Calling/Emailing Schools Where You're Waitlisted

[lookslikerain]

So I've heard from a lot of people, some in admissions, that it's a good idea to call or email schools periodically where you're waitlisted to show your interest (in addition to update letters, etc). Has anyone here done this? I wouldn't know what to say every time!

Call 1: "Hi, I'm very interested in your school..."
Call 2: "Hi, um, I'm still interested?"

Any ideas on different things to say that do not come across as annoying/pleading?

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[ahumdinger]

So I've heard from a lot of people, some in admissions, that it's a good idea to call or email schools periodically where you're waitlisted to show your interest (in addition to update letters, etc). Has anyone here done this? I wouldn't know what to say every time!

Call 1: "Hi, I'm very interested in your school..."
Call 2: "Hi, um, I'm still interested?"

Any ideas on different things to say that do not come across as annoying/pleading?

yeah, I agree. A lot of advice on this forum claim that calling is a good idea. I got this a lot when I was worried about not getting any interviews. But what am I supposed to say? Even if you say "i'm very interested in your school," isn' the secretary just going to say, "okay, honey, that's nice."

Who should we be talking to when we call?

 

[eastsidaz]

At least one school I know of has a list at the secretary's desk, and your name is put down every time you call; this is really only relevant to unranked waitlists, but I don't think there's anything wrong with calling for the sake of expressing continued interest. Just be nice and try to remember the secretary's name after the first time.

 

[lookslikerain]

yeah, I agree. A lot of advice on this forum claim that calling is a good idea. I got this a lot when I was worried about not getting any interviews. But what am I supposed to say? Even if you say "i'm very interested in your school," isn' the secretary just going to say, "okay, honey, that's nice."

Who should we be talking to when we call?

exactly, i dont see how such exchanges would be helpful. i mean, i guess the best thing to do would be to call with specific questions. but i'm waitlisted, my only question is, will you let me in!?

i'm not sure who should we be talking to. i don't think it's the secretary though. perhaps the admissions director or maybe even the dean of admissions (although i would be nervous to do that!)

 

[star22]

exactly, i dont see how such exchanges would be helpful. i mean, i guess the best thing to do would be to call with specific questions. but i'm waitlisted, my only question is, will you let me in!?

i'm not sure who should we be talking to. i don't think it's the secretary though. perhaps the admissions director or maybe even the dean of admissions (although i would be nervous to do that!)

You could just ask if there has been any movement off of the waitlist yet, or approximately where you stand on the waitlist, etc. It still seems like it would be annoying to the office staff, but at least you could get some info out of it.

 

[lookslikerain]

So does anyone else have ideas on this, particularly on what to say if you're supposed to call every 3 or 4 weeks?