미국 고등학교 시니어들에게 4월은 앞으로 진학할 학교를 결정하는 중요한 달입니다. 며칠전 뉴욕 타임즈의 교육면에 전교 6등에 all As, 학교 대표 농구선수인 학생이 프린스턴, 듀크, 스탠포드에서 불합격 통지를 받고 라이스와 버지니아 대학에서 대기자 명단에 들었다고 하는 기사가 나왔습니다. 이 학생은 텍사스 대학에서 합격 통지를 받았지만 그것 조차도 이번 가을 학기가 아닌 내년 봄학기로 입학 허가가 나왔다고 하니 대학 입학이 얼마나 점점 어려워지는 지 모르겠습니다. 우리 한국학생들 중에서도 어느학교를 갈지 다 정해놓고 홀가분한 나날을 보내지 못하고 대기자 명단에 속해서 갈등 중에 있는 학생들이 꽤 되리라고 짐작합니다. 큰 봉투도 아닌 것이, 또 불합격 통지도 아닌 것이 두 세장 편지가 들어있는 대기 통보를 받으면 우선은 “그래도 떨어진 것 보다는 기분이 낳지.” 라고 생각하지만 곧 “아예 불합격 편지를 받았으면 속 편했을 것을, 고민 하게 만드네.” 하게 됩니다.
대기자 명단은 사실 대학측에서 마련한 “보험 장치”입니다. 이번 학기에 신입생을 1000명 뽑을 계획인 학교가 있다고 봅시다. 그럼 1000명 보다 훨씬 많은 수의 학생 (학교에 따라 매우 다르지만 두배 정도)에게 합격 통지를 보냅니다. 만약 2000명의 학생에게 합격 통지를 보냈는데 1000명은 학교에 등록하고 1000명은 각자 다른 학교에 등록하게 된다면 “완벽한” 계산을 한 것입니다. 그런데 실지로 등록할 학생의 수를 학교 입학처에서 어떻게 예상할 수 있겠습니까? 작년에 유펜의 경우 합격 통지를 보낸 학생들이 학생 정원보다 훨씬 많이 등록을 해서 (합격 통지를 취소할 수 있는 노릇은 아니지 않습니까)기숙사의 2인실을 3인실로 바꾸면서까지 그 학생들을 전부 받아들여야 했던 해프닝이 있었답니다. 그런 경우에는 대기자 명단에 있던 학생들에게까지 차례가 돌아가지 않았겠지요? 그러나 반대로 코넬의 경우 2005년에 200명 이상을 대기자 명단에서 뽑았습니다. 그것은 그 만한 수의 합격자들이 다른 학교에 등록하고 코넬에 등록하지 않았다는 뜻이겠지요? 한마디로 말해서 대기자 명단에서 합격할 가능성은 어느 누구도 점칠 수 없는 일이고 학교에 따라서 너무나 다릅니다.
그러면 대기자 명단에 들어있는 4월 한달, 그리고 5월 첫째주 정도까지 할 수 있는 일은 무엇일까요. 우선 대기자 명단에 남아 있을지를 결정합니다. 보통은 대기자 명단에서 학생의 순위를 매기지 않지만 혹시 그렇게 하는지를 알아볼 수도 있고 또 대기자 명단에 있는 조건(어떤 경우 기숙사를 고르는 기회가 없게 될 수도 있고, 또 대기자 명단에 있는 학생의 재정 보조에 관한 학교의 방침이 무언지 등등)을 알아보고 이 학교가 기회를 주면 꼭 가겠다는 확신이 있는 경우에만 학교에 연락을 취해서 대기자 명단에 남겠다는 것을 알리십시오. 둘 째, 입학처에 있는 카운슬러 한 사람을 확보해서 지속적으로 연락을 취하십시오. 오월 첫 째주에 합격학생들이 등록 여부를 다 알리고 나서 올해에 등록할 학생이 몇 명인지 구체화되고 나면 그 때 대기자 명단에서 학생을 뽑을지 어쩔지 결정하게 되고 대기자 명단을 오픈해서 전체적으로 다시 심사를 하게 되는데 어떤 학생에게 기회를 주겠습니까? 자주 연락해서 얼만큼 학교에 관심이 있는지 알린 학생이 확실히 눈에 띌 것입니다. 그렇다고 입학처 사람들을 한달 내내 괴롭히라는 것이 아닙니다. 지혜롭게 일을 처리해야 합니다.
