Waitlist facts

<p>Today I received a wait list offer from Pomona. While I'm little disappointed, I must say I'm quite satisfied after seeing how many other excellent applicants were less fortunate. The letter did say that over the past couple years about 10-20 people have gotten off the wait list each year. This information, however, really isn't helpful without knowing the size of the wait list each year.</p>

<p>Does anyone happen to know how many people they have tended put on the wait list and how many have accepted the place over the past few years? I've found one source that says it was about 280 last year, does this seem accurate? Fortunately I already have acceptances to a couple places I'd be happy attending, but it'd be nice to know what the chances are. </p>

<p>Also, I plan to send in a letter detailing my most recent semester and expressing my continued interest in Pomona. Is there anything else I should do that might help me get that acceptance? Thanks to anyone who can help out!</p>

<p>According to Pomona’s Common Data Set for 2012-2013, 634 were offered a spot on the waiting list, 283 accepted, and 11 got in.</p>

<p>Just to let you know, too, that some waitlist students may not hear if they’ve cleared the list until the summer. Good luck!</p>

<p>If I were you I would not stay on the wait list. The number of students Pomona has taken from the wait list in past few years has been very, very low. If you have other schools that you’d be happy attending, I would focus on those rather than something that probably won’t happen. Hope this helps!</p>

<p>following up on help4school’s post, here is the rest of the waitlist history available in section C2 of all their posted CDS’s, not much though…
[Office</a> of Institutional Research - Pomona College](<a href=“http://www.pomona.edu/administration/institutional-research/]Office”>Office of Institutional Research | Pomona College in Claremont, California - Pomona College)</p>

<p>Year (Fall freshman) / Offered / On list / Admitted
2012 / 634 / 283 / 11
2011 / 899 / 369 / 31
2010 / NA/NA/NA (CDS fields blank)
2009 / NA/NA/NA
2008 / NA/NA/NA
2007 / NA/NA / 22
2006 / NA/NA/NA</p>

<p>In 2010, no one came off the waitlist since too many students accepted and the class is too large by about 10 students.</p>

<p>Here’s a circa 2008 WSJ article saying Pomona took 16 off the waitlist in 2008, and 17 in 2007, in slight variance with the 2007 CDS info
[Elite</a> Colleges Reach Deeper Into Wait Lists - WSJ.com](<a href=“Elite Colleges Reach Deeper Into Wait Lists - WSJ”>Elite Colleges Reach Deeper Into Wait Lists - WSJ)</p>

<p>So, the ‘normal’ run rate looks like 15-20, UNLESS the are oversubscribed like NJ Mom of 2 mentioned for 2010. Impossible to tell now whether Pomona yield will be greater or less than what they predicted.</p>

<p>This is Pomona-specific advice for those that opted to stay on the waitlist given before the new dean took over, but it seems sound to me…

[More</a> Students Put on College Waitlists, Stay in Limbo a Year or More - The Daily Beast](<a href=“More Students Put on College Waitlists, Stay in Limbo a Year or More”>More Students Put on College Waitlists, Stay in Limbo a Year or More)</p>

<p>

[College</a> Waitlists: How to Get in When You?re Waitlisted - The Daily Beast](<a href=“College Waitlists: How to Get in When You’re Waitlisted”>College Waitlists: How to Get in When You’re Waitlisted)</p>

<p>Since my son was accepted off the waitlist in 2008 thought I would chime in. If I remember correctly the only thing he did post getting the waitlist notification was to write the person who interviewed him at Pomona with an update of stuff since the application was originally submitted. It is the reason if someone asks I always say interview on campus if possible. While the admission of many is not interview dependent it can be of assistance in some cases. Don’t believe it can hurt when somebody in on the decision actually has met the prospective student.</p>

<p>I’ll offer one optimistic theory, no foundation whatsoever.</p>

<p>Pomona applications are down this year overall to ~7100 vs 7457 last year. Assuming their low accept rate is a prized thing (13% last year) and Pomona desires not to let it creep upward (especially in the face of many competitor’s rates going down), they could have altered 2 things once they realized their total applications count to keep their admit rate low. One variable is ED2…they could have taken more than planned for ED2, and second, they could plan to take more off the waitlist.</p>

<p>Pomona’s % coming in ED has been pretty steady I think, and although low relative to many others, I’d bet they wouldn’t want to disturb that ratio too much…leaving variable #2, which could benefit those waitlisted because they would take more than normal from that waitlist (thereby minimizing acceptances and keeping their admit rate low.)</p>

<p>Just a theory, but the conditions seem pretty good to me for higher than normal use of the waitlist. Of course, yield on their existing offers will control their waitlist need, and I would bet that factor is difficult to predict these days.</p>

<p>Does anyone know if Pomona sends confirmation of the receipt of the little postcard accepting your spot on the waitlist? I haven’t heard back since I mailed mine.</p>

<p>JUST GOT OFF THE WAITLIST! I got a call on Friday that I missed, but they called back today to let me know. I’m absolutely ecstatic! Hope some of you were just as lucky.</p>

<p>Wait really? Are you gonna go? What did they say? Please share any info you can!</p>

<p>kiandeco, Basically, the guy asked if I was still interested in attending Pomona and when I confirmed he offered me a spot. I’m getting an email with more information tomorrow and a package in the mail, probably by Wednesday. We’ll see how finances work out, but it will be hard to turn down.</p>

<p>Congrats! I hope I get the same call.</p>

<p>Has anyone else received a call?</p>

<p>Received an email yesterday asking me to call admissions, just called them today and they also offered me a spot off the waitlist! I’m blown away!! I didn’t think I had the stats to even get ON the waitlist. Good luck to all of those still waiting!!</p>

<p>@503dannyk congrats! Are you going to attend? I still haven’t heard anything from Pomona. I’m starting to get very nervous.</p>

<p>Thank you!!! I’m seriously considering it. Honestly though, it all depends on how much financial aid I receive. I’m sure you’ll here something soon. Pomona is very good at letting people know early.</p>

<p>Thanks! I sure hope so. Pomona’s financial aid from what I hear is pretty generous when compared to other private schools. Btw check your inbox I just sent you a message</p>