<p>Link to a Crimson article from 1999 describing how decisions are made to take students from the waitlist. Also describes numbers of students taken off it: <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=97206%5B/url%5D">http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=97206</a></p>
<p>"The frst thing to do is to try and figure out what might constitute your strongest "hook"."</p>
<p>What do you then, Byerly? Say my hook is that I'm a first-gen college-goer from Montana who plays the bagpipes. Am I supposed to write an essay about it to them, or what?</p>
<p>Also, can I send in any application updates at this point?</p>
<p>There's not much point in sending in updates till closer to the date by which current admits must send in deposits. By all means get the list together. Its a little like the supplemental submission an EA or ED deferred would send in,</p>
<p>The difference is that in the case of waitlist people, the school will more likely be seeking a demographic equivalent for the admits they've "lost" in order to restore the "diversity" equillibrium they so earnestly seek.</p>
<p>If you're not an outgoing URM oboe player from Montana you obviously can't magically transform yourself if that's what they're looking for. My advice is to strengthen whatever image (hook?) you DO have, so that they will have you in mind as a potential fill-in should they decide they need one of whatever puzzle piece you represent.</p>
<p>Check with your alumni interviewer to see if he/she would be willing to weigh in on your behalf.</p>