Anonymous
05/15/2026 16:42
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DS just got off the waitlist at WashU, and has 2 days to decide. He was previously committed to BU.
He's surprised he got off. GPA: 3.6/SAT: 1510, typical ECs.
Is it some elite private with grade deflation? Thanks.
Assuming he submitted the 1510?
Didn’t WashU tell people not to submit anything below 1500? So 1510 is on the low end of reported scores. It’s also low for a grade deflated elite private.
Maybe 1500 is sort of a cut-off and they made the cut-off and it was everything else? This kid must have qualified or else they would have been rejected and not WL'd.
I've heard from multiple AOs that acceptance from WL is all about demographics and majors and special cases (i.e. full pay, legacy), but never heard anyone say that gpa or scores help a kid get off the WL.
The elephant in the room is WashU is getting desperate.
My son also got a call this week from AO at WashU, where he's on the waitlist. They wanted to know if he'd accept the spot before they made a formal offer. He hadn't visited so they're giving him a few days to make a last minute trip. It's all very rushed and my son is very stressed. He likes the school's reputation but isn't sure about living in Missouri.
Humanities major, male, west coast private school, 34 ACT, 3.7 gpa unweighted (school doesn't give a weighted GPA).
Is it common for a WashU admit to applied RD and didn't visit? I thought they cared a lot about DI.
well in this case they seem to be wanting to confirm his interest by asking for his commitment to say "yes" before providing a formal offer. sort of like an ED3. so that definitely shows they are all about demonstrated interest and yield. the games these schools play to increase yield are really something.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 16:36
Subject: Waitlist Movements
And the waiting for a
And the waiting for a
And the waiting for a.... miracle
JGB
And the waiting for a
And the waiting for a.... miracle
JGB
Anonymous
05/15/2026 16:27
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:There are a few very dedicated moms here with kids on the Harvard WL wishcasting that Harvard’s yield has plummeted.
On the flip side, I know a kid admitted to all of HYPS who chose Harvard this year.
Hardly- on the waitlist and prayers and jou jou that kid gets in. Absolute first choice!!!
Anonymous
05/15/2026 14:58
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DS just got off the waitlist at WashU, and has 2 days to decide. He was previously committed to BU.
He's surprised he got off. GPA: 3.6/SAT: 1510, typical ECs.
Is it some elite private with grade deflation? Thanks.
Assuming he submitted the 1510?
Didn’t WashU tell people not to submit anything below 1500? So 1510 is on the low end of reported scores. It’s also low for a grade deflated elite private.
Maybe 1500 is sort of a cut-off and they made the cut-off and it was everything else? This kid must have qualified or else they would have been rejected and not WL'd.
I've heard from multiple AOs that acceptance from WL is all about demographics and majors and special cases (i.e. full pay, legacy), but never heard anyone say that gpa or scores help a kid get off the WL.
The elephant in the room is WashU is getting desperate.
My son also got a call this week from AO at WashU, where he's on the waitlist. They wanted to know if he'd accept the spot before they made a formal offer. He hadn't visited so they're giving him a few days to make a last minute trip. It's all very rushed and my son is very stressed. He likes the school's reputation but isn't sure about living in Missouri.
Humanities major, male, west coast private school, 34 ACT, 3.7 gpa unweighted (school doesn't give a weighted GPA).
Is it common for a WashU admit to applied RD and didn't visit? I thought they cared a lot about DI.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 14:49
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DS just got off the waitlist at WashU, and has 2 days to decide. He was previously committed to BU.
He's surprised he got off. GPA: 3.6/SAT: 1510, typical ECs.
Is it some elite private with grade deflation? Thanks.
Assuming he submitted the 1510?
Didn’t WashU tell people not to submit anything below 1500? So 1510 is on the low end of reported scores. It’s also low for a grade deflated elite private.
Maybe 1500 is sort of a cut-off and they made the cut-off and it was everything else? This kid must have qualified or else they would have been rejected and not WL'd.
I've heard from multiple AOs that acceptance from WL is all about demographics and majors and special cases (i.e. full pay, legacy), but never heard anyone say that gpa or scores help a kid get off the WL.
The elephant in the room is WashU is getting desperate.
My son also got a call this week from AO at WashU, where he's on the waitlist. They wanted to know if he'd accept the spot before they made a formal offer. He hadn't visited so they're giving him a few days to make a last minute trip. It's all very rushed and my son is very stressed. He likes the school's reputation but isn't sure about living in Missouri.
Humanities major, male, west coast private school, 34 ACT, 3.7 gpa unweighted (school doesn't give a weighted GPA).
It's not Missouri, it's St Louis. I know it sounds like I'm quibbling but there is a difference.
?? bruh, st. louis is IN missouri.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 14:19
Subject: Waitlist Movements
The Harvard WL call kid we know is sticking with original plan: MIT.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 14:14
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Harvard vies with MIT for highest true yield in the country, both are a little over 80 percent. That still means one out of every five kids will go elsewhere and that is baked into their estimates. The fact that they are already moving to close the wait list by
May 15 is highly suggestive of the fact that they had little movement off of it in this year. Not zero but consistent with past years.
May 15 is highly suggestive of the fact that they had little movement off of it in this year. Not zero but consistent with past years.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 13:39
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DS just got off the waitlist at WashU, and has 2 days to decide. He was previously committed to BU.
He's surprised he got off. GPA: 3.6/SAT: 1510, typical ECs.
Is it some elite private with grade deflation? Thanks.
Assuming he submitted the 1510?
Didn’t WashU tell people not to submit anything below 1500? So 1510 is on the low end of reported scores. It’s also low for a grade deflated elite private.
