Hey everyone!
So I just got the news that I’ve been waitlisted at UChicago, and I’m freaking out! This is crazy, I seriously didn’t even bother reading the letter at first because I knew it was gonna be a deny, so surprised! Anyway, I just wanted to make a post asking anyone if they have any experience with the waitlist? Is there anything I should consider doing, maybe sending a letter thanking them for the spot, and perhaps an additional sentence or two from my rec’s? All replies are appreciated!
I also checked out the SAT scores statistics and UChicago, it’s insane! They have some of the highest I’ve seen, easily the highest of all the schools I’ve applied to (and I’ve only applied to Ivies and such). So if I got waitlisted, they wanted to offer me a spot but couldn’t due to lack of places (they wrote that I was a highly qualifies student etc.). Does this slightly indicate that I might be in a good position at other schools with slightly lower admissions standards?
Also, I’m an international, so my guess is that the waitlist isn’t going to be in my favor compared to US students, but I could be wrong?
Congratulations to everyone that got accepted! You’ve all worked tirelessly for this, so celebrate!
Cheers.
UChicago is actually considered a bit less selective as far as acceptances as compared to the 8 Ivy League schools, MIT, and Stanford. However, just because you got wait-listed at a slightly less selective U by no means indicates you’re out of the running for the rest. Good luck 
This is by all means just a RUMOR but apparently you might have a chance if you reply (saying yes and writing a follow up letter) BEFORE ivy day. But if you’re international…another version I heard is that waitlists are all just polite rejections, there is basically nothing you can do about it (this seemingly was the case for last year, but of course that happened because overseas enrollment already exceeded their desired figure…)
And how is UChicago less selective than Penn, Cornell, Brown…etc? I thought their RD rate hit an all time low.
HYP, Columbia ever so slightly more <7
Chicago, MIT, Caltech @ ~8.x % acceptance rate
Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell >9
@ivyleaguefan where did you hear this rumor?
Hi there! I also got waitlisted, but I live in the U.S. so it might be a bit different. I’m not really sure how good my chances are, but I think I’m just going to send them an email to thank them for the spot and assure them that I am still very interested in UChicago!
Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it 
I think what I’ll do is send a letter thanking them for the spot and indicating that UChicago is still my top school. I’ve been considering adding just a sentence or two from the rec’s, saying that they are still supporting me. Would that be a little too much though?
As some of you have said though, the waitlist status as an international might just be a more courteous rejection. Although this seems a little odd as I’m not only an international, but I’m also asking for TONS of financial aid (at a school that is need-aware for internationals). I would have thought that they would just reject me straight up.
Send a letter of continued interest, yes, and if they are your top school then say so.
@BrownParent Should I send a physical letter, or upload a document onto my UChicago account?
Here’s what they wrote in the decision letter:
“If you would like to provide any additional information to the committee, you may update your file in your UChicago Account.”
Also, what exactly should I include in my letter of continued interest? Obviously that UChicago is my top school, but what else? And how long should it be ideally?
Thanks for all the replies!
So we should write a follow-up letter? I was considering it (heck, I applied because my parents told me they wouldn’t let me go to college ANYWHERE if I didn’t,) but I was waitlisted and I’m just so shocked. What should the letter contain? A thank you for considering me and offering me a place on their waiting list?