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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell Updated on: 16 Jan 2015, 16:59
Originally posted by bayareaapplicant on 16 Jan 2015, 16:24.
Last edited by bayareaapplicant on 16 Jan 2015, 16:59, edited 1 time in total.
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:angel: Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell :devil

Hi fellow waitlisters,

I wanted to start this discussion for all of us who recently received the dreaded waitlist letter from our favored business schools. I analogize it to that time when I was in high school and asked the hot girl out to prom. She said: "I would love to but just in case things work out with the quarter back then... So, I might have to put you on my waitlist." That being said I wanted to take this opportunity to gather some of the great minds who have been waitlisted at their top choices and to discuss strategies that may help us navigate this Bermuda Triangle. After all, a rising tide helps everyone!

In addition I wanted to give a bit of a pep talk to people who feel a bit down about their waitlist notice. Please keep these things in mind:

-You are a QUALIFIED candidate for the school, if you weren't good enough they wouldn't given you the waitlist option. PERIOD. Remember these schools are the 9s and 10s (if they were girls) of the world. They don't need to settle, but you can't blame them for hoping.

-Many of us hate the nature of the waitlist because its almost like having to go through the application process again. We have to remake connections, strengthen ties, put aside personal time to deal with the matter. But try to think of it as the line from the Pixar movie Cars: "it's the journey that counts."

-After speaking to my admission consultant I realized that you can summarize waitlisters into 3 categories:
1. The school couldn't admit you because there was another candidate that was better with the same background as yours or something in your application was a bit off.
2. There are many people applying with your background and we are expecting more in the future so let's hold off until the next round to see what else we get. After all the greater size the population the easier it is to make an assessment.
3. Schools worry about their yield. No school has a 100% yield but they want to get close to that number as much as possible. Why? Rankings. So if they think your overall candidacy amounts to using them as a backup they are gonna waitlist you and see how much more you try!

All in all, I hope people who are currently waitlisted and who were waitlisted can share their thoughts in the forum. Again, best of luck and god speed!


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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 16 Jan 2015, 16:33
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By the way just a bit of logistics when your reply. Please share the following information at the beginning of each of your post:

name of school 1 (round waitlisted); name of school 2 (round waitlisted)....etc/Professional Background (Number of years worked by admission)

For me this would look like:

Kellogg (R1); Haas (R1); Stern (R1)/Law (5 Years)
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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 16 Jan 2015, 20:03
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Sure! Great thread to start!
I'll pitch in:
Kellogg (R1)/Engineering(6.5 years)
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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 16 Jan 2015, 23:57
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Kellogg (R1); Haas (R1); Stern (R1)/Law (5 Years)

Hey dtse86! I recognize you from the Kellogg waitlist topic. Looks like we are all in the R1 WL boat for Kellogg.

Any ideas on how you plan to proceed? I am still trying to figure out the timing of everything here.

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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 17 Jan 2015, 05:42
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From what I can gather, there's no WL managers, however you are allowed to upload updates.

For me I'm in the middle of drafting a small update about a few small professional accomplishments since sending in my application in October and restating my passion for the school. I'll probably upload it to my application next week.

And if there's anything else to write 3-4 weeks later I'll upload another update.

From there I guess we just wait and pray :pray

From what I can gather from the previous year's thread admits will come in waves after or around key dates like R2/R3 decisions and deposit deadlines. Some people waited until mid-July for spots to open up! Wow, good for them.

I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out. But I think for me personally, once it comes time to find a place to live and I sign a lease, I'll probably withdraw and remove myself from the WL.

Although they say there is no rankings, there has to be some applicants that they'd rather admit before others on the WL. The WL will also likely grow after R2 and R3.

bayareaapplicant you have some impressive stats and a very unique background. I think you'll be one of the lucky ones with an admit around R2! :gl :!:
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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 17 Jan 2015, 17:12
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dtse86
From what I can gather, there's no WL managers, however you are allowed to upload updates.

For me I'm in the middle of drafting a small update about a few small professional accomplishments since sending in my application in October and restating my passion for the school. I'll probably upload it to my application next week.

And if there's anything else to write 3-4 weeks later I'll upload another update.

From there I guess we just wait and pray :pray

From what I can gather from the previous year's thread admits will come in waves after or around key dates like R2/R3 decisions and deposit deadlines. Some people waited until mid-July for spots to open up! Wow, good for them.

I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out. But I think for me personally, once it comes time to find a place to live and I sign a lease, I'll probably withdraw and remove myself from the WL.

Although they say there is no rankings, there has to be some applicants that they'd rather admit before others on the WL. The WL will also likely grow after R2 and R3.

bayareaapplicant you have some impressive stats and a very unique background. I think you'll be one of the lucky ones with an admit around R2! :gl :!:
Show more

Thanks! But i really think stats at this point is minimal. It is all about what they need to round out the class OR what we can do to fill in the "gap" in our application. Truth is we are qualified candidates otherwise Kellogg wouldn't even bother with a waitlist. However, since I have been waitlisted at a few schools I am beginning to think that there might be something that is lacking in my application. Although I am not sure what...This is especially hard when Kellogg is not going to give me any sort of assessment with a WL manager. But I think my best approach to speak to Haas or Stern and see if I can get any insight.

By the way I assume Kellogg is your top choice? With the schools that admitted you which would you go with?
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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 18 Jan 2015, 06:13
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Yes, Kellogg is my top choice at this point. I would attend if I was admitted.

Between the ones that I did get acceptances to, I am planning to choose Johnson over Tepper.

What about you? Did you apply to any schools R2? Of the schools that have waitlisted you, which is your top choice?
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Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell 18 Jan 2015, 12:35
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dtse86
Yes, Kellogg is my top choice at this point. I would attend if I was admitted.

Between the ones that I did get acceptances to, I am planning to choose Johnson over Tepper.

What about you? Did you apply to any schools R2? Of the schools that have waitlisted you, which is your top choice?
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Nothing for R2 I tried covering my bases when I applied for round 1 to all these schools. I think with the WL selections I have left I would say Kellogg is my top choice. I am very happy with the school when I went for the interview. So far 3 WLs so we shall see how this turns out.

Was just reading on some of the quick info about Kellogg they say:

The Admissions Committee will be rendering decisions on a rolling basis between January and August. Applicants who are placed on the waitlist will be considered for admission in the subsequent round(s). Shortly after each decision deadline, a waitlist candidate can expect to hear from the committee with either a final admit/deny decision or an invitation to remain on our waitlist into the following round(s). -https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/waitlist.aspx

So I guess the big dates are going to be:

R2 Decision Date: March 25, 2015
R3 Decision Date: May 13, 2015