Waitlist...Now what?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Columbia was my 2nd choice (Yale first, rejected) and I was put on its wait list. I'm not sure what to do now. Obviously I have to look into the schools I did get into (NYU Stern, Northwestern, Notre Dame) and decide which I will decide to attend come May 1st but at the same time, I want to do whatever it takes to get off the wl for CU. </p>

<p>I realize there is a small chance of me getting off the waitlist but that's why I'm posting and asking here. I want to, via min/maxing, to maximize my chances of getting off the wait list. </p>

<p>For what its worth, my stats are:</p>

<p>[ b]Objective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SATI: 2340 (790 math, 800 writing, 750 reading)
[ *] ACT: nah!
[ *] SAT II: SAT II: 790 math, 780 chem, 730 bio, 780 physics
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~97-98
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 28/~630
[ *] AP: 5's in calc ab, world history, physics B, 4 in english, 3 in us history (did not submit)
[ *] IB: nah tho!
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP bio, AP calc bc, AP spanish, AP music theory, AP us gov/ec, AP english lit
[ *] Major Awards : national merit commendation, ap scholar w/distinction, national composer's award (9th grade though)</p>

<p>[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars: varsity tennis, chamber orchestra, composition (piano), science Olympiad team captain, business honor society, FBLA, music honor society, NHS
[ *] Job/Work Experience: dry cleaners 8hrs on sat
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: Education/Business Alliance Committee- organize community service projects, soup kitchen ~4 hours sundays, usher for school concerts, scattered community events throughout the year
[ *] Summer Activities: INTEL research at local university, teach piano lessons
[ *] Essays: pretty decent I'd say. I think I may have mentioned NYC, specifically its diversity, in the why columbia short response
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: idk didn't read
[ *] Counselor Rec: idk didn't read
[ *] Additional Rec: none
[ *] Interview: none
[ /list][ b]Other[ /b][ list]
[ *] State: NY
[ *] School Type: public
[ *] Ethnicity: asian, uh oh do i lose brownie points here?
[ *] Gender: M
[ *] Income Bracket: 100k-120k
[ *] Hooks: nothing really.</p>

<p>[ /list][ b]Reflection[ /b][ list]
[ *] Strengths: I would like to think my numbers are pretty good.
[ *] Weaknesses: not doing good in sci o (but it was leadership!), kind of spread out EC's (music, science, business)
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: waitlisted because tbh idk. ec's not solid enough? wasted an essay talking about diversity in nyc?
[ /list][ b]General Comments:[ /b] Great?</p>

<p>So at this point, I don't know what to do. It's too late in the school year to win awards in sci-o, fbla, etc, i actually didn't make varisty tennis this year, no room for orchestra in my schedule, although i am composing on the side, and INTEL is over.</p>

<p>What exactly do I write in my supplement statement? I remember reading something telling me to keep it light and conversational? But what exactly do I converse about? Should I be pestering the admissions office with questions and whatnot to show that I am still interested?</p>

<p>any input appreciated thanks. would also like some readers for my supplement essay if and when that is completed.</p>

<p>**edit: wait listed from engineering school</p>

2

<p>what did the waitlist letter look like?</p>

3

<p>I don’t know? The standard one you get from the online decisions site?</p>

4

<p>Dear iMac15,</p>

<p>We write to inform you that after careful review of your application to Columbia, the Admissions Committee has voted to postpone a final decision on your candidacy. Your name has been placed on a waitlist of students to be considered for admission should vacancies occur in the Class of 2013 later this spring. </p>

<p>With over 25,000 candidates for the Class of 2013, this has been the most rigorous selection process in Columbia’s history, and the distinctions among candidates can be fine ones indeed. In offering you a place on our waitlist, however, the Committee reaffirms that you could be a valuable contributor to academic and extracurricular life on campus.</p>

