Has this email showed up in your inbox?
Thank you for submitting an application to YOUR DREAM MBA PROGRAM. Your application has been selected for further evaluation as part of our Round 2 applicant pool. This means that the Committee has identified key strengths in your application and requires additional time to review your candidacy. Note that this is different from being placed on the waitlist and your application will now follow our Round 2 application timeline. Should you be selected for an interview, we anticipate interview invitations will be released in mid-February. Final decisions will be released no later than the end of March. If you choose to remain under consideration, you can expect to receive an update on this timeline around mid-January.
In order to confirm whether you wish to be evaluated as part of the Round 2 applicant pool or withdraw from consideration altogether, please complete the Further Evaluation Reply Form in the Forms section below no later than Friday, December 15.
Or perhaps this one?
As our office oversees the waitlist, we will be in touch monthly to keep you apprised as we continue through this year’s admissions cycle.
Our team recognizes that being placed on the waitlist brings mixed emotions, as well as a number of questions, so we wanted to reach out to address some of those questions up front.
“I am on the waitlist. What does that mean?”
Being selected for YOUR DREAM MBA PROGRAM’s waitlist is an exceptional accomplishment. Waitlisted candidates are recognized as being a strong fit with the class, but due to class size limitations, we cannot offer everyone a seat at this time. As enrollment in the class can change until the class arrives on campus, we keep a waitlist of candidates whom we could potentially admit, should space become available.
Round 1 decisions are out, and you are not in. Although you may be disappointed, the good news is that you were not denied! Yes, there IS a chance that you will be accepted.
Whether you were offered “further consideration” by Harvard Business School or you were put on the waitlist or in a wait “pool,” here are eight tips for what you can do while you are on an MBA waitlist.
1. Breathe. Relax.
Seriously, you are still in play. Celebrate! There is something—actually, probably a lot—about your application and profile that the admissions committee found interesting and, therefore, it decided not to deny you. If your flaw were fatal, the committee would have simply denied you.
2. Read and follow the instructions.
Assuming you would accept a seat in this program over your other options, read the instructions provided and accept your spot on the waitlist before the deadline. Some programs ask waitlisted candidates to submit an additional essay or video by a specified deadline. Make sure you understand what incremental information the program welcomes. You don’t want to annoy the admissions committee by sending additional information if it has stated that it does not want any. Not following instructions can mean a fast pass to the ding pile.
3. Look at the numbers.
Although your GMAT or GRE score and your GPA are not the only things the admissions committee looks at, these numbers are important because they drive the school’s rankings. Clearly, there is nothing you can do about your undergrad GPA now. But if your GMAT or GRE score is lower than the program average, you should seriously consider retaking the exam. Assess where you are with respect to the test and how you have prepared to date. If you have studied on your own, consider taking a formal course. If you need targeted support on a particular section of the exam, investigate tutoring options. Some schools will allow you to submit a score for a different standardized test.
If you have plateaued on one exam, you might take a practice test of another exam to see if your score is stronger. Each year, more and more programs are accepting the Executive Assessment (EA). Perhaps that might be an option for you. See “GMAT, GRE, or Even EA—Which Test Should I Take?” for more guidance.
4. Connect with the school.
Show the admissions committee that you want a seat in the program and will accept it immediately if it is offered. If you haven’t already done so, visit the school. If a formal campus visit is not available, look for a way to get your feet on the ground. Perhaps you might register for a conference related to your area of interest. Engage with students. Identify areas in which you can (and will) contribute to the program. Remember, specificity = credibility. Don’t just say that you want to join a popular club; learn about what events or activities the club offers and figure out how you might add value or build on an existing initiative. Check out “25 Questions to Ask Students and Alumni While Researching MBA Programs” for more tips.
5. Ask for support.
Is one of your colleagues a graduate of the program? Is your college roommate a first-year student? Ask if they will write a letter of support and fit to the school. Many programs welcome input from their current and former students when shaping the class. If you have a manager who might offer insight into your profile that was not included in your initial application, ask if they will write a recommendation. It may be the case that you hadn’t asked your current supervisor to write a recommendation because you had only worked with them for a few months at the time you submitted applications. Now that they have observed your work, contributions, and impact, they may be able to offer another perspective on your candidacy. See our “Tips for MBA Letters of Support” to learn more.
6. Prepare for the program.
Are you prepared to take on the quantitative rigor of an MBA program? The admissions committee does not want to admit candidates who might struggle in the core curriculum. If you don’t have sufficient background in the quantitative areas, consider enrolling in a class that will demonstrate your readiness. Get more advice in our “Five Tips to Build Your Quantitative Profile.”
7. Submit an update.
If the program welcomes it, share an update a few weeks in advance of the next decision deadline. You will likely be re-considered along with the applicants in the next round. As a waitlisted candidate, you have a bonus opportunity to demonstrate your passion for the program and your readiness to commit your deposit as soon as the admissions committee gives you the nod. Show the committee the love.
8. Love the one you’re with.
If you have received acceptances at other programs that you would be happy to attend, be sure to submit a deposit and intent to matriculate to at least one program. Admissions committees recognize that some admitted students will walk away from their deposits. This is referred to as “melt,” and it is an expected part of managing the admissions process. You may end up leaving a few thousand dollars on the table, but if you are later accepted to a program you feel is a better fit, think of it as your insurance policy. Although you don’t want to let the school to which you submit a deposit know that you hope to attend another MBA program, you can let the admissions committee at the school where you are waitlisted know that you have made a deposit at another program but will gladly walk away if you are accepted from the waitlist.
One of my clients who was on the “summer waitlist” for a top program noted that her situation was like being in a toxic relationship. Perhaps her “partner” would propose to her and they would live happily ever after. Alternatively, they might just dump her. Recognize that you ARE valued, which is why the admissions committee wants to keep you in play.
Listen to The Shocking, Pleasant Truth About MBA Waitlists, with Stratus Senior MBA Admissions Counselor Donna Bauman and GMAT Ninja founder Charles Bibilos.
Every year, Stratus helps clients navigate waitlist situations. If you need help creating and executing a waitlist strategy, reach out for a free consultation.