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In a Limbo on a Waitlist


It is not a "yes" and not quite a "no". A waitlist is a place you would rather not be because it prolongs the uncertainty about your B-school admission and leaves you wondering whether it was your interview that was not good enough or the MBA application essays or were you denied an outright admission simply because there were better candidates in the round you applied to. The Harvard Business School official website says, "An invitation to join our waitlist is a positive indication of our Admissions Board's interest. However, the Board has not yet reached a final decision, and seeks permission to continue to consider your application beyond our formal decision date for the application round." The number of applicants who get off the waitlist each year vary among schools with each school reporting a different percentage every year; but the number at top schools such as Stanford and Wharton can be up to 200 applicants every year.

So, how "positive" is the positive indication? If you have got an interview call from a top b-school and made it to a waitlist, then you can be sure that you were among the very best. But perhaps the others who got admitted were more differentiated. Generally, schools advise you to sit tight and wait for a decision on the wait list. But there are a few things that you can do, while playing the waiting game:

1. Look for weaknesses: Is your work experience lower than the school average in the past? Could you have focused more on the qualitative experience in your MBA application? Should you have mentioned your experience outside of work in greater detail? Is your GMAT score average? Are your career goals too unrelated to your current job profile? Were your recommendations powerful enough?

2. Be proactive: Work towards wiping out the weaknesses you have identified above. These would be useful even if you do not get past the waitlist (whether you apply to other MBA programs or continue to build your career). For instance, if you have been looking for a new role at your current workplace that fits better with your future goals, make efforts to move swiftly in that direction. Update your resume to reflect additional responsibilities you may have taken up or other accomplishments since the application. Identify additional recommenders. A few schools allow additional recommendations.

3. Communicate but carefully:  While a few schools allow supplemental material, do not be over-enthusiastic and flood their inbox with emails and documents. It is one thing to be committed to the school and express a keen interest and quite another to appear desperate. Also, for schools that specifically mention that supplemental material is not welcome, respect the school's waitlist policy.

If you are among the 5% or so of the lucky individuals to get invited to join after a terminal wait, congratulations! But if you are among the remaining 95%, for whom experience was a real life rendition of "Waiting for Godot", don't fret. Think about other programs or replying to the same program next year. Continue to push your career in the direction you have set for yourself.


Visit the Gurome website for help with your MBA admission essays and MBA admission interview. Gurome also offers GMAT Score Booster Program, MBA, M.S.Ph.D admissions consulting, Career counseling and a lot more. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for latest news and updates on advanced education and careers



Posted by kalyani at Jan 10, 2012 2:20:36 AM
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