I was waitlisted at three schools, two of which I would seriously comsider attempting if eventually accepted. I want to write a letter to these schools, updating their adcoms on what I’ve been doing since I turned in my application in January. First of all is this a good idea? If so, then how would I go about doing this?
<p>yeah, i'd like to know too.</p>
<p>This is hazardous advice to give as there is probably no right answer, much at stake and the right approach probably varies by school and by student. So, factor in opinions and decide on your own approach. And yes it is a good idea to send a letter.</p>
<p>That said, I would write a wait list letter in a creative way if your application was a little bland or if you were creative in your application, try something different than the approach you took. Try to hook the reader in the first paragraph, rather than starting off "I am writing to request admission off your wait list......". Maybe something like "It's April 15th, a day most folks remember each year as tax day. For me, I will also remember it as the day I wrote a letter to FMU, my first choice school, to explain why I should be admitted off of the wait list." Or relate the wait list to something else that you tried for, just missed, tried again - and won. Like in sports, debate, music, whatever your thing is. Write the letter, show it to a few people and ask for honest opinions. Stop them after the first paragraph and ask them to tell you if they cared about you, the writer, at that point. After that first paragraph, you can, and should, go on about your recent accomplishments.</p>