이 모든 노력을 기울였음에도 불구하고 대기자 명단이 아예 열리지가 않는 경우, 즉 학교에서 뽑을 학생을 합격자 명단에서 다 뽑고 난 경우라면 학생의 폴더가 아예 읽히지도 않을 것입니다. 그러나 그럼에도 불구하고 꼭 최선을 다해보고 싶은 학생은 말씀드린대로 해보라고 권하고 싶습니다. 이 과정도 인생을 배우는 또 한 과정으로서 말입니다. 시니어로서 남는 시간을 어영부영 보내느니 확률이 적다해도 의미있는 무엇을 위해 최선을 다하는 것이 오히려 아름답지 않습니까?
<문의> 엔젤라 유학/교육 상담 그룹, www.angelaconsulting.com, 301-320-9791/070-7885-9588 Email: angelagroup@gmail.com
If you have new academic information or special accomplishments to boast about—strong third quarter grades, new standardized testing results, a track team win—let the college know. If you don’t have new official grades yet, you can contact your teachers and ask that they provide you with a midterm update, says Richmond’s Tessier. Also, some counselors say you can send one—and only one—additional letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or administrator who can speak to exactly who you are right now, and why you are a good fit for the school.
Crafting a well-written letter to the admissions committee that expresses your commitment to the school, as well as an academic reason for wanting to attend, could also tip the scales in your favor. In the letter, relay in one short paragraph why the school is a good fit for you, whether it’s an academic program or an extra-curricular activity, and how you would contribute to the campus community. “Selective schools look for that person on the wait list who will fill that ’empty’ space on their grid—a boy majoring in art or a girl who is going to do journalism,” says educational consultant Annalee Nissenholtz.
Colleges seek out students from their wait lists who are committed to attending if offered a seat in the class. If the college is your No. 1 choice, state that in your letter and say you will attend if you are taken off the list. “It is the job of the student to make sure that their first choice interest in the school is clear and their plan to attend is unquestionable,” says SAR High School’s Jacobs.
You can also call and ask if you can interview, especially if you haven’t interviewed already. Some colleges permit this for students on the wait list. Try to schedule the meeting with the dean of admissions, and make your case directly. “If the student had a rocky patch in her high school career, it’s imperative to discuss what happened and explain what steps she took—or will take—to ensure it will not happen again,” says Kalamazoo’s Staab.
Don’t try to buy your way in with goodies. “Cookies, posters, and YouTube videos expressing their interest in enrolling generally do very little to further a cause,” says Patrick Winter, senior associate director of admissions at the University of Georgia. Mandee Heller Adler, a counselor and president of International College Counselors, recalls one instance where begging actually worked, but in general resorting to tactics like sending multiple e-mails and calling every officer on staff is considered a no-no.
But sometimes it doesn’t matter how great your extra essays or recommendations are. The National Association for College Admission Counseling estimates that only about 30 percent of students who opt to remain on a wait list are ultimately admitted. Johns Hopkins, for instance, did not accept a single person off its 2009 wait list. So counselors recommend that students embrace their backup colleges and try to see the positives in them. This might also be an ideal time to explore a “gap year” between high school and college. Colleges and guidance counselors alike encourage it, and it might open some new doors and give you time to re-assess your goals. “A gap year could take a disappointment and transform it into an exciting opportunity for growth, adventure, or a career internship,” says college counselor and educational consultant Shirley Bloomquist. If your second choice school turns out to be a poor fit after a year, you can try to transfer.
Take Control
It’s not just a passive waiting game. There are things you can do to boost your chances of being accepted.
Get a better sense of your chances of admission.
Colleges sometimes rank waiting lists. The higher you rank on the list the better your chances of being accepted. Contact the admissions office to find out if it ranks wait-listed students or if it has a priority list. Most admissions officers are willing to tell you your status.
Write a letter to the admissions office.
Being wait-listed means the school has already determined you have the academic credentials; so nonacademic factors are more likely to sway admissions officials. Offer achievements that you may not have mentioned in your application and send new supplemental information. For example, maybe a terrific recommendation just came in. Emphasize your strong desire to attend the college and make a case for why you’re a good fit. You can indicate that if accepted you’ll enroll, but such a promise should be made only if you’re absolutely certain. You can also enlist the help of an alumnus and your high school counselor.
