What to do if you have been wait-listed?

[Anonymous]

If you have been put on a wait list, is there anything you can do to increase your chances of being admitted?

We are on a wait-list for our first-choice school. We did not send in a "first choice" letter. Should we follow-up now with such a letter, or are we too late?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It can't hurt. Also, thank the committee for considering your child and all of his or her qualities.

Best wishes!

[Anonymous]

I suppose requesting an admissions "debrief" should wait until you're officially rejected? We will likely reapply, but would like to know what might make our DC's application stronger and whether there is a snowball's chance in hell if we reapply.

[Anonymous]

Waitlisted can be turned into acceptances!

[Anonymous]

We were waitlisted at our first choice last year. We wrote a very nice, not overly gushing, letter with specific reasons why this school was our first choice and we clearly stated that if we were offered a spot we would take it the same day. (We had not sent a "first choice letter" either.) we emailed the letter to HOS and AD and mailed a hard copy. I called AD and when AD called me back I said the same things -- this is our first choice, we feel it's a good fit because xyz, we are committed to being a part of the community if offered the opportunity. About a week after contracts were due, we got in. This was for K at a sought after school. DC scored 99.9 on WPSSI (I swear) but we were not connected, boring lawyers etc. It CAN happen but you've got to tell them (and mean it) that you want it. Hang in there, best of luck--it can be very stressful whether people want to admit it or not!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were waitlisted at our first choice last year. We wrote a very nice, not overly gushing, letter with specific reasons why this school was our first choice and we clearly stated that if we were offered a spot we would take it the same day. (We had not sent a "first choice letter" either.) we emailed the letter to HOS and AD and mailed a hard copy. I called AD and when AD called me back I said the same things -- this is our first choice, we feel it's a good fit because xyz, we are committed to being a part of the community if offered the opportunity. About a week after contracts were due, we got in. This was for K at a sought after school. DC scored 99.9 on WPSSI (I swear) but we were not connected, boring lawyers etc. It CAN happen but you've got to tell them (and mean it) that you want it. Hang in there, best of luck--it can be very stressful whether people want to admit it or not!

Thanks very, very useful.

[Anonymous]

21:12 here: if you know anyone who could put in a word for you at your first choice, a friend whose kids go there etc, I'd also consider asking them to do so if you feel comfortable. When the schools turn to the wait list, they don't go in order, they look to balance the class. Getting your child's name out in front of the committee, somehow, is key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were waitlisted at our first choice last year. We wrote a very nice, not overly gushing, letter with specific reasons why this school was our first choice and we clearly stated that if we were offered a spot we would take it the same day. (We had not sent a "first choice letter" either.) we emailed the letter to HOS and AD and mailed a hard copy. I called AD and when AD called me back I said the same things -- this is our first choice, we feel it's a good fit because xyz, we are committed to being a part of the community if offered the opportunity. About a week after contracts were due, we got in. This was for K at a sought after school. DC scored 99.9 on WPSSI (I swear) but we were not connected, boring lawyers etc. It CAN happen but you've got to tell them (and mean it) that you want it. Hang in there, best of luck--it can be very stressful whether people want to admit it or not!

Thanks very, very useful.

Same story with us. We were WL at our #1. As soon as we received the notice, I wrote a handwritten note to the AD. I waited a few days after the letters went out and also called the AD to express our interest should the WL move at all. We ended up getting in right after contracts were due.