<p>Has anyone who was waitlisted contacted schools to be removed from the waitlist?</p>
<p>yeah, I called to get off the waitlist at Hotchkiss.</p>
<p>I wanted to be removed from Andover, but dad and mom wouldn't let me.</p>
<p>Question: I have a friend who was waitlisted at three schools, and she plans to send letters to all three telling them that she is still interested. Is there any problem with contacting all schools?</p>
<p>I think you could send letters, but let her make a first choice and then embellish that letter she sends. That should be the strongest. In the other letters, basically tell her to say she'd love to attend and what activities she would be involved in on campus and how she would add to their community.</p>
<p>As long as it's true, I see no reason why you couldn't send the same unequivocal letter to all three schools saying that if they accepted, you'd attend for sure. The only contingency, of course, would be if two (or three) schools notified you at the same time. But if you commit to going to the first of the three schools that takes you off their wait list, why not tell all three schools that you will definitely attend -- and be thrilled to do so -- if they take you off their respective wait lists?</p>
<p>The only reason why I wouldn't come right out and reveal to all of them that I'm committing to the first one of three is because that would seem a bit arrogant. The reason for not revealing that I've made the same commitment to three schools is not that I think it's duplicitous; it's just that it's bad form to be on three wait lists and have an "attitude" about it and appear to think I merit a bidding war or race to claim me. Kind of like being 20 points down in a basketball game and jawing at your opponent.</p>
<p>I think it's absolutely dishonest to tell more than one school you will come if admitted..</p>
<p>Really? Even if it's true? I mean I can see how it can be true. I agree that it's dishonest if you wouldn't come or plan on holding out for one over another. But if it's true that if any one of the three says "yes" you will come, why is it dishonest to say that you will come if they say "yes?"</p>
<p>edit: Of course by saying this you're committing to withdraw your name from the wait list of all schools the moment you get into one that you've promised you'd attend.</p>
<p>I don't agree, kirmum. I can see a situation where that would be true. You're on two waitlists and would be happy to be at either school. If school A tells you to come, you accept and let B know your plans have changed. It's unlikely that both would eventually find space for you, or that they would make that decision on the same day. It's not inconveniencing the schools; they have more than one name on their list and can then go to the next candidate. Lots of things happen - students who put down deposits sometimes have to later tell schools they won't be coming after all. I think it's possible to say to two (or maybe more schools) "I will come if you admit me" and mean it. (I think my scenario is more compelling if you have no acceptances, but I believe it works even if you have already put down a deposit elsewhere.) </p>
<p>Say you were looking for work. Would you interview and wait for a final answer from each employer before you went to the next interview?</p>
<p>Cross posted with you, d'yer, but think we agree.</p>
<p>You have no idea until the day before school starts if you're true first choice will accept you. Would it be ethical to tell 3 schools you'll come if accepted and change your mind if another than accepts you?</p>
<p>It simply isn't true that 3 schools are your first choice. Adcoms from various schools talk.</p>
<p>If you will do what lefthand says, commit to the first to accept you, then feel free to say you'll come if accepted but don't tell them all they're your first choice.</p>
<p>Well, that's not what you're saying. You're saying that you'd guarantee that you'll attend the school if they accept you. And as long as you do that -- and intend to do that -- then you're telling the truth.</p>
<p>You're NOT saying that you guarantee that you will keep your name on the wait list until the first day of school. Nobody should do that. That's insane...I would strongly advise against saying that -- because that's likely a promise you can't keep. And, I would add, it's not exactly the wisest WL strategy if you want to encourage a school to take you off the list before they look to other candidates.</p>
<p>As long as you withdraw your name from all schools upon receiving an offer of acceptance from a school you've promised to attend, you're living up to your promise to that school. And you haven't broken any promise to the other schools by informing them that you've withdrawn from consideration because they took too dang long to get back to you.</p>
<p>People do this all the time in real estate and in other commercial markets -- with no claims of duplicity. You make an offer and if the other party accepts before you withdraw, you're obligated to fulfill it. And if you withdraw your offer before the other party acts, there's no breach of a promise. Look at the business section and see how the merger talks -- most recently with the airlines -- run. One side makes an offer, the other side stalls, the first side withdraws or restructures...and nobody on the other side cries "foul!" because there is none.</p>
<p>I'd apply those principles here. This is a negotiation. As long as you don't tell a school that you're theirs to choose until orientation (which, as I said, is unwise and dishonest even for your "first" choice because few people can really be sure they can do that) the schools you withdraw from haven't been harmed or lied to. You WOULD HAVE accepted their offer if they had acted quickly.</p>
<p>The only trouble I have with this strategy is whether telling them will help you -- by letting them know that you could disappear from the pool sooner than the other applicants -- or hurt you -- because you'll come across as mighty cocky for someone on three wait lists. If someone can think of a diplomatic, perhaps self-effacing way to communicate the bidding war you're establishing, then it might actually get you into one of those three schools.</p>
<p>Still...kirmum...I fully respect the position you're taking. And I'm not sure that I would personally want to tell multiple schools that I'd guarantee I'd attend if they accepted me -- if only because I can't envision three schools being so equal. I do think it's an interesting strategic option which is why I raised it. If anyone tried this approach I'd be interested to hear the results.</p>
<p>Completely depends on the boarding school.
And how many applicants that year,
and how many kids from the acceptances decide to attend.
For instance I do know of a top tier school that is planning on taking about 10 kids off the wait list very soon
Your best bet is to somehow "pad your file". something that will stand out a bit. i.e. a personal statement.
at this point all you want to do is get in, so you really need to tell them you would build a 20 story building if you had to to get in.
pretty much tell them they are your numbr 1 choice and you would do anything to get in and rave about how you loved it.</p>
<p>not much else you can do
unless you have an alumni you forgot to mention to them before</p>
<p>May I ask which top tier school that you know is taking 10 off of the waitlist.? If you don't mind sharing, it would give us some hope?
With thanks</p>