Do LOIs work for ranked waitlists?

[HoMuffin]

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I think the