Study hard.
This is no time to slack off. If you’re wait-listed, you may be reevaluated based on your third- and fourth-quarter grades.
Stay involved.
Show admissions officers you’re committed to sports, clubs, and other activities.
Request another (or a first) interview.
An interview can give you a personal contact—someone who can check on the status of your application.
Realize that you’ve already achieved something.
You were wait-listed, not turned away. Many students were not as successful.
Reconsider the colleges that accepted you.
If you’ll be just as happy at one of your second choices, send in that deposit and plan to attend there. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel after the decision has been made.
Colleges don’t decide who will be admitted off the waiting list until the May 1 decision deadline has passed. Prepare to attend another school by filling out the paperwork and sending in a deposit. If you’re accepted off the waiting list, you will forfeit your deposit at the first school and be required to submit a deposit to the second.
Take Control
It’s not just a passive waiting game. There are things you can do to boost your chances of being accepted.
Get a better sense of your chances of admission.
Colleges sometimes rank waiting lists. The higher you rank on the list the better your chances of being accepted. Contact the admissions office to find out if it ranks wait-listed students or if it has a priority list. Most admissions officers are willing to tell you your status.
Write a letter to the admissions office.
Being wait-listed means the school has already determined you have the academic credentials; so nonacademic factors are more likely to sway admissions officials. Offer achievements that you may not have mentioned in your application and send new supplemental information. For example, maybe a terrific recommendation just came in. Emphasize your strong desire to attend the college and make a case for why you’re a good fit. You can indicate that if accepted you’ll enroll, but such a promise should be made only if you’re absolutely certain. You can also enlist the help of an alumnus and your high school counselor.
Study hard.
This is no time to slack off. If you’re wait-listed, you may be reevaluated based on your third- and fourth-quarter grades.
Stay involved.
Show admissions officers you’re committed to sports, clubs, and other activities.
Request another (or a first) interview.
An interview can give you a personal contact—someone who can check on the status of your application.
Realize that you’ve already achieved something.
You were wait-listed, not turned away. Many students were not as successful.
Reconsider the colleges that accepted you.
If you’ll be just as happy at one of your second choices, send in that deposit and plan to attend there. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel after the decision has been made.
Colleges don’t decide who will be admitted off the waiting list until the May 1 decision deadline has passed. Prepare to attend another school by filling out the paperwork and sending in a deposit. If you’re accepted off the waiting list, you will forfeit your deposit at the first school and be required to submit a deposit to the second.
Should I ask to remain active on the wait list?
Only if you are seriously interested in attending that college. If you are, then you should indicate in writing or by returning the postcards many colleges provide for that purpose as soon as possible. If you definitely will attend if admitted, tell the college that.
When will I learn if I will be admitted from the wait list?
The very earliest you can expect to hear from colleges is late April, but usually not until after the first week of May. Most colleges will finalize the status of students by June 1. Occasionally colleges will extend to students the opportunity to remain on a wait list throughout the summe
Should I call the college?
No! Colleges will only ask you to indicate your position in writing. Until the first week or so of May, colleges rarely have any information that will be helpful to you as you try to calculate your chances.
What are my chances?
Until early May this is an impossible question for even the colleges to answer. Colleges must wait to hear from all of the students to whom they have extended an offer of admission. Those students have until May 1 to respond. Often times those responses, mailed on April 30, do not arrive until May 3 or 4. Colleges’ past records regarding their wait lists are not important. One year a college may take 50 students from its wait list, the next year it may not be able to take any. It will all depend on how many admitted students decide to enroll before May 1.
How many applicants usually end up on a wait list?
Wait lists vary from school to school. Remember, not everybody who is offered a position on a wait list will wait to be considered. The initial number placed on a wait list is usually reduced significantly.
How can I find out what my “rank” is on a wait list?
Colleges will not rank their wait list until after they have heard from both admitted candidates and wait list candidates (May 1). Most colleges will not inform you of your rank on the list.
What can I do to improve my chances?
If your grades since mid-year are good ones, sending them along to the colleges may help. If you have earned any honors, taken on responsibilities or in any other way distinguished yourself since you applied, don’t hesitate to let the colleges know. Remember, even if you have completely turned things around, this will not make a difference if the college does not go to its wait list.
