Think you know how to write an effective waitlist letter? Test your knowledge with the following quiz:
1. Waitlist letters may be three or more single-spaced pages long:
(a) if the applicant has a lot of accomplishments to talk about
(b) they should never exceed two pages
(c) if they are law school waitlist letters only
(d) if you are not enclosing an additional letter of recommendation
2. Expressing some frustration or disappointment in the waitlist letter about not being immediately accepted is:
(a) OK if the school is really your number-one choice
(b) appropriate if it reflects how you honestly feel
(c) never a good idea
(d) useful in the letter’s conclusion to elicit sympathy
3. During the waitlist process, you should generally aim to contact the waitlisting school:
(a) every other day if it’s really your number-one choice
(b) weekly by email or mail
(c) only when prompted by the school
(d) every three to four weeks (if the school allows contact)
4. The main topics of a waitlist letter should be:
(a) your recent professional achievements
(b) new reasons why this school is a good fit for you
(c) developments in your community work since applying
(d) any substantial recent examples that offset the weaknesses of your application
(e) all of the above
5. It’s acceptable to repeat wording from your application essays in the waitlist letter:
(a) never
(b) if you are in a rush to get the letter done on time
(c) if it was an especially strong part of your application
(d) if you think it’s important enough to reinforce
[Answers: 1b, 2c, 3d, 4e, 5a]
How’d you do? Do you have a solid understanding of how waitlist letters work? Do you need help drafting a waitlist letter that will turn the school’s unsure verdict into a solid, resounding acceptance? We can help! Check out our waitlist services for more info.
For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Our expert team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have advised clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern.
Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Help! I’ve Been Waitlisted!, podcast
• 3 Topics to Discuss in Waitlist Correspondence, short video
• How to Write Waitlist Update Letters
