<p>I posted this originally and sorry I didn't check back in earlier. Yes, there are TWO waitlists at Andover. One is the regular one with no numbers on it and that has gone to six of my clients as well as probably hundreds of others. In general, prep school wait list about 2x as many as they accept. If they accept 300, they will wait list 500 or 600. That is what I have heard.</p>
<p>The priority wait list of 25 per grade is what I think is a tool to keep acceptances low. And yes, I have 3 8th graders on it. Am I to believe that of the 25 on the 9th grade priority wait list, 3 of them live within 10 miles of each other in NJ? It's just hard to believe. I think they say it is 25 and it is actually a hundred or more who got a letter saying that.</p>
<p>On other news, how about the Hotchkiss wait list? My student who is actaully accepted at Andover, called Hotchkiss to get off the wait list, and to report he is going to Andover. They invited him to visit Hotchkiss, and said he should really consider it. The mom said, "How can he consider it, he wasn't accepted?" And they said something about how if he wanted to attend Hotchkiss, he should clearly let him know and they would have a decision within 24 hours. So what do you make of that??? Keeping the acceptance rate down and not accepting kids who they think will go elsewhere.</p>
<p>Newyorker22, regarding the Hotchkiss situation (a decision being made w/in 24 hours if he says Hotchkiss is #1 choice..), is that what you think Andover was also saying to the parent who called to remove son from waitlist?
[quote]
The father got the feeling that if he had said that Andover was his first choice, he would be off the special wait list right then.
[/quote]
...off the special wait list and onto the Accepted List?</p>
<p>Regarding the 3 students who live w/in 10 miles of each other and all 3 getting the "25 students" letter, yes, it appears that the 25 is probably more like 100...</p>
<p>Hi New Yorker - I'm enjoying all of this speculation although I'm constantly confused about how to proceed next. You are one of several waitlist posters that has advised calling admissions to state that they are definitely the child's first choice, and that are getting very positive feedback. Has any of this ended up in actual acceptance letters (anybody respond here) someone one's son was admitted to Milton this way off the waiting list this week.</p>
<p>As for the "Say 'Yes" And You're Off The Waitlist," I'm not sure I get why they do this. Why don't they just offer these kids admissions and distort their yield figures when they report them? Why does a moral code suddenly kick in when it comes to reporting yield numbers? That's just very silly to conduct one's affairs in a sleazy manner on the one hand, so that they can "honestly" maintain their yield numbers on the other.</p>
<p>This isn't about objecting to wait lists. It's about screwing with people's heads. The "Say 'yes' and we'll give you an offer" scam that newyorker22, jennycraig and others are talking about isn't about a shortage of beds. If that was the case, there'd be ZERO movement off the wait list until the decisions came back from the first group in April. This is about protecting yield numbers...or artificially inflating them.</p>
<p>Dyer Maker makes a good point---why do they care so much about their acceptance rate, and aren't there easier ways to make it better? Such as encouraging more applicants in teh first place, so they can reject more?</p>
<p>Well, for the poster who asked about what to do with this type of wait list, here is my advice. If Andover is your first choice, call them and say, "If my child is admitted, he will definitely attend Andover." Or write this in a letter. If you are clear that you will attend, I think you will come off the list. They are trying to avoid people who want to get off the list but still want to keep their options open.</p>
<p>And to the person who asked if I thought that Andover was doing the same thing Hotchkiss did to a different parent, the answer is Yes. I think they want to give wait list spots to people who they know will attend.</p>
<p>It's all strange to me, as I think they should accept the kids they want, and don't worry about the gamesmanship.</p>
<p>The so-called second tier schools don't seem to be engaging in these games. Just one more reason to take that second look at schools whose admissions officers have more time to take a nice long look at the kids who apply, and don't have the yield police looking over their shoulders!</p>
<p>Andover's waitlist makes the big machine in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory come to mind! I can hear it chugging...gallopita??</p>
<p>So, Andover has the "top 25" letter and Deerfield might write in the margin that one is high up in the wait list. Is this a widespread practice? Between my son and two friends, we've seen quite a few variations of the waitlist letters. One school sent what appears to be a generic waitlist letter with a supplementary letter describing in some detail how the waitlist process works and how they most certainly take people off the waitlist before April 10 and to make sure we call between April x and xx. First, I thought the level of detail was a courtesy extended to all waitlisters but am now wondering if this is one of these "say yes and we'll say yes to you, too" letter. What do you think?</p>
<p>Oh, I should add that the above letters came three times. One as an email attachment, one set addressed to child, one set addressed to parents, all arriving on separate days as to reinforce the message? Maybe I'm becoming too much of a tea leaf-reader.</p>
<p>After reading these emails it seems like the best idea is to choose from the outright acceptances and perhaps as soon as it is clear. I heard that the waitlist generally isn't tapped until after
April "reach" school and target school were affirmative. We think that all of the schools want to increase their yield and our safety was miffed because the music evaluation had the reach school's name on it (by teacher's oversight). PS: I am still waiting for my Georgetown med school waitlist news from 30 years ago!</p>
<p>That is so interesting--if the school indicates that they will take a name of the wait list BEFORE Apr. 10, then obviously they are just fishing for commitments. I suppose they could get some idea of yield before that, but not much, since many people do wait until the last minute.</p>
<p>The whole thing is just weird. I think these admissions officers take themselves too seriously.</p>
<p>Yes, the whole thing is weird but I'm no longer surprised. I understand that schools are concerned with maintaining low acceptance rates, maximizing yield and preventing over-enrollment. I just hope kids can make decisions knowing the full range of options without prolonging anxiety. Of course, if the student prefers a school that gave outright acceptance, that's the best scenario. But we're talking about middle school students about to decide where they would spend their life for the next four years... I wish it were more straightforward for them.</p>
<p>This is what it said on my Andover waitlist letter</p>
<p>Under the heading "Commonly Asked Questions about Andover's Waiting List"</p>
<p>"How many students are placed on the waiting list?
