To the Waitlisted

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey guys, this would be my first post, but I've been reading for longer. Just to let you know, there is hope. </p>

<p>I got waitlisted to Columbia RD last month. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed to see the smallish, cookie cutter letter, but hey, at least I made it on the waitlist. Nothing to scoff at, and I had decent alternatives (NYU and Northwestern), but also a little bit of a downer. Columbia was definitely one of my top, if not the top, choices. My brother goes there now, and he loves it just as much.</p>

<p>So, not one to give up, a few weeks in my parents told me to go write a letter, while I was advised by my brother to deluge the admissions office with massive calls about my application and how I could improve it. I decided to call first, and pretty much was told to just update my application with new things I've done, and a one-page letter. Two weeks after being waitlisted, I was back at work. I wrote up a letter essentially pleading Columbia to reconsider, and some reasons (7 total) of why I was a excellent candidate for Columbia. Once all that was done, I got it edited, cleared, and sent it out with a prayer.</p>

<p>About a month or so later (today), as I was walking up my steps, a package was waiting for me.</p>

<p>It was a FedEx package, rather large, and I thought it wasn't for me at first, until I saw my name staring at me in bold print. I looked at the address, and lo and behold...</p>

<p>"Columbia University
Undergraduate Admissions
212 Hamilton Hall
New York, NY 10027"</p>

<p>Needless to say, I freaked out a little. I was banging on the door for my brother to let me in, and as I was dashing in I began tearing at the envelope like a madman. Two folders and a letter, pretty much saying:</p>

<p>"Congrats, you got in."</p>

<p>To all you fellow prospective Columbianers (..?), don't give up hope. Make the effort, show that you want in, and you never know what could happen.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>A very happy future Columbia 2010'er =)</p>

2

<p>Many congratulations, Talone! </p>

<p>I have a similar story: Back in September, Penn was my first choice so I applied early decision. I got deferred in December and sent in additional letters of recommendation, an updated transcript with my mid-year grades, and another personal statement. I also called and spoke with the admissions officer who reviewed my application, basically asking "what can I do to fix whatever it was you guys didn't like?" </p>

<p>I did get in RD, but then comes the twist of fate: I decided Columbia was a much better fit for me (they also sent a nicer financial package), and if I had gotten in to Penn ED I would have been obliged to go there. </p>

<p>So lesson one: Hard work and persistent pleading does pay off (especially if you show the school you really, really want to go), and two, things have a nasty habit of working out. </p>

<p>To Columbia 2010 :)</p>

3

<p>beautiful - if only i hadn't been rejected... lol</p>

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<p>congrats talone! see you at columbia!</p>

<p>does anyone know how many columbia accepted off the waitlist?</p>

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<p>Congrats Talone!!! As a fellow wait lister, I am really happy for you! And now at least I know that Columbia (College, right?) is taking people off the wait list. Question: Where in the U.S. do you live?</p>

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<p>that is really great. they said in the waitlist letter though that they didn't anticipate taking anyone off the waitlist until May 15th. This is very interesting.</p>

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<p>And it's May 18th now.</p>

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<p>aesthete: Haha that's great!! As to your hard work (and things working out) comment, truer words have never been spoken. To Columbia 2010!</p>

<p>chopsticks: Thanks for the congrats! To answer your question, I live in New Jersey (in the dirty south). </p>

<p>bennylee: Haha to next yearrrrr!</p>

<p>verybored - Hey don't give up on it. You still transfer for next year, or you may find yourself happier with where you're going, you never know! It ain't over till its over, and it certainly isnt just yet.</p>

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<p>Congrats! wow.. i really envy you as a waitlistee....
Question: Were you Fu waitlistee or Columbia College?</p>

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<p>Hey i would like to say congratulation to everybody that got into Columbia, but like verybored put it " if only I hadn't been rejected." Tears still roll down my face everytime I visit the COlumbia Treads, so I decided to give a final fairwell to everybody so that I can try to put an end to that chapter in my life. I was you all gl next year.</p>

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<p>I have a question for all the people who got waitlisted. Did Columbia notify you that you had secured a place on the wait list? Back in early April when I was notified that I was waitlisted, I simply replied to the e-mail they sent me, claiming that I wanted to be kept on the waitlist. I also sent in the response letter and checked the box: "keep me on the waitlist." However, Columbia never again contacted me to confirm that I was on the waitlist. Did any of you receive some sort of confirmation or is it just an anxious wait to hear back from them on their final decision? Thanks!</p>

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<p>omg.. you're the only one i heard who heard ANYTHING from columbia so far... sigh. i just got a letter saying i was off the waitlist for harvard... columbia, please accept me... T_T</p>

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<p>My daughter is waitlisted and her school counselor said (at an elite h.s. in Calif.) that Columbia is NOT going to its waitlist this year. Is this possible? Is Talone an exception? Do you know others who got in off the waitlist?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
My daughter is waitlisted and her school counselor said (at an elite h.s. in Calif.) that Columbia is NOT going to its waitlist this year. Is this possible?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The GC is probably talking out of his/her you know what. In some years, they do. In some years, they don't. Even if they don't take anyone in May, they'll keep a smaller summer wait-list in case spots open up later on.</p>

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<p>I live in Maryland and haven't gotten anything either. I did get my Harvard waitlist rejection letter yesterday though.</p>

<p>NYPDetective: Nope, no confirmation received.
Talone: Congratulations :)</p>

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<p>Hey people I'm new here. I did recently get off the waitlist after pretty much doing nothing. I applied, got waitlisted, got a free ride in another school and pretty much forgot about the whole thing -- only to come home and find out that I got accepted at Columbia's SEAS program...The regional admissions officer told my counselor that they only took 5 off the waitlist this year (this could just be for SEAS) but that made me feel pretty damn good!</p>

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<p>gosh... seeing as how i havent received any word from columbia... i guess i was rejected T-T</p>

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<p>there is always hope! Some one from the waitlist could always say no...I myself am not so sure at this moment cause it is expensive and I am getting a free ride in another school...</p>

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<p>what was the date on you acceptance letter?, btw, congrats!</p>

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<p>Thank you! May 18 around 5:30 ish</p>