<p>I was put on the wait list for Emory and NYU. I was accepted to Fordham and Northeastern with scholarships, and I'm still waiting for Michigan, although I most likely got rejected because I applied late. I'm just wondering what else can I do to help my status on the wait list. I've sent in a letter to both Emory and NYU expressing my interest in each school. I also got my friend who currently attends Emory and was accepted off of the wait list last year to write a recommendation for me. I was also thinking of asking one of my teachers and my pastor to send in a recommendation for me. I'd rather not send in updated grades. I've been getting A's and B's, but I recently got my first C ever on this marking period. What else can I do to show these schools that I'm willing to go?</p>
<p>Uh, not much, really. Too many recommendations will actually hurt your chances. Unless you get some major award (e.g. 1st place in county academic bowl) or something, sending clutter in will just annoy the admissions office.
Just keep your grades up and your fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Did you visit Emory and otherwise show more than just nominal interest through your application? Emory is famous for waitlisting its applicants. If you were competitive within their applicant pool, showing exceptional interest could have made a difference, although you’ll never know.</p>
<p>I’m visiting the school this month. I also asked for their video visit DVD and watched that. Would getting my Stats AP teacher to write a recommendation be considered “too much”?</p>
Dave, I disagree with this statement. Emory in general has moderate wait listing, and by comparison to Washington University of St. Louis, the wait list is smaller in most years. Just two years ago, Emory took nobody off their wait list. This year, there’s an increase by all colleges to balance against a number of unusual factors/trends: The largest applicant pool in the history of the U.S.; the economic fallout/uncertainty; the huge increase in student applicants applying to 8-10 schools on average (partly due to the convenience of the Common App – with some schools providing free applications); and the decision by some elite schools (e.g., Harvard and Yale) to eliminate ED/EA admissions.</p>
<p>The arching reason why colleges have increased wait listing for this year is to leverage against overestimating their yield numbers. These colleges have little choice, and some will be facing over-enrollment scenarios, and some elite colleges (I think especially those LAC’s that are selective but not elite and who lack finaid resources) will be begging some admitted applicants to matriculate.</p>
<p>Emory has been very clear that they are motivated by wait-listed students to continue to show interest – but not excessive badgering.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’ve done and read all that. I’m just unsure of how much is too much. My friend was on the wait list last year as well. He sent in a personal letter, an interview he did for wrestling, and a teacher recommendation and he was accepted off of the wait list.</p>
<p>^^ Nonie, believe it or not, you’re already ahead of the game … many wait-listed students will either choose not to go on the “official” list (or forget or ignore or whatever). </p>
<p>Because you can’t just sit on your application and do nothing, here are some thoughts:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Persevere in a nice way, but watch the fine line between persisting and pestering.</p></li>
<li><p>If you have not done so, send in any updated grades that may make a difference (obviously if you’re getting a “D” in a class, don’t do this – make yourself look appealing).</p></li>
<li><p>If you have received any new awards/recognitions since your admission application, make the Office of Admission aware of this.</p></li>
<li><p>If you have the potential for an OUTSTANDING recommendation from some teacher or adult mentor who knows you well, go ahead and send this in – I’d recommend not sending multiple letters/recommendations.</p></li>
<li><p>For Emory, the most important thing you can do is to communicate to them that Emory is your NUMBER ONE choice, dream school, etc. Get this across without sounding as if you’re pandering or groveling. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks Dad lol. Looks like its a waiting game for me. I’m probably not gonna send an updated transcript. I got a C in US His AP. First one…ever.</p>
<p>I tried contacting the adcom that is in charge of my portion of the waitlist, I sent her my “interest letter” but she hasn’t responded? Its been three days now, so I don’t know what to do, should I email her the letter again? How do I know she got it?</p>
<p>I will be mailing a letter in a couple of days…</p>
<p>Colleges00701 - The admissions reps have been pretty busy with the 4 admitted students days (Monday and Friday of this week and next), so I wouldn’t worry if it takes him/her a few days to respond. The rep I spoke with on Monday expressed concern about the economy’s impact on the families of the accepted students. My personal guess is that they will hit the wait list in a robust manner, so best wishes!!</p>
<p>Thanks, I hope so too. But I am worrying because Emory knew the ecnoomic situtatiion so they probably waitlisted a lot more people than in the past…I really want EMORY…</p>
<p>nonie: regional rep is the person who reads your application first. You can find contact info on line. And no, I am not accepted yet. In the reply email, my regional rep thanked me for the note and said they’ll move on to considering wait list students towards the end of April/ early May.</p>
First one…ever.</p>