In my ninth-grade honors English class, we received an assignment to prepare and deliver a persuasive argument. For awkward adolescents, myself certainly included, this was a pretty big deal. Presentations were set to take place over a three week period with Ms. Gorman adjudicating from the last row of our classroom curcible. I remember a restless evening – as I repeated my lines sotto voce – the night prior to the first day of presentations. As the deadline neared, my stomach became increasingly tied in knots. I knew my speech, but the stress of anticipation caused delusions of oversight, escape, a stay-of-execution.

When third preiod English class finally arrived, our teacher stood in front of the class and asked, “So, who wants to go first?”

It was a pretty ludicrous question. No one wanted to go first. Silence lingered for an interminable 20 seconds before the unthinkable occurred: I popped out of my chair to volunteer. I don’t know what compelled me act, but before I could comprehend the consequences, I was up at the podium reciting my opening remarks.

The Wait List

In short, my initiative proved to be a superb decision. Was my presentation perfect? No, but it was pretty darn good… probably as good as it was going to get. As a result, my teacher awarded me a flat “A” – conflating my prowess and exuberance into a single grade. Moreover, I set a high bar for the rest of the class to surmount, while I was able to relax for the next few weeks as my classmates squirmed in anticipation.

So, what does this story have to do with the Admissions process – the Wait List, in particular? I think my pro-active behavior applies well to the situation of being “Wait Listed.”

First, the “wait list” is a misnomer. If you take their advice and simply “wait” to be admitted you will most certainly be disappointed. Instead, you should take very active steps to ensure your application remains in the forefront of the admissions officers’ minds. But, what eactly do you need to do?

The Active List

You’ve got to act early and often. Within one week of receiving your wait list notice, you should compose a thoughtful letter to your admissions officer:

• Explain their school is still your top choice and you will attend if accepted.
• Describe your accomplishments, awards, and activities since submitting your application.
• Include a paragraph about how you plan to achieve success on their campus. Be specific about professors, courses, clubs, and activities that appeal to you, but also be realistic. You can’t do everything, so prioritize and consider what you really want to do, not what you think will impress.

Your next steps should involve the guidance or college counsellor at your school. This person can help you discover some valuable information, such as

• the number of students wait listed this year and in the past
• how many were subsequently admitted in the past
• where your application is ranked on the wait list
• what the major obstacle is to your being accepted
• whether all of your financial aid papers are complete and up to date

If you have the above information, you are much better equipped to navigate your way up that list and to deal with the anxiety of what can be a very long process. In fact, colleges have been known to admit students from the wait list as late as September. Therefore, during this period of “active waiting,” you should plan accordingly for your future and never assume you will be accepted.

Even after you have accepted the offer of another school and given an initial deposit (usually a few hundred dollars), you should maintain regular (every 3 to 4 weeks) contact with the admissions office about your wait list status.

They key throughout the entire admissions process is activity. Don’t fall into a quagmire of senioritis. Keep studying, learning, leading, and preparing for your future. If you take control of your scholastic life, you’ll achieve success at any college and beyond. Don’t wait; start now!