waitlisted. is this a good idea?

<p>I've been waitlisted at Cornell and JHU. To try and get off the waitlist, I am thinking about writing a letter to the admissions office. Instead of the classic, "I am still interested in you school" letter, I will also try to address what I think was the weakest part of my application. My class rank 28/244 is what I think got me waitlisted at these top schools. During my sophomore year, I screwed around a lot and did not take school seriously. My low GPA during that year seriously affected my class rank. I brought my grades up to a 4.0uw junior year but that was not enough to help me sqeeze into the top 10%. In this letter, is it a good idea to try to explain myself and show the adcoms that I've changed?</p>

<p>To clarify the question:</p>

<p>can I presume that one part of my app is what killed it (in my case, my class rank) and address it in my letter. Will this be considered to be arrogant in the eyes of the adcoms?</p>

<p>i wouldn't draw attention to it.......but i guess it depends on the school.</p>

<p>I would not presume...especially if you do not know if it is your SAT score.</p>

<p>If you have something to add that would make you a stronger candidate, then I would use the letter as an opportunity to let them know about it.</p>

<p>Just an opinion.
IB</p>

<p>I am pretty sure my SAT score didnt get me waitlisted</p>

<p>I had a 2340 and 800's on both SAT IIs</p>

<p>I would not point it out. Number one, that may not be why they waitlisted you so why draw attention to it now? Also, focus less on your scores and GPA now, show them THE PERSON you are. you need to put a person, a character to those stats.</p>

<p>It would seem that you LOOK like an underachiever based on your SATs versus class rank. It that is not in fact true, appeal the decision.</p>

<p>which school???</p>

<p>cornell and hopkins</p>

<p>My sophomore year grades are dragging my class rank down. I brought my grades up junior year but apparently, that wasnt enough to get me into the top 10%</p>

<p>i was in the same spot...high SAT...low (2nd decile)rank</p>

<p>when I was deferred from brown ED, i wrote them a letter highlighting all the good things I had done since i had sealed the first envelope, thinking that it was not in my best interest to draw attention to the weaker points of my application.</p>

<p>here's the million dollar queston:</p>

<p>did you get in?</p>

<p>haha nope......but i don't think complaining about my rank would have changed that either.</p>