The Wait list

<p>My son was wait listed from Vanderbilt today. Anyone know how many are on the list and how many come off the list? Thanks.</p>

<p>I'm on the list too</p>

<p>the letter said about 10% get in off the list</p>

<p>For a better feel about your chances, you may want to visit the Vanderbilt web site and type in Common Data Set as your search. Once you access this option, select part C which deals with admissions data and you can view over the last few years how many were offered waitlist status and how many actually came off the waitlist. For the last reporting year, slightly less than 10% came off the list, but in previous years it has been less. This may seem discouraging, but there's nothing harmful in being well armed with information!</p>

<p>On a side note, for those who are completely committed to a school, any school, I love the story in The Gatekeepers about the waitlisted applicant who plied the admissions staff with postcards until he was actually admitted at Wesleyan. If I remember correctly, he ended up working on The David Letterman Show.</p>

<p>i got waitlisted too! :(</p>

<p>My personal waitlist story and advice:</p>

<p>Getting waitlisted sucks! I was waitlisted in 2005 and it was totally devastating. I think it's easier to take, though, if you remember that the majority of the applicants are probably more than qualified and more than smart enough to attend. The Vandy people most likely had to reject or waitlist hundreds and maybe thousands of people who would've shined there, solely because of the number constraints. If you got waitlisted it doesn't mean that you weren't "good enough," necessarily. It could mean they already had 150 kids from your state after ED and EDII and had to deal with diversity stuff. Don't take it too personally, especially because all of you guys on here are incredibly smart and seemingly motivated.</p>

<p>It took me the last two years to realize and to become okay with this. I enrolled at another school with no desire to look back, but when I hated it, Vandy was the first school on my list for transfer. The best part? I'm going in the fall! </p>

<p>When you're in high school, everyone has this grand image of going to your dream school and graduating in 4 years. In reality, life gets a lot more complicated and you'll need to be flexible. I had that plan too, but my life has shown me a different direction. I may be a 21-year old sophomore next year, (ahh lol!), but you better believe that I'll be the proudest 21-year old sophomore that Vandy has ever known! </p>

<p>Finally, don't lose hope. Work your butt off showing the admissions people how much you want to attend and you might get off the waitlist. If you don't, there are thousands of schools out there that you could be blissfully happy attending instead (my sister is one of them!), and finally, if you go to another school and don't like it after REALLY giving it a chance, apply for transfer. You might just end up like me!
Mal :)</p>

<p>TransferMal,
What a thoughtful reply. Your logic is wonderful and your story is inspirational for those in your circumstance. It is obvious from how you express yourself that you made a wonderful impression on your transfer application.
Best to all of those living with the waitlist dilemma!</p>

<p>I got waitlisted :(</p>

<p>wow mal, thanks for the encouraging story. i don't know that i want to go to Vandy THAT much, but it, at least, made me feel 10x better!</p>