Yes but do I reply to their email or do I just wait and watch?

Hi Jon,

Did I forget to mention that I've been waitlisted before the interview ? Does this normally happen? I have not had an interview with the adcom - directly waitlisted based on the application review.

Thanks,

krit87

Hi kriti87

Here are some things you should keep in mind and be sure to do; or not do- depending on how you plan to approach being waitlisted-

1. Return the card: Once you are notified that you are on the wait-list, you need to formally
accept the college wait list offer by returning the card or, in case of online acceptance, by clicking "I accept". But before accepting, think once again whether this is the school you want to attend more than any other. So, only if you are certain that this and nowhere else will do for you, should you go ahead and wait the final list.

2. Read the instructions well: Calmly re-read the letter, visit their website, understand the procedures and then take the next step. You should also resist the impulse to immediately call the admission officers and ask why you were waitlisted.

3. Write a positive letter of response: Only once you have understood how the waitlist process for that particular college works, should you contact the admission officers with your response. A few, universities are quite strict about receiving communication from a waitlisted candidate; for example at the MBA level Wharton asks waitlisted candidates not to communicate with them or to send them any updates. If the university is open to receiving information from you, you can write a brief letter re-iterating why you dream to join that school and how you are the perfect candidate for the school; should a vacancy become open.

4. Have a strong plan B:. Looking at the statistics, chances of getting off the waitlist and into the admitted class are not very high either. However, if one were to only look at last year's numbers; Yale offered spots to 98 of the 932 students on the wait-list in their freshman class for 2014 (Source: middletownpress.com) - that conversion rate of slightly over 10% is pretty healthy given Yale's normal admit rate of 7.5 % . So make sure your eggs are carefully kept in various baskets, and the wait-list is not the biggest one of them either.

We hope you would put your best foot forward and even if you end up in the waitlist of a top university, with some luck and some positive resolve you are able to sail through and secure a seat!