Get Off the College Waitlist: How to Write a Quick Essay to Demonstrate Interest and Get Accepted!
What should I write about to get myself off the waitlist and accepted by the college?
Make your writing as specific as you can!
What should you do if you’re on a college waitlist? Write an essay to demonstrate interest to get accepted!
Harvard got 56,937 applicants for the class of 2027. That is HUGE. And that means so many college waitlists are INCREDIBLY long this year!
The biggest question I get asked is “How do I get off the waitlist?” The answer is always “demonstrate interest.” My students say, “How do I demonstrate interest to get off the waitlist?”
Here’s how to write the essay that will demonstrate interest and get you off the waitlist.
How do I demonstrate interest in a school - enough to get off the waitlist?
Structure your essay as follows:
Paragraph 1: Imagine yourself at graduation. Describe the scene that you can imagine on that day - the color of their mortarboard, any specific traditions they do at that school before graduation. Talk about friends you’ve made at that school and the fun things you did with them.
Paragraph 2: Talk about classes you took in your intended major and things you explored outside your intended major. Look up specific professors at the college and the classes they teach and their research interests. Talk about what classes you would be drawn to and professors you’d dialogue with both in class and during office hours.
Paragraph 3: Talk about your experiences in the community - if the school is in a big city like NYC, talk about what you love about New York City. If the school is in a rural area and you are from a big city, talk about some experiences you might have in a rural area that you’ve never had (buying fresh eggs in Amish country or walking through a corn maze at Halloween). Talk about volunteering - look up volunteer opportunities - and, if possible, anything you’d like to start on campus that they don’t already have (love musical theater but there’s no Broadway group on campus? Say you’d like to start one!).
Paragraph 4: Keep it simple - say you have all these dreams and would love to make them a reality at School X. Give your email address and phone number - they likely won’t contact you, but you never know - and enclose a candid photo of yourself doing something that frames you in the light you’d like the college to see you in (volunteering with the elderly, winning the science fair).
MOST IMPORTANT RULE: Be as specific as you can!
Show them that you know the school and cared enough to take the time to know things other people might not know. The more specific you are, including specific details of color, texture, professors’ and courses’ names, school building names, experiences you can imagine having, the more they both:
Know you care
Can make a picture in their mind of the kind of student you are
That sense that you care will impress them and the imagery creates hooks in the admissions officers’ memories - and if they remember being impressed by you, that helps you when a spot opens up on the waitlist.
Second most important rule: PROOFREAD till you’re error-proof!
ALWAYS remember to double-check your writing for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors! Being error-proof tells the college that you cared enough to work hard and get it right.
Believe it or not, eliminating errors from your writing is one of the best and easiest ways to distinguish yourself from other applicants - because most people do NOT take the time to proofread carefully!
How do I get my waitlist essay to the right person?
Email this essay to the specific admissions counselor assigned to your portion of the country. Most of the time, you can go on a college’s website and see which admissions counselor is assigned to your section - a New York City student I had who was applying to Tulane found his admissions counselor by googling “Tulane admissions officers new york” and emailed her directly.
What subject line should I use?
Use the subject line “First Name Last Name: Why I love College Name!” eg “Alyssa Smith: Why I love Tulane!”
GOOD LUCK!
Need some extra help?
Schedule 15 min for $15 with Alyssa the College Expert! I’ve been helping students get into college for 15 years - and I’m happy to share my knowledge with you!
For more FAQs and tips about college waitlists, click here and here!
