<p>My S is on the Mac waiting list. Mac was a reach school. He has five other acceptances and is "leaving the Mac waiting list to fate". He does plan to have a Mac grad who teaches at his high school write a letter to the regional adcom on his behalf.</p>
<p>While I am urging S to take a more active role (because I think Mac is great) he is moving on because he thinks it is a huge longshot. Do kids get into Mac off of the waitlist? Do the kids who get in off of the waitlist really have to wage a campaign to bring their candidacy to the top. Is leaving the waitlist to fate a way of leaving Mac behind? Am I not listening to my S carefully enough?</p>
<p>I believe Macalester, like all colleges, uses the waitlist to different degrees every year. This year they're aiming to have 477 first year students, and if they have fewer reserve a spot then people will be taken off the waitlist to fill the shortage. The past couple of years the classes have been a bit larger than expected (which would lead me to believe that they haven't used the waitlist, but I don't know that), but they're generally pretty close to target. Basically, it could go either way.
I think showing an active interest in the school whose waitlist your staying on is always a good idea. That said, Macalester does not (unlike other schools) play the 'show interest' game. The admissions office is very aware that some students have expensive advisors to give them instructions on how to appear interested in the college and other students don't, so they tend not to use a person's demonstrated interest in Mac as a factor in admissions. I don't know if this is also true for the waitlist, but the same spirit may carry over.
I know from experience that it can be heartbreaking, as a high school senior, to reach one more time for a school that's rejected you. So I wouldn't pressure your son too strongly. If he's happy and getting excited about another school, then leaving the waitlist open as a non-stressful possibility may be the best choice.</p>
<p>Thanks. This was helpful. My S is excited and hopeful about several other schools. I realize that I'm the one who is probably still most interested in Macalester!</p>
<p>I'd stay on the waitlist, just in case. It can't possibly hurt, but as macstudent said, demonstrated interest usually isn't used in terms of Mac admissions, and I'd assume same holds for waitlist. Good luck with the decision!</p>
<p>According to common data set for fall 2005:
216 students were offered a place on the waiting list
139 accepted a spot on the waiting list
18 were admitted from the waiting list</p>