Hunt
November 22, 2011, 9:18am
24
<p>
S was waitlisted at 3 Ivies, (and was deferred from SCEA to RD for a 4th). However, he ultimately was admitted to none of those schools. At the time, we were aware the wait lists were longer than needed in terms of total number of students, but didn’t realize how MUCH longer. Furthermore, we figured his odds were decent because he was on 3 lists. We also thought the list worked as a replacement system. If a prospective English major, editor of the high school newspaper went elsewhere, then they’d go to the list to find someone similar. So under that scenario, we felt S had an equal chance of getting off the list as someone else. I am not sure that is actually true, as I’ve heard the lists are ranked.
My contention is that what I suggest would be better than what you describe. You couldn’t have too many illusions about the waiting list if everybody else was also on it.</p>