Creative waitlist tactics...too unprofessional at this point?

[illegallysmooth]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've heard of some people doing unique or creative things to get off a waitlist. For example, a student from Hawaii sent a letter of intent tucked inside a bottle, a gifted artist illustrated a storybook of his story of "falling in love" with the school, a cartoonist drew a comic strip that was a humorous take on the admissions process and underscored her desire to attend the school, a musician wrote a song about why he wanted to attend and sent a video of the performance, etc.

What do you guys think of this? Too immature at this level? Or charming?

Can any adcom members provide some insight?

 

[anfleisch]

Depends how low your chances are I think. If it is a school that really moves their waitlist, I would just write a conventional letter and send updates. But if it is a place that rarely takes anyone or very few, then you have nothing to lose.

 

[chibrown01]

I say do whatever is going to make you stand out. But some of these examples are a little extreme!!

 

[CapnCrunch]

I just can't imagine an adcom member being swayed by such cliche tactics. Maybe I hold them in too high of a regard, but they are human too after all. 😳

This is the first time I've heard something this extravagant. Though, like a poster said above me, what do you have to lose?

 

[SirGecko]

That sounds like the kind of thing that will get you off of the wait list for undergraduate admissions for sure but I don't know if it'll help or hurt you for medical school.

edit: if you do go this route you should drive to the school and stand outside the admissions office holding a boom box over your head playing In Your Eyes.

 

[BlueElmo]

I wouldn't do it. Just send a LOI or something.

 

[chocchipcookie]

when i was transferring schools, i only applied to one school that my stats were pretty low for and i sent them fortunes from fortune cookies that said things like "good news is on its way to you soon" and "your hard work will soon pay off" and wrote a little story under it about how i hoped that those were indicative of good things to come from the admissions office. that probably wasn't the only thing, but it worked 🙂

 

[GlamDoc]

That sounds like the kind of thing that will get you off of the wait list for undergraduate admissions for sure but I don't know if it'll help or hurt you for medical school.

edit: if you do go this route you should drive to the school and stand outside the admissions office holding a boom box over your head playing In Your Eyes.

Live performances are the best. 🙂