<p>I'm on the waiting list for W&L and it's basically my top choice. I have already written a personal statement about why W&L is a top choice for me and a past experience that has fostered my interests in what W&L specializes in (Journalism and Business). </p>
<p>I'm at a complete loss of what to do next - should I be calling them? Writing them another letter? The alumni who interviewed me told me to do both, but really I don't know what to say when I call or write in the next letter. </p>
<p>Can you guys help me out please?</p>
<p>I’m on their waitlist too. I’ve emailed their band director about getting in and will send him a tape of my playing, video of my marching routine, and a letter from my band director. Guess you and I are in the same boat.
When you applied, did you send them any of your work in journalism? Articles you’d written and investigating you’d done? Letter from your school journalism teacher? How about any business-related activities you have? Do you work for a local newspaper? Do you belong to area business organizations and participate in their activities? I’m grasping for straws here…these are things that pop into my mind right away; sorry if they don’t help. </p>
<p>Good luck! 
Hope we both end up getting happy news from W&L.</p>
<p>Come to think of it, I should ask my journalism teacher for a recommendation - only problem is that I’m an editor and don’t really write articles. I’m in the business program at school and I mentioned a specific example of what I’ve done in the program.</p>
<p>I belong to certain business related clubs and have taken business classes since my freshman year… I don’t know what I could do with that. Haha</p>
<p>You really helped me - thanks! </p>
<p>I hope you get good news from W&L as well!</p>
<p>■■■. I can’t write this letter… I don’t know what to write! And I plan to call them, but what should I say? ugh ■■■.</p>
<p>I have a feeling this letter is going to be a fail, if anyone could edit it for me, that would be great :D</p>
<p>Well, even if you don’t write articles, your teacher can still write one spectacular letter about you as an editor. He could write about things like how well you edit articles, how well you motivate your writers and other staff, how organized you are with deadlines, how eager you are to sell ads, whatever…I’ve never been in journalism in my life, so sorry if some of these aren’t things a school paper does. </p>
<p>Then ask that teacher to proof your letter to W&L. He should be able to do it in about 10 minutes. Take him something to show how thankful you are for his help, like some cookies you baked (thank goodness for refrigerated dough) or something else. </p>
<p>Good luck and please let me know what news you get from W&L. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!!! :)</p>
<p>Thank you !! 
That’s very helpful!</p>
<p>Fed Ex delivered an envelope for me from Washington and Lee this morning. Inside was an acceptance letter. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, they said they could give NO financial aid this year. Even worse, they said they can give NO financial aid whatsoever for the duration of my education there…all 4 years. They cannot reevaluate our family’s circumstances at ANY time. So, if my dad or mom lost a job we’d be out of luck and I’d be out of there!</p>
<p>My mom called the finaid office to be sure, and the man explained that their resources are all used up for this year and they can’t reevaluate my circumstances next year because they’ll need next year’s money for those incoming freshmen. </p>
<p>I have until the 15th to tell W&L my decision, but with their cost around $50K a year, I simply cannot ask my parents to spend $200K for my education, even if they could.</p>
<p>That has to be SO disappointing. I’ve always felt that if there was a school that felt right for you, you should do what you can to make it work, and W&L seemed like one of the two remaining schools you had your heart set on. Unfortunately, they put you in an untenable position, and you were forced to make the financially responsible decision.</p>
<p>It’s likely that W&L is trying to make the “financially responsible” decision for the institution at this point, which while understandable, doesn’t make it hard to resent the reality that the playing field isn’t level due to $$. We of the “unwashed masses” miss out on what is then offered to those who are better off. In this case, though, it’s W&L that’s REALLY missing out - the dollars gained won’t offset the student lost. Indiana (if that turns out to be your landing spot) is a good school with a lot to offer, and your presence will make it that much better.</p>
<p>Noone likes to hear it, but part of this whole process is learning to deal with setbacks (I know, you’ve already had ENOUGH experience with that). Everyone on W&L’s waitlist is a fantastic applicant, and if you don’t attend school here, you’ll be somewhere else that just has DIFFERENT opportunities. Make the most of what you’re offered, and be thankful for what you DO have. In time, I’ll bet you find a place that’s still “right” for you.</p>
<p>Thanks, Knowitsome. At dinner tonight my parents asked me what I would do if they would pay for W&L. I thought about it and told them there is NO way I’d want them to do that for me.<br>
So, I’m going to tell W&L thanks but no thanks. It was an honor to be waitlisted, and another one to be admitted. That’s enough for this girl. </p>
<p>Thank you for your supportive comments to me through this entire fiasco. You’ve helped me keep my head on straight when it wasn’t very easy. Thank you! Say, where did your son (?) decide to go? Did he decide on Bradley or somewhere else?</p>
<p>Yes, he picked BU (er, the OTHER one) a couple of weeks ago (I posted something on the Bradley thread that YOU started!). Very pleased with his decision, and not just for the lower cost to us (we would have found a way to make his other finalist work, but then we weren’t looking at a 50K/year bill, either!). Any of his last four choices would likely have worked for him, but Bradley had more plusses and fewer minuses in my mind (his, too, apparently). That’s not to say there won’t be some buyer’s remorse down the road (almost certainly sometime during the freshman year, if not before), but we’ll deal with that when it arises. For now, we’ll stick to excitement (as much as we geeky engineer types can muster) and anticipation.</p>
