<p>The admissions cycle for me is finally over for me--aside for these waitlistings. I applied to the eight Ivies, Stanford, Notre Dame, Vandy, and Berkeley. I was ultimately accepted by Notre Dame and Berkeley, waitlisted by Brown, Cornell, and Vandy, and rejected everywhere else. </p>
<p>My current plan is to attend UCBerkeley if my waitlist spots don't work out. If I got into Brown or Cornell I would absolutely attend (not sure about Vandy). As soon as it was possible, I put my name on all three waitlists yesterday. </p>
<p>Where do I go from here? I know important strategies are to sign up quickly and write a letter of interest with new information; however, I sent two update letters during the regular decision process, so I've already sent these updates in. What are successful strategies that can help to pull a student off the waitlist?</p>
<p>There is little you can do since waitlists are fickle and sometimes, no students are taken off the waitlists or a number of students are. Send in any new updates if you have any worth mentioning but you’d best be served just focusing on UCBerkeley and letting go of Brown, cornell and Vandy. </p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptances and good luck with your future.</p>
<p>Make sure you get to know the admissions officer who handles applications in your area. Build a rapport and make sure you let them know how badly you wish to attend.</p>
<p>D got into Vandy off the wait lst two years ago. Contact your admissions counselor personally at theses schools to reaffirm your interest and to confirm that you would take a spot there if offered.</p>
<p>You give it your best shot with the wait list–ask your school counselor to call your favorite school that you KNOW you will accept if you get off the wait list and tell them that. You can update your file with your great grades and accomplishments. Usually waitlists are not done by your regional admissions officer who just goes down the list if he needs bodies. Look up what your odds are of clearing each waitlist. Usually not good at such desirable schools as they do overaccept so each kid who turns down the offer does not mean another admit from the WL. They look at what they may be needing and who is hot to trot and will accept on a dime, but often do not put a lot of time and effort in the waitlist. It’s usually an afterthought.</p>
<p>Then FUGGEDABOUTIT. Move on. Unless you clear the waitlist, it’s game over and you need to start preparing for your life at where you are going to go and that is where you should focus your attentions.</p>