<p>I'm a high school senior from a public school in GA, and like so many other students I received a "wait list" decision from my top choice - UPenn - last night. </p>
<p>I looked around for advice on what to do when waitlisted, and I'm going to write a stellar Letter of Continued Interest and see if I can't get my Penn Alum friend (donator) to rattle some cages. I'm also going to secure a place at the state school (UGA) where I have already been accepted. I hear these are pretty standard actions.</p>
<p>But apart from this, what can waitlisted students do to show their top choice school that they are committed to attending, and willing to show it?</p>
<p>A friend of mine who graduated about 10 years ago was rejected from Harvard Undergrad, but accepted after he flew to the campus (with his resume, stats, his whole case in hand) and told them they had made a mistake. So specifically, my question in this:</p>
<p>** Is it helpful (or even acceptable) for waitlisted/rejected applicants to visit that school's campus and plead their case in person to the dean of admissions or someone similar? Put another way: does this indicate a worthy and committed candidate, or a presumptuous nutjob? Does this happen often enough that they will not even be impressed? **</p>
<p>I have the stats and extracurriculars to be attending this caliber of school, and I know that if I get in off the waitlist I will be enrolling. </p>
<p>Is it worth the risk? Would I even be able to get an interview with the appropriate person?</p>
<p>I’ll give my 2 cents although I am not very experienced, senior high school like you. I’d say it depends on the admissions officer in the school you go to, one might be lenient while the other can be strict. You can impress one or annoy the other, it really depends on their personality so I suppose luck plays a factor. Also if you go there you should say something more than just “I am very interested” or something. It should be more than a 2 minute conversation, so to say. Something memorable for the admissions officer… although don’t try to bribe them with cookies (jk) I wish I had this chance too, being an international applicant I can’t visit any school before I actually go there next September. You should use this opportunity in my opinion because some of us don’t have it.</p>
<p>Based on our family’s experience (and this is consistent with advice from the “experts”) you are far better off writing a thoughtful and concise letter to the Dean of Admissions (or the appropriate admissions rep for your state/region); having an adult who knows you well (coach, employer, youth group leader, etc.) send them a letter explaining why you are an excellent candidate (that person could also be a teacher, but not one who already wrote a letter of recommendation for your original application; and having your high school guidance counselor call admissions to explain that you are an excellent candidate.</p>
<p>If you can honestly say that you will definitely attend this college if accepted, and your parents are fully supportive of your intent to go there (and you have the financial means), tell them that in your letter.</p>
<p>Writing a BRIEF letter restating your interest and getting the point across that you will definitely attend if accepted is pretty much the most you can do. An additional letter of recommendation could help, but only if it sheds new light on you in a favorable way. </p>
<p>DO NOT – I repeat – DO NOT embarrass yourself and do anything over the top like visiting the campus and pleading your case to the dean of admissions. Decisions are final, unless admissions actually made a legit mistake like mixing up your transcript or something like that. Admissions people are busy enough as it is; think about how annoying it would be if you were an admissions officer and a bunch of rejected/waitlisted kids started asking for an interview.</p>
<p>robinsonspencer - if this works, check page 6 on this link of the Common Data Set for UPenn…in 2012: 2,417 were offered a spot on the wait list; 1,385 of those students accepted a spot on the wait list. Of the 1,385 that accepted a spot on the wait list: 56 were offered admittance from the wait list.</p>
<p>That’s not to say that you won’t be offered a spot, but the percentage of students offered admittance from the wait list is probably a lower percentage than was offered outright acceptance.</p>
<p>However, I agree with the other poster - write a letter and hope for the best…but I’d certainly be looking at your #2 and moving forward with plans to enroll there. Good luck!</p>
I’d say it depends on the admissions officer in the school you go to, one might be lenient while the other can be strict. You can impress one or annoy the other, it really depends on their personality so I suppose luck plays a factor. Also if you go there you should say something more than just “I am very interested” or something. It should be more than a 2 minute conversation, so to say. Something memorable for the admissions officer… although don’t try to bribe them with cookies (jk) 
I wish I had this chance too, being an international applicant I can’t visit any school before I actually go there next September. You should use this opportunity in my opinion because some of us don’t have it.</p>