<p>There was a good story on Morning Edition about the college admissions process from the viewpoint of the schools. They sat in on the deliberations of the admissions committee of Amherst College. Some details were given about applicants and, although no names were mentioned, they would easily be able to identify themselves. The committee members were very honest and obviously care a great deal about their difficult decisions.
On the web at Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR; I assume that these sorts of conversations go on in all competitive university admissions</p>
<p>Great post ^^^ 2flipper2! Every student applying to college (and their parents) should listen to this. Just google it: Behind the Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst?
Hopefully, it will help everyone understand just how random the process is and why it makes no sense to take being rejected or waitlisted so personally. It does, though, reinforce how critical the essays are.</p>
<p>2flipper2, I was just going to post about that! I heard it on the radio this morning twice and I’m sure even though it’s Amherst, the process holds true for most if not all colleges. So basically after weeding out the applicants, the rest is just random. I’m amazed that even just one sentence in the application essay can break or make an applicant! </p>
<p>Here is a link to the radio broadcast.
[Behind</a> The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR](<a href=“Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR”>Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR)</p>
<p>^@profnomad, I think you completely misunderstood my point haha.</p>
<p>I am sure that this has already been discussed, but I just discovered that I was admitted to Columbia and Darthmouth, but I had been waitlisted at WUSTL. Does anyone know how the admissions decision making process differs at these universities? I am not angry, per se, but I would like some insight as to how the decision was made. (The Financial Aid process could not have been a factor, since I did not submit a FAFSA.)</p>
<p>I was accepted at WUSTL, and rejected from Columbia and Dartmouth. It is an interesting notion, powerbond.</p>
<p>Did you apply to other Ivy’s? My niece was just accepted at Dartmouth, but rejected from Yale, and she’s not questioning the process. This stems from you believing deep down that Wash U is not the equivalent of an ivy and that if you get into an ivy that means that you should by default be granted admission into every other school that you believe is of lesser stature. It just does not work that way. Sorry. Rejoice in your great acceptances! But let it go…</p>
<p>D was accepted to Stanford, Notre Dame, USC & Vandy - wl at Wash U and will take WU over all.</p>
<p>@boymom,</p>
<p>If your daughter is sending an update letter to WashU, perhaps she should mention that she will turn down Stanford because of how much she wants to attend WashU. Ask her school’s guidance office what they think.</p>
<p>My son turned down two Ivies to attend WashU because he felt that it was the perfect fit for him. Now that he has matriculated, he still feels that way.</p>
<p>^Wow, boymom. I think your daughter should CALL Wash U. She should talk to her adcom about just how much she wants to attend. She should be sure to mention that she would turn down all others to go to Wash U. What a shame. Of all the rotten luck! </p>
<p>Good luck to you! I hope she’s snatched off that waitlist in no time! :)</p>
<p>green678 & SimpleLife - Do you think adcoms care? We’ve sent updated grades but it was before the latest admits. When is it pressing the issue? I am willing to do whatever - I just don’t want to **** anybody off :)</p>
<p>Boy mom- I would have her call admissions and the alumni that she interviewed with ( because then they could make another call on her behalf). She’s clearly qualified, and when they get to that wait list that they are openly planning on using they will want to get thru it quickly by calling the people they know will say yes. Good luck and what great options she has!</p>
<p>@boymom,</p>
<p>We had to deal with waitlists with one of my kids. The college counselor at their private high school said that in order to get off a waitlist you should tell the school that you will attend if chosen. They are more likely to pull in a kid whom they are sure will say yes. He said that the child needed to write a one page letter that updated the adcoms with any new information and said “School XYZ is my first choice and I will attend if accepted off the waitlist.” The letter could also reiterate why the child thinks she is a good fit for the school, what she could contribute to the student body etc.</p>
<p>I’m not positive about this part, but it seems to me that saying that she will turn down Stanford is something that will get their attention. I know that if I were on the committee it would get mine. It would show that she has looked beyond rankings to focus on the school itself and why she is a good fit.</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter. I am rooting for her! And if WashU doesn’t work out, she is fortunate to have lots of great options.</p>
