Calling all Stanford Fall 2009 applicants!

Congratulations appukutty and foodstamp & all the other admits!!!

So a couple people asked about my "waitlist" experience . . . I was put on the waitlist back in January WITHOUT an interview. When I first opened the decision letter (fully expecting a ding, since I had not gotten an interview), my initial reaction was "WTF?!?!" I didnt even know what it meant honestly--so Stanford wasn't interested enough in my app to interview me for R1, but they were interested enough to WL w/o even interviewing me?

I finally received my invitation to interview about 2 weeks before the R2 deadline. I think my interview went really, really well--I was paired with a female '92 alum, who was super-cool and we really hit it off. In all honesty, I wasn't a very good waitlist candidate . . . my decision to accept a place on the waitlist back in January never hit the GSB system, and it wasn't until March 6 (when I happened to submit my change of address information) that I realized they never received my reply, and thankfully that was the deadline to submit your waitlist reply, so I got in under the wire. I didn't even send in a letter like they recommend to advocate for my candidacy--not much had changed at my work (I was called in for jury duty and placed on a 3 month trial Nov-Feb, and promotions freeze @ work, so REALLY nothing to report cuz I wasn't even there for 3 months!) I guess I just figured that if they really wanted me, they would accept me regardless of whether I had written a letter. Maybe that was a little arrogant/stupid, but I was so stressed out and tired I just couldn't deal with the process anymore. When all else fails--apathy!

I have put a lot of thought into why they made they decisions they did. I think I part of it had to do with my work experience. I did public finance investment banking for 3 years before moving into my current strategy/biz dev role, and while I have strong recs from my time there, I was certainly never a "superstar" like some of the other analysts. I suspect they wanted to compare me against the flood of i-banking applicants they expected to get in R2.

I suspect they also waitlisted me because while I have a strong app in many respects, it by no means stands out among the pack. However, I do believe I have a compelling "story" and I am strong on the "soft", non-quant factors--for example my "What Matters to Me Most" essay was pretty kick-ass, and one of my recs was written by my friend who I backpacked around the world with for 8 months. Also, I think they kind of knew I was a good "fit" personality-wise because I went to Stanford for undergrad, so I know the culture/vibe of the school and I know I like it.

Anyways, I know this isn't terribly helpful in terms of what I did to improve my candidacy and stuff, but I hope it does give hope to those still on the WL that you don't have to be a superstar or have brought democracy to the Congo to get off the WL at Stanford. VERY best of luck to all those still on the WL!

Thanks a lot, Rosav! That is very helpful. Congrats again and enjoy GSB!!!

Congrats to all admits, and good luck to waitlisters.

Hope to see you guys in the fall

congrats to all admits !!!!!!!!!

I am in waitlist. I guess now the long spring/summer wait begins for me...

Congratulations to all the admits!!

edited

Congrags to all admits. I got dinged w/o interview. the essay was the best one I wrote..but just wasnt good enough I guess ...

Congrags foodstamp appu and rosav !

best of luck to the waitlisters..

Congrats to all the admits.... I was dinged w/o the interview...agh...

Is it a myth that GSB and HBS successful applications are all from famous and prestigous universities ?