Hey CC, need your help.
So I’ve been waitlisted into BME (Biomedical Engineering) at UC Davis, a school that I truly aspire to be at. I know that I’m supposed to write a 200 word essay expressing my desire to be at this school, as well as submit my senior year grades, but what else can I do? Also, how can I find out where I am on the waiting list (rank/priority wise)? What should I try to include in my essay?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi! The waitlist depends on how many people SIR. Last year, they put extra people on the waitlist because of budget issues, but the majority of people got off of it( around 70%). I was put on the waitlist and I was taken off. The only thing you can do after you submit you essay is to wait (I know its supppper stressful). There isnt a rank or priority list for the waitlist. For the essays, they want to see that you have a passion to go to UCD and that if they take you off of the waitlist, you definitely will SIR. You should include what you will contribute to the Davis community if you get in. Goodluck and I hope to see you here next year :)!!
@coffeelife Thanks so much! Can you explain how SIR works exactly? I know that it has to do with accepting other colleges, waitlists, etc., but I’m not sure about the specifics of it.
Basically UCD has a specific amount of seats open to the freshman class and if there still are open seats after May 1st, then they will open them up to people on the waitlist. Last year they accepted fewer people and put in wayyy more people on the waitlist, so there were more seats left for the waitlisters. Also, they put in qualified people on the waitlist, which is known as Tufts Syndrom, to protect their yield because a lot of these very qualified people probably wont end up picking Davis. The essay is SUPER important to show that you are committed to UCD, so make sure its very well written!
@coffeelife Again, thanks so much. I heard Davis is notorious for Tufts; regardless I will try my best to convince them that I truly aspire to attend Davis.
Still, there is one thing I don’t understand. On Davis’s Freshman Waitlist website, it says that “You may still accept an offer to be on the UC Davis waitlist even if you have accepted admission at another college. If you are admitted from waitlist, then you may submit a SIR to enroll at UC Davis and cancel your acceptance at the other college.”
UCSD is the college I’d want to go to after Davis, so let’s say I get accepted there and l accept the waitlist offer to Davis. If I make it to Davis, I would have to reject UCSD (through a SIR)? And If I don’t make it, I just go to UCSD (as it is my second choice)?
Sorry for taking up your time, and thanks again in advance 
You do not have to go to UCD if you get accepted off of the waitlist. After I got off of the waitlist they gave me a week to respond yes or no. I think it is saying that you have to cancel your SIR in another college if you are accepted off of the waitlist and chose to accept your place there. I strongly agree with the Tufts, since I have friends who are going to elite top10 schools who got placed onto the waitlist. I also got a 2280 and still waitlisted 
Wishing you the best OP!!
I just looked at your profile and you seem like the perfect UCD candidate with your really high scores. I feel like they waitlisted you because of the yield protection. Hopefully your essays+scores will convince the admissions. Also, remember to keep your senior year grades up.
@coffeelife Thank you so much, I appreciate all the help you’ve given me.