Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

What should I do to improve my chances on the wait-list?

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 07:52 pm: Edit

write the school and tell them that if they offer you a space you will definetely accept it. however, in that scenario, you probably wouldn't get any financial aid.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 09:29 pm: Edit

I hope you are also looking at other options beside the WL school such as applying to some colleges that are still accepting applications.

By Perry (Perry) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 09:50 pm: Edit

Don't panick. You'll be fine. If you have to, take a gap year and find something interesting to do that will bolster your application for next fall. Even working a job would be fine. Colleges generally find kids who take a year off far more interesting and may receive more financial aid. In addition, taking a year off is a growing trend among high school graduates. If you do take a gap year, be sure to apply to a different grouping of colleges for next fall. You should be able to find a few books on this subject at your local book store. I think you'll feel better if you take a look at them. Again, you'll be fine; you're young and can easily ride this reversal out to your own advantage. Very best of luck. Please let us know what you decide...

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 01:09 pm: Edit

I think that you should have a plan B in the event that you do not get off of the waitlist. Follow Northstarmom's advice as far as looking into other schools which are accepting applications.

There is an article in the Atlantic Monthly College survey titled the late Decision Program which can be found at http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/11/ganeshananthan.htm

This information should be able to help you.

Good luck

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 06:51 pm: Edit

Babygurl89919- I sent them a letter before they mailed out the decision that states I had been already rejected by the other four colleges and would definitely attend if admitted. I'm meeting with my GC on monday to come up with something to get accepted. I'm writing an additional letter and am going to ask her to write one too.

Northstarmom- I don't see myself going to any other schools that are still accepting applications :-(. I checked PR and none of them were appealing. Beggars can't be choosers, I know, but I just can't picture myself in any of the colleges listed with rolling admissions.

Perry- I have been thinking about precisely what you mentioned. Taking a year off. There was this post on CC of a Yale reject last year that got a teaching position and wrote an awesome essay that reflected on how much he'd grown and got in the next year.

I'm kind of short on ideas though, for my worst-worst case senario. Maybe some sort of project in South America or the Middle East or travel. If I don't get off the wait list I can apply for the spring term too and boost my doggone SAT score (1230) and show off all my 5s on this May's five AP exams I'm taking and also take the two SAT IIs that probably messed me up this admissions year.

Sybbie719- The first paragraph sounded a lot like me. However, I don't see myself in any of the rolling admissions schools except perhaps Elon and I couldn't find any information on their site.

Thanks for all the posts. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 07:27 pm: Edit

What happened? Did you apply to all reaches?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 07:34 pm: Edit

Beloit college in Wisconsin is still accepting applicants. Great LAC.

After May 7, the National Association of College Admissions Officers will post a list of schools that still have openings for next year's freshman class - last year there were some very good schools on the list and I'm sure there will be this year as well:

http://www.nacac.com/

Where do you live? Some state universities are still accepting applications.

By Aspirer42 (Aspirer42) on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 12:56 am: Edit

Both Elon and High Point are above-average universities that you likely would have good chances for. You could always attend one of their campuses and transfer after a year if you didn't like whichever one you ended up at. (EDIT: Looking over that list a second time, you may also want to check out Eckerd and Emory & Henry as possibilities.)

Of course, there's nothing wrong with taking a year off. You seem to have some nice plans in that area, though (as you know) you don't have to travel somewhere exotic to stand out to admissions offices. You could always just get a job, take a class or two that you're interested in at Forsyth Tech (or just something to fill prerequisites you'd take your freshman year otherwise), or just find something else that you think's a good idea.

Best of luck, man--you're obviously qualified for a good or great college; the cards just fall this way sometimes.

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Candi- Yep, reaches all the way, except for Wake Forest which was an safety for all purposes but I managed to mess that up. I applied to HYD, Columbia and WFU. Did you take a year off?

Carolyn- I live in NC, in the same town as Aspirer. I don't intend to apply to colleges that are still taking apps. The major reason being that I'll probably want to be transferred to other schools.

Aspirer- Hey, I see you a lot around CC (not College Confidential)! Yeah, if I don't get accepted to WFU (I mailed out the Wait List post card as soon as I got it), I'll most likely take a year off and travel or something.

I should have applied to UNC-Chapel Hill :-(

By Fredo (Fredo) on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 06:14 pm: Edit

Wake Forest as your safety?? With an SAT of 1230?? You should take the year off - get a job, work hard, and get some perspective on life!

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 06:17 pm: Edit

Believe me, I know students that have gotten in with the same and less (both SAT, academically, etc.) There were other factors that made WF my safety.

By Sooky6 (Sooky6) on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 10:10 pm: Edit

Surely students have gotten into WF with similar stats--but rarely, statistically speaking. You're in the bottom 25% of accepted students in terms of scores -- (25th percentile was 1240 last year) -- you should be in the top quarter, for starters, to deem any school a safety.

So, lesson learned (hopefully?). If a rolling admissions school (your state U?) is not acceptable, there is a book I saw at barnes&noble (in the ed section) that catalogs "gap year" programs. I wish I had done one, its a great opportunity to see the world, improve language skills, volunteer, even earn college credits.

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 06:26 pm: Edit

I spoke today with my GC, she told me she's going to write a letter and call up the admissions office. I'm writing a letter too and hopefully mailing it out over the weekend. I'll check out that gap year book to prepare for the worst, worst case scenario.

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 07:30 pm: Edit

Anyone else have suggestions to get accepted and off the waiting list?

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 08:00 pm: Edit

Your GC is your best bet. She should explain the situation to them in detail, and this can help a great deal.

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 08:45 pm: Edit

Thanks for the post Candi. We're working double time. Would anyone recommend CC services to help me out with the waiting list?

By Aspirer42 (Aspirer42) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 02:26 am: Edit

Well; I'm glad *you* know who I am, since I'm still trying to figure out your identity. I have some guesses, though.

Any news from Wake?

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 08:31 pm: Edit

I sat behind you at the Academic Team competition finals at CC. I was the guy on Science that sat next to el capitan. I answered the question that asked for a neurotransmitter involved with muscle contraction. BTW, correct answer was acetylcholine