<p>Thanks so much for sharing your stats and strategies. It is really generous of you. One more request – completely understandable if you don’t want to say. After u have sent the initial physical letter of desire to stay on the WL/attend the college, what do you say in the email to the regional adcom? I don’t know what else to say…</p>
<p>The email was much shorter than the original letter. I said, specifically, that I was “writing to reiterate my commitment to Swarthmore,” said again at the end of the letter that if accepted I would attend, and in between those statements gave a few sentences of reasons I wanted to go to Swarthmore that were more general than the reasons I specified in my letter. Basically I rephrased what I said in the letter, but with just enough variation in my wording and reasons to make it different. You can also title it “Application Addition” to make it less annoying, if you’re worried about harassing the officer.</p>
<p>Thanks again! You are so nice to help. Have a wonderful end of senior year!</p>
<p>violethour, you said you would not attend Swarthmore, and are deciding between Amherst and Williams…but, you told all of these waitlist schools ( including Swarthmore) essentially, “if admitted I will attend”… I must just be naive or old fashioned to feel that it is only fair to the process if everyone is honest and truthful</p>
<p>Hmm…A college that puts you on a wait list expects you to break a promise to your RD choice (secured by deposit), moreover it never requires any exclusivity staying on only one wait list. How would it then expect, even in theory, a full commitment? Let’s not confuse 18-year old kids who already confused by the system and make sure they make the best decision that suites them.</p>
<p>^^I sort of have to agree. the mystery is why she was waitlisted at all, considering she made it back from four different SLACs?</p>
<p>also agree ^</p>
<p>theviolethour, thank you for sharing your experience, it is useful for many applicants, it would be a pleasure to see you at Amherst if you choose it</p>
<p>Actually, I only told one school I’d attend if admitted–that’s what my GC insisted on. I didn’t expect to get off so many waitlists (I was praying for one!) so I did imply very strongly that I would attend if admitted. For me, I reconciled that choice because I figured I would only get off one waitlist at the most, and I knew that I would immediately choose any one of those schools over the school I deposited at. Ultimately, however, after being accepted at multiple schools, I was unable to attend the school I wanted to attend the most because of financial aid. One school offered me tens of thousands of dollars a year more than the others. Though I love the school I will be attending, unfortunately financial aid made my decision for me.</p>
<p>However, elaborating on the point that giants86 made, isn’t it unethical to waitlist 1,000 or more kids and ultimately take 0, 5, 10, maybe 20, certainly no more than 100 off of it? UChicago waitlisted something like 3,000 people this year and took no one off for the Class of 2016.</p>
<p>Furthermore, even if I had promised body and soul each school I would deposit if accepted off a waitlist, isn’t it reasonable to expect that I will have to change my mind if the financial aid (or lack thereof) is unacceptable? After all, colleges don’t send you your financial aid package until you accept their offer of admission.</p>
<p>Colleges expect you to play the flattery game. Many schools ask you why you want to attend their school in their essay prompts. Of course, the great unspoken joke is that each student probably writes many essays extolling the virtues of many different schools above each other. Now that I’ve chosen a school I love and that offered me fantastic financial aid, I’ve withdrawn from the waitlists I remain on. I have no regrets about the process and can’t find a place where I’ve lied—though frankly I wouldn’t feel qualms if I had. I do wish I could have gone to Swarthmore. I wish I could afford it.</p>
<p>My daughter got off a wait list today. Very excited about this and accepted their spot - terrific school. As part of the acceptance she is being asked to turn down her accepted school (of course, no problem) but ALSO remove herself from any other active wait lists. Is this common? Wait list lightning may not strike again for her, but if it did, she would still love to go to her #1 school. I know we cannot be legally bound, but I am not eager to have her promise to do something that is not in her best interest, or that she does not plan to do (remove herself from 1st choice college wait list). To muddy things further, when she accepted a spot on her #1 college wait list, she told them they were her first choice and she would definitely attend if she got in - but #2 school makes dropping off that list a condition of acceptance. Any experience/advice here?</p>
<p>This is a serious question. Are any of the schools involved Swarthmore, because I can’t tell from your post. I do respect your right to keep you daughter’s business private, but the way you’ve phrased your paragraph doesn’t give me any clue as to whether you’ve just joined a waitlist discussion and want some guidance or if one of the schools in question is Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Tough question. Not sure how to answer. Can you please share how your daughter was contacted? Was it by email, telephone or regular mail?</p>
<p>Here’s what I would suggest. Call the admission of the #1 school (or ask GS) and explain the situation. Ask what are your chances there (reiterating this is your top choice, but you are pressed for decision), if their decision is coming shortly ask them if there is a chance they can escalate it a bit. They are probably in the same situation, so whether they can help you or not, they will listen. Then, it is up to you really.</p>
<p>HAS ANYONE ELSE HEARD FROM SWARTHMORE WL?? How many of us are there waiting? All updates appreciated BIG TIME!</p>
<p>So my friend got this email from Admissions saying that the College has “released the majority of our waitlist” but that he’s still active, albeit unlikely to get bumped into the Class of 2016. What does “released” mean? Does that mean Admitted or Rejected?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>“Released,” in this context, means rejected.</p>
<p>Do you know when he/she received the email from Swarthmore?</p>
<p>Also, adcom told me when he called that Swarthmore was overenrolled and would be accepting only a few students, in anticipation of summer melt.</p>
<p>Thanks, Violethour (love your handle!!) – But when did your friend get the email? I haven’t gotten one and am waiting eagerly…hopefully…</p>