Was your child placed in waitlist limbo by the school they most wish to attend? Or maybe your child was waitlisted by a school they may want to attend — depending on the decisions that come in over the days to come? We know waitlist limbo can be frustrating. These schools have had months to render a verdict on your child’s case for admission and instead, well, they’re punting. But turn that frown upside down. While you’re stuck at home waiting out a pandemic trying desperately to structure your day, we strongly encourage waitlisted students to schedule in some time in the coming days to work on a Letter (or Letters) of Enthusiasm so that they give themselves the best case possible for admission to the school(s) that offered them a slot on the waitlist.

Many Waitlisted Students Choose to Do Nothing

Many waitlisted students will choose to do nothing once receiving their notice. Maybe they’re disappointed they didn’t get in straight up and would rather divert their attention to the Hulu premiere of Little Fires Everywhere. That’s their choice — a most unwise choice — but nonetheless their choice. In fact, we rely on these students. After all, the waitlisted students we at Ivy Coach work with will be going up against these defeated students who chose to watch Little Fires Everywhere rather than work on their waitlist letter(s).

Many Waitlisted Students Throw Things Against the Wall to See What Sticks

The waitlisted students we at Ivy Coach work with will also be going up against a batch of students whose approach to the waitlist can be summed up in the phrase: “throw it against the wall and see what sticks.” You see, lots of students (and, frankly, their parents) think that just by submitting a letter — words on a page — it’ll improve their case for admission. Maybe their letter will include brags of all the student has achieved since he first applied on January 1st. Maybe it’ll let the college know they’ve made a mistake by not offering them admission outright. Maybe it’ll include sentences that can apply to any school in America. If such is the case, these students have wasted their one valuable chance to make their case for admission off the waitlist.

We Work with Waitlisted Students to Craft Letters to Give Themselves the Best Shot Possible of Admission

Getting a slot on a waitlist shouldn’t be dismissed as basically akin to a rejection. Some schools, like MIT, don’t waitlist many students. And even if a school does waitlist a lot of students, the student still has a fighting chance. A student was waitlisted for a reason. If a student approaches the waitlist process the right way — by submitting one powerful letter that hits all the right notes (notes which are our secret sauce) — they sure do have a shot. If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s help crafting the most compelling Letter (or Letters) of Enthusiasm possible to the school(s) that waitlisted your child, fill out our free consultation form and indicate waitlist at the bottom.