<p>What are the conditions of the waitlist? Like is it binding? I'm worried about this because of financial aid and the matriculation fee.
It says to go ahead and accept another school. But let's say I do get off the waitlist. Am I allowed to rescind my decision from the other school? Isn't it a legal contract?
And finally, what should I do now? Should I send in another essay? What do I do when I visit?
Sorry for having so many questions. I'm just freaking out here. >.<</p>
<p>i am a fellow waitlister. i just went to visit northwestern on Wednesday, and met with one of the admissions officers. i would highly suggest doing this if it is possible for you to do so, because it shows them that you are really interested, care about northwestern, etc. the admissions officer even told me that they would make a note in my file that i came to talk with her, seemed like i really wanted to go there, etc. the advice that she gave me was to write a really nice letter to the dean (i’m assuming she meant dean of admissions, not the dean of the whole university, at the time i didn’t think to ask) and just let the dean know how much you want to go to northwestern, and update them with any new extra curriculars or academic things that weren’t included in your original application. she also said to go ahead and accept an offer from another university. in the event that you do get accepted off the waitlist and do decide to go to northwestern, you will probably loose your deposit at the other university. in the event that you do go to visit, just go to the office of undergrad admissions, tell the receptionist that you are a waitlisted student who would like to speak with an admissions rep.
sorry for the long post. hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thank you so much!
But I have another question. Should I make an appointment ahead of time? Or is it okay to just go in there and ask?
By the way, good luck! :)</p>
<p>you don’t need an appointment. when i called to ask, the woman said that they deal with this kind of thing on a walk-in basis only. so all you have to do is go to the office of undergrad admissions and tell the receptionist that you would like to speak with a admissions rep. when i went there was only one person in there ( i would try to go early morning, but look at the tour schedule online, because if you arrive just before a tour is starting it will be really busy with everyone checking in with the receptionist). i didn’t have to wait very long, he went right back and asked the assistant director of admissions to speak with me.
i hope you can make the trip to evanston, because i think going to speak with them in person really helps.</p>
<p>I went in during the past week (without an appointment–like emsies said, you just tell the man behind the front desk your situation) since I live right around the neighborhood. Not sure if it’ll have a huge impact, but I sure as heck hope so… Let’s keep in touch to see if any of us hears back! :)</p>
<p>Silk, DD was a waitlister two years ago, and sent in a pretty detailed letter as to why she wanted to stay on the list, and was subsequently accepted. No, you do not have a legal (or ethical) contract to go to the school you sent your deposit to if you are accepted at NU and decide to switch. You do have to notify that school as soon as you accept NU, and you will forfeit your deposit. I don’t know in general, but the NU waitlist at that time was not binding; I’ve known of students who asked to be kept on several waitlists, which I was told was allowed.</p>
<p>Dad of 3- i just sent in a letter today. when i visited, that is what the assistant director of admissions told me to do. hopefully it works!</p>
<p>yshin0 and silkflames- good luck to you both. hopefully students like us who show they are eager and have initiative get off the waitlist! :)</p>
<p>Eek, I handed in my official waitlist response AND my brief letter when I went to visit… Let’s hope they relayed the message to the necessary officer(s)! And nothing will make me happier than to see all three of us next year in the Evanston campus!! :D</p>
<p>Dad of 3, thanks for the hopeful thought and congrats to your daughter! My brother got off the UChicago waitlist last year and is happily attending that school… So a happy ending isn’t out of the question.</p>
<p>On a separate note, where are you guys putting in your deposit for the time being? Anyone else at USC?</p>
<p>to emsies:</p>
<p>how far away from Northwestern do you live? i’m just wondering.</p>
<p>Also, i emailed the admissions office and they just told to me fax a letter in, do i have to write a letter to the dean of admissions too?</p>
<p>sylfar- i only live about an hour away from Northwestern, so it is pretty easy for me to visit. </p>
<p>as for the letter, the letter that i wrote was basically just why i really want to go to northwestern and i included new extracurriculars, awards, etc. that i didn’t include in my original app. i addressed this letter to the dean, because when i visited that is what the assistant director of admissions told me to do. but i mailed this letter, i didn’t fax it. i just got an email from the assistant to the dean a couple of days ago, thanking me for my letter, telling me they would put it in my file.
if you’re faxing the letter in i would just make sure you put “Dear Dean Christopher Watson” at the top.</p>
<p>emsies:
i emailed my letter to the general admissions office, did they say that it should actually be posted?</p>
<p>devinam- i am not sure what you mean by “posted”, but for reference here is the email i received after i sent them a letter: </p>
<p>“Thank you for your application update and continued interest in attending Northwestern University . We will add this information to your file for consideration in the event we are able to extend admission to students on the waitlist in the coming weeks.
We understand that this process is a long one, and we appreciate your willingness to wait a little longer for a final decision on your application to Northwestern.”</p>
<p>yshin0 –</p>
<p>My S got in at both USC and NU. He’s 95% of the way decided for NU because he was admitted to their honors Integrated Science Program.</p>
<p>I was reading your posts and I got waitlisted to NU this year. I also sent in a letter but I was wondering how long it took for you to get a reply from NU that they had received your information because I sent my stuff about a week ago and I haven’t received any emails. Also do you guys know what percent of their waitlist they usually accept? I know the paper said they usually take 0-200 students, but anyone know how many students are generally on the waitlist?</p>
<p>don’t worry tanban, it took them a couple of weeks to respond to my letter.
as to how many are accepted off the waitlist, it varies year to year.</p>
<p>2008-2009: Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list 3135
Number accepting a place on the waiting list 1307
Number of wait-listed students admitted 155</p>
<p>2007-2008: Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list 2734
Number accepting a place on the waiting list 1274
Number of wait-listed students admitted 471</p>
<p>2006-2007: Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list 1572
Number accepting a place on the waiting list 915
Number of wait-listed students admitted 220</p>
<p>2005-2006: Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list 1272
Number accepting a place on the waiting list 735
Number of wait-listed students admitted 12</p>
<p>(found on [Common</a> Data Set - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/commondata/]Common”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/commondata/))</p>
<p>As you can see, some years were much better than others to be on the waitlist (look at 07-08 versus 05-06). so who knows if this will be a good year or not.</p>
<p>Thanks emsies. And thank you for the stats as well. I hope you get in.</p>
<p>thanks tanban! best of luck to you as well. :)</p>
<p>have you heard anything about when the school will call you if you get off of waitlist?
I’ve heard it’s about now! ahaha, like from May 5-10th ish</p>