<p>Sadly, I was not one of the lucky people to be admitted to NU, but I'm hoping that I still have a shot at being admitted by the waitlist. Do you guys think that the waitlisted applicants this year will have a 0% chance of being admitted, because my gut says that this is going to happen.... :</p>
<p>NU has ‘oversubscribed’ over the last couple of years (meaning that more students accepted than they expected.</p>
<p>If this happens again, obvoiusly, it means few or none will be accepted off the wait list.</p>
<p>However, predicting the exact yield is more of an art than a science. The school could just as easily miscalculate in the other direction in which case they would need to go to the list to receive the number of students they want. </p>
<p>Nothing terribly profound there, other than to say that no one knows until they can begin to predict this year’s yield. Need to go to a wait list varies from year to year for most schools.</p>
<p>well, nu was my dream school. i was accepted to arts and sciences and not music, so i can’t go… maybe that’ll help you get in! can’t hurt!</p>
<p>that doesn’t sound appealing…i am hoping to get admitted. after waiting two months to hear the decision, I now have to wait another two months to find out if I was admitted…yay. </p>
<p>and betc27, i’m sorry. since you got into NU, I’m sure you are good enough to get into another great school. and if you still want to go to NU next year, then I suggest you transfer like what I’m going to do if things don’t work out</p>
<p>I was also leaning towards NU 
at least waitlisted is better than being rejected! Honestly though, the standards seem all over the place. Of my 7 friends (including me) that applied, 5 were rejected and 2 were waitlisted (I was one of the lucky 2!). One of the rejectees is the my schools valedictorian, who has a 34 ACT, was a national merit commended scholar, and is already taking some college classes. I also have a 34 ACT but obviously i have a lower gpa since he is the valedictorian and i am not. I know that colleges dont only look at the academic areas, but i am very confused with the NU admission process. I cant help but feel agitated when i see acceptees with a 27 ACT score. It reminds me of how last year someone from my school was accepted with a 28 ACT because he was a preferred walk on for football.</p>
<p>Needless to say i am upset that i wasnt admitted. Best of luck to all ,y fellow waitlisters. May the odds be ever in your favor.</p>
<p>hey hey hey, I’m the one with the 27 ACT D:</p>
<p>Yeah, I won’t lie, that was a bit rude. ACT scores are virtually meaningless when compared with everything else. To think otherwise, and to think that because someone with a lower score didn’t deserve the acceptance as much as you, is absolutely pretentious.</p>
<p>I’m hoping that they do take a few students off the waitlist. :(</p>
<p>Do you guys know what we should do though as waitlisted students?
I know we should send in a letter of interest–is that to just the general undergraduate admissions office?</p>
<p>I need to get writing soon, hahaa.</p>
<p>Do not give up. Visit and make an impression on the admissions officers so you are at the forefront of their minds when they have to make the tough calls in the end. Put it all on the line. When you visit, have talking points ready and rehearsed. Have a polished folder of your accomplishments and evidence of why Northwestern is a great fit for you. If you know a current Northwestern student, solicit his/her help and have him/her put a good word in for you. Leave hand-written thank-you notes to the receptionist to give to every single admissions officer you’ve spoken with thanking them for their time and reiterating why Northwestern is the college for you and how exactly you plan to contribute to campus (be specific-- mention names of professors, students, clubs so they can actually ENVISION you on campus). Regardless of what happens, this kind of pro-active attitude that you establish now going forward can only help you later in your life. Even if you don’t succeed, you will have the satisfaction knowing you did everything possible. </p>
<p>I would not hesitate to visit during Admitted Student Days and walk up to an admissions officer you see or even the Dean of Admissions, Christopher Watson. Be yourself but polished and professional. Wear a polished, pressed suit. I know this might come off as a bit aggressive, but this is just the kind of person I am when it comes to getting what I want (I am very low-profile in my daily interactions otherwise). If I were an admissions officer and see you with this kind of determination, I would admit you even if the class is already full and even if your profile is already overly represented in the student body. Remember, Northwestern has not let you go yet. You still have a chance to get in!</p>
<p>For graduate school, I actually got off the wait list at Stanford (and was offered a scholarship to boot) and I attribute it to my pro-active, go-getter mindset. This is also how I’ve been able to secure such an unbelievable amount of topnotch interviews in this economy. I have so many interview offers that I actually am scrambling to fit them all into the my schedule (and HAD to decline a few!).</p>
<p>I would like to add that this go-getter attitude is how you will thrive and succeed in this competitive world, so if anything, think of this as practice for what’s to come later. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Push yourself to the max and see the extent which you can make this goal happen (within acceptable boundaries of course). If you’re really determined, why not contact the student body president and ask to be put in touch with President Schapiro? The worst that can happen is they say no. At best, they will be impressed by your enthusiasm for Northwestern and, being reminded of the arbitrary nature of admissions and the fact that you could’ve been admitted last year or next year had your application been presented differently, admit you.</p>
<p>Here’s what I can tell you: most people on the wait list will not be this aggressive and easily give up knowing the chances of getting off are small, and they want to protect their feelings. You will definitely stand out if you go against this norm.</p>
<p>May the odds be ever in your favor :)</p>
<p>wildcatalum, i’ve considered everything you’ve said, believe me, but on dozens of websites describing how to get out of the hole i’m in it says to not annoy the admissions office otherwise you’re not even going to be considered.</p>
<p>They say that as a general message so as not to get 2,000 people contacting them all at once. If you just happen to see them and chat with them for 10 minutes, I think that’s different. I guess it’s ultimately up to you to decide what would work best. All the best!</p>
<p>yeah, thanks for the advice, wildcat. now i just have to plan on what to do and how to do it without coming off as an annoyance and being awkward…i have lots of work ahead of me</p>
<p>Send a thoughtful letter explaining your frustrations and emotions about the process. I’ve talked to kids who have gotten off waitlists at really great schools and it works.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the advice!
I’m planning on emailing some sort of introduction/regards to the dean (Mr. Watson) this week,
but is that the right person I should be emailing?
Or should I be sending an introductory email to the general office of admissions instead?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Northwestern is too far away for me to make a visit, so I’ll have to make do without one.</p>
<p>I’m going to send a letter of interest the last week of April as well (along with updated grades). </p>
<p>Question though–if I by any chance do get off the waitlist, will I get to hear of the financial aid package from them before I agree to enroll? Any past waitlisted-students who did get in?</p>