My D was waitlisted at Yale as I’m sure many others were. I thought I would start a thread as earlier this week her guidance counselor spoke with an AO and was told they will taking people off the waitlist this year. No idea how many, but at least a good sign that they expect to have spots available. My D was encouraged to send a LOCI and any updates soon. Anybody else hear anything? She is doing a great job trying to fall in love with another school she was admitted to, but still holding out a tiny bit of hope for Yale.
@caspiancat I’m not sure what your guidance counselor heard from the AO…but Yale will not know if they will be able to offer spots off the waitlist until May 1 when they know their yield. The model they are using this year is a projected yield of 69.5. In this case, any yield below this number will result in a move to the waitlist. Best wishes to your daughter!
Thanks for the kind wishes! Yes, I understand they cannot know until they know their yield rate but apparently they “expect “ to use their waitlist. Of course, they probably always expect this or why have a waitlist; however, it does seem that several schools specifically tried to accept slightly fewer students this year in anticipation of trying to take more off the waitlist ( i.e.Harvard ). Thank you for the additional information and projected model. The likely have models that track trends as well ( how many people had committed by this time last year, etc…) Of course we know it is unlikely she will be offered a spot, as data show from past years. Good luck to everyone!
I was also waitlisted, and I was wondering if anyone’s GC got a call from Yale a few days before the decision came out on 3/28? Mine did, and the Yale AO asked her to send my current grades. Did this happen to anyone else? Let me know! Just trying to figure this confusing and complex process out.
@hotcheetooooos I’m pretty sure my D’s counselor did not get a call before decisions, as we have a pretty communicative relationship and I didn’t hear anything about it. I can’t be sure though without asking him. Sounds like a good sign that they were/are interested in you. Have you sent a LOCI yet or waiting until closer to the May 1st date?
We did find out that my D’s school incorrectly identified her as salutatorian rather than valedictorian ( said she was currently salutatorian when she was actually currently valedictorian). It was in a LOR so we didn’t catch it until my daughter was shown this letter. I found the error in their GPA calculation and it was corrected by the school, but not until after the letters and updates had gone out. I’m not sure this made any difference in the admissions process, but the GC called and updated them of her valedictorian status and sent updated grades after decisions were released. That’s when the GC was told they expect to take more than 0 this year off the waitlist.
@caspiancat I haven’t sent my LOCI yet, but it’s in the works and I plan on sending it either Monday or Tuesday. Are you opting for traditional mail or email/online? I’m not sure what the best option is. And I’m glad you updated them on that, I’m sure she’s an incredible applicant either way—salutatorian or valedictorian!
My LOCI is going to include political events/leadership positions I’ve organized/acquired over the past few months, along with one award. Is this typical? I’ll mention my GPA as well, but it’s not much different than what it was when I sent my app, so the bulk of my LOCI will be about leadership and how I’ll bring it to campus. How about your D?
My D is going to email her LOCI to her AO and also add it to the portal as well. Your updates sound solid. I have also read that enthusiasm for the school and noting specific things about the school are important. For example, stating if it is your first choice that you will attend if offered a spot and highlighting a specific academic component that is unique to the school such as a professor or program that you are interested in. I agree that including what you will bring to the school is also valuable. The chances are still low for everyone on the waiting list, but remember that AO’s only know what you have communicated to them about you. I know my D wants to feel that she did her part as best as she could in responding to the wait list and then whatever happens happens and she hopefully won’t have regrets and can embrace wherever she decides to attend.
I noticed Yale admitted slightly less this year than last year - even though they admitted students off the waitlist last year (at least 10, as per the portal). Do you think this means that they will admit more students off the waitlist this year? Also, while I’m committed to another amazing school, I don’t think my counselor will call the university (they usually don’t. However, my alumni interviewer was able to send a letter of rec to the admissions officer. Does it look bad that my counselor probably won’t call?
this thread is so dead compared to the other waitlist thread - bump!
update from the reddit - someone called the Yale admissions office and was told that Yale was over capacity and thtat there would be little to no movement off the watilist
I saw that also but I don’t believe it
I asked an admissions officer, and they confirmed there would be very little movement.
@skatergirl27 very little or no? like are they closing the WL altogether or are they accepting a few?
My admissions counselor told me Yale had a extremely high yield this year–as a result, they probably aren’t taking anyone (or at the most, next to no one), according to my admissions officer 
if that’s true (and it’s what I’ve heard from multiple people online), then I hope that they close the waitlist this week to give everyone closure instead of keeping people on the hook
I doubt they would close the waitlist entirely until the other top 5 colleges send out their first wave of waitlist acceptances and they see whether they have any melt. It’s unlikely, but it’s remotely possible.
I’m not sure if any of you have seen but Princeton had very little movement and recently closed their waitlist.
A question: How can I find out that some schools have closed their waitlist? Thanks.
I wonder why they don’t keep it transparent?
I’m glad that Princeton closed the waitlist since they decided not to take anymore applicants - I hope that Yale will choose to do the same too if they don’t want to take people off the waitlist. In past years, if they’re not accepting people off the waitlist they close it in early to Mid-May…keep in mind in the waitlist offer they tell you that they will not be taking action on your application until Mid-May so that may be the earliest they close it. That being said, I hope that Yale chooses to take at least a few off their waitlist! (Chances are very, very low, though. Expect the worst, hope for the best).
You can find out that some schools have closed their waitlist through email @GammaDelta