But most students should move ahead with their other plans. There is always still hope, but the chances are so slim. Even if Penn ended up taking 20 students out of the large number still on the waiting list, the chance is incredibly small for everyone. I’m surprised they haven’t released most of the waiting list, but perhaps they are just waiting to see the fall-out from the other colleges taking students off the waiting list.
When the Dean of Admissions states that they aren’t really using the waiting list, which he did, I would doubt he would be misleading. It’s torture to be on a waiting list still hoping for such a minute chance. Forget about Penn for now. If you become incredibly lucky and get accepted, you’ll celebrate and change your plans. Right now, assume you are going to the college you committed to, and embrace that school.
I want to be hopeful, but unfortunately the odds are stacked against all of us. I called Penn the other day, and they said that they’ve been picking people off the waitlist on a rolling basis. Additionally, they said that they are expecting to release everyone by the first or second week of June, and that people should be prepared to go to the school they’ve committed to.
@lke123, standard disclaimer. What I don’t understand is why they are stringing along hundreds, if not thousands, of kids along till June when they KNOW for a fact that they will utmost have a few spots open because of turn downs!!
Because they claim that they do not rank the waitlist. They have to hold the full list. Last year, they put over two thousands on the list.
Report from last year:
According to the Admissions Office, between 2,400 and 2,500 students were placed onto the waitlist this year — about two-thirds of the number of students who were accepted. Only 75 to 200 — between about 3 and 8 percent of waitlisted students — are expected to gain acceptance.
@TheReds Also they accept people off the waitlist who are comparable to the people they are losing. For example if an amazing trumpet player decides to go to another school, they are going to pick an amazing trumpet player off the waitlist so they can fill that spot. They never know who they are going to lose; so from their perspective it’s better safe than sorry. But I do understand, it’s frustrating to be given hope when their is a very minuscule chance.
You’d think that when Penn fills up >50% of its class via ED that the Admissions Office could better predict yield/NOT need to waitlist thousands for only a dozen spots…
“Dean of Admissions Eric Furda added that the waitlist is usually meant as a courtesy. For example, if Penn cannot accept any applicants from a given high school, it may waitlist some of those applicants in order to maintain a relationship with that school. This logic, Furda said, even applies to parents.”
So really a large portion of the waitlist is not even going to be considered when Penn looks for candidates to fill spots. That is kind of unnerving if you don’t know whether you’re on the waitlist because they like you or because of a formality.
I received this: “while we are unable to offer you a place in the class at this time, it is possible that a few spots will become available in the next few weeks.” Is this a rejection? Or is there still hope?
If they extended a spot to stay on the waitlist does this mean that I have pretty good/fairly decent/ANY chances of getting off? Because some of you are getting flat-out rejections?
@baz602 It means that you were at the top of the waitlist, and if they end up taking more students, you have a chance. But they could end up taking nobody off of the extended list, so don’t get your hopes up too high.
Thank you for your application to the University of Pennsylvania. The selection committee has completed its deliberations, and it is with genuine regret that I inform you that we are not able to offer you admission from the wait list.
Your choice to apply to Penn is not one we take lightly. My colleagues and I acknowledge the time and effort you have put into the college search and application process. As you move forward, take your next steps with confidence, and please know of our admiration for all you have achieved.