Should I try to set up another interview?
Colleges rarely permit second interviews, particularly before May 1. If you happen to be in the area, it doesn’t hurt to stop by and express your continuing interest in the school but a major investment of time and money to visit a college where you have been placed on a wait list is probably not worth the effort. Consult with your counselor regarding this matter.
What should I do while I wait?
Assume you are not going to get in from the wait list. Statistics clearly indicate the chances are quite a bit less than 50/50. The most important thing for you to do at this time is to focus on the options you do have and make an informed, rational decision regarding those options. Should I make an enrollment deposit at my second choice college? YES! Unfortunately this fee is normally not refundable, but it is important for you to guarantee that you have a place in a college next year. Make your deposit before May 1.
What should I do if I have been placed on several wait lists?
There is nothing wrong with remaining on more than one wait list as long as each one of them is a school that you are more interested in than the options you currently have.
Waitlists are the nasty first cousin of deferrals. Waitlisting generally occurs in April, or at the time when RD accept/deny letters come out. If you are waitlisted, you’re also neither in nor out. You’re just waiting for a decision that may never come. Colleges use their waitlists to make sure that every bed is filled in their dorm rooms. If not enough accepted students enroll, waitlisted applicants are offered admission. At the very top schools waitlists are used relatively infrequently because of the high enrollment percentages of accepted students. Still, if you’ve had your heart set on a particular school and you end up on the waitlist, it can be agonizing. You’ll most likely be forced to enroll at another college while hoping for that call from the waitlist. Frankly, it doesn’t seem fair at all. Waitlists were designed wholly for the advantage of the college, not you, so keep that in mind.
Now, to the issue at hand: What should you do if you end up deferred or waitlisted? The approach is essentially the same for both. You must undertake a carefully deployed program of self-marketing to further enhance your “almost good enough” application. After all, if the colleges deferring or waitlisting you weren’t interested in you, they would have rejected you, right? Let’s take a look at what you can do to improve your chances of getting in.
Your job is twofold. First, you need to establish a distinguishable presence with the admissions office without becoming a pest. Second, you need to reveal more of yourself and your sincere passion to attend your target college. How do you do this? Well, you should start to execute this plan the moment you find out that you have been deferred or waitlisted. Don’t sit around and mope. Take action immediately. If you don’t, who will? To borrow a phrase from Paul Simon, then, here’s the plan, Stan:
First, you need to find a human being in the admissions office who is willing to communicate with you by e-mail or phone. This may well be the regional rep for your area of the country. Your job is to find out who this person is. Call admissions and ask for that person’s name and e-mail address. If they won’t reveal the e-mail address, ask to be connected to that person by phone. If they won’t do that, get the person’s name (they should be willing to give that out) and write him/her a letter requesting an avenue of contact (again, e-mail is preferable).
Once you have established contact with the admissions rep, then you must keep that person informed on a regular basis about your recent accomplishments (academic, EC, personal life) and deepening passion for that college. Over the course of your marketing campaign, you should make four-to-five contacts with this person. In addition to your e-mails, you can snail-mail any cool things that involve you from the school newspaper, local newspaper, or anything else where your name appears in print. This is part of marketing your ongoing progress as an outstanding student, athlete, theater arts person, or whatever.
Try to get one more significant recommendation from someone who really knows you well and who may have a unique angle on your intangible qualities (personal integrity, creativity, etc.). That might be a friend, parent, relative, pastor, or supervisor. The important condition is that this person must be able to write extremely convincingly and with great focus on who you are as a person. They should use anecdotes to illustrate your uniqueness and how you are perfectly suited to that college. If this person knows something about the particular college in question, that’s even better.
A real clincher would be if you could win some kind of major honor or award, such as a state- or national-level title or something. This might not be possible, but if you’re a high performer, one never knows.
Deferrals & Waitlists Summary: Find the key person in admissions, establish contact, and keep in touch regularly with meaningful communications. Granted, this takes a lot of careful and diligent effort. However, when that deferral or waitlist letter arrives, you have to ask yourself one critical question: “How badly do I really want to attend this college?” Your answer to that question should determine your course of action. If you decide to go for it, use this plan. It should give you your very best shot. Best wishes on your college admissions quest!
