<p>My daughter was waitlisted as several schools, including Georgetown, her #1 choice. She has already indicated in a quick online acknowledgement that she wants to stay on their waitlist, and is now wondering what else to do to make a case for herself.</p>
<p>She has good other options and is happy about them and is moving forward with visiting (and will definitely pay a deposit, etc) She's not "expecting" to get plucked off the Georgetown waitlist and knows its definitely a long-shot, but she still wants to do what she can to increase her chances, including writing the best "waitlist interest" letter she can.</p>
<p>She doesn't have any "new" accomplishments since her application went in--which is one thing usually recommended to go in these kinds of letters. And although she's started a couple of drafts, she's not really sure what to include and is looking for some help.</p>
<p>She and I have read the general advice of WL letters online, but wonder if there are any successful samples that have worked that she can model her response on. That would be fantastic.</p>
<p>Another question: We will also be in DC tomorrow (we live in California) so she can do an overnight at the American Global Scholars Program and we plan to drop by Georgetown again so she can sit in on a class, go to another info session, and get the feel of the place again (it's been two years since we visited and she was only a sophomore then). Should she try to contact her admissions officer while we're there or would that be considered being a pest?</p>
<p>One last bizarre twist--yesterday she submitted a form for an online website called the Ivy Coach that she found while surfing the web looking for advice on this topic. She got a quick reply saying that the coach's hourly rate was $995 dollars an hour--and that it would cost $2000 for her to look over my daughter's letter! We figured we could get better advice for free, right here on College Confidential.</p>
<p>Yes, Ellie. Can you imagine? Maybe I’m naive, but to think that parents would shell out that level of money to try to ensure that their precious darlings get into the tippy top schools–and you should have seen what her other packages were like!</p>
<p>I have a child accepted off a waitlist at a different school. I think a steady stream of updates indicating interest can help. I think a visit is a great idea, and make sure to visit with the admissions counselor for your region to be absoutely clear about her interest. Are there any teachers or coaches who can send an email to the admissions counselor in support? If she gets any new awards, be sure and have her send those on. Are her recent quarter grades decent? Have her school guidance counselor send those. Is financial aid an issue or are you prepared to pay in full? Many colleges that are need blind are no longer need blind when it comes to the wait list, so if you can afford it, let them know that she will come no matter what. Most important of all, just have her check in regularly without being too much of a pest – I truly think that is more important than a single well-drafted letter. And if this all works, I will gladly take $2000 – such a deal! :-)</p>
<p>LBowie, she does need financial aid to attend. That was one of my concerns–that Georgetown would no longer be need blind. She’s gotten significant aid at her accepted schools–and would need the same anywhere to attend. </p>
<p>mom2collegekids, I wish I knew. If it is, then it’s time for us to just move on. I’m sure there are kids who can pay full freight who are as eager and wonderful as my daughter!</p>
<p>I will do it for free. This is what D1’s GC from her school told her to do 5-6 years ago when she was WL at 2 schools. She got off both. It was luck that both schools took kids from their WL that year.<br>
The essay doesn’t need to be long, just one page. Let GT know it continues to be her #1 choice, and why. “Why” part is important. Instead of writing about what a great institution GT is and how much she could get out of GT, write about her academic interests (research paper she got an award for, a special program she did, volunteer work she did), and what SHE could bring to GT.<br>
Have her GC write another LOR (not absolutely necessary if there is nothing new or if GC is not willing).
Updated transcript, especially if she is doing well.<br>
Few more LORs, maybe one from her coach (instructor), employer, or another teacher.
Put all that together and send them in before May 1.
Follow up after first week of May, and every once in a while after that. If you could get the GC to do it, it’s better.</p>
<p>Exactly. Most letter of interest focus on all the great stuff the college has, and that is why the student thinks it a good fit. (newsflash: the college knows about all the great stuff it offers). Thus, the letters on what the student brings to the table can stand out.</p>
<p>Concur with the timing. Send last week of April.</p>
<p>D1’s GC did most of the work. She was the one who put the packet together and made calls in May. But I was the one who found out on CC that one of those schools went to their WL, I then informed the GC right away to call the school. The school only wanted to give D1 one day to decide, but her GC negotiated for few more days. In the OP’s case, if the D should get a call, she should say, “I will accept pending on FA.” Sometimes a school will not send out the acceptance letter unless student is going to accept.</p>
<p>My daughter got to have a long talk with the son of a friend who graduated from Georgetown a few years ago with very similar interests. I haven’t seen her yet, but I’ll be curious to find out what she learned from him and whether it made her more convinced it’s still her number one choice or not. Also, hopefully, she’s learned more about the specific departments and programs there that would dovetail with her interests and aptitudes.</p>
<p>Noooo do not send it the last week. They are already thinking about the waitlist and will start notifying by early May. Do not wait! Express interest early and often. My son heard back from his waitlist school in the positive on May 3 via personal phone call from the admissions counselor. And as for financial aid, I would not sweat it. It is not as if all the spots go to full pay people. Do go for it.</p>
<p>Mid April is the best time to send in the packet, but it is already April 13. D1 had her letter ready the first week of April, but her GC didn’t send it until mid April. </p>
<p>I agree with expressing interest early, but not often. Letter of continued interest should include updates: grades, an impressive term paper, activities (even work) “I continue to…” Tell the college what specific programs (deeper than generalizing e.g.,“biology”) speak to her interest–indicating a thorough knowledge of the college, and briefly say how she finds herself contributing to campus. Indicate whether this is her first choice, regardless of financial need. If it is NOT the first choice, do not say it. Ask the GC to write a letter, if possible after speaking to a couple of current teachers student didn’t use for her recommendations to “refresh” the application. Students show growth even senior year, and staff can often speak to that. Then, I have to say, be done. Admissions will add to her file to express interest. If something material and new arises, contact admissions again. If not, you shouldn’t bug admissions just to bug them.</p>
<p>Some/many adcoms take a break in April since their big rush is over. But they do need to start reviewing the WL late in the month, which they can only start doing in earnest once the Treasuer tells them how the deposits are rolling in (a lot or a few?)…and that takes a couple of weeks to count deposit checks.</p>
<p>Also, check the calendar. GU is on easter break this week. </p>
<p>Personally, I’d rather the letter/e-mail hit when the regional Adcom is most likely back at work so it is top of mind, then having it sit in the inbox with hundreds of others. But that’s just my $0.02…</p>
<p>S14 sent his letter today. After the honors night program, he will email again with any awards he earned from the high school. That should be the first week of May. </p>
<p>Most colleges are need-aware when they go to the waitlist. Unless there is a specific statement somewhere that the school is need-blind for the waitlist, you can pretty much assume that they may very well favor full-pay or low-need students. It probably depends on the overall state of their financial aid budget – I’d guess that the admissions committee requests a status report from the financial aid department before making any decisions about which wait list applicants to prioritize. </p>