Waitlisted? Rather than sitting and waiting (excuse the pun) take action! Here are a few tips that may just move you into the accepted column.
Confirm Your Interest
First, send in the card accepting the offer of a place on the waitlist. Seems obvious, but schools want a response from you. Furthermore, if a school truly is your first choice, you should let admissions know. Draft them a letter stating that indeed their school is your first choice, so that if you are bumped from the waitlist you will definitely attend.
Update Your Application
It behooves you to remain in contact with the admissions office and now is the perfect opportunity to share with them the new achievement, award or leadership distinction you have recently earned. The update letter doesn’t have to include something of this merit, it can be an explanation to a weakness in your earlier application and how you have improved. Or if a teacher commented to you about the highest grade on an exam or essay, share that. All of this highlights for them you are continuing to work hard throughout your senior year.
Highlight Your Strong Point
What makes your application stand out? Colleges are using the waitlist to fill in gaps in the freshman class. What sets you apart from your peers—an atypical area of academic interest, an extraordinary talent in an extracurricular activity, an unusual talent and/or hobby. It may be that you offer geographic diversity or that you are a first generation college student. Whatever it is, point it out clearly for them and add it in your update letter.
Add A Recommendation
Ask one of your current teachers to submit a recommendation on your behalf. They may be able to offer another perspective and it should highlight what you will bring to the college campus.
The post The Waitlist appeared first on The Academic Advancement Group.
