How does one escape the clutches of evil that is the waitlist? I feel extremely privileged to have received a spot on this list, but it doesn’t guarantee a spot in the class (in fact, it may be regarded as a “rejection extension”). I could write a letter detailing my interest in the school (as for a college visit, my parents aren’t really willing to fork up the money to travel there) and send them my grades, another letter of rec, and so on. However, I find that it’s just too…generic. Based on my stats and ECs, there are WAYYYY more qualified applicants than me who obviously look better than I do on the waitlist. This may be the only opportunity to stand out among the 500+ people also placed on this list.
TL;DR - Waitlisted at MIT, stats are below average, need to make something awesome to stand out and make up for poor test scores
Being on the waitlist means it’s time to focus and put all your energy into your “Plan B” schools. Nothing about getting off the waitlist is in your control. MIT, like any school, will look to see who accepts admission by May 1st. Then it will selectively pick and choose off it’s waitlist to round out the diversity for the incoming class it’s trying to build.
Here’s a link to a great CC discussion on waitlists. Although it’s a few years old, it’s still relevant today and to MIT.
If you are on MIT’s waitlist I guaranty there was something in your application that already stood out. They have no desire to put you on the list just to drag the process out longer. They are not cruel. Choose another school that you can imagine doing great things at. There is still a chance you may be that someone that will round out the next incoming class. But there is nothing else you need to do to prove it.
You have choices, you can choose to not get onto MIT’s wait list. How far away are you from MIT? If you are really gung ho, you could try to visit, using a bus and your own money, IF you have not visited the campus already, to show interest, but its a long shot. You would have to write an additional note to Admissions about your visit too. MIT admits lots of students who never set foot on campus, so it probably will not help that much. If you are depending on your parents to pay for college visits, though, I hope you have discussed how to pay for four years of college. You need to pay another college the deposit, to hold a spot for you, be sure to do that, and find things you like about your second choice.