Waitlist

<p>Is it easier for the wait-listers to get accepted in certain departments within the school? For example, is it harder to get accepted to Journalism since it seemingly would have a higher yield rate, compared to Engineering, in which it would maybe have a lower yield rate?</p>

<p>Is there anywhere we can get official stats for how many people are waitlisted in previous years and how many are eventually accepted? I’d be really interested in 2009 stats…</p>

<p>From the Northwestern University Common Data Set for 2008-2009:</p>

<p>C2. Freshman wait-listed students (students who met admission requirements but whose final admission was contingent on space availability)</p>

<p>Do you have a policy of placing students on a waiting list? Yes<br>
If yes, please answer the questions below for fall 2008 admissions:</p>

<p>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
Is your waiting list ranked? No</p>

<p>So only 10% people on the waitlist are accepted… That’s super low! :(</p>

<p>Has anyone received his/her official letter and waitlist form via mail yet? Thanks.</p>

<p>^ Nope, not yet. I live in a bordering state, too.</p>

<p>i know the RD admits get to go to wildcat days in april, is there a similar thing this summer if you are accepted off the waitlist?</p>

<p>Waitlisters,</p>

<p>I was waitlisted in 2007 (along with 6 other waitlists…it was a rough week). Anyways, I decided to visit Northwestern as part of a trip to visit a college I was accepted at in South Bend. I was able to meet with an admissions offer, and I was offered admission a week or two later. </p>

<p>I dont mean to panic people who think you have to visit or anything to get off because I have no proof that it was the reason why, but if its feasible/Northwestern is your dream school I’d highly suggest it.</p>

<p>They only want academic info. Now that really narrows it down in term of what (more) they’d like to know about us.</p>

<p>For US students, am I right to say that all that is left for you guys to submit academically is your final report grades? The only other thing is if you guys were selected to be in any academic competitions for the rest of the senior year. (some of us internationals have graduated from our high schools. No more new academic opportunities for us)</p>

<p>That kinda sucks for us waitlisters, but I totally see where NU is coming from. If all ECs records were allowed too, too many desperate people like me would join a dozen ECs, start up 2 new clubs, clock many community work hours etcetcetc just to please NU. That’s not right.</p>

<p>What does that mean, “academic” info only? To me, if I was a potential theatre major and I was in a show after my application was sent I would want to inform them, it’s academic to my major, I would think. Be creative in defining academic, just a suggestion. Be bold but not annoying. If you want something, do your best to make it happen.</p>

<p>Always keep in mind, however, there are 50 great colleges for each of you, Northwestern is but one.</p>

<p>@suppasonic…</p>

<p>How did you get a meeting with an admissions officer?</p>

<p>@Kiterunner18</p>

<p>It’s not difficult. I met with an asst. director my sophomore year. Here’s what you do. Go into the admission office and ask the receptionist if you can speak to a representative, since you’re very interested in the school. Be sincere. If you get a meeting, tell the rep your situation and where you’re at currently and whatever else you feel he/she needs to know.</p>

<p>Just BE YOURSELF. Do not strut into the office all ****ed off about your waitlist situation/puffed up with your stats and grades. You want to convey to the rep/officer that you are realistic about your situation and achievements, but also qualified to attend and a human to boot.</p>

<p>@stressed23</p>

<p>Thanks for the detailed response. I live (somewhat) close to Northwestern, and I’m considering doing it. :)</p>

<p>Crappy story of my life!!! How are internationals supposed to meet up with the Admission Officer?!?!
:(</p>

<p>This is more of a factual post than a supportive one, but I hope you all understand that admissions has been particularly difficult recently to control and predict.</p>

<p>NU is still struggling to adjust to the Common App. This is the 3rd year with the Common App and it’s affect is still unclear. Clearly, there has been a surge in applications. However, a lot of these applicants are probably very high scorers who figured that they might as well let NU be a safety considering their ambitions for HYP. That kills the yield.</p>

<p>The economy is also obviously playing games with admissions. While NU still meets 100% of need and has great programs (20k loan cap and no-loan pledge), I assume some applicants are still headed to public schools.</p>

<p>Expanding the waitlist is the only logical response to a larger applicant pool, most of whom have variable interest in attending NU.</p>

<p>Best of luck to all the waitlisteds. If NU truly is your top choice, then do everything in your power to let the university know that. In the meantime, I’d encourage you to look at the great schools you were accepted to.</p>

<p>Has anyone got the information in the mail yet?</p>

<p>^ yes. i got my letter in the mail on saturday (i live in the chicago suburbs though). Along with the letter came a card that you send back saying if you want to be on the waitlist or not.</p>

<p>Not my #1; going to decline waitlist offer and then all of you will have ever-so-slightly better chances. Good luck to everybody!</p>

<p>thanks suppasonic and kiterunner18! I took your advice and went and talked to the office of admission today. it went well, hopefully it helps me get off the waitlist…</p>