Hi everybody, I’m having a bit of a dilemma. I have been put on the waiting list for four schools: Marist, Fairfield, Muhlenberg, and my number #1 choice, Villanova. Now I consider myself to be a pretty decent candidate. 3.79 GPA, 30 composite ACT score (32 superscored), participant in the musical, NHS member for two years, International Thespian Society member, over 200+ hours of volunteering, Girl Scout troop leader, camp counselor, lifeguard, work experience, etc; Also, I am a DACA student and applied for fin aid since I live in a single parent household that makes <20k a year.
I thought I had a pretty strong application and I don’t want to try and say that I’m so great, but I feel as if I should have been accepted to those schools. I mean, okay if I got waitlisted at one or two it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but waitlisted at all four feels excessive and I feel like something is not right here.
So can somebody give me any advice? What should I do to get off the waitlist, especially for Villanova? Would I be able to call the office of admissions and see if they could provide me with information about why I was waitlisted, there has to be a reason right?
Thanks for your help!
Thats weird for Marist I know someone who got in with a GPA much lower than you
Chance me
You can do a few things:
- Email and confirm your strong interest.
- If you KNOW you would attend if admitted (regardless of financial aid, etc), tell them that.
- Provide them with any updates on new accomplishments since you applied.
- You can ask your GC to contact them and let them know they are your #1 choice. If you don’t have other acceptances, the GC might work all of the schools for you to help you get in.
I wouldn’t ask why you were waitlisted. But your GC might be able to find out more info.
IMHO you were waitlisted because the four schools weren’t sure they could meet your financial need. Your statistics and ec’s look to be strong enough for all four schools but where you come up short is in the ability to pay for these private liberal art schools. I imagine you are being waitlisted to see if anyone who is currently being offered substantial financial aid is going to turn them down and then they may have the funds for you. I am sorry you are in this position. I hope you have a safety school that you are comfortable with. Waitlists are notoriously iffy propositions. You can contact all four schools and update them on any new information, ie. grades, awards, accomplishments that they didn’t get in you original application. You can let them know you are still interested and see if they can give you any indication of where you might stand with them… Best of luck to you!
I doubt you were WL for FA reasons at Nova, which is allegedly need blind as far as admissions go. IDK about the other schools though. I feel for your situation – my son is also WL at 4 schools, including Villanova, his first choice (or at least in top 2). We are going to send in 2nd Trimester grades & maybe an updated/additional LOR if they will take it.
BTW, his scores are similar to yours – 3.7uw/4.0wt; 1390 new SAT (not superscored), 9 APs, similar level of ECs (but different types). Here’s to both of you getting in!
Absolutely call & ask them why! Also tell them how interested you remain when you call. My D was denied at her 1st choice school and they encouraged her to call about it. They were wonderfully detailed and said they felt all schools owed it to those they denied & WLed to at least explain it to these kids. This was W& M, a wonderful school and it impressed us they felt this way. I have read of others asking schools why and feeling much better after the conversation. I encourage you to call and ask! Good luck & so very sorry for your very understandable frustration.