<p>I was waitlisted at my two top choices, Stanford and UPenn. My counselor says I can only pursue one, since they expect you to go there if you get off the waitlist. Is this true? That would be a hard decision for me since I would have no way of knowing my financial aid until I got in. I would really like to do both so I have more chances/options, but I just want to know what other people have done in this situation. I mean, the waitlist isnt binding or anything, so what are the downsides of pursuing both??</p>
<p>No, you can stay on the waitlist for both and if they both let you in, you choose whichever one you want and turn down the other--there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The worst thing that could happen is you make the school that you turned down think you don't appreciate their offer or something, but who cares if you're not going there, hahah.</p>
<p>thats excatly what I thought. I mean, I'm the one who wants to go to their school and pay a whole lot of money for it...I should be doing whats in my best interest.</p>
<p>You can pursue the wait list at multiple schools but if you get an offer you usually only have 24 hours to respond.</p>
<p>Your counselor is incorrect. You can absolutely pursue both waitlists. You can pursue as many waitlists as you like. Just be sure to send a deposit to one of the schools that admitted you.</p>
<p>The problem you're going to have is that it's helpful when the counselor contacts the admissions office to convey his/her support for a waitlisted student's application. It sounds like your counselor will be willing to contact only one school. I guess that will have to do. Along with the reply postcard for the waitlist, you should include a letter to the dean of admissions informing him/her of any significant new awards, honors, etc. you've received and reiterating your enthusiasm for the school. What you can't say if you're pursuing multiple waitlists is that you positively will attend if offered a spot.</p>
<p>thanks everyone...this is what I wanted to hear. I guess now I just have to talk to my counselor and see what can be done about that.</p>
<p>thanks for posting this; I was wondering about the same thing too since I was waitlisted at both Princeton and Pomona.</p>