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Leverandon
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Joined: 24 Aug 2008
Last visit: 12 Dec 2009
Posts: 278
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Location: New York City
Concentration: Non-profit, GM
Schools:Ross, Darden, Yale SOM, Wharton, Kellogg (JD/MBA)
Posts: 278
Kudos: 6
How Leverandon is going to get off of the waitlist at Darden 03 Feb 2009, 09:08
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Thanks for all of the tips, guys. Definitely a lot to think about.

I think leadership is probably an area that I covered pretty well. My GMAT score is above Darden's mean, so I don't think that I need to worry about that, unless I really want to try to get a higher Q in the bank. In the next few weeks, I think that I am too busy to mount a retake, but if my waitlist drags on into May or June, I might consider it.

In my application, I never stated that Darden was my top choice, though I did spend time discussing specifically how the case method would contribute to my future goals and be an excellent learning environment for me (though perhaps many people did that).

I think I will send them a letter, though I'm still thinking about what it will say. I'll post more when I have made some decisions. Thanks for the feedback, guys!
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LeftOut
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Joined: 05 Nov 2008
Last visit: 05 Feb 2010
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Location: NY, NY
Schools:Darden, Stern, CBS, Johnson, Fuqua
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How Leverandon is going to get off of the waitlist at Darden 03 Feb 2009, 09:17
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solaris1
I don't think Leverandon should be thinking about what it is that the admissions committee wants to hear at all. Unless Darden Admissions has dropped a hint or anything about potential areas of concern, it's impossible to get a sense of where an application might be "lacking." Maybe Leverandon's too young, maybe there were a lot of applicants with experience similar to his (unlikely, but not impossible) - who knows! It's the last thing you want to do, draw additional scrutiny towards aspects of your application that might be perceived negatively. The best course to follow is really what Raabend suggested - follow their instructions to a T and in a broader sense make a pitch about why Darden is the best school for you and why you will succeed there.
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Solaris - I agree with most of what you said. However, the waitlist FAQ from Stern does make an interesting point. This is what it says:

Quote:
Admission to NYU Stern is highly competitive. There are many more qualified candidates than there are places in the class. The Admissions Committee may also have identified areas for improvement in your application...The Admissions Committee looks favorably upon candidates who show self-awareness. We encourage you to independently assess your application and identify possible areas of improvement. Please keep in mind that the admissions process at NYU Stern is holistic and competitive...No single factor in your application determines the final admission decision. Therefore, we encourage you to review all parts of your application. In our experience, candidates are very often aware of the areas of their application that could improve.
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So, although there may be too many people with Leverandon's exact profile (unlikely, as you said), it is more likely that an area (or areas) exist that could use improvement. As NYU states, and I also believe, most applicants are aware of areas that their applications might be lacking. When I reread my NYU app, I discovered areas where I could provide more specific information that I thought would strengthen my application.

If a school allows/encourages updates, most waitlisted applicants will know where to focus and if you're willing/able to provide additional information, it should be done. I think you lose more by sitting idly by than by providing a marginal update...as long as you follow the school's waitlist rules.
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