Help! I've been waitlisted.

<p>Thanks for reading!</p>

<p>I was accepted to every college I applied to except for my first choice. Now I am desperately trying to get off of the waitlist.</p>

<p>What I have done so far is let them know that I want to remain on the waitlist, and I checked the option on the form that said I am sure I will attend if accepted. I had a teacher that I've had for four years write a letter of rec. He has also worked with me in a leadership position as I am EIC of our newspaper. Lastly, I am in the final stages of writing a letter about why I feel I would be a great addition to campus and my recent achievements such as the Journalism Honor Roll etc.</p>

<p>Do you know if colleges generally allow interviews for waitlisted students? I want to call and ask tomorrow, but I wanted to see if anyone has any insight.</p>

<p>Lastly, what else can I do? I want to make my interest clear, but I don't want to be annoying in the process.</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch.</p>

<p>No, colleges don’t do interviews for waitlisted students. Often colleges choose people off the waitlist who have a similar profile to the student who declined admission. You are smart to write a letter stating your desire to attend and that you will attend if admitted.That’s about all you can, or should, do. But do remember that most selective colleges take very few students from their waitlists, so in the meantime, pick a school that you have been admitted to, make a deposit, and begin to love it. Chances are very good that you’ll be there in the fall.
Congratulations for so many wonderful acceptances! It sounds like you did extremely well in admissions this year!</p>

<p>The time to ask for an interview was back last fall… I do not think it would help now (you are correct that it would probably be perceived as annoying). Agree that you should send them a letter (or an email, I don’t think it makes a difference) with any recent accomplishments. Have you looked at the Common Data Set for the school to see how many students they waitlisted and how many got off last year? I mean… one of my D’s colleges where she was accepted has (literally) thousands of students on their waitlist. </p>

<p>Realistically you need to determine what your top choice is of the colleges you got into and prepare to deposit there by May 1. If you need to deposit earlier for housing choices, I say go ahead now. Yes, people get off waitlists. But not very often, so you need to start preparing for (and getting excited about) another option where they HAVE accepted you.</p>

<p>“Lastly, what else can I do?” You’ve done it already. Now follow intparent’s advice and prepare to accept the best offer you have in hand. Put “dream college” out of your mind. Treat it like a reject. If by chance,they contact you in May or Jun, then it’ll be a bridge to cross. Otherwise, you can enjoy your last months as a successful senior and give your heart over to your intended college, readying yourself for Aug-Sept.</p>