getting off the waitlist..

<p>got back from school yesterday and saw a thin envelope from BC. i thought i was surely rejected and didn't even bother to open it until today. and i found out i've been WAITLISTED.</p>

<p>pretty disappointed, because I was expecting to get in..</p>

<p>then today, I got waitlisted at Emory.</p>

<p>These schools are two of my favorites. I have heard of people writing letters and additional essays to get off the waitlists.</p>

<p>does this method work well?</p>

<p>should i also get recommendation letters from teachers?</p>

<p>The best method is to send an email (you have to indicate that you want to remain on the waitlist anyway), emphasizing your commitment to the school. You can also have your guidance counselor call the school and reinforce your commitment, and if you do have a “first choice” school among the waitlists, the counselor can say if you get in you will go there.</p>

<p>Remember, now the colleges are playing the yield game. They are creating a class that they have the highest chance of acquiring. The waitlist is not a linear list, like a standby airline passenger list. For example, if they lose an accepted male, they will likely fill it from the waitlist with a male, so that they can keep the class balanced. And if they know they are a “first choice school” for a waitlisted candidate, they know that if they move the student off the waitlist THEY WILL GET THAT STUDENT. As they edge toward the finish line, they want to be able to predict their enrollment yield even more precisely. Your statement of commitment gives them that predictive ability.</p>

<p>At this point, you want to express commitment. Don’t worry about more teachers recommendations. You have already qualified for acceptance—they just don’t have room.</p>

<p>Waitlists are longshots at best, and very unpredictable. The most likely time to hear from waitlist schools is mid-May to early June, after they have received their May 1 enrollment deposits. BTW, make sure you send in a May 1 deposit to a school that has outright accpeted you----because most likely, you will be attending one of those schools.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful! Kris</p>