There’s a right and wrong way to approach a top college’s waitlist process. In the past 30 years, Ivy Coach has helped students get into America’s most selective universities, even from waitlists. We’ve noticed that most students and parents don’t approach waitlists correctly until we help them.
We’ve heard some strange stories about how students try to stand out when they’re on the waitlist. Many of them think they’re doing something new, but admissions officers have seen it all before.
So, here are the top ten things you shouldn’t do after being put on a college waitlist if you want to improve your chances:
10 Things to Avoid After Being Waitlisted
Don’t call the admissions office to check in or talk about what you had for breakfast. Admissions officers don’t want to hear from waitlisted students by phone. And they don’t care about your breakfast or recent honours. If you’ve received a significant honour, your school counsellor should inform them. Bragging about an achievement won’t make you more likeable.
Don’t go to the school’s admissions office. They don’t want visitors. Also, don’t camp outside their office. That’s weird! And, yes, a while back, a student camped outside Yale’s admissions office and cooked bacon in the morning.
Don’t flood them with updates on what you’ve done since you first applied a few months ago. Here’s the deal: you probably haven’t done much in just a few months, and bragging won’t make admissions staff support you.
Don’t bake cakes or pies for admissions officers. No baked treats! You might think we’re kidding. But students actually do it!
Don’t ask your mom to have a senator or governor call the admissions office for you. They won’t be impressed by this fancy call from someone you think will amaze them. It won’t impress them, and you’ll hurt your chances of getting accepted.
Don’t send your family photo album to the admissions office. Seriously. We’ve seen it happen! Did they really think baby pictures would be enough?
Don’t let your mom or dad call the admissions office for you, even if they’re pretending to be you. They don’t want to talk to your parents!
Don’t just send a simple email to the admissions office saying the school is still your top choice. This probably won’t convince them that you really mean it. Instead of just saying it, prove it by writing a strong letter explaining why you’re still interested. Include specific details about how you’ll contribute to the school’s programs, culture, activities, and traditions.
If you want to stay on the waitlist, don’t hesitate to check ‘yes’ on the form right away. There’s no need to delay. Avoid giving the impression that you’re unhappy about being on the waitlist.
Simply checking the box to stay on the waitlist without taking any further action isn’t enough. You need to send in a persuasive letter explaining why you’re still interested as soon as possible.
Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Navigating the Waitlist
If you want to increase your chances of getting into a top university (or several top universities), just complete Ivy Coach’s free consultation form. We’ll get in touch with you to talk about what to do next if you’re on a waiting list.
