Anonymous
04/03/2025 13:20
Subject: Re:WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:But they shouldn't state it for more than one school, which is dishonest.
Here's my view. Say a kid is admitted to and currently planning to attend College A. Kid is waitlisted at Colleges B, C, and D.
If the kid says in their letter to College B that it's their top choice and that they'd attend if admitted, that's referring to a choice only among the colleges where the kid has actually been admitted, but not to colleges C and D, which are not actually an option because the kid is not currently admitted to Colleges C and D. So, it is truthful to say that College B is their top choice, if it's true that the kid would likely attend College B if admitted off the waitlist.
I don't believe it is untruthful to likewise say to College C that College C is their top choice and that they'd attend if admitted, if, again, it's true that they'd choose College C over College A and any other schools where they were admitted.
Same for College D, it may be true that College D is their top choice and they'd attend if admitted, if they'd choose College D over College A and any other schools where they were already admitted.
Agree and the reality is they read right over it and pay it no mind. They are picking who they want whether you said it or not.
Interestingly, in Tufts extensive waitlist instructions via email, they state:
"If Tufts is truly your top choice, and you are confident you would enroll if offered admission, please communicate that in your letter." (emphasis supplied)
So, Tufts apparently finds the inclusion of this statement meaningful, even if other colleges don't. But then, Tufts cares a lot about demonstrated interest.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 13:00
Subject: Re:WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:But they shouldn't state it for more than one school, which is dishonest.
Here's my view. Say a kid is admitted to and currently planning to attend College A. Kid is waitlisted at Colleges B, C, and D.
If the kid says in their letter to College B that it's their top choice and that they'd attend if admitted, that's referring to a choice only among the colleges where the kid has actually been admitted, but not to colleges C and D, which are not actually an option because the kid is not currently admitted to Colleges C and D. So, it is truthful to say that College B is their top choice, if it's true that the kid would likely attend College B if admitted off the waitlist.
I don't believe it is untruthful to likewise say to College C that College C is their top choice and that they'd attend if admitted, if, again, it's true that they'd choose College C over College A and any other schools where they were admitted.
Same for College D, it may be true that College D is their top choice and they'd attend if admitted, if they'd choose College D over College A and any other schools where they were already admitted.
Agree and the reality is they read right over it and pay it no mind. They are picking who they want whether you said it or not.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:57
Subject: Re:WL strategy
But they shouldn't state it for more than one school, which is dishonest.
Here's my view. Say a kid is admitted to and currently planning to attend College A. Kid is waitlisted at Colleges B, C, and D.
If the kid says in their letter to College B that it's their top choice and that they'd attend if admitted, that's referring to a choice only among the colleges where the kid has actually been admitted, but not to colleges C and D, which are not actually an option because the kid is not currently admitted to Colleges C and D. So, it is truthful to say that College B is their top choice, if it's true that the kid would likely attend College B if admitted off the waitlist.
I don't believe it is untruthful to likewise say to College C that College C is their top choice and that they'd attend if admitted, if, again, it's true that they'd choose College C over College A and any other schools where they were admitted.
Same for College D, it may be true that College D is their top choice and they'd attend if admitted, if they'd choose College D over College A and any other schools where they were already admitted.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:38
Subject: WL strategy
Another poster here. My kid (from last year) received an email from the area AO informing her that they are recommending people to be taken off the waitlist and whether she was interested and whether she was available for a quick call. She responded by email and set up a short call for the next day. On the call, she was told that she was being considered and if she received an offer, how much financial aid she would be given. She was ecstatic. The next day after that, she received an email from the same AO congratulating her. This all happened in mid-May.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:30
Subject: Re:WL strategy
Why is this "family member" asking you for help when you seem to know little about it? I can't imagine turning to an extended family member for help for my high stats kid when the family member seemingly knows little about LOCIs..?
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:14
Subject: WL strategy
I agree that the LOCI should be short. My DD got into her current highly selective school off the waitlist last year. It was the only waitlist to which she accepted a spot and the only school that she would have chosen over her committed school, which had equal prestige. Her LOCI stated that the WL school was her number 1 choice and that she was highly likely to accept a spot if offered. And it had a very brief paragraph about her accomplishments since her application. She got a waitlist offer around May 7 and a week to decide.
If my DD did multiple LOCIs, I would have recommended some minor customization in each just to show it wasn't a form letter--e.g., a brief sentence reiterating why College X is specifically a great fit. But I wouldn't have done completely different LOCIs for each school. They should all have the same basic structure and component parts. And I believe in being ethical. If your DC has a #1 choice, then they should absolutely state that for that school's LOCI. But they shouldn't state it for more than one school, which is dishonest.
Anyhow, your kid has great stats and I'm sure they got into some really great schools. Mentally managing the waitlist situation is tricky and, if done correctly, I think requires a state of quasi-cognitive dissonance. On one hand, DC should enthusiastically commit to their current school without thinking about the prospect of going to another school. I'm sure it's a great school and worth getting excited about. It'd be shame to start off with on a note of disappointment. And you may find that that school is actually the best fit at the end of the day. (Are many of the T15 schools actually much fun?) On the other hand, DC should probably still (a) write their LOCIs and (b) if offered a spot, will about a week to make a critical decision, which warrants at least a little contemplation ahead of time.
