Getting off Waitlists

<p>I've recieved my decision letters, and they are all WLe'd or redection letters. I was wondering if anyone could give me advice to get off the waitlist-I am not looking to re-apply into schools with rolling admissions. I love the schools that I applied to (A fair number) and I would simply like it if anyone could give me any insight into getting out of the Waitlist. Can anyone tell me if people have ever gone off the waitlist? Especially those who need a large amount of financial aid (I am, or was, an FA candidate.)? Also, I've noticed that on this board, a LOT of people my grade applying for 9th grade were also WLed. Is this a new thing this year? To have lots of people on waitlists? Can anyone comment on that?</p>

<p>I’m posting this on all the new threads: The problem is that this question has been asked a gazillion times on this board and the proper thing is to search for them (they’re all current) rather than to start a new thread and make those of us who try to help repeat the information ad naseum.</p>

<p>As an interviewer the first clues I’m looking for in a student is the ability to use the existing resources.</p>

<p>Really Exie…that last comment is very snide. I HAVE been looking around-but something I have noticed is that many seem offer that applying to another school with rolling admissions is the best alternative. If anyone else has a story of how they’ve gotten off the waitlist, then please share!</p>

<p>circlemidnight – ExieMITalum perhaps may be right, though I agree with you that the way he/she phrased the comment was a bit malicious. I posted this on another thread, but as I say later, on no grounds can I prove that it is successful. To tell you the truth, though, I doubt that anything about getting off the waiting list is more than dumb luck and an ounce of skill at this point, but it never hirts to be polite. Below is my response to the other thread:</p>

<p>I think it would be a good idea to call up the school immeadiately, thank them for their time and effort throughout the admissons process, and let them know that you are still very interested in attending their school, as it is among your favorite schools that you applied to. I have never applied to a boarding school, but I am pretty sure that most schools just want qualified students who are excited about the school and what they are learning. Try to show that. Also, I wouldn’t be too pushy about providing them with information about everything you are doing - they probably are very busy - so instead of just sending a bunch of stuff in, call them up and ask, very politely, firmly, and interestedly (if that’s a word), whether you may send in some more current additional information to aid them in their descision whether or not to take you off the waiting list. If they say yes, then choose what you send them wisely - not just the perfect English paper you wrote that was written mostly last-minute by your mom, but instead the paper you got a B+ on with an attached note about why it was the paper that made you most proud. Be thoughtful. However, again, I have never gone through the process so cannot vouch for the reliability of my answer. But, if it were me, this is what I would do. Good luck!!</p>

<p>I wasn’t trying to be snide. I considered finding the threads and posting the links here. But I’d just waded through tons of threads asking the exact same question (need FA, has anyone gone off a WL) and many of us were posting the same answers:</p>

<ol>
<li>let the school know you want them.</li>
<li>send extra materials if appropriate</li>
<li>take the offer you have because yields are tight this year and WL is iffy</li>
<li>FA families are having a rough time finding any spots because of limited school funds.</li>
<li>apply to schools with rolling admissions (after you’ve called them).</li>
</ol>

<p>In the emotion of the moment, students are swamping the discussion board with requests for their own specific situation. Thhere are hundreds of other students asking (and facing) the same dilemma, and many of us have full inboxes as we try to coach parents and students through it. So it’s helpful to get a “new” twist or question.</p>

<p>Sorry if it sounded otherwise.</p>