<p>^Yes, boymom, I think adcoms care. I mean … your daughter’s specific adcom may not care (I hope that’s not the case), but her adcom is the best person to talk to about this, and he/she SHOULD care. If anybody can make things happen for your D, it’s her adcom.</p>
<p>I say your D should call, as opposed to simply sending updated stuff, because calling is the best way to clearly state her passion and intentions. Much more effective than a one-page report off the fax (or in the mail). Besides, I’m pretty positive her file is not lacking. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been waitlisted. So updates are … meh.</p>
<p>I can’t even remember which day Wash U’s decisions came out (it’s a whirlwind), but I would give it about a week or so from that date, to let the adcoms collect their thoughts and take a breather after all THEY’VE been through, and then I would call (I mean, D would call).</p>
<p>I’ve read several of your posts over time, so I can’t imagine you need to hear any of what I’m about to say. You seem VERY nice, un-entitled, and like you know just how to handle these sorts of things. But regardless … I think it’s very unlikely that your D will **** anybody off if she does these things: Thank the adcom, at the beginning and end of her conversation, for considering her file and honoring her with a waitlist decision – she’s SO excited that she MIGHT have the opportunity to attend!; Let the adcom know that she’s grateful for the decision that she got, and that she doesn’t feel entitled to any other decision, BUT that she really wants him/her to know how much she loves Wash U – “I’ve been fortunate enough to gain admission to some really great schools, Stanford among them, but I would gladly turn down any of them for a spot at Wash U! This is by far my top choice school. No other can compare.”; Ask for advice – is there anything you can recommend that might help make Wash U a possibility for me in the fall?; and then thank him/her one more time for his/her consideration.</p>
<p>They won’t be mad. And if they are (they won’t be), how much has she lost? Sadly, the chances of coming off the waitlist at Wash U are, supposedly, historically slim. I think it’s important to be politely assertive and pursue what she really wants while she still can. If calling is ineffective in the end, what has she lost? Nothing.</p>
<p>I wish your D the best of luck! :)</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! As you know, it’s been a stressful couple of weeks & now on to a stressful month. It’s nice to have a place & people who are willing to be honest and helpful. As a mom, I feel that it’s my job to do what I can to help. I really appreciate your encouragement and suggestions. I’ve cried alot of tears lately - tears of joy, relief, sadness and sometimes for no reason! Many have also been reading stories on this site and realizing that people here are genuinely caring. So, thank you for making a long day a hopeful night :)</p>
<p>boymom5, I wish your D the best of luck! Wherever she goes she will definitely succeed, but I hope she gets admission to Wash U! She deserves it.</p>
<p>I wanted to know if the advice green678 and SimpleLife provided about appealing waitlist decisions are valid for other schools. I’ve been accepted at WUSTL but waitlisted at JHU, and as grateful as I am to be in to WUSTL, I would probably turn it down if JHU admitted me. If I e-mail my rep, write a formal letter of intent, and send any new accomplishments from my senior year, if JHU decides to use their waitlist might this help my chances? Thanks.</p>
<p>Again, best wishes to your D boymom5!</p>
<p>@pirouette,</p>
<p>Yes, it applies to other schools as well. Contact you regional rep and email a letter with your intent to matriculate and any new accomplishments. Good luck to you and to boymom5’s daughter. I have a feeling that lots of schools will be going to the waitlist this year, given the high number of apps and cross-admits.</p>
<p>@pirouette - I agree with sharpenedpencil…D’s GC sent her 3rd qtr grades & an addtl teacher’s rec with a written note stating her intention. Thank you for the well wishes & good luck to you! Wouldn’t it be fun if you could just trade spots with other people? Maybe Mr. Zuckerberg should look into that for FB :)</p>
<p>@boymom5 - Haha yes how awesome would it be to just trade spots with people through FB! Thanks for the well wishes. May I ask what your D is planning to study? I intend on majoring in biology and being a pre-med student, and I know I can’t go wrong with either WUSTL or UMich (my other favorite acceptance), but I would be lying if I said the waitlist from JHU didn’t sting a little. </p>
<p>JHU accepted 30 students off the waitlist last year and WUSTL didn’t accept anyone, but I’m hearing they accepted much less/waitlisted many more students this year so they could better reach their target number? (too many enrolled last year?) And cool thanks sharpenedpencil, my school is on trimesters so I believe all my schools have all my current grades from the mid-year report, but I’ll be sure to send a letter of intent and any extra accomplishments. Could anyone give any examples of accomplishments worthy of sending?</p>
<p>@pirouette - She is an English major, pre-law. Her plan B is either UNC or Vandy. You have great options, and I’m sure a great future!</p>