is it ok to leverage an offer with another school?

kingfalcon is bang on.

and it is definitely not unethical, just mention in your update why you still want Duke to happen for you, and you should be good.

congratulations on the admit btw.

I would recommend not pressuring them with an offer from another school. People might view it as an ultimatum and nobody really takes well to them. It would be better if you simply inform admissions that Duke is your top choice and that if you are admitted that you will definitely attend. Also, there are other strategic things that you can do to enhance your candidacy while on the WL, but you have to be strategic about how to handle this.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review

Call for a free candidacy evaluation!

I am very curious as to how you do that without alienating anyone? I got into one of the H/S/W/B and one of Duke/Berkeley/Yale (with scholarship for the latter) but my first choice is McCombs. I got accepted to McCombs but without a scholarship. I will definitely go to McCombs if they give me a big scholarship (>60%) but I am afraid there is no way I don't go to H/S/W/B if McCombs is only marginally cheaper (tuition a bit lower and living expenses lower but not by too much I think).

Sure, why not? this is business... as long as you do it politely and tastefully.

I would say to be honest with McCombs and tell them that they are your No.1 choice, but you have a scholarship offer from the Duke/Berkeley/Yale school and that cost is an important factor. They may match it.

However, I would not go with the strategy of saying "I got into H/S/W/B, so a school of your caliber should be offering me a scholarship." That's how you alienate people.

You do it very tactfully. Every situation is different. You can't just say, "Dear McComb's, Duke/Berkeley/Yale just ponied up $XXK for me. What are you bringing to the table?" I was able to do it last year, but I asked nicely, stressed how much I wanted to go to their school, and asked for a specific $$ amount. I was also able to make a case for why cost was an important criteria in my decision on where to attend school.

As for the OP's question, it might be a bit in bad taste to in so many words say, "School X wants so you better hurry up and take me off the waitlist." Sure you'd be more tactful than that, but that's still the general message and it may alienate Fuqua. Getting into one school is not a reason for another to let you in. Base your WL updates on improvements to your profile, a sincere desire to attend, and additional recommendations from Fuquans (I've heard that these can help). Good luck and wherever you end up I am sure you'll have a great experience.

Something that really hasn't been mentioned yet is that while updating Duke with significant accomplishments and showing a desire to attend may in the end get you off the wait-list, don't expect it to happen soon. I'm not sure if Duke reviews WL candidates in subsequent rounds, but you may very well be in the position where you have to put a deposit down with Ross to avoid losing that seat and keep hoping Duke will come calling and be willing to eat that loss if the call comes.