Maybe 1500 is sort of a cut-off and they made the cut-off and it was everything else? This kid must have qualified or else they would have been rejected and not WL'd.
I've heard from multiple AOs that acceptance from WL is all about demographics and majors and special cases (i.e. full pay, legacy), but never heard anyone say that gpa or scores help a kid get off the WL.
The elephant in the room is WashU is getting desperate.
My son also got a call this week from AO at WashU, where he's on the waitlist. They wanted to know if he'd accept the spot before they made a formal offer. He hadn't visited so they're giving him a few days to make a last minute trip. It's all very rushed and my son is very stressed. He likes the school's reputation but isn't sure about living in Missouri.
Humanities major, male, west coast private school, 34 ACT, 3.7 gpa unweighted (school doesn't give a weighted GPA).
It's not Missouri, it's St Louis. I know it sounds like I'm quibbling but there is a difference.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 13:39
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Harvard accepted someone from our high school. Sounds like Harvard's list moved a lot. Interesting. Where did the kids go who didn't accept? I know of one who chose MIT over Harvard. Is that how it usually goes?
Harvard is still the 800 pound gorilla but places like Stanford and MIT are regularly chosen over Harvard these days. Too many top schools took too long developing CS and engineering departments.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 12:57
Subject: Waitlist Movements
There are a few very dedicated moms here with kids on the Harvard WL wishcasting that Harvard’s yield has plummeted.
On the flip side, I know a kid admitted to all of HYPS who chose Harvard this year.
On the flip side, I know a kid admitted to all of HYPS who chose Harvard this year.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 12:56
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:I'm a hundred percent confident that when the cds is admitted, Harvard will have moved less than last year and in line with the typical 40 or fewer kids off the waitlist. The fact that it is being closed on May 15th confirms that.
It’s not fully closed. Kids that got the rejection letter are in areas that they have closed.
Some kids are still on the WL.
Harvard releases in waves. So, yes, fur kids in a certain region and/or major it’s closed, but there are kids still act e on the WL
Anonymous
05/15/2026 12:51
Subject: Waitlist Movements
I'm a hundred percent confident that when the cds is admitted, Harvard will have moved less than last year and in line with the typical 40 or fewer kids off the waitlist. The fact that it is being closed on May 15th confirms that.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 12:48
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DS just got off the waitlist at WashU, and has 2 days to decide. He was previously committed to BU.
He's surprised he got off. GPA: 3.6/SAT: 1510, typical ECs.
Is it some elite private with grade deflation? Thanks.
Assuming he submitted the 1510?
Didn’t WashU tell people not to submit anything below 1500? So 1510 is on the low end of reported scores. It’s also low for a grade deflated elite private.
Maybe 1500 is sort of a cut-off and they made the cut-off and it was everything else? This kid must have qualified or else they would have been rejected and not WL'd.
I've heard from multiple AOs that acceptance from WL is all about demographics and majors and special cases (i.e. full pay, legacy), but never heard anyone say that gpa or scores help a kid get off the WL.
The elephant in the room is WashU is getting desperate.
Know or 2 kids getting off Harvard's WL. They're full pay kids. Do you think Harvard is desperate?
Sure you do. Harvard's waitlist hasn't moved, the medical school has.
You speak with confidence and have no idea. Harvard's waitlist moved a lot this year. First hand knowledge.
Unless you work in the Harvard admissions office, and we all know you don't, sounds like you are describing yourself.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 12:33
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Harvard accepted someone from our high school. Sounds like Harvard's list moved a lot. Interesting. Where did the kids go who didn't accept? I know of one who chose MIT over Harvard. Is that how it usually goes?
NP 3 kids got into Harvard from our feeder private (east coast non-DMV) this year, 2 RD and 1 SCEA. Only the SCEA kid is taking the spot. The other 2 chose Yale and CMU Comp Sci.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 12:30
Subject: Waitlist Movements
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DS just got off the waitlist at WashU, and has 2 days to decide. He was previously committed to BU.
He's surprised he got off. GPA: 3.6/SAT: 1510, typical ECs.
Is it some elite private with grade deflation? Thanks.
Assuming he submitted the 1510?
Didn’t WashU tell people not to submit anything below 1500? So 1510 is on the low end of reported scores. It’s also low for a grade deflated elite private.
Maybe 1500 is sort of a cut-off and they made the cut-off and it was everything else? This kid must have qualified or else they would have been rejected and not WL'd.
I've heard from multiple AOs that acceptance from WL is all about demographics and majors and special cases (i.e. full pay, legacy), but never heard anyone say that gpa or scores help a kid get off the WL.
The elephant in the room is WashU is getting desperate.
My son also got a call this week from AO at WashU, where he's on the waitlist. They wanted to know if he'd accept the spot before they made a formal offer. He hadn't visited so they're giving him a few days to make a last minute trip. It's all very rushed and my son is very stressed. He likes the school's reputation but isn't sure about living in Missouri.
Humanities major, male, west coast private school, 34 ACT, 3.7 gpa unweighted (school doesn't give a weighted GPA).
If you can, i would recommend a last minute trip. I just did this scramble myself when my kid went to admitted students day at their top choice school and found that they hated it. Literally flew home (6 hours) and then took another 5-hour flight to a different part of the U.S. but well worth it as my kid loved the second school a lot.
Also consider why your kid decided to stay on the waitlist; perhaps your son is not completely excited about his current option?
I don't think money is an issue since your kid is at a private school, but an airline credit card may give you enough free points or a companion pass to make the last minute trip more affordable.