WaitList

<p>Does anyone know anything about this year's WaiList policy? Is there a feeling Caltech might need it this year, too?</p>

<p>To Lizzardfire and others that know: our volleyball team has just become a division champion (we went 11-1 this season). Should I send this info to Caltech? I understand that sports aren't that important, but at least it's another chance to say "Yesss! I want to go Caltech!". Another thing is that I'm not a stellar player (but then, again, volleyball is a team sport ;) ). However, I am afraid this doesn't relate to my application and, because of that, this action could be viewed as another annoying plead.
So...ermm..what do you think?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Answering questions in order.</p>

<p>1) What do you mean?
2) I don't know what yield is yet. Admissions might have an idea at this time if they are going to waitlist, but I don't know what that idea is as I am not in admissions.
3) Yes. It's an achievement and is worth mentioning.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>1) Good question...I am not sure I know what I meant. I guess it was just a rhetorical one, heh)</p>

<p>2) Is there anyone from CC currently sitting on Caltech's AdCom? <em>looking at everyone like Shrek's puss-in-boots</em></p>

<p>3) How do I go about presenting it to the committee? Email? Mail? Telephone? Does it need an introduction of some sort or a simple, one-sentence statement will suffice?</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

<p>2b) Just out of curiousity...how do students get on Caltech's AdCom if they want to? Is it hard?</p>

<p>2) I don't think so... could be wrong.<br>
3) Email is fine, although if you want to call you can (it might be considered more personal?). I'd take it as an opportunity to reaffirm how much you want to attend Tech, but other than that you don't need to say much else. (No introduction necessary).<br>
2b) They sign up on a list. IHC interviews them and picks them. Quite a few people apply, so I guess it's somewhat selective. I interviewed for Admissions yesterday.</p>

<p>Hey Dan,</p>

<p>To be honest with you, I think the volleyball achievement isn't worth mentioning for two reasons. Firstly, a lot of the updates were supposed to be due quite some time ago, of course, Caltech could be really flexible with this. I think that Tech is starting to make the first waitlist decisions, and I do expect that people should hear first round results really soon.</p>

<p>Secondly, what does a winning volleyball team have anything to do with you as a person - especially since you yourself mentioned that you aren't notably exceptional at the sport. IMO, I really think it could come off as some desperate plea. I was always under the impression that Caltech valued more quantitative indicators of scientific success - such as doing well on actual science competitions.</p>

<p>Also, I would've expected that you had already presented yourself to the adcoms. At this stage, it would seem a little late to do anything extra. But as per email, mail, or telephone? What did I do? All of the above.</p>

<p>I agree that it might be too late, Big Brother, but I sincerely disagree that the admissions committee would view his achievement as a "desperate plea". In my opinion, at worst they will either not care or it will be too late, but at best they will view it as a student who really wants to attend here and is doing everything he can to make that dream a reality. </p>

<p>I promise you the admissions committee does not laugh at that, or view it as desperate. I know from personal experience. :)</p>

<p>Edit: Joe and Ben, feel free to agree or disagree with me on this. My words don't quite carry the weight of those written by someone previously on admissions.</p>

<p>hm, I dunno. I sent info about making it onto the varsity tennis team a couple weeks ago (I was waitlisted this year)...and I just got a phonecall saying I was accepted!! maybe it helped, maybe it didn't, but I don't think it can hurt you.</p>

<p>omg..I just got a call too...haha...the Admin officer probably think im stupid now..cuz I was like...OMG OMG OMG OMG REALLY??..IS THIS CALTECH AS IN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CALTECH...lol..she was AMUSED let's just say that...so are you going??..may I ask where you are currently going right now??</p>

<p>papermachesatan, where are you from?</p>

<p>My DD2's classmate also got off waitlist yesterday.</p>

<p>zizanger
Welcome to CC and Caltech. I'm sure she loved your enthusiam.</p>

<p>Hr,
good luck</p>

<p>I agree that the volleyball thing won't be a big deal in and of itself, but I think any reasonable contact is a plus because it shows you are interested enough to contact them.</p>

<p>I wasn't at all involved with waitlist admissions decisions, though.</p>

<p>zoogies - I'm from near Baltimore, Maryland</p>

<p>Exactly how long until I find out that I'm definitively rejected? lol, I really just want to be DONE with the stupid college admissions process, and this is the one obstacle to that. :&lt;/p>

<p>Waitlist period does sometimes go in multiple rounds, Ishmael--so no answer for you there. Last year it definitely did go in multiple rounds.</p>

<p>i got great news from caltech too!!
has anyone (who was taken off the waitlist) received the packages yet?</p>

<p>Rick told me they'd mail the packages either Sat or Mon.</p>

<p>Congrats, by the way!</p>

<p>thanks!! congrats to you too..
cant wait for the package..but i know its gonna take time..cause im all the way in india!!</p>

<p>"IHC interviews them and picks them."</p>

<p>Well technically the ASCIT BoD appoints them and has delegated the interviewing to the IHC (this arrangement was made awhile ago when ASCIT was too busy to do interviews for all of the many, many positions on faculty committees). Personally I think ASCIT should reverse that decision in this case as it's not a house or housing related committee--students are admitted to Caltech, not a house--but c'est la vie.</p>