<p>I will try to give you some of the advice I gave one of the students I interviewed who also is wait-listed at Brown, and like you, really wants to go there. This probably applies to most wait-listed students for top -tier schools.</p>
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<li><p>Brown may take more students off the wait list this year than in past years. MAY is the operative word here. It all depends on how many slots open up. Like many schools juggling the large number of applicants, and trying to get the class size right without going over, many top tier schools seem to have accepted a few less and wait-listed a few more. That said, the wait list pool is bigger, so the percentage taken from the wait-list may not be better. </p></li>
<li><p>Choose a school that you were accepted to and still very happy to go to, and at least for now plan on going there. Decide how flexible you will be in changing that if Brown does accept you. If you are really not likely to go to Brown, better to just let them know and let the wait list “re-sort”. There are very , very rare spots that even open after the June wait -list to accepted time, but definitely do not plan on that. </p></li>
<li><p>Do you think you know why you might be wait-listed? (that is a very hard thing to know, or to be honest to yourself about) If you compare on the ACCEPTED lists here, and you really don’t have the grades, scores etc that others accepted do, then it is less likely that you will be pulled off the wait-list, unless that “deficiency” has changed. This is where there might be “something you can do” or send. BUT only if it is a real difference. Say your grades/rank have dramatically improved, well that might help. Or maybe you won a very interesting award (I’m not talking about all the typical end of high school best in math, book awards, etc. Those are too “average” for this level of student, so I wouldn’t bother the admissions staff about that) But I have known students who were selected to attend the Nobel prize selection, won a state or national academic award or maybe your “extracurricular” stats would be improved by the fact you set a state track record. Those sort of things do “add” to what Brown already has and are worth sending in. </p></li>
<li><p>It doesn’t hurt, if you really are VERY, VERY much wanting your wait-listed place to be where you will be in the fall, (or even so much that you will try to be there the next year, or to transfer etc. IE decide how much this school means to you, and are you really thinking you have a chance) to let the school know that with a personal, heartfelt letter. Tell them what it is that makes you know you belong there. If you were accepted to an equivalent school, but will turn them down for “X” (Brown in this case) school, because it is where you would rather be, I don’t think that hurts to tell them. (notice I don’t say “better” or “more selective” school, as if that was true, why would you still want to go to “X” and not have gotten in?)</p></li>
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<p>5.It can be very useful, if 4. applies to also find someone else to speak up for you re the same. Is there a “letter of recommendation” that you wish had been in your application folder? Is there a coach at the school, who would like your athletic prowess (a friend’s daughter got from wait-list to accepted at WashU with that help), a prominent alum, or current prof who will “speak for you”? Do you know a senator, friend of the school’s Board etc. (I’m not kidding, power and money unfortunately do carry clout). These can’t get you in if you are in the bottom of the “waiting pool”, but they certainly can be a deal maker if you are a likely wait-listed. </p>
<p>You asked where to send these supplements. In most cases, it would be to the admissions office. (Who would love to be “done”, but are dealing with the tearful appeals etc right now. Don’t do that, their job is hard enough!) If your “supplemental” appeal etc is via a coach, inside prominent “source” etc, then let them decide the best route. </p>
<p>Good luck and know that almost always students are happiest where they ultimately go. The process does seem to help you be where you are best meant to be.</p>