first choice and would love to attend. I’ve sent in a letter of continued interest to my regional counselor and updated them with 2nd trimester grades. Is there anything else that can be done to improve my chances?
Being on the waitlist means it’s time to focus and put all your energy into your “Plan B” schools. Nothing about getting off the waitlist is in your control. BC, like any school, will look to see who accepts admission by May 1st. Then it will selectively pick and choose off it’s waitlist to round out the diversity for the incoming class it’s trying to build.
Here’s a link to a great CC discussion on waitlists. Although it’s a few years old, it’s still relevant today and to competitive schools, like BC.
All the best.
Thank you. I only ask because my friend just got off a waitlist yesterday and I wasn’t sure how since the May 1st deadline hasn’t passed. Also her college is notorious for accepting very few, if any, people from the waitlist (10 out of 200 at most).
You could always ask your GC to call on your behalf, if your GC knows you really well AND your GC would be recognized by BC.
Hey there! If anyone is reading this and is curious about the waitlist, I’m a freshman at BC who was accepted off of it last July. More details here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20597001#Comment_20597001
@Jesuit123 thanks so much for the quick response! My grades have slipped a little since I initially applied in January. I went from having all As to a few Bs. I talked to my guidance counselor and he told me not to send the grades but to just imply in my letter to my regional rep that I was on the high honor roll and effort honor roll. Do you think not sending these grades would make a big a difference in my admission?
@jenjen2021 That’s up to you. I’m not entirely sure, honestly. If they’ve slipped, maybe I’d hold off. Although I will be honest with you, grades are the most important factor with the waitlist. You can persuade them with other stuff, but the grades are a big deal. That being said, considering they’re a little lower, I’d still avoid it. But don’t take my advice on that, that your counselor’s.
Thanks so much for the quick responses. This is such a stressful time as I absolutely love BC and am hoping everything works out. When did you hear from BC in regards to your waitlist status?
@jenjen2021 I heard back on July 1st, the VERY last day possible to get a response back. From what I remember, there were 3 batches of waitlist acceptances announced on the BC_admission twitter page prior to that. Two in May and one in June. About a week before my acceptance, they sent out details to everyone saying that there were “a select few more students who we are still considering”, then I got my acceptance letter on their response deadline.
Based on this, I think I would have been denied if not for all the extra stuff I did. It saved me. If I were higher up on their list, I would have been selected in one of the first three batches.
One thing I do want to let you know is that for me, I never had a class below an A- (with the exception of a single C class in junior year) during my entirety of high school. I also went to a Jesuit high school, so there was a connection there. If you have really good grades in previous years (lots of A+), it can probably balance out your slipping grades this semester.
I know how stressful this is. Last spring, it felt like the world was crumbling around me. BC was my dream school for years. I really hope you get in, because you clearly care about the school, and I’m sure that shines through in your messages to the admissions office. But, let me reiterate that you shouldn’t get too attached. I certainly did, and I got denied, it would have destroyed me. Just try to see the really good/fun things in your deposited school.
Best of luck! If you have any other questions as the process develops, let me know. 
Thanks so much! I’ve only sent in a letter of continued interest so far. Should I do more? I don’t know if I should actually call my regional representative or visit campus? I don’t want to be too crazy about this. I just want to show how badly I want to attend!
@jenjen2021 I wouldn’t pull out all the stops unless it looks like you aren’t getting in. I would wait to do more until the first batch of waitlist acceptances come out. If you aren’t accepted, start doing a phone call and another email. If more batches of acceptances come out after that, and you still aren’t in, then maybe more stuff is required. But that’s farther down the line.
When do waitlist offers usually start being given out? One of my friends got off the waitlist at a college last week.
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When do waitlist offers usually start being given out?
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If BC goes uses the waitlist, and how deep it goes into the waitlist all depends on how many of those who were offered acceptance do choose BC for enrollment.
May 1 is the deadline for accepted students to send in a deposit. After admissions goes through that, they’ll see about the waitlist. Hang in there!
When many schools go to their waitlist, there is no predefined ordering they use. Instead many use the waitlist as an opportunity to backfill the holes in the composition of the incoming freshman class that they’re trying to build.
For example, do they need more female athletes, or international students from countries X,Y,Z. Maybe they already have too many students from the state they’re located in and want to reach out for more diversity. They only know when they see what they’re dealing with after May 1st.
Back in the dark ages, my D had to wait for snail mail which did not arrive in SoCal until after the 4th of July. (Of course, she had an inkling since the Deposit tab opened up on July 1.)
Or more Lit majors, or math majors, or that one kid from Wyoming? 
@jenjen2021 You are not alone!
Lol are you waiting too?
Yes. It is really tough.
Have you enrolled somewhere else?