Waitlist Central: What are your WL strategies?

Question

I noticed that many people were waitlisted at top schools such as Stanford, Columbia, HBS, Wharton etc etc. Below are links to past WL related discussions. Also, I have a question. Do you guys plan on actively pursuing WL? If so, what are your strategies to convert your WL into an admit? :-D

Put on your thinking caps, and think like master Management Consultant and boast your masterplan....

terp26 · Answer

send gift baskets to the adcom?

Raabend · Answer

Def going for it but also making sure to follow the rules lock-step (not sure if "following the rules" is considered a master plan).

bostonsparky · Answer

Depends on the school I think. For Wharton there's nothing you can really do except sit back and wait.

nomsg7111 · Answer

No strategy...just wait.

Although being put on the waitlist is making me more seriously research the school I did get into, even if the waitlist turns into acceptance. My acceptance and waitlist are at pretty similar schools. I'd just rather be in California than Michigan...

isa · Answer

Which pretty much sucks, but that's what I'm doing. Just sitting and waiting. Waiting and sitting.

ozzie123 · Answer

I updated my resume and my GMAT score and then I sit and wait. This whole waiting game is really boring to say the least :lol:

bostonsparky · Answer

I totally know what you mean. It definitely causes you to think more, especially if the school you are WL'd at is your (original) first choice. a month and a half ago I was all about wharton, if I had gotten the acceptance call then I'd have probably sent my deposit in next day and that'd have been it. As a direct result of my WL I:

1) Applied to Kellogg, and continued to get tuned more and more into the school
2) Went ahead with my Columbia interview, and was very, very impressed by what my interviewer had to say, even moreso than my Wharton interviewer (who was no slouch himself)
3) Got to see what kind of aid Duke was going to offer me

As a result what was once a 1-horse race has now become 4 (I say this hoping I'll get into maybe 1 out of Kellogg/Columbia/Wharton) potential schools I could totally, absolutely see myself at next year. I'm sure others have had a similar post-WL 're-evaluation' as well.

cez · Answer

I was waitlisted at Yale. They suggested I take a math class or retake the GMAT (I've taken it twice already) to improve my low quant score. Unfortunately it seems this is the only way I will be considered. I have no admits but have some decisions pending and upcoming interviews. So we'll see.

If I decide to really pursue the waitlist, I will visit campus, take a math class, and write a letter confirming my interest and updating them on a few recent accomplishments.

Good luck to everyone trying to convert their waitlist into an admit!

cereal255 · Answer

After being put on the W/L by Cornell I've completely rethought my whole strategy. I think the whole reason that I was waitlisted was unclear career goals and a poor interview. Unfortunately there's not much that I can do in this situation other than submit another essay which would probably go against everything I had originally said. My GMAT is already high enough, I showed how much love I had for the school and they didn't offer me any specific feedback.

Since the waitlist I've been courted by a sweet little Tier 2 school very aggressively. I'm not going to lie, it feels awesome to be pursued actively (personal calls from the Dean and from the head of the Accounting department) and they're trying really hard to make me forget about Cornell. (It's working, as you can probably see from my current avatar)

A few months back I would have given my first-born to go to Cornell, but since the waitlist and subsequent reevaluation of my short term/long term goals I'm not even sure about staying on the wait list since it makes no sense to pay "sticker price" to go there when I have a huge scholarship staring me in the face at a school that will get me to where I want to be.

bb · Answer

I think it is time to bump this thread.

MBAbot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club MBAbot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

Waitlist Central: What are your WL strategies?

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