Getting In, Getting Waitlisted

Many high school seniors begin May celebrating, by investing in college sweatshirts and window decals...and some face the waitlist.

While the college waitlist may appear to be the product of sadistic admissions officers, it's important to remember that it does have one redeeming feature: It is not a denial. If a college has offered you a place on the waitlist, it means the school believes you are capable of succeeding at the institution.

There are things you can do to increase your chances of rolling that waitlist spot over to an actual offer of admission. If you and your parents have decided that the school is really the right one for you - academically, socially, financially, and geographically then,
 Here are 10 steps to take:

1. Write a letter accepting the waitlist offer and indicating your strong interest in attending the school. (Remember: you should do this, not your parents!)
2. Send any new and relevant information to the college admissions office, like mid-term grades, honors, awards, memberships, or increased test scores.
3. Ask the admissions office what, if anything, can be done to strengthen your application and increase your chance of being offered admission.
4. Schedule a personal interview with an admissions staff member, if possible, to communicate your sincere interest in the college.
5. Know your numbers: Ask colleges how many students have historically been placed on the waitlist and how many waitlisted students have been offered admission each year.
6. Maintain regular (but not pesky!) communication with the admissions officer who represents your geographic region. Indicate your continued interest in joining the incoming class.
7. Consider alternate paths to gain admission, like summer programs, spring admission, and transferring to the college after starting somewhere else.
8. Maintain strong grades in the spring—no senioritis allowed!
9. Make contingency plans so you have a school to attend in the fall if you are not offered admission as a waitlist candidate.
10. Get to know your second choice school. Try to visit the campus and get to know students and faculty. In the end, your second choice school may end up becoming your top choice.

Upcoming Test Dates

SAT:

• May 3, 2008 (registration deadline: April 1, 2008)
• June 7, 2008 (registration deadline: May 6, 2008)

ACT:

• June 14, 2008 (registration deadline: May 9, 2008)