Just got the waitlist email. I guess I am bummed, but I am still deciding whether or not to stay on the list.
My first inclination was that I must have done something wrong in my application since my GPA and GMAT are decent (and I am a female, not that it makes it a guarantee at all but my understanding is that sometimes standards are a bit different). I really spent a lot of time and effort on my essays, visited the school twice, not sure what to think. I also thought maybe it was something my recommenders said...but then I got into Darden using the same recommenders so they couldn't have said anything too horrendous.
I will say that while I showed enthusiasm in my essays and interview and gave specific reasons for wanting to go to Fuqua (specific clubs/classes, etc I would contribute to), I never once said Fuqua was my top choice. To be honest, it isn't and I didn't want to be dishonest. I also listed all the schools I applied to in their application, again wanting to be honest. Maybe that was a bad call. Would they really put me on the waitlist because they weren't sure I'd attend?
I guess the yield management theory makes sense, but I also think it's important to take a critical look at what I might have messed up, too. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself.
Any ideas on this? And also--I don't want to potentially take a spot away from another applicant--but it would also be nice to have a choice to compare Darden to in the event that I do not get into my other schools. Does it make sense to stay on the waitlist if I am not absolutely sure I would attend?