<p>While W&L is no longer an option (sob), I think you’ll be very happy at IU (or Bucknell if your novenas pan out). LOTS of talented musicians and the language you’d like to learn, for starters. What are you considering for a major? I recall you mentioning engineering at some point - is that still on the table (meaning a likely transfer to Purdue or …)? How did you finally make your choice? Since it isn’t Fayetteville, I guess money wasn’t the overiding factor. The Bloomington campus will be such a big change from small-town Texas. Be sure to rent “Breaking Away” before you move on up. Who knows - perhaps you’ll end up with a double major in Japanese and Italian (it made my head hurt thinking of the possibilities - after I had a case of the giggles imagining a spaghetti Shogun western with bicycles instead of horses and an opera score).</p>
<p>I applied as environmental science major, primarily due to what might be the cause of my cancer. I got into Purdue, but they offered no financial aid, so that did it. My parents drove me to Fayetteville to see Arkansas, and it IS a pretty campus. The big drawback was that I couldn’t be in their marching band. I don’t blame the director for telling me no, it’s HIS band and he has to adhere to the rules he sets or he’d have other kids wanting to get exceptions too. I’m very thankful to my parents for even giving me the option of going somewhere other than Arkansas or Bradley, which gave me scholarships of $16K a year. At least if Bucknell doesn’t admit me, I can be in the Marching Hundred at IU. It’s not my favorite place now, but I think it can be a place I enjoy and learn.</p>
<p>Wish all the best to you swissmiss3. S had also been waitlisted by W&L and accepted it but last week they contacted him and told they had no more money left for FA this year and asked if he still wanted to stay in their waitlist. S thanked them and asked to be removed from the list. I imagine this might happen at many schools specially this year when so many are pressed to choose based on FA.</p>
<p>Wow, wow, wow. No FA at all in the next 4 years?! I was planning to apply for FA next year since I feel bad making my parents pay 200K all on me. They did for my brother, but still, if i had the chance to save money, why not?</p>
<p>But Congratulations swissmiss, that is awesome!! I hope things work out for you in the end and you find the right place for you! </p>
<p>Know - I hope your son finds his place as well ! </p>
<p>I’m unfortunately still waiting on W&L - seeing as some people heard this week, I can’t take it as good news that I didn’t hear back.
I visited W&L this weekend and absolutely fell in love with it. Of course that would happen, the school that I can imagine myself at rejects me 
</p>
<p>I’m just not too fond of that fact that 1. Its far 2. Its 80% Greek - I have a feeling I won’t fit in since I don’t think I’m going to rush =/ 3. Most freshman don’t have roommates.</p>
<p>I hope everything works out.</p>
<p>swissmiss–must be frustrating to be given the fin aid info after being admitted…I just want to say how impressed I am with your gentleness and maturity…I’m sure your parents are very proud of you. it was touching how you responded to their asking “what if they paid”. the school you land on will be lucky to have you, and your warmth of spirit will open many doors for you…good luck to you</p>
<p>On Friday, I mailed W&L the card to decline their offer of admission. I can’t ask my parents to spend that much money, even if they wanted to. Bucknell admitted me and they have no money for me freshman year, but they DO evaluate their students’ financial aid situations every year. My mom emailed them to see what is a typical financial aid package for families in situations like ours. We should hear from them early this coming week. I was not always so mature about stuff like this. Having cancer puts a lot of stuff in perspective and you learn real fast what matters and what doesn’t. That doesn’t mean I never argue, feel upset, or get mad at things, but my family is very good (too good!) at bringing me back to reality immediately when they see me start to whine or complain about trivial stuff. The pity-party doesn’t last long here! 
I get no sympathy. </p>
<p>If you watched the special Farrah’s Story on Friday night, you got a very accurate idea of what cancer treatment is like. When her doctors used the stronger, more aggressive drugs and her hair fell out, she looked like what I looked like: miserable and at death’s door. Like her, I had a very hard time with the needles, and nausea was always there. I weighed 79 pounds at my lowest because chemo leaves you not wanting to eat, unable to keep food down, and you just want to crawl in a hole and sleep. </p>
<p>Thank you for your kind comments about my maturity, etc, but it came at a great price and I don’t recommend it for anyone as a way to grow up! ;)</p>
<p>swissmiss–sad to hear that you had to go thru so much as a teenager…I cannot imagine how tough that was. you have developed a maturity and caring way that you will carry with you wherever you…</p>
<p>Hi I have been wait listed at W&L, and they told my advisor that they did not go to the wait list yet. He said he was a friend of the admissions director and they have not selected yet he said they were waiting for the ivies to drop their list. Do you think he was lying to me since you have already heard from W&L. I have updated them 4 times with several new awards and updates to my application they have responded and said they received the fax and we will add it to your file.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that they have offered admission off their waitlist. We have a friend who received a fed ex package the first or second Monday in May. This student has already sent back a deposit. You may want your counselor to call again.</p>
<p>The guy who spoke to my mom about the financial aid news told her that they accepted students whose financial situations suggested they could afford to attend without any money from W&L. </p>
<p>I don’t know what they’ll do if they go through all those waitlisted kids and don’t get enough admits. Hold out hope that they’ll work through all these kids and need more admits badly enough to offer you something in financial aid. GOOD LUCK!!!</p>