If my DD did multiple LOCIs, I would have recommended some minor customization in each just to show it wasn't a form letter--e.g., a brief sentence reiterating why College X is specifically a great fit. But I wouldn't have done completely different LOCIs for each school. They should all have the same basic structure and component parts. And I believe in being ethical. If your DC has a #1 choice, then they should absolutely state that for that school's LOCI. But they shouldn't state it for more than one school, which is dishonest.
Anyhow, your kid has great stats and I'm sure they got into some really great schools. Mentally managing the waitlist situation is tricky and, if done correctly, I think requires a state of quasi-cognitive dissonance. On one hand, DC should enthusiastically commit to their current school without thinking about the prospect of going to another school. I'm sure it's a great school and worth getting excited about. It'd be shame to start off with on a note of disappointment. And you may find that that school is actually the best fit at the end of the day. (Are many of the T15 schools actually much fun?) On the other hand, DC should probably still (a) write their LOCIs and (b) if offered a spot, will about a week to make a critical decision, which warrants at least a little contemplation ahead of time.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:13
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids Ivy gave a week and it was so appreciated. Some are only 24-48 hours and it’s a lot of mental gymnastics on kids that rightfully set their head in another direction to regroup and rethink it all.
+1
My kid had one week at Ivy last year. Deadline May 21st to respond. He got off the list early.
When were you notified? What did the WL letter say? Generally?
May 7th- it was actually 2 weeks to respond--May 21st.
Very nice admissions offer--school pennant, big fancy envelope--package. Extremely nice letter.
My kid came running into my office very excited... I was shocked it was so early. Got off Hopkins around the same time.
DP. The initial notification was snailmail rather than email?
Oh actually--kid got email ...then the package arrived by mail
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:10
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids Ivy gave a week and it was so appreciated. Some are only 24-48 hours and it’s a lot of mental gymnastics on kids that rightfully set their head in another direction to regroup and rethink it all.
+1
My kid had one week at Ivy last year. Deadline May 21st to respond. He got off the list early.
When were you notified? What did the WL letter say? Generally?
May 7th- it was actually 2 weeks to respond--May 21st.
Very nice admissions offer--school pennant, big fancy envelope--package. Extremely nice letter.
My kid came running into my office very excited... I was shocked it was so early. Got off Hopkins around the same time.
DP. The initial notification was snailmail rather than email?
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:07
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids Ivy gave a week and it was so appreciated. Some are only 24-48 hours and it’s a lot of mental gymnastics on kids that rightfully set their head in another direction to regroup and rethink it all.
+1
My kid had one week at Ivy last year. Deadline May 21st to respond. He got off the list early.
When were you notified? What did the WL letter say? Generally?
May 7th- it was actually 2 weeks to respond--May 21st.
Very nice admissions offer--school pennant, big fancy envelope--package. Extremely nice letter.
My kid came running into my office very excited... I was shocked it was so early. Got off Hopkins around the same time.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:06
Subject: WL strategy
If they are ready for the work at those schools, they can look up LOCI examples online and create one. This should take an hour or two.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 12:03
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:I am helping an extended family member (outside DMV) with a WL strategy (WL to 9 top T15 schools).....
Valedictorian/class president/national debate awards/state sports awards/locally recognized indep project
35/1550
5.0w/4.0 uw
STEM major
ORM male
full pay
I think the family wants to do custom WL letters for all 9 schools. Is it best to recommend a professional college counselor here to help?
Any recommendations on who to hire here?
Thank you.
Last year my DD was waitlisted at many schools. But moved forward where she got in. Forgot to write to Wash U and was accepted off waitlist doing absolutely nothing. Don't pay anyone. But some kids have posted on-line how they got off waitlists. Good luck!!
Anonymous
04/03/2025 11:59
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids Ivy gave a week and it was so appreciated. Some are only 24-48 hours and it’s a lot of mental gymnastics on kids that rightfully set their head in another direction to regroup and rethink it all.
+1
My kid had one week at Ivy last year. Deadline May 21st to respond. He got off the list early.
When were you notified? What did the WL letter say? Generally?
5/14 with no warning, just a congrats, as promised we’d review your application and you impressed us and board of admissions voted to offer admission, longer but gist. AO called next day to make even more personal, see if they had any questions, said if visiting again let them know and they will set up for it and want to meet.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 11:55
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:My kids Ivy gave a week and it was so appreciated. Some are only 24-48 hours and it’s a lot of mental gymnastics on kids that rightfully set their head in another direction to regroup and rethink it all.
Ugh, my kid so wants to be done with this decision. I'm trying to convince him to remain flexible, to anticipate possible disruption. We are doing the admitted student day at the top school where he was admitted, but he hasn't even been to one of his WL schools, another he's seen but not done the official tour (has a sibling there tho) and a third school he's done the tour but way back in fall 2023, so would welcome a revisit. I'm quite concerned about the potential timing, unless a WL offer comes in after May 20 (graduation), in which case we can easily drop everything for a visit.
Anonymous
04/03/2025 11:51
Subject: Re:WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Keep it very short!! Per our well versed private HS counselor.
So, I've seen 500 words mentioned elsewhere, but 500 sounds too long to me. Maybe 200-250 total?
Anonymous
04/03/2025 11:49
Subject: WL strategy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids Ivy gave a week and it was so appreciated. Some are only 24-48 hours and it’s a lot of mental gymnastics on kids that rightfully set their head in another direction to regroup and rethink it all.
+1
My kid had one week at Ivy last year. Deadline May 21st to respond. He got off the list early.
When were you notified? What did the WL letter say? Generally?