{"id":50661,"date":"2020-12-15T14:32:19","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T21:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/10-dos-and-donts-for-getting-off-the-mba-waitlist\/"},"modified":"2020-12-15T14:32:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T21:32:19","slug":"10-dos-and-donts-for-getting-off-the-mba-waitlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/10-dos-and-donts-for-getting-off-the-mba-waitlist\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Dos and Don\u2019ts for Getting off the MBA Waitlist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated 12.14.20<\/em><\/p>\n

So, you\u2019re on the waitlist for your dream school? It wasn\u2019t the decision you were hoping for, but the good news is that you\u2019re still in the running. Being on the waitlist means that the adcom really liked you and thought you would be a great fit for their program but, for any number of reasons, wasn\u2019t able to extend you an offer of admission \u2013 yet.<\/p>\n

The \u201cyet\u201d is what I\u2019m writing about today. What can you do to get out of waitlist limbo? Inspired by our experience with clients over the years, here is a list of 10 DOs and DON\u2019Ts for actively managing your waitlist status. Hint: don\u2019t just wait!<\/p>\n

DO<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Carefully read the waitlist instructions.<\/h4>\n

And follow them. This may seem like a given but I\u2019m surprised how often this step is overlooked. The waitlist instructions provide a lot of useful information, including how to opt into the waitlist (if needed), what kinds of updates the school accepts, contact information for your waitlist manager, etc.<\/p>\n

This information can differ from school to school so, if you\u2019re on more than one waitlist, it\u2019s important to understand what levers are at your disposal for each. Then you can start planning out your waitlist strategy.<\/p>\n

2. Honestly assess your application and identify any opportunities for improvement.<\/h4>\n

The key to a successful waitlist strategy is ensuring it addresses the reasons the school chose to waitlist versus admit you. In our experience, the most common of these include: a lower than average test score or GPA, light extracurriculars, too little or too much work experience, unclear or inauthentic career goals, and undifferentiated experience (especially if you come from an overrepresented pool like banking or consulting). Ultimately, the opportunity areas differ for each person so it\u2019s important to take a critical eye to your application (and perhaps get a second opinion) to determine where and how you can improve.<\/p>\n

3. Be proactive.<\/h4>\n

I\u2019ll say it again \u2013 the key to a successful waitlist strategy is action. If your GMAT score was on the low side, consider a retake. If your GPA was below average, consider enrolling in an online class (think statistics, accounting, finance, etc.) from an accredited institution to provide further evidence of your academic aptitude. Bulking up your extracurriculars can be challenging given the state of the world and shorter timeline you\u2019re dealing with, but here<\/a> are a few ideas on how to add something with impact and do it quickly.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve done what you can, you need to share it with the adcom. Within the constraints of their waitlist instructions of course, the best way to do this is by submitting an update letter(s). The key to a successful update letter is to provide new information, not repeat material already included in your application. In addition to the things noted above, new information can include a promotion at work, additional reasons for fit with the program, or how you\u2019ll contribute to the school.<\/p>\n

4. Think outside the box.<\/h4>\n

So far, we\u2019ve explored the \u201ctried and true\u201d ways to actively manage your waitlist status. However, being on the waitlist is also a great opportunity to get a little creative (so long as it doesn\u2019t violate the school\u2019s waitlist instructions).<\/p>\n

For instance, more schools are now accepting video letters (i.e. Chicago Booth), so using that medium to provide meaningful updates while showcasing your personality and \u201cputting a face to your name\u201d could be a great option. Another idea is to have a current student or alum who knows you well submit a letter of support that details why you\u2019re a good fit for their school. In general, if you have a unique skill or talent, don\u2019t be shy about leveraging it to provide a memorable waitlist update \u2013 just make sure it\u2019s appropriate.<\/p>\n

5. Explicitly state that you\u2019ll enroll if admitted.<\/h4>\n

The school wants reassurance that you will enroll if admitted off the waitlist. Remember that not everyone on the waitlist is as committed to the school as you are. So, in everything you do, let the school know that you remain committed to their program and that it\u2019s your #1 choice (if that\u2019s the case). No need to beat around the bush with this one \u2013 just say it directly.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Freak out, panic, or lose hope.<\/h4>\n

I know this is easier said than done, but now is not the time to despair. Your efforts (and emotions) are better spent on taking constructive action. Stay confident (if you\u2019re on the waitlist, it means that you have what it takes) and try not to compare yourself with others. Put your head down and focus on #1-5 above. We\u2019ve seen applicants get off the waitlist as late as August so it\u2019s not over until you get an official rejection from the school.<\/p>\n

2. Try to \u201chack\u201d the waitlist process.<\/h4>\n

As admissions consultants, we get this a lot. \u201cWhat are my chances of getting off the waitlist?\u201d \u201cWhat could I do that would automatically get me off the waitlist?\u201d Unfortunately, as with all things MBA admissions, the waitlist process is not formulaic and there\u2019s no magic bullet. Trying to predict your chances of getting off the waitlist may seem like a good way to get some level of certainty during the wait, but it\u2019s really not productive or helpful. Again, your efforts will be best spent on taking actions that strengthen your profile.<\/p>\n

3. Submit new essays with every update.<\/h4>\n

As mentioned above, the purpose of an update letter is to provide new, relevant information that will strengthen your profile and help the adcom in their final decision. The adcom receives a lot of communication and you don\u2019t want to make their job any harder by submitting multi-page letters and\/or information that was already included in your application. Your update letter(s) should be factual, direct, and succinct. Think of them more as press releases than essays.<\/p>\n

4. Harass the adcom or your waitlist manager.<\/h4>\n

I know we spent the entire first half of this guide outlining all the ways to be an active \u2018waitlistee\u2019, but you also want to be thoughtful in every interaction and update you provide. You want to be proactive without being aggressive. Remember that the adcom is evaluating your interpersonal skills and determining whether you would represent the school well in front of recruiters. The schools have a reputation to uphold, after all. Make sure that your behavior is desirable.<\/p>\n

5. Get complacent.<\/h4>\n

After all the effort you put into your resume, essays, and interview prep, you may be reluctant to load up your to-do list with more application \u201cstuff\u201d. However, now is not the time to get lazy or give up. A short-term investment in re-taking the GMAT (ugh!), crafting an update letter, etc. has the potential for long-term payoff. Get going!<\/p>\n

On the waitlist and wondering what your next steps should be? We\u2019re happy to help! Sign up for a\u00a0free consultation<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The post 10 Dos and Don\u2019ts for Getting off the MBA Waitlist<\/a> appeared first on Vantage Point MBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Updated 12.14.20 So, you\u2019re on the waitlist for your dream school? It wasn\u2019t the decision you were hoping for, but the good news is that you\u2019re still in the running.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":167,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1955,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-vantage-point-mba","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/167"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50661\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}