There are approximately 25 students on the waiting list for each grade. The number constantly changes during the spring and summer as some students decide not to remain on the waiting list and late applicants are added to this list"</p>
<p>This sent the message to me that only 25 people for each grade had been waitlisted and there was no "top 25" or anything. JUST (approximately) 25 PEOPLE.</p>
<p>I had to call Andover on Friday to find out that I was waitlisted, and the admin staff wouldn't reveal any information except that I "am waitlisted" and "[they] will notify me when a spot is available". No top 25 whatsoever.</p>
<p>Any strategies to improve chances on waitlist?</p>
<p>If you're on a wait list and have decided that you just want to get on with life and focus on your other options, it may make some sense to put a bustle in the hedgerows and remove yourself from the wait list by calling your contact person in the admission office. No e-mail. No reply card. There's a chance that, by removing yourself from the wait list, you'll get an offer of admission that way. Or get an offer to an offer admission if you first tell them that that school would become your #1 for sure choice in the event you receive an offer of admission. Then you'll have a choice to make between schools, instead of a choice between a certain school and a wait list school.</p>
<p>I think your chances of converting a wait list to an offer, especially at the yield-obsessed "top tier" schools, increases by withdrawing your wait list position through a personal contact. If they're cool with your withdrawal, the odds are pretty good you weren't going to receive an offer. But if they start asking questions, and you play your cards right, you might parlay that wait list position into an offer...by attempting to leave the wait list. Then you'd have something to think about.</p>
<p>This strategy isn't for the faint of heart; and is probably best left to a parent who may be more adept at improvising steps in the dance that will ensue if the school is interested. Before taking this route, you had best be prepared to say "farewell" to that school if they don't react to your coy "overture" of withdrawing. So if you're in a position that boils down to "what the hey...let's see what happens," don't use e-mail or a reply card to bow out, then you might consider telling them in person (including by phone to an admission officer, not a receptionist), indicating some regret that it didn't work out...and seeing what happens.</p>
<p>I am new to posting - a parent of an 8th grader. In response to the poster asking to post if you have a wait list letter, and b) a wait list letter with Top 25 attachment:
My daughter applied to Andover (she only applied to 2 boarding schools - Andover, and as a back up - Exeter). She did not get into Exeter, but did get waitlisted at Andover. The letter she received was one of those Top 25 letters. It also referenced the fact that she was of the "Andover/Abbott family". Her aunts attended Andover. She is elated that she even made it into the Top 25. If, in fact it really means anything. I also didn't know there were 2 letters floating around out there - Top 25 and other - We will be calling Andover today to let them know she most definitely wants to remain on the list. Her letter states that students may get taken off the list as early as May and as late as August. I am wondering how good her chances really are....she has a good attitude - if she doesn't make it this year, she will try again next year.</p>
<p>I was waitlisted at Andover.
I am applying for 9th grade.
I got the "25 people" waitlist, but am rejecting the offer to attend my first choice, which I got accepted to.</p>
<p>I don't have an applicant this year, but I am confused. Are there actually 2 different types of letters, one (or more) version that says "you are one of the top 25" of all the people on the WL and one (or more) that does not? Or did some people just get an attached info letter about the WL, saying they WL about 25 per grade, while others did not? Has the OP or anyone else actually SEEN both versions of the letter - not an attachment.</p>
<p>In either case, saying they put about 25 per grade on the WL is completely false. Even if you are on a "short" WL, it is still a WL and not a yes. I think those with the best chance early on are those who are admitted to and will otherwise go to a peer school. If Andover knows you are choosing between SPS and Deerfield, they can pretty much assume the time to get you, if they decide they want you, is before 4/10.</p>