If you’re writing an MBA waitlist letter, then you won’t want to leave out any of the following 5 elements.
- Begin with a brief thank you. Expressing your appreciation for being considered is an appropriate way to start your waitlist letter. This is also a good time to mention how you are a good fit (both philosophically and educationally) with the school. This is NOT the time to wax pitiful or sorrowful. Disappointment is normal. It isn’t news and doesn’t have to be shared. Address how you plan on improving your profile weaknesses. Agree to take additional courses, to retake the GMAT, or to do anything else that the adcom suggests.
- Discuss your recent achievements. Discuss any accomplishments since submitting your application, including a promotion at work, a new volunteer position, an article published, a 4.0 GPA during the last quarter – anything that shows that you are a vibrant, goal-oriented individual.
- Prove that you are driven to improve…for yourself and not for them. Your goal here is to address your shortcomings without drawing too much attention to them. For example, you can talk about how you enrolled in Toastmasters to boost your communication confidence, but you should focus on the fact that you did this for your own self improvement, and not because you your verbal score on the GMAT was less than desirable.
- Conclude by stating your intentions. If this is your top choice program and if you are certain that you would attend if accepted, then say so.
Now the hard part – you’re going to have to cram all this material into a letter that’s maximum two pages long. But don’t leave anything out; include anything on the list above that is relevant to your situation in your waitlist letter. These are the compelling essentials necessary to convince the reader that you deserve a spot in the next top b-school class.
Last week we offered more MBA waitlist tips. Didn’t see it? Check out “6 Tips for Waitlisted Applicants” now!
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