<p>Andi, from the very first moment my daughter and I visited the Swarthmore campus, nearly two years ago, we felt like they actually "cared." I cannot believe they would send that letter to everyone on their waitlist. I do believe that they have an idea of how much "movement" there will be by mid-June and figured out how many letters to send out accordingly.</p>
<p>Andi - hoping things work out for your son, too. Is Swarthmore aware that he has no other options? I believe that would make a difference, that they would offer him the first spot if they knew he hadn't put down a deposit anywhere because he had no choice. Others may disagree, and it's just my gut reaction. If others are receiving the exact same letter, while it sounds hopeful, I would want to contact admissions so they remembered he is the student with no good alternatives. How could it hurt? JMO.</p>
<p>He has vigorously pursued his standing. That's a dicey question. It was suggested to us by someone else too. However, when I ran the idea by the GC she said that they're not going to accept someone because they feel sorry for him. I'd be very concerned that it could backfire. </p>
<p>Anyone else have an opinion about this?</p>
<p>Damn, Andi, the last thing you need now to help combat stress is a new dilemma!! My gut reaction is for you/your son not to mention the particular situation he is in. If they ask, then give them an honest answer. But, like you, I have a real concern about it backfiring if you just up and offer them this information. It must be very obvious to Swarthmore that, as you say, your son is vigorously pursuing his standing. I don't see that they need to know every single particular of why he is doing so.</p>
<p>I agree with the statements here about Swarthmore actually sounding like they care, with this letter and the first waitlist one. The first was so different from the typical terse letters I got, I almost believed it was personalized.</p>
<p>I kinda feel guilty pursuing the wailist, though, knowing that its andi's son's only shot, and that I got into a great school that I like a lot.</p>
<p>insertnamehere DO NOT FEEL GUILTY! You have just as much right to go there as anyone. And with any luck you'll both be there next year :)</p>
<p>I'm rooting for you too!!</p>
<p>Andi,</p>
<p>Just thinking that I agree with your intuitive notion that it might not help to tell Swat anything beyond what they already know, which is that your son would really like to be there in the Fall. That is pretty to be what they want to hear, and you all have said it well. Blessings!</p>
<p>As I posted earlier, we know someone who ended up coming off the wait list after school let out. Also know of some kids who did last minute gap years there. So I know that there is some movement on that list even after the initial picks.</p>
<p>I would encourage your son to get down there and go into the admissions office and reiterate his passionate interest in person. He's obviously in the running, and I think it would be helpful if he took that extra step. I really believe if you want something badly enough--and you demonstrate that issue without crossing the line into being obnoxious-- you can get it.</p>
<p>I hope he's pursuing his other waitlists too because he'd probably feel a lot more confident if he had something to fall back on.</p>
<p>My D also received one of those letters today. So there's at least 4 of them. (sigh) They are nice, but I suppose it's also an effort to keep kids bonded to Swat a few weeks more as this plays out. Good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>mchs, unfortunately one of the other schools closed the wait list several weeks ago. They took six kids from our school with rather significantly lower stats than s and now have an incoming class of '09 with average SAT scores 200 points below his and lower GPA. Their loss I guess.</p>
<p>S is still pursuing the other wait list.</p>
<p>I think the most difficult part of the situation is maintaining the feeling of hope that it takes to keep pursuing the wait list while at the same time making alternative plans. It makes you feel torn in different directions and emotions.</p>
<p>I just want to state my agreement with your sense, Andi, that it would not be in your son's best interests to inform Swat of the particulars of his situation. However, I think if there's any further updates that he might be able to provide them with as these next few weeks unfold (eg. senior awards, music opportunities/experiences, etc.), he should send that info. Very best of luck.</p>
<p>Andi - We're hoping for the best for your son as well. You have no idea how many people you've helped by sharing your family's story.</p>
<p>He's kept the action hard and steady right from the start- thanks completely and altogether to the advice on this board. So if I've been able to help other families with our story I'm more than happy because if he ever does get off the wait list credit goes to all those who have posted here as well. And if he doesn't, we've learned better how to approach it in the next go 'round.</p>
<p>It's a good thing he's a strong person because getting through finals, carrying out music performances that were already in the works while keeping a stiff upper lip hasn't been easy. He's also had to swallow a lot of stories of college acceptances from kids at our well -connected school that are a little tough to take. It's difficult watching a kid that age learn about how the 'system' works. The other day he asked me why it worked for his friends and not for him.</p>
<p>Hopefully in the end it will be empowering for him to get beyond this, whether he gets strength by ultimately getting an acceptance or by planning alternative activities. </p>
<p>The other day a Chinese friend of mine, parent of one of ss friends wrote me this. (Im leaving the writing as is, except to delete ss name.)</p>
<p>Well I think you had done what a mother would do for her kid, you should have no regret. It is just the fault of the system. Sometime I like to tell my non-Chinese friend that the word "crisis" in Chinese, was actually two characters put together. The first character means "danger" or "risk", and the other character means "opportunity". We believe that any crisis in our lives would often lead one to an opportunity for a better change and growth....I know it would not be easy but I hope you and s put all these behind, and strike out on whatever that opportunity would be!!!</p>
<p>andi, I haven't read every post on your S's situation, but it appears to me that there must have been something in the GC or teacher recommendations that was questionable. Otherwise, I can't understand why others from his class with comparable and lesser qualifications were accepted to schools he was waitlisted at.</p>
<p>Have you thought about having him apply to schools with rolling admissions?</p>
<p>in response to the above comment: college admissions isn't all about stats. schools like to fill their classes with a well-rounded student body. and they tend to chose kids who really want to go to that school. They are concerned, among other things, about "yield" in the short term and commitment (as opposed to transfers) in the longer term.</p>
<p>my (educated) guess is that andi's son was waitlisted (where others with comparable and lesser stats were admitted) because he didn't REALLY want to go to that (those) schools and the admissions offices sensed that.</p>
<p>In response to the above post: How could you possibly know that andi's son didn't REALLY want to go to any of the schools he applied to? He must have wanted to go to at least ONE!</p>
<p>And yes, I know admissions is not all about stats, but his entire profile seemed worthy of at least one of the schools he applied to.</p>
<p>Hi Columbiamom,</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. I don't mean this to sound disrespectful to you, but we've actually been thru this on other threads- all the why's and wherefore's. The bottom line is that while there may be some reason somewhere, we'll never truly know. The explanation that is my personal favorite and the one I like to recall when I start once again wondering 'why' is that the system sucks. It's short and sweet.</p>
<p>However at this point, seven weeks after disaster, we're focusing on getting off the wait list and alternative plans for next year. No more looking back.</p>
<p>Any suggestions for getting off a wait list are appreciated!<br>
andi</p>
<p>I just had this thought, that I know that some adcoms from some colleges read this board. For example, I know for sure that MIT adcoms read the board. Their userid has a special insignia attached to it to indicate that they are not parents or students. In any case, Swat might already be aware of Andi's son's situation. That is not to say that Andi should do anything about it, call them or anything..</p>
<p>Overall, I think if Swat adcoms read this board, then they are aware of what a remarkable young man andi's son is....and that is not a bad thing at all.</p>