Does turning in waitlist cards late decrease chances of being admitted?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I was waitlisted at johns hopkins, and the letter i received (nearly a month ago) told me to return the card by May 1st. But I just turned it in recently on April 25 with a written letter expressing that JHU was my #1 choice school. I'm also going to send another teacher recommendation along with another letter reinforcing my first. I might even schedule a campus visit. </p>

<p>But will all this last minute stuff help me at all? How will the college view it because it's so "last minute?"</p>

2

<p>bump bump bump</p>

3

<p>bump bump bump</p>

4

<p>if it's before the deadline it should be fine.</p>

5

<p>Of course it does because some colleges like Duke are already calling students on the waitlist and offering them spots. Someone may now be getting the spot that a late waitlist card filer would have gotten.</p>

6

<p>Doesn't that depend on the school, though? Brown, for instance, clearly stated that no one would be contacted till May 15 or later.</p>

7

<p>Yes, it depends upon the school, but if one really wants the waitlist college, it would be wise to send back one's acceptance ASAP. When colleges turn to their waitlists, they want to select students who'll quickly accept their offers so it would be a mistake to send a card in late, giving the waitlist college the impression that you're ambivalent.</p>