MBA Waitlist Advice

Class Location: The Internet.

Description: This course goes over some advice for students who become waitlisted in an MBA program.

Objective: Turn that waitlist letter into an acceptance letter.

If you have applied to an MBA program and been notified that you are on a waitlist, there are some things you can do to increase the likelihood that you are moved from the waitlist to the accepted list.

You need to remember that being waitlisted means you are qualified for admission. If you weren't, you would have received a rejection letter instead. So congratulations on being qualified. Possible reasons for being waitlisted are that they have already admitted students with your profile and are striving for more diversity, or that you impressed them, but others were more impressive. That's okay. There are a few things you can do to help them decide to admit you.

If the school you have applied to accepts additional materials, take advantage of this. Currently, Harvard, Wharton, and UCLA are the three most prominent schools that do not accept additional waitlist materials.

Look for weaknesses: Examine the waitlist letter carefully to see if you can discern why they waitlisted you (if they spotted a weakness). If so, address this issue with the school and demonstrate your ability to improve in that area.

Accentuate your strengths: In addition to addressing your weaknesses that they spotted, be sure to highlight your strengths for them again and mention recent accomplishments.

Show that you fit: Be sure to tell them again why you fit with their school specifically. It may also be in your best interest to visit the school again, make occasional phone calls or offer to interview.

Get backup: Getting another letter of recommendation or reference can also be helpful at this stage. Especially if your recommender can write knowledgeably about your candidacy at that particular school. Remember that current students and alumni of that school will not necessarily carry more weight with the admissions committee than someone they do not know at all.

Ask: Asking the school how you can improve your chances can't hurt. There might not be anything you can do, or they might not tell you, but asking is the only way to find out if they will tell you. Don't hesitate to ask an independent expert who will champion your cause for help. A good number of admitted applicants do just this each and every year.