Mentioning Other Acceptances in WL Update

Question

Hello All!

So I am sure this has been asked before, but I could not find the exact question before.

In writing an update for WL, would it make sense to mention other acceptances, or would that look bad.
Specifically I need a reply by end of March (R2 notification date), and if I am still WL by then I will go ahead and go to another school.

So I guess the question, should I mention other acceptances in the WL update, and if so should I mention my deadline for a response?

Thanks!

Kjar · Answer

I would see no problem with this.

If you let them know the dilemma you face (don't make it an ultimatum obviously - it's your concern, this "timing pressure"), your worst case scenario is that tell you - OK, no problem, go. You have some slight chance that they will consider making a final assessment of your application, and this may yield some positive result too.

If you don't inform them, you risk losing even the last opportunity. You can't know how often they get back to the WL, maybe it will happen the next day after you accept another offer.

I would let them know. Not two months before the deadline, but maybe a couple of weeks or so.

CobraKai · Answer

I wouldn't expect them to review your application just because of this. Keep in mind, it's called the WAITlist for a reason. If you're waitlisted at a school you really want to go to, the move is to put the deposit down at the school you were accepted to, hope the WL'd school finds a spot for you, then you forfeit the earlier deposit. Think of it as an insurance policy.

I see two scenarios playing out if you tell a school you need to know by the end of March:

1) Release. You'll get an official ding.

2) No decision.

The reality is the school that waitlisted you has the pull here. If you were that awesome you wouldn't have been waitlisted. A school's priority is it's accepted applicants first - they could care less if one of their waitlisters has a deposit deadline coming up at another school.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not trying to be mean - I'm just trying to give you a reality check and don't want you to get your hopes up that a school might actually speed up on a decision just for you. The majority of the people on the waitlist are probably in your situation with a deposit deadline coming up, they can't pander to everyone.

WaitinginNY · Answer

I am quite aware that a WL can end with a ding.
I guess my question was really meant to be two parts.

Assuming the WL school is my #1 choice, however I am of course willing to go to the other school(s) I have been accepted to (otherwise why would I even apply there).
On the WL update:
1. Do I mention that I have been accepted to other schools, but still see this as my first choice?
2. If I mention #1, do I mention that I need to know by a certain date (in a nice way obviously).

Basically I want to maximize the chances of admission in R2 cycle.

Thanks again!

PS CobraKai, it sounds like you recommend doing #1 (mention other acceptances) but not #2 giving a deadline, am I right?

machichi · Answer

I completely agree. Everyone wants to know before deposit deadlines and the only people they are fawning over right now are the admits. Cobrakai's right: they hold all the cards.

Sorry, I know it sucks!

CobraKai · Answer

Mentioning other acceptances is optional - I don't see it helping one way or another. My main point was #2 - schools are going to review the waitlist on their timeline. They're not going to rush a decision because you have a deadline coming up - they couldn't care less. I wouldn't even mention that you need to know by a certain date because that would just signal that you don't know how the process works. EVERYONE on the waitlist wants to know their fate sooner than later, but it's just not possible.

What I was saying is put a deposit down at the other school you'd be thrilled to attend while continuing to show interest in your number 1 school and wait it out. How much you like that schools depends on how long you wait I suppose.

I understand your position as a fellow applicant, but from the schools point of view, I'm not bending over backward for a wait-listed applicant while I've still got Round 2 apps to review with another batch coming in for Round 3...

WaitinginNY · Answer

Thanks for the info, definitely helps to hear a second opinion!

Mentioning Other Acceptances in WL Update

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