My S just received a waitlist today to one of his top choices (ASU) and I wondered what folks have done in the past with these?
Is it the end of the road? Is there a chance? A slim to none or possible chance?
I looked for some older threads on here as well as the internet at large and the advice seems to run all the way from a waitlist is a soft rejection to there’s hope and a little more hope on the side.
Seems like it depends on whether the school runs a tight ship of only offering as many slots as they have open vs offering extra admissions with the assumption some people will not accept?
The advice I saw says to write an email to the admissions department accepting the waitlist and/or expressing the continued desire to attend the school along with an email to the specific professor as well expressing your acknowledgement of the waitlist and expressing that continued desire?
There’s some that say the professor may not even know that the decision went the way it did? That seem unlikely to me but I dunno…
Anyone know anything about how Arizona State University does their waitlist setup?
In general, a waitlist is a rejection but a hedge for the school should they need more bodies.
That said, they typically would not waitlist a student that they don’t see as a fit.
Too many programs - especially in a major like music - have a lot of fantastic applicants but not enough spots.
You should embrace the schools where you’ve been accepted and plan to go to one of those.
In most cases, wait list decisions come after May 1.
Some schools take no one or few off the waitlist. Other schools take many.
Some schools - like Case Western, wait list 30% of applicants.
In the last Common Data Set, they say they do not wait list. So I wonder if this is specific to the School of Music. Certainly a concise Letter of Continuing interest letting them know why you’re a good fit and you’ll absolutely attend if accepted is a smart idea.
Best of luck to your son and I’m sure he’ll find a great place somewhere.
While I do not know particulars about ASU, this has been our experience in voice departments: Presumably, there are only a fixed number of spots for a specific instrument. These spots are filled with undergrads and grad students. So let’s say they have 5 spots available in trumpet between 2 professors and your player ranked 7. He will be wait-listed until the top 5 have communicated their intent. If two choose to go elsewhere, he can move up to accepted status. If it is his top choice, you should definitely communicate to music admissions, and perhaps they will give you some indication of how deep the wait list is. Good luck!
Agree with the above. My D came off two waitlists for MT (one in March and another one in early May!). She declined both having accepted elsewhere.
In music, I would not say that it is “slim to none”. I would guess the list isn’t extensive (still I don’t know). If it is a top choice for him, definitely let admissions know. Continue to be enthusiastic and helpful (need anything else to help you decide?). If/when they start making the waitlist calls, it could move him up the list.
There is a chance a teacher doesn’t know (it is possible). If your S liked the teacher and felt like he had a good rapport, it is fine to send a brief “update” email saying that he just wanted the teacher to know that he is grateful that he was waitlisted…since he is still very interested in attending. Again ask if the teacher needs anything more…with a comment at the end that the teacher is not expected to reply to the email.
It can’t hurt to show sincere enthusiasm. I’m sure it hurts a bit…but he’ll have to get used to the hustle part…so better now than never. If he wants it, he should communicate that clearly, briefly and “professionally”.
Piggybacking on this thread since DS was just waitlisted at Oberlin (one of his top choices)…we were planning to visit in early April if he was accepted (since auditions were virtual, he hasn’t been to campus in person since we visited with his older brother when he was in 9th grade)…still a good idea to visit? We’ll be visiting other schools on the same trip, but there’s no reason to cut Oberlin out because he was waitlisted is there? With my older son we did cut colleges off our spring break visit list because he was waitlisted, but that wasn’t in music, so it just seemed like there wasn’t any point. With Oberlin it seems like he still has a shot and it’d be good for him to see it so he’s ready to make a quick decision if he’s offered a spot.
I see no problem with this. It definitely shows a “tough” disposition. Some kids wouldn’t be able to pull that off. If he can maintain a positive attitude and shows up at the school, good for him. You may want to talk with music admissions about appropriate meetings/tour etc for a waitlisted kid. Communication is so important at this point.
Good luck to him…with a tough attitude…he’ll do well wherever he lands.
Thanks! yes, this kid definitely has the right disposition for this…I know he’s bummed, but his outward projection of calm is amazing. Better him than me–I wouldn’t be able to handle it!
ASU is Dave Hickman, right? He is of age to be getting emeritus status - something to think about. But strategically, I’d plan on School B. If ASU comes through, great. If not, there’s still a plan.
If you really, really love a waitlisted school take the time to write them a compelling letter of affirmed interest and also have your school counselor lobby their admissions rep. It won’t immediately help but sometimes can help if/when they go into the waitlist pool.
Once that is done, be totally clear in your mind that your waitlist status is a firm no. Do your best to get excited about a school that was a yes. Declare your intent to go. Buy some SWAG for the yes school. Tell people. Make plans. Because the odds the waitlist are going to come through are usually less than the odds you would get in in the first place so holding out hope is usually destructive to getting in the right head space for where you most likely will go.
On the extremely low single-digit odds you get contacted about the waitlist, it will be a great surprise. So moving on is a win-win.
I am late to this, but if interested I would definitely send letter of interest to music admissions and the music prof. directly.
I am just joining this board, I have a junior in high school considering musical paths. But I also have a music major junior in college, I milled around here a bit back in the day (wow, I hate the new format!).
Long story short, he was wait listed at a school where the prof clearly was very interested in him. He indicated in not so many words in their sample lesson they didn’t have funding for undergrad in his area for the follow fall. They continued contact very regularly through the wait list period. Based on communications, had my kid followed through with indication he’d definitely attend if admitted I think he would have been offered a spot.
I think a lot of schools are trying to evaluate who is a good fit and who will really attend through their processes among musicianship, etc. You really don’t know why you end up wait listed somewhere. So I’d definitely follow through, especially if the math looks good on attendance (big fan of affordable undergrad for music students, that will be a big factor for us).