I applied to pretty much all of my schools EA and rolling and got my decisions by mid December. All acceptances with one deferred(Georgetown). I decided to apply to another reach because “why not?” and hoped to weigh my options and choose a school from my early actions for the likely case that I was rejected from both reach schools. It’s now March and Georgetown has now waitlisted me :(. I’m honored to even make the waitlist, which in theory is better than a majority of the results. However, now I have more waiting to do instead of being completely done by May 1st. I pretty much know which school I’m committing to, but now I have the Georgetown decision hanging around my mind until May 15th. Even worse, they have an extended waitlist that goes into late June which I could also get put on if my luck continues.
Georgetown was easily my #1 and I joined the waitlist right away. Now, I’m wondering if it’s worth it. Last year, the waitlist acceptance for business was a whopping 1% and I’m pretty sure it was 0% the year prior. I’d still love to go to Georgetown, but I’m going to be in college admissions period pretty much the rest of the school year. I’m beginning to wonder if I should just move on at this point. I know for sure part of me would wonder “what if I stayed on” and if I could’ve been the lucky 1%. The other part of me wants to be able to enjoy the rest of senior year and have peace of mind by finally being done with this admissions game.
After the EA round, I had plenty of time to think about my options, pick my top choice out of my acceptances, and begin to envision myself there. I was expecting to commit there right after a Georgetown rejection, but now I feel stuck knowing I still have a lottery ticket chance at my #1. Waiting another month and a half doesn’t seem like much now that it has been four months since I applied. It just seems futile at this point to keep on holding to that hope though. What should I do?
Put a deposit down at your top choice acceptance and assume that’s where you’ll be attending. It doesn’t hurt anything to stay on the WL, but you’re smart to realize you probably won’t get off it. I’d stay on it, but mentally treat it like the rejection it probably is.
I posted this on the Carleton board when someone asked about the WL there. Applies here, too.
"Looking at the Carleton Common Data Set from the past three years, the numbers taken off the WL were nine, 16 and then two last year. Clearly, chances aren’t great for anyone. The exact number who come off are mostly a function of how great the yield was from regular decision and how well the college estimated those yield numbers. No way to know whether this year will be zero or 20.
"That said, if I wanted to come off the WL, I’d do a couple of things. Write a letter to my admissions rep telling them that if I were to come off the WL I absolutely would attend as Carleton is my first choice. But only say this if it’s true! I also would update them on any further achievements since you applied … All-District sports team, etc. If you are full pay, I’d find a tactful way to say that, too.
"The most important thing to do for your ds or dd is to encourage them to make one final push and then forget about Carleton. Chances of getting in were slim; chances of getting off WL are even slimmer. Fall in love with one of your current options instead. If he/she happens to come off the WL it’ll be a happy surprise, but don’t spend a lot of energy hoping that that happens.
“Good luck! What are the other options?”
The numbers at Gtown are bigger … 149, 82 and 84 … for the three more recent available years, but the basic premise is the same. Make one strong effort and then forget about it. Good luck.
@Youdon’tsay Do I email a letter to a admissions rep or mail it to their admissions office?
I mean, you might as well stay on, unless you’re certain that you would prefer the school you’ll commit to over Georgetown. You’re right that your odds are not great, so it’s good to go in with that mindset, but there’s really no downside to staying on the waitlist if you like Georgetown more. And hey, if it does work out, then it will totally have been worth waiting another month or two
@HSStudent938 if you know who your reader is I’d send it to him/her. I think it’s always better to work with a person than a generic email address.
The admissions officers are listed by area on GU’s class profile. Should I email them something? Emails shouldn’t be that long, so wouldn’t it be more appropriate to mail a letter to the admissions office instead?
What you send shouldn’t be too long. I’d send an email to your admissions officer. It’s his/her job to advocate for the region’s students.