I’ve been waitlisted from a few schools, and many have asked for an update. What should this consist of? They specifically stated that all information included should only enhance my application, and that no information that was included on the Common App should be reiterated. So, for example, I recently medaled at my regional competition for Science Olympiad, which is one of my activities on the Common App. Should I include this in my update, or would this count as reiteration since Science Olympiad appeared on my Common App? Just wondering, I don’t really know what these things should consist of, and due to its importance, it’s not something I can afford to mess up.
A medal is new…so add that.
But don’t just say you got a medal, but what the medal was for…and perhaps tie it to something that is happening at the college?
Maybe like:
“I am very happy to be placed on the Waitlist for the Class of 2022. I wanted to update you to let you know I recently one the Science Olympiad medal in Ecology in the Midwest Competition. I hope to continue studying ecology and am very interested in the programs that is doing in bee pollinations studies and the plant virus work (or whaterver that college does in the area you won the medal). In addition I wanted to give you an update on my first semester grades: I am currently getting an A in Calc AB, a B+ in AP Physics…etc.”
The other thing I would do is look at the Common Data Set for each of the colleges in section C2 to see how many students are accepted off the waitlist. If it is Carnegie Mellon, it was less than 5 last year out of >1000. It it was Case Western, it was over 500. That tells you if you should put much hope in the WL.
Also, if there is one that you would definitely attend if admitted, make sure they know that. But don’t tell all the colleges that.
Start looking at the colleges you were admitted to and go to admitted students day and act like that is where you are going.