Waitlisted Discussion Thread

<p>Anyone else waitlisted? What do you think our chances are?</p>

<p>I read somewhere that Swarthmore only accepted 7 off the wait list last year (or maybe it was two years ago). Either way, that is a very small number - any idea how many students are wait-listed? I was deferred ED2, and have not yet received my decision…!</p>

<p>Interested dad posted this in another thread:</p>

<p>959 waitlisted
358 accepted a place on the waitlist
18 admitted from waitlist</p>

<p>Yeah, I was waitlisted too. Don’t think I’ll accept a place on the list… I have other acceptances at places I love. I’m kinda flattered to be waitlisted though! Means I’m a viable candidate, at least :P</p>

<p>Wait listed also, but I got accepted to another school I like more (Carleton) so I don’t think I’ll stay on the wait list. But I heard that most schools in the past have been over-accepting and not taking anybody off the wait list but this year they are doing the opposite; so I think they accepted fewer people but there’s a better chance that you will be accepted if you’re an “alternative”. Best of luck to everyone!</p>

<p>deliquadro: I’m in the same position! Waitlisted at Swarthmore, but I’m almost positive I would have picked Carleton anyways. I don’t think I’ll be accepting my spot. Spending the three months going into college wishing you were going to another one doesn’t seem like a fun way to start your college experience! Of course, it pays off for the lucky few who are let off the waitlist.</p>

<p>Does anyone know what waitlisted kids should do after accepting a spot? Do we email our admissions officer to reafirm our interest?</p>

<p>I am wondering if someone could maybe provide me with some explanations. In the past 4 days, I have received 6 wait list letters – one from Swat, one from Wesleyan, one from Carleton, one from Haverford, one from Bowdoin and one from Bucknell (although I think I was waitlisted here because I may have been “overqualified” and showed no interest in the school). At this point, I have not been rejected at any top LAC, but clearly have not been accepted. As I wait for my last 6 decisions to be released (all posted online), I am becoming very worried about the schools I have yet to hear from. According to my track-record, I cannot extrapolate if my current standing is promising for my remaining 6 schools or is a hint that I will not be accepted anywhere. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, 4.7 weighted, 2220 SAT, great ECs and teacher recommendations and have taken nothing but honors and AP classes. Since I have not been rejected anywhere, it is evident that I am qualified for every one of these schools. I just don’t seem to understand why I haven’t been accepted to ONE. I am still waiting to hear from Vassar, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, UPenn and Columbia. I do have back-ups at the moment, although I never anticipated that I would wind up at one of them. Can anyone please explain to me why I am receiving so many waitlists – and no rejections or acceptances. Does this mean that there is no hope for my other 6 schools?</p>

<p>This is a tough thing to go through, I know. Take a breath. Would you be happy if you were accepted at any of the other schools you’ve mentioned, and would you be happy to attend one if accepted? There are so many other kids with similar “hard stats” as yours, and especially these small LAC’s are trying to build a diverse class. They have only so many places in each class. It’s not just 4.0’s and 2200+ SAT scores. What else can you bring to these schools? That’s what they’re looking for since they have so many applicants with similar stats.</p>

<p>Swarthmore is a REALLY competitive school to get into, as are many of your other choices. Let’s see what happens next week and then you can come back for more advice.</p>

<p>Collegebound500, I feel your pain! I’ve got 4 waiting lists so far from all of my top choices.<br>
Does anyone know if colleges are waitlisting more kids nowadays? I feel like the fact that there are people out there with 4-6 waitlists is a little absurd…</p>

<p>CollegeBound500: You will not succeed at rationalizing the choices of colleges. There are too many variables involved, and many of the variables are “soft.” Indeed, college acceptances are not trophies to be pinned on your wall. Moreover, acceptance to a top-tier school is not sufficient <em>or even necessary</em> to be “a worthwhile person.” Yes, these things tend be correlated, but the causality doesn’t work as I’m afraid many college bound students infer. </p>

<p>Also: reality check: There is no such thing as being “overqualified” for these top schools. </p>

<p>Maintain the following: “everything is going to be okay” (it will!) and proceed sensibly; trying not to worry about things you can’t control.</p>

<p>Anyone come off the waitlist yet?</p>

<p>anyone know when they will go to the waitlist or what the past histories have been?</p>

<p>Accepted off the waitlist today. Will not be attending though—choosing between Amherst and Williams, where I was also accepted this week.</p>

<p>I really do hope I get off the waitlist. Maybe I should contact the admissions office regularly. I mean, it’s Carnegie Mellon for me if I don’t get off, but I love Swat.</p>

<p>@IvyLeague2016, make sure you tell them that you are very interested and would attend if admitted.</p>

<p>violethour – canm you tell me if you are M or F, and geographic region and major area of interest?</p>

<p>Violethour – another question if you don’t mind…How did Swarthmore get in touch with you to tell you you made itr off the waitlist? Congratulations to you again!!!</p>

<p>Violethour, I am so impressed with you. You have gotten off at least 4 wait lists in a week: Swarthmore, Middlebury, Williams and Amherst. I mentioned this to my guidance counselor and she never heard of this happening before. Can you share with us your stats? It seems as though these schools made a mistake by not accepting you in the first place. Really, I’d be interested in knowing why you have made it off so many wait lists and some of us can’t even make it off one?</p>

<p>I’m female, from CA, and interested in Econ. Stats: non-URM, 2340 SAT (1 sitting, 2350 superscore), 4.56 GPA weighted, 3.9 unweighted; 2 leadership positions and many club memberships, some school awards and one national language award, good essays.</p>

<p>Swarthmore left me a phone message on Friday, then emailed that same day, and called my GC on Monday.</p>

<p>@Pinky31794: I know, it’s been the craziest week of my life. I sent in a physical letter of interest, an additional rec from another teacher, and a comic book that took me 204372034809312 billion hours to draw for each college. Then once I found out via CC that each college was taking people off the WL, I emailed either my regional adcom or (if I couldn’t find my adcom) an assistant dean of admissions reiterating my interest. Thing is, so far, each school I’ve gotten into has one-upped the others…it’s been weird. If I’d gotten into just one of these schools I would have been so happy and plopped down my deposit right away. I’m now out $400 from paying two deposits, then re-depositing twice after getting into another school. Of course, this isn’t something I can complain about.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you guys. Waitlisting the number of people these colleges waitlist is horribly unethical and astoundingly callous to the needs and feelings of college-bound seniors. It sucks that this happens to anyone.</p>