I didn’t see a recent thread for this, so here it is.
Can anyone answer a few questions for me?
- Does everyone get on the priority waitlist?
- Should I send a letter/email to CMU to show interest?
I got waitlisted as well, and i put my name on priority waitlist for both CIT and MCS. I am pretty sure every waitlist applicants are able to get on PWL. And they said on website that they will be sending more info regarding letter of continued interest at May 1st.
Srsly though, I honestly think CMU’s pwl is just little gimmick to attract more applicants. I will def go CMU if i get off but I am not expecting that much.
Good luck!
@TacticalNonsense is correct. Everyone who gets put on the WL at CMU has the option of putting THEMSELVES on Priority wait list. The school does not put some on a regular WL and others on PWL. Their website says, “As a Waiting List candidate, you now have a choice. You can choose to remain on the Priority Waiting List or the Regular Waiting List, depending on which better meets your needs…The Priority Waiting List is for students who now consider Carnegie Mellon to be their first choice college and will enroll if admitted from the Waiting List. Students on the Priority Waiting List will be among the first group of candidates contacted and admitted from the Waiting List, should space become available in the freshman class.” So, virtually everyone puts themselves on the PWL, b/c if you don’t, you are decreasing your chances of coming off the list. When people say they were placed on the PWL, what they really mean is the school put them on the WL and they placed themselves on the PWL.
Huh - That was not my experience with CMU. My S was placed on the priority wait list by CMU in his initial decision letter and the letter detailed the difference between the wait lists. CMU definitely initially puts people onto one of the two waitlists. The PWL groups is pretty small - it always seemed to be under 10 people (based on posts on the Troupe posts although I have no ideand the letter clearly stated this is the first group they would pull from if a spot became available. You get your financial aid package at the same time those who were accepted get their package so that you are prepared to accept within 72 hours of offered. Maybe there is a glitch in the online system that allows you to choose that option for yourself but I would be would be curious if someone who put themselves on pwl got a financial aid package. If you didn’t, it is a glitch in the system but doesn’t really change your status. I don’t know why they would otherwise bother with two lists. You are not committed to enrolling if you choose to remain in the PWL. We researched that a lot. You can always say no for financial reasons.
It didn’t end up mattering since no one got off the pwl this year for acting. But they have in the past.
I was on the CMU priority waitlist for Directing two years running, haha. (Came off this year, however! Very, very excited to transfer!!)
In my experience, it works like this: They notify you that you are on the pwl. At that point, you fill out a form in order to REMAIN on the priority waitlist. If you don’t fill out this form, you’re moved to a regular waitlist - but I don’t think anyone STARTS on that regular waitlist. If you’re waitlisted at CMU, it’s presented to you as the pwl. The other waitlist is for those who “opt out” of pwl, essentially.
In the context of the School of Drama, however, these distinctions don’t seem to matter. I didn’t choose to fill out the form to keep myself on the pwl because I had to sort of housing at my present institution. But, when they decided they wanted me, they tracked me down all the same.