Calling Fall 2010 Chicago Booth Applicants

Dinged. sigh.

Rhyme's I'm Lazy 540 second guide to Waitlists.

where are my manners? forgive me guys, im bschool frazzled.

UNPLUGGED and GKUMAR (and everyone else who got dinged), im sorry to hear that. adcoms definitely dont always get it right.

congrats PUDGETHEFISH and to everyone else probably heading for admit weekend.

and thank you RHYME. great advice as usual. you do the booth reputation proud.

good fight and good luck to all.

Rhyme's I'm Lazy 540 second guide to Waitlists.

Those of you that remember last year may know that Booth had a higher than expected yield, resulting in an intake well over their usual target. This created some real problems,from logistical (how to fit the extra students into lead), to even structural (e.g. not enough lockers). As such, it wouldn't come as a surprise to me if this year they are playing the numbers a little closer to the chest. One class thats "too big" is one thing -- two classes that are too big would yield some serious challenges.

Thus, don't be overly discouraged by a waitlist -- even if it does kind of sting.

My advice? The people who tend to get off the waitlist are the people who bother to keep in touch. This means sending more than a single update letter now and then just sitting back and waiting until the end of time.

If you intend to stay on the waitlist, send a statement to that effect to the school. Put a little thought into it - re-iterate your interest - and close with your continued enthusiasm. If you intend to go somewhere else, do the right thing and take yourself off the list. Too many people stay on just "too see" in some kind of half-hearted effort to collect admits like they are some kind of badge of honor (as you'll soon see, no one gives a crap where you got admitted).
My hats off to the one guy who already said he'd pull himself. Good on you.

Now assuming that you ARE staying on the list, my advice would be to continue to send updates every 2 to 3 months. Feel free to send in whatever you think might be of value to the admissions committee, but try to add something new to your application if you can. Absolutely send updates involving promotions, material change in responsibilities, etc. If you have no idea what to say, consider reaching out to alumni or current students and discuss how your conversation with those people either reinforced something you already knew or perhaps introduced you to a new aspect about Booth that interests you. Visiting again (assuming youv'e visited) won't do you much good. Visit if you want to, or if it costs you next to nothing, but don't go out of your way to do so. There isn't a secret checkbox that says "Visited more than once" on the application.

Thats my five hundred and fourty second allotment timer dinging at me.