Waitlisted... Chances?

<p>I am on the waitlist of Swarthmore. Will be submitting SIR to an institution by May 1st but hoping to get into Swarthmore.
Is there any data available on admittance of waitlist in previous years?
Besides sending the post card back with yes for waitlist, what could I do?
Would an additional letter of rec be helpful?
Any other advice?
Thank you in advance.</p>

<p>Swarthmore’s Common Data Set lists the number admitted from the waitlist. Here’s the link [Swarthmore</a> College :: Institutional Research :: Common Data Set](<a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/institutional-research/common-data-set.xml]Swarthmore”>Common Data Set :: Institutional Effectiveness, Research & Assessment :: Swarthmore College)</p>

<p>Here’s a summary of the number admitted from the waitlist:</p>

<p>2012 8
2011 10
2010 7
2009 12
2008 34
2007 42
2006 26</p>

<p>So you can see that the last 3 years average about 8 students per year, down significantly from the numbers in 2006 - 2008. Swarthmore doesn’t provide stats on the number of students accepting a place on the waitlist, but I would have to think it could be in the 200+ range. So there are applicants who get in every year from the waitlist, but the statistical odds are probably not great.</p>

<p>dadx3 thank you. Appreciate it greatly.</p>

<p>beingadiamond, more than anything else when it comes to wait list acceptances, you NEED to absolutely demonstrate your interest to the admissions office - REPEATEDLY. If you can make a physical trip to the college - do it. If not, be on the phone with them as much as possible. Don’t just sit and “wait!” My understanding is that once on the wait list they are not comparing your scores/application to others - it really becomes all about demonstrated interest.</p>

<p>Would visiting really help? Just campus tour?</p>

<p>If you have not visited yet and could without too much bother I think it would be worth it, especially if you could arrange to say hello to your regional admissions officer. I don’t think it is worth flying across the country, but it you could do it with a 2-3 hour drive each way I think it would be worthwhile – especially if you have not visited before.</p>

<p>A wise alum advised my son that if really wanted to attend Swat, he should visit (we’re in Switzerland) because even the outstanding kids he had interviewed hadn’t gotten in if they hadn’t visited. If you can manage it, you should go and you should also have a chat with your admissions counselor. It shows them how important it is to you. I know others will disagree, but it depends how important it is to you. My son did get in :-).</p>

<p>GvaMom, thank you. Wow that is dedication. I am in the West Coast and have no school to visit in the East this spring. I either got rejected or have visited a school which I have visited already so no plan to visit but will keep it in my mind.</p>

<p>If you can’t visit, they will understand. But, you have to make yourself known to the school in a way that will distinguish you from others on the waiting list. When we visited Swarthmore last summer the admissions director informed us that they didn’t count phone calls to the school prior to acceptances (other schools do). HOWEVER, if you made the waiting list it was DEFINITELY the time to make yourself known. I would call admissions and talk to the regional admissions officer. I would talk to the head of admissions, as well - very pleasant gentleman. See whether they will do a Skype call with you. Get your high school counselor, principal, department head or favorite teacher to also call to be clear about your value to the school. You have nothing to lose by doing this and everything to gain. But, I would also do it very soon.</p>

<p>Steve26 thank you for the advice.
I am planning to send out an appeal letter this week.
I called the admissions although I just spoke to the receptionist.
If I were to try to have a Skype call with either my regional counselor (whom I have met when he visited my school) or the director of the admissions what should I talk about?</p>

<p>I think you should talk about why you want to go to Swarthmore, what you have to offer, that you remain VERY interested, that you may have to accept an offer at another school by May 1st, but you are absolutely prepared to rescind it if you receive an acceptance at Swarthmore. Most importantly, you want them to see you as an individual - someone unique from the crowd - what is unique about you. If they can only pick 6 wait list students this year, you want to be one of those six who really stand out in their minds.</p>

<p>p.s. remember that Swarthmore is a great school, but their yield is 40%, which means that 60% of those accepted for admission choose NOT to attend. They want students who really want to be at their school - make it clear you are one of them.</p>

<p>thank you for the tips.</p>