The Waitlist Purgatory [NEW POLL!!] Forum

[BarMan]

Add about 5,000 USC apps to this thread

[sorence]

Add about 5,000 USC apps to this thread

+1, USC makes WL #5 for me~

[charles117]

.

[tparty]

I've reached that incredibly depressing time when all my friends have been sharing their excitement after getting accepted into school (law, grad, PA) whilst I am waitlisted at 2 of the 3 I applied to and haven't heard back from one ... which I expect to be waitlisted or rejected from oh the uncertainty!

[shotgunheist]

Maybe schools are wait-listing a lot more this year in order to play the ol' numbers game, they can eventually admit more people that will confirm without hurting their matriculation:acceptance ration. I feel like this is something that LSAC has already guarded against however.

[SybillAnnDorsett]

wait, I'm confused in re the above - waitlisted applicants who are ultimately accepted don't count toward a school's admit to matriculant (or yield) ratio?

[baseballfan660]

wait, I'm confused in re the above - waitlisted applicants who are ultimately accepted don't count toward a school's admit to matriculant (or yield) ratio?

most schools will only accept people who are on the wait list who they are pretty sure will commit to them, as a result, they might only need to make 2 offers to fill a seat as opposed to the usual 7 or 8 during the earlier part of the cycle. Hence, they admit fewer people.

[SybillAnnDorsett]

wait, I'm confused in re the above - waitlisted applicants who are ultimately accepted don't count toward a school's admit to matriculant (or yield) ratio?

most schools will only accept people who are on the wait list who they are pretty sure will commit to them, as a result, they might only need to make 2 offers to fill a seat as opposed to the usual 7 or 8 during the earlier part of the cycle. Hence, they admit fewer people.

right - what I'm asking is, for example, when x law school publishes a 20% yield rate, does that rate include applicants admitted off of the waitlist who then matriculated, too? or does that number only include applicants admitted in the regular cycle?

[baseballfan660]

wait, I'm confused in re the above - waitlisted applicants who are ultimately accepted don't count toward a school's admit to matriculant (or yield) ratio?

most schools will only accept people who are on the wait list who they are pretty sure will commit to them, as a result, they might only need to make 2 offers to fill a seat as opposed to the usual 7 or 8 during the earlier part of the cycle. Hence, they admit fewer people.

right - what I'm asking is, for example, when x law school publishes a 20% yield rate, does that rate include applicants admitted off of the waitlist who then matriculated, too? or does that number only include applicants admitted in the regular cycle?

i would think it includes ones who were matriculated off the watilist as well, but not 100 percent sure.

[goldenbear2020]

wait, I'm confused in re the above - waitlisted applicants who are ultimately accepted don't count toward a school's admit to matriculant (or yield) ratio?

most schools will only accept people who are on the wait list who they are pretty sure will commit to them, as a result, they might only need to make 2 offers to fill a seat as opposed to the usual 7 or 8 during the earlier part of the cycle. Hence, they admit fewer people.

right - what I'm asking is, for example, when x law school publishes a 20% yield rate, does that rate include applicants admitted off of the waitlist who then matriculated, too? or does that number only include applicants admitted in the regular cycle?

Acceptances count the same whether made through ED, RD, or WL. Schools only report the total numbers of applicants, offers, and matriculants to ABA.

[shotgunheist]

wait, I'm confused in re the above - waitlisted applicants who are ultimately accepted don't count toward a school's admit to matriculant (or yield) ratio?

most schools will only accept people who are on the wait list who they are pretty sure will commit to them, as a result, they might only need to make 2 offers to fill a seat as opposed to the usual 7 or 8 during the earlier part of the cycle. Hence, they admit fewer people.

right - what I'm asking is, for example, when x law school publishes a 20% yield rate, does that rate include applicants admitted off of the waitlist who then matriculated, too? or does that number only include applicants admitted in the regular cycle?

My thought was, send out 100 acceptances and 50 commit, thats a 50% yield and looks bad.

Send out 75 acceptances, 25 waitlists, and 50 commit, then your yield 66% and will stay there as long as youre positive people coming of the waitlist will matriculate.

Of course I'm sure their algorithms and historical cycles have this all figured out, just speculating.

[bosstweedfan]

I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere, but I actually can't find a consensus on this -

When is the best time to send a LOCI?

I got waitlisted at two schools last month and didn't send in a LOCI yet. I figured they won't look at them until at least April anyway. Should I send them in now? I don't have anything in particular to update them about like promotions etc. it would just be a generic — "hey I still love you, forget me not sort" of letter.

[jstans]

So I'm waitlisted at a T20 that's close to my southern home (guess) and I don't particularly expect to be accepted off the waitlist, though I would welcome it with open arms. This being said, I would have to pay my nonrefundable seat deposit at my highest acceptance by April 15. Should I withdraw from the WL at the other school once I pay my deposit? Or should I wait it out and consider the $500 nonrefundable deposit a "drop in the bucket" in terms of what are hopefully my future earnings? Advice is welcome for this cash-strapped young man (K-JD).

[floatie]

So I'm waitlisted at a T20 that's close to my southern home (guess) and I don't particularly expect to be accepted off the waitlist, though I would welcome it with open arms. This being said, I would have to pay my nonrefundable seat deposit at my highest acceptance by April 15. Should I withdraw from the WL at the other school once I pay my deposit? Or should I wait it out and consider the $500 nonrefundable deposit a "drop in the bucket" in terms of what are hopefully my future earnings? Advice is welcome for this cash-strapped young man (K-JD).

