The last month of 2017 is not only the final sprint stage of applications but also the harvest period for the first offers of Fall 2018. I believe more students will soon receive emails starting with “Congratulations!”
But if the email you receive starts with “Thank you for your application……” don’t be discouraged. Maybe if you keep your eyes open, you’ll see you weren’t rejected but waitlisted.
The most agonizing part of the application season is for students placed on the waitlist. Some say it’s scarier than a rejection letter because it gives you a sliver of hope and then tests your endurance in the waiting.
But as a “backup,” you must not give up. Although the hope of being accepted is slim, sometimes it’s that very sliver of hope that lets us reverse our fate and get into our dream school. Next, let Yuzu Tea teach you how to win back your dream school!
◆ What is a waitlist
◆ Reasons for being waitlisted
◆ How to increase your chances of admission after being waitlisted
What is a waitlist
If you receive a waitlist notification, it means the admissions officer has already reviewed your materials and you aren’t the top choice on the school’s pre-selection list. Some applicants will receive conditional admission, clearly stating what requirements must be met before the school officially issues an admission letter.
The waitlist is also a way for a university to ensure current enrollment numbers. If enrollment falls below the planned target, the school will select a corresponding number of students from the waitlist and send official admission letters.
Reasons for being waitlisted
The fundamental reason for waitlisting is the uncertainty of the yield rate (the ratio of enrolled students to admitted students). The school cannot guarantee that the number of enrolled students will match the number of available spots. Schools are often unsure how many students who receive offers will actually attend.
1
Courtesy waitlist
Being placed on the waitlist means you are definitely on the borderline of admission—the university thinks it could go either way. Your application might be strong overall but weak in one area, or it might be completely adequate but too average overall. For instance, an applicant with outstanding activities who overcame significant life difficulties impressed the admissions officer, but unfortunately their standardized test scores don’t meet the school’s basic requirements. In this case, the school might waitlist the applicant as a sign of respect. That is, a kind consolation waitlist, like a lottery’s “better luck next time.”
2
Overqualify
In other words, you are the crème de la crème, and the school knows it isn’t good enough for you. To keep their yield rate high (meaning a larger proportion of admitted students actually enroll), schools will waitlist applicants who are clearly using them as a safety school. Yield rate is emphasized because it is directly linked to rankings. Many schools choose not to directly admit students they think won’t attend in order to improve their US News ranking. But obviously, the better the school, the less this happens.
3
A small “bug”
The last situation is the one you should pay the most attention to: the school feels you’re just a little short of the mark, but there’s no major flaw. In this case, as long as you still “love” the school, you must seize this opportunity and not give up easily. If you perform well, you might just be “activated” by your dream school! For the specifics, read on.
How to turn a waitlist into an offer
Although the Waiting List has “waiting” in its name, that doesn’t mean all you can do is wait. Rather than sitting idly, it’s better to take initiative—especially for a dream school you really want to attend. You must “pledge loyalty” to the school, explaining how much you want to be admitted and that if accepted, you will definitely enroll!
1
Respond as soon as possible
First, you must send a “thank-you letter” expressing your willingness to remain on the waitlist and await the school’s decision. Proactively contact the school to fight for your chances.
2
Update your information
Show the school your achievements since submitting your application. For example, higher GRE/TOEFL scores, completed new research projects, published papers in journals, new internships, etc., or additional recommendation letters.
The fact that the school didn’t reject you outright proves your background is quite good, but perhaps not quite enough for a direct offer. So this is the time to show the school that compared to when you submitted your application, you’ve made significant progress. Your background isn’t just quite good—it’s already strong enough to deserve an offer.
Remember, all follow-up materials must have sufficient substance and persuasiveness to avoid hurting rather than helping your case.
3
Write a “love letter”
While updating your information, you can also reiterate the “why school, why program” part, carefully explaining how your background matches the school and sincerely expressing your desire to attend. Some students may ask: I don’t have any new progress to update, so can I just pledge loyalty and say I’ll attend if given an offer? The answer is yes—doing something is better than doing nothing. But a word of caution: don’t say you’ll attend if offered unless you mean it. Think carefully and keep your word. Otherwise, if they give you an offer and you don’t go, it’s a serious breach of integrity and very bad for your reputation.
In summary, keep in mind not to bombard the school’s email but rather provide information that gives them more reason to accept you. Too much will only annoy the admissions officer. Always use appropriate communication methods.
