To all: I know how devastating it feels at this point. The most important thing to do is push forward and be resilient. The admissions counselors will appreciate seeing this and even if you don’t get the outcome you want, at least you know you will have done everything you could have.
@Devcur : My main suggestion would be to maintain contact with your admissions counselor. I don’t think it ever hurts to send updates and accomplishments, as small as they might be. See below for info about what I did.
@irishfan2023 : Don’t lose hope. I didn’t think that I actually had a shot at getting in because the years before me alternated with zero and about 60 students getting off the waitlist, and if the pattern continued, no one would have gotten off the waitlist in my year. However, I continued to express interest because I wanted to be the first person to call if they even had one spot open. Also, some fuel for optimism: keep in mind that only about half of the students who get offered a spot on the waitlist will accept their spot, and most students on the waitlist won’t contact their admissions counselor, so this is a great way to distinguish yourself.
@js00999 : Hey Jesse!!! I know the pressure of having an ND family and wanting so badly to be a part of it. The most important thing to do is contact your admissions counselor and be sure that they know that ND is still your number one choice. See below for info about what I did.
@smallgal : You definitely still have a chance!! I know how frustrating it is at this point–but don’t give up. Do whatever you can to distinguish yourself from others on the waitlist. See below for info about what I did.
@PopUpZone1921 : It is definitely a great idea for your son to communicate to his admissions counselor that ND is still his first choice. Keep in mind that the college wants to keep their yield rate high, so it likely helps to know that if he is offered admission he will certainly enroll. When he writes to his admissions officer, make sure he highlights any accomplishments that have happened since the application, as it certainly does not hurt to add more positive info to his application. I know how hard the wait can be, but staying excited about the school he commits to while fighting hard for ND behind the scenes is the best way to handle it. Also, don’t forget that unfortunately the admissions process is unfair in that they might just want more women in engineering or maybe more diverse students, none of which your son can control. However, you should encourage him to put effort into what he can control and show his excitement about ND to his admissions counselor.
For those who are wondering what I did to get off the waitlist or looking for ideas of ways to show your excitement about ND, here’s my list:
-My biggest suggestion would be to contact your admissions counselor!!! It seems (from previous CC threads and other students that I have spoken with) that the students who show interest are the ones who get off of the waitlist at ND. I contacted my admissions counselor about every 2 weeks (whether it be by phone, postcard, email, etc). Someone else might argue that this is too much, but it worked for me likely because it showed consistency and dedication.
-Some of these emails were updates about my leadership, engagement and achievement in clubs, academics, service projects, etc. (I tried to make these updates engaging by adding photos from events I organized and participated in and discussed how I could continue contributions to the community at ND). Send these updates no matter how small they might seem! I even mentioned when my highschool received a good ranking by US News and World Report lol.
-Called my admissions counselor asking questions about my chances and what I could do to better them, any remaining questions about ND, and the possibility of receiving admission into the Holy Cross College gateway program. (I ended up crying because I got so emotional on the phone lol, not recommended but just be yourself!)
-Sent a handwritten card to the admissions counselor’s office thanking him for speaking with me on the phone
-Had a friend of ND send another letter of recommendation to my counselor (not encouraged by university
https://admissions.nd.edu/connect/news/on-the-notre-dame-waiting-list-we-answer-your-questions-here/
but I figured it couldn’t hurt)
-I also sent an email containing a two page (single-spaced) letter of intent discussing my ongoing excitement and commitment to ND towards at the end of April
My name is Jessi and I am a proud ND waitlist survivor. I’m starting this discussion for all of the students who received the gut wrenching “waitlist” letter today. I am here to tell you NOT to give up hope if you are passionate about Notre Dame. I found that the college confidential 2021 waitlist thread was a great place for support when I was navigating all of this, and that threads from past years helped me learn what to expect with this (sometimes confusing, sometimes frustrating) process. I am a current sophomore at Notre Dame and I will be checking this discussion regularly to answer any questions I can.