<p>If the candidate can show up in the spring, interview because the schools have “open slots”, and get admitted, then how could the school have a wait list?</p>
<p>He could be a really strong candidate, have good grades, good essays, good ssat and toefl scores… duh. </p>
<p>Schoolpride 
… whatever.</p>
<p>Nmh had a pretty long wait list in April -they had tons more qualified applicants apply for FA than they had FA $$$ available for example, and most of those kids were wait listed along with FP canidates. But NMH also makes a concerted effort to accept a high percentage of international students. This applicant’s parents may have been diplomats, missionairies or who knows what - or he/she may be that elusive highly sought after tuba player from Iceland- the fact that they were able to “cut the line” does not signify much about the school’s overall selectivity. Although stories like this can be disheartening to kids still waiting,once you are wait-listed, schools make no promises and wait list candidates are not ranked ie the schools can take a late applicant over a wait listed candidate if they feel it is in the school’s best interests.</p>