Wait Listed

Parents Forum
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<p>Today I received a letter from Muhlenberg College letting me know I got wait listed. I am not going to lie, I was completely shocked. I honestly thought I would be accepted. Looking at statistics, I am around the 75% percentile of SAT Scores (1960) and I am ranked Top 5% of my class. I am also involved in many sports and activities. I am assuming maybe my essay wasn't strong enough.</p>

<p>I was especially shocked because I was admitted into The College of New Jersey, which has somewhat higher SAT standards and a similar acceptance rate. </p>

<p>Muhlenberg</a> College- SAT Scores</p>

<p>The</a> College of New Jersey- SAT Scores</p>

<p>Good luck to the rest of the applicants!</p>

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<p>They may have assumed you really didn’t want to attend.</p>

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<p>During the open-house presentations at several “Tier 1.5” LACs that we attended, several admissions officers noted that “less-stellar but eager-to-attend students may be accepted before more-stellar students using school as a safety”. Did you “show them the love” which seems so important to “Tier 1.5/Tier 2” LACs? I’d call and plead your case now, if you really want to attend, saying you’ll deposit immediately if accepted. Or do you need a lot of financial aid too?</p>

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<p>Though the SAT scores might be higher at NJ, schools usually categorize the scores and so they could be the same for all intents and purposes. When you have schools that are so similar, it is often a coin toss as to whether you are WLed or you get accepted. M used to be need blind in acceptance, but that could have changed as it is a school where fin aid and admissions is in the same office. That could also have made a bit of a difference.</p>

<p>But really, when you are in a category where there are so many students and a decision has to be made, this happens quite often. Not such a surprise as I have seen with some schools where a student highly competitive is not accepted and gets into much more selective schools. Some real head scratching and wondering what went wrong there. In your case, it’s not so astonishing.</p>

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<p>cpt, I’ve been pondering this lately. I think schools like this must look at their statistics and see that their yield is very low (close to zero?) for students who are obviously way overqualified (not this OP, who is in the range). I’ve been wondering if schools are paying more attention to yield, and simply not admitting from the zero yield zone.</p>

<p>I’ve got a senior this year (my 3rd) and I’m paying particular attention to this. It seems like match kids who show the love are getting in, and the superstar stats kids are being denied because they’re just gonna contribute to a lower yield.</p>

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<p>Even though the stats are similar, College of NJ is a public university and Muhlenberg is a private university. Muhlenberg is generally considered a more competitive school for admissions. If I’m not mistaken, TCNJ admits a higher percentage of applicants and also has a larger freshman class.</p>

<p>I think you are comparing apples to oranges.</p>

<p>That being said, TCNJ is a great school. Congratulations on that admission.</p>

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<p>I agree, Thumper. </p>

<p>Riverrunner, I don’t know. One can speculate, but who really knows. I do know that the college counselors at my kids’ independent school that has a lot of kids going to selective colleges do make it clear about certain colleges that you gotta show the love. I think M would fit in that category.</p>

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<p>Are you shocked, or disappointed? Is it your first choice? Would you have attended?</p>

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<p>Also, if you are instate for TCNJ that would be a variable in your favor.</p>

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<p>Unfortunately class rank and scores are ranked lower than rigor, GPA and Character, and as was implied earlier, applicant’s interest IS considered. [Muhlenberg</a> College: Institutional Research and Assessment - Common Data Set](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/ir/common_data/]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/ir/common_data/)</p>

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<p>Wondering if the OP interviewed on campus if he/she lived closeby…almost a requirement (even if it isn’t stated as such…)</p>

<p>I like mini’s post…gonna keep that one in my stash…!</p>

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<p>Given that you are on the waiting list, you might be able to ask your GC to inquire, but if you have better choices I’d just chalk it up to the likely suspects. Somehow you gave them the impression you weren’t really a good fit.</p>

<p>We had a case in our high school where GW’s admissions office told the GC they thought she wasn’t interested because she hadn’t visited. We’re a six hour drive away, I thought it was pretty outrageous of GW to assume that students should be able to afford the cost and the time of official visits. In fact I think she had visited, but not officially. She did get in off the waiting list after the GC assured the college that she was very interested in attending.</p>

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<p>Running10, if you are really serious about Muhlenberg, call them. Ask about the waiting list -how long is it, is it ranked, would they consider new information about your application, etc. Do it yourself, unless your GC has a relationship with the counselor that reads for your geographical area. Also ask if they normally go to the waiting list and if there is FA for late admits (if you need it).</p>

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<p>At my DDs First Choice small college, we made the investment of buying her a sweatshirt with the college name to wear to the interview. I considered it money well spent.</p>