It depends on how badly you want to go, especially at (likely) sticker price. There's no harm in waiting it out to see if you get in and/or if you get a scholarship offer, and if you get a call you'll probably have a day or two to make a final decision. Personally I think $500 is a drop in the bucket compared to how much law school costs, but as a similarly cash-strapped young professional I fully understand that having to part with $500 up front in order to go to a school that might not offer you any $$ majorly sucks.

[tparty]

Lol you will now be able to apply to Harvard with a GRE instead of an LSAT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/gra ... 3b1d4e2a2f

[SybillAnnDorsett]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

[shotgunheist]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

yes this is a strategy others have used in the past. I'd do it a month after an LOCI personally.

[floatie]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

Maybe, but I don't think its necessary, especially if there are other schools you're waitlisted at that you'd actually attend. If you're looking to emphasize your interest in the school, you can add the phrase "If accepted, I will attend" to your LOCI (assuming that is true, of course).

[SybillAnnDorsett]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

yes this is a strategy others have used in the past. I'd do it a month after an LOCI personally.

Thanks for always being so helpful, shotgun. So here's my thing, I can just be honest - NYU is my number 1 and my not having yet heard is an indication to me that I'll be waitlisted. Should I wait for them to waitlist me before actually telling them that I've withdrawn from other waitlists?

On a related note would willingness to turn down a full ride At another T14 do anything to convince them?

[SybillAnnDorsett]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

Maybe, but I don't think its necessary, especially if there are other schools you're waitlisted at that you'd actually attend. If you're looking to emphasize your interest in the school, you can add the phrase "If accepted, I will attend" to your LOCI (assuming that is true, of course).

Yeah I see where you're coming from. Yes, it is absolutely the case that I'd attend if accepted. Just doing what I can to assure them but perhaps withdrawing elsewhere is a step overboard. Frankly I withdrew from UChi yesterday as it is not going to be an option for me realistically. But CLS and Penn, I've decided to wait it out. Still... the waitlist statistics for those two compared to NYU's really worry me, so I don't think I have a shot at those places anyway

[floatie]

Thanks for always being so helpful, shotgun. So here's my thing, I can just be honest - NYU is my number 1 and my not having yet heard is an indication to me that I'll be waitlisted. Should I wait for them to waitlist me before actually telling them that I've withdrawn from other waitlists?

On a related note would willingness to turn down a full ride At another T14 do anything to convince them?

It's a slower cycle this year, so I wouldn't do anything until you've actually heard back from NYU. No news is good news.
If you have a full ride at a T14 and you're accepted, you should hang on to that for negotiating purposes. Also...would you really turn down a full ride at another T14 to go to NYU, possibly at sticker price?

[floatie]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

Maybe, but I don't think its necessary, especially if there are other schools you're waitlisted at that you'd actually attend. If you're looking to emphasize your interest in the school, you can add the phrase "If accepted, I will attend" to your LOCI (assuming that is true, of course).

Yeah I see where you're coming from. Yes, it is absolutely the case that I'd attend if accepted. Just doing what I can to assure them but perhaps withdrawing elsewhere is a step overboard. Frankly I withdrew from UChi yesterday as it is not going to be an option for me realistically. But CLS and Penn, I've decided to wait it out. Still... the waitlist statistics for those two compared to NYU's really worry me, so I don't think I have a shot at those places anyway

Ultimately its your decision but other schools won't know where you got waitlisted, so there's no harm in staying on them, just in case.

[shotgunheist]

Does anyone feel that withdrawing from other waitlists and then informing your top choice that you've done so would help your chances?

yes this is a strategy others have used in the past. I'd do it a month after an LOCI personally.

Thanks for always being so helpful, shotgun. So here's my thing, I can just be honest - NYU is my number 1 and my not having yet heard is an indication to me that I'll be waitlisted. Should I wait for them to waitlist me before actually telling them that I've withdrawn from other waitlists?

On a related note would willingness to turn down a full ride At another T14 do anything to convince them?

I don't think it's a great decision to talk to them with this info before they give you their initial decision, it's like showing your hand. Did you write a why NYU? I'm assuming yes, but that would be the only thing I would submit pre-decision.

I'd only do it if you're scared there's a reasonable chance you'd get straight denied. Because if you do you lose all leverage for any money they may possibly push your way, and of course losing out on the withdrawn waitlist schools in case you need them for some reason. If not, save if for waitlist updates to keep you on their mind and continue showing interest.

[SybillAnnDorsett]

Not going to quote your posts as they're long but shotgun+Floatie: thank you for being my in-house financial and waitlist consultants. I really appreciate it. I have lots to think about now but at least I have a sense of what to do as far as strategy in the next few weeks.

NYU does have a "Why X" from me and a LOCI which I sent recently. Can't do much more other than wait impatiently.

[shotgunheist]

While we are discussing some oddball waitlist strategies, I'm thinking about sending a quick handwritten note to the vice admissions dean of a waitlist I want to get off of about a month after my email LOCI. Just says thanks for giving me the chance, looking at my app, I would definitely come in the fall, etc.

Not make or break if I get in but what do yall think? Too lame?