Guys, this is totally anecdotal. But I have developed some theory behind this wait list thing.
UofC regularly waitlist 3000 applicants and only take off a handful each year. My theories for those few lucky ones are not random and incidental. In order for UofC to take you off from the waitlist there are several criterias, it has nothing to do with your academics nor has to do your “love and desire”. Here are few things I have observed over the years:
If you have high financial needs beyond borrowing, you will not be selected. OTOH, if you are full pay, chances are better but not by much. I'd say at least 1/3 on the list are full pay.
If you are recruited athletes. One kid I know from a very high profile HS got off the list because the soccer coach missing a position in the team and she was the missing link. That was year 2008. If you are talented, you should not only keep it up with the adcoms, but also badging the directors in the program you specialize. It could be a seat in the Orchestra, a harp player or some thing exortic. Athletes are the most probable candidate.
If they offered some one or two in your HS and they did not go. In my D's case, for whatever the reason, they offered two admissions to two outstanding students in her HS. Normally they only offer one per public HS. Anyway, BOTH kids declined, one went to Brown and the other, Engineering in Harvey Mudd. Well, we learned afterwards, that both of them notified UofC around the same time my D got an offer to get off the waitlist.
@artloversplus Around when did your D hear back from UChicago? I know 2010 is quite a while ago so things may have changed, but was she contacted in April or May? Thanks!
@artloversplus, your analysis is #140 may be correct…with the exception of your second point. Recruited athletes were long ago admitted through EDI, a few more added through EDII, any that lingered (unlikely) would have been admitted RD. There may be athletes in the waitlist pool that may join their teams once admitted, but they have not been “recruited” and their athlete status will not help them get in off the waitlist any more than another solid EC would. Good luck to all still waiting!
@Sam-I-Am
A recruited athlete could be a second place recruits for a certain position on the team, if some thing happened to the first place admits they could call for a replacement at the last moment. Anyway, the girl I know was corresponding with the coach long before her application was filed.
@artloversplus, the term “recruited” is more than corresponding with the coach. The recruit receives assistance in admissions, almost always, in exchange for applying ED. At UChicago, the assistance the coach can give is very much limited. The coach has a list of desirable athletes and shares it with admissions, but admissions does not give much a of a break (if any) to the athlete. But by applying ED, the recruited athlete gets the ED advantage that helps all ED applicants. This is a huge contrast to getting a coach’s help in the Ivy or NESCAC leagues, where the coach has much more influence to assist desirable athletes even ones with lower stats. At least this is what I understand to be the case. You have a lot of posts, and may know more than I. I do hope the girl gets in off the waitlist and is able to join her team. Good luck to her and everyone else!
She emailed me stating that she feels a gap year would be a good option for me and to call her. I just called her and she told me that there is no more room in the class of 2021 and that I am admitted into the class of 2022 if i accept it and I did. Im in Chicago and i sent in 2 LOCI. Good luck everyone!
I just called my regional counselor and she confirmed that although it is possible that some people could be taken off after May 1st, she said it was “not entirely very likely.” Take this as a rejection and stay strong!
while initially I thought i wouldn’t be able to truly be happy at anywhere but uchicago, now that i’ve committed to another school i’m really excited for what life has in store for me in the future
i’ve given up on getting off the waitlist, but surprisingly it doesn’t hurt as much as i thought it would
I’m taking this so much as a rejection that just I sent out a polite letter to both Nondorf and my admission counselor. I’m sure my application file is in the shredder right now! >:)