<p>We hope the information below alleviates a bit of the uncertainty that a place on the waitlist brings by addressing some of your questions and concerns:
Please respond to this waitlist offer by clicking here as soon as possible and no later than May 1, 2009. You will need your Columbia ID.
If you do decide to remain on our waitlist, we strongly recommend that you reserve a place at another school by the common reply date of May 1, 2009.
If places in the class do become available, we typically notify candidates no earlier than May 15th and no later than July 1st.
We do not rank order our waitlist. If spaces become available, we will review the entire group.
We do provide financial aid for students who qualify for need-based aid, and housing is guaranteed for those offered admission from the waitlist.
We encourage students to submit a very brief (one-page maximum) supplementary statement of your own. We do not conduct interviews for students on the waitlist, and we advise against the submission of any additional recommendations.
We would like to extend our best wishes and our sincere appreciation for your interest in Columbia. </p>

<p>P.S. If you would like to print a copy of your decision letter, please click “print” at the top or bottom of the page. If you would like to receive a copy in the mail, please e-mail your request to <a href=“mailto:ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu”>ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu</a> with your full name and Columbia ID.</p>

5

<p>Are you all choosing to remain on the list?</p>

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<p>THis is from the Washington Post:
[April</a> the cruelest month for college hopefuls | Lifebeat | projo.com | The Providence Journal](<a href=“The Providence Journal: Local News, Politics & Sports in Providence, RI”>The Providence Journal: Local News, Politics & Sports in Providence, RI)
How to get off the wait list: The best method, gleaned from conversations with many college admissions officers, is pretty simple, and seems to work. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you, the student, have to do all of this yourself. If your parents or counselors make these calls or send these e-mails, you are going to be labeled a wimp and left on the wait list forever.</p>

<p>First, call the admissions office to get the e-mail address of, and maybe speak to, the officer who handled applications from your high school. Tell that person who you are and what high school you attend so she can pull up your file. Say you were very happy to get the wait-list letter because it means you still have a chance to go to this college. Tell the officer that her school remains your first choice, by far, and that you do not mind losing the deposit you will put down May 1 on your second-choice school if she eventually has good news for you. Tell her you will be sending her a letter soon making your case.</p>

<p>Then write that letter, and send by both e-mail and snail mail. In the letter, reiterate what you said about this being your first choice, and about being happy to lose your second-choice deposit. Tell her three of your talents or interests that you think would add value to her campus, like experience in tutoring disadvantaged students or a gift for organizing debates. Tell her three aspects of her campus that would add value to your life, such as the entrepreneurs club or the study abroad program. Then send it off and pray.</p>

<p>Best of luck to yoU!</p>

7

<p>I read that article too. Is it really a good idea to try to speak to your admissions officer? Don’t some schools discourage contacting your admissions officer directly?</p>

8

<p>So first I want to say it’s really kind of sad that you got waitlisted at Columbia and rejected at Yale. What kind of superhumans do they want?! You have excellent scores, awesome grades, a darn good courseload, great extracurriculars…I don’t understand it. If I had to guess I’d say that you’re probably right about the ECs not being “solid” enough, but geez, that says more about Columbia and Yale than it does about you.</p>

<p>For what it’s worth, I really hope you get off the waitlist.</p>

<p>The best tactic to go by with the supplemental essay is to reiterate your interest in Columbia, yes, and say that it is your first choice school and if you are pulled off the wait-list, you will definitely go. In the second half to last third of this essay, outline any achievements during the second half of your senior year that may enhance your chances for admission. Remember, if you say just that generic stuff in the article your essay will look like everyone else’s – you have to make it shine! Talk about how you would fit in at Columbia – highlight organizations you’d join, activities in which you’d participate, orgs or rallies that you would try to start, how being in New York would assist you in your present in future, talk about wanting to study abroad, whatever it is that appeals to you about Columbia and makes it a perfect fit. Be enthusiastic!</p>

<p>As far as contacting an admissions officer, it depends on the school. Be rational. At a small liberal arts college where personal interaction is valued, contacting your admissions officer for a chat could be what tips you over the edge. However, I have no doubt that Columbia waitlisted hundreds of students, and I could imagine that at this very busy time they don’t want hundreds of students flooding their voicemails and inboxes. A polite letter (the supplementary essay) will be enough to express your sincerity.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the input! especially juillet and the washington post guy.<br>
Would anyone like to read my letter and check it over for me when I’m done? </p>

<p>Also, a few small questions regarding logistics, where do I send the letter, I want to send two, one via snail mail and one electronically? Who should I address it to?</p>