Are you on the waiting list?

When students are told that they have been placed on the waiting list, their anxiety level usually shoots up a hundred levels. If this is your situation, here are some things to know while you are waiting:

1) Be reassured that they want you. You meet their requirements, but the program is competitive and they do not have enough spaces. Of course, not everyone the school offers admission to will accept; some students will attend other universities, and others will decline for personal reasons. On the other hand, the school may want you but have reservations about your application that you can follow up on.

2) Contact the admissions committee directly and find out why you were placed on the waiting list. Were you wait-listed because there were not enough spaces, or do they have concerns regarding your GPA, English proficiency, or professional experience? In our experience, wait-listed students often have below average scores on standardized tests such as the TOEFL or GMAT. Since you do not have time to retake these tests, either request a personal interview with the admissions committee to address their concerns, or provide a letter of recommendation from one of your previous English professors. If the school's concern is regarding your professional qualifications, provide them with further evidence to demonstrate your potential such as recent professional certificates, honors, awards, citations, or additional recommendation letters from a supervisor, client, or colleague.

3) You are not waiting for another applicant from your country to decline. If an international applicant declines an offer of admission, the school will not search the list for a person from the same country. Many of our clients wrongly assume this. If a student from Taiwan chooses not to attend the program, the vacant position will not be filled by another student from Taiwan.

After you follow the above steps to show the admissions committee how sincere and determined you are to attend their school, be assured by the knowledge that you tried your best. The admissions officers will take note of your keen interest in attending their school, and your name will stand out on the waiting list. From this point on, though, there is not much else you can do but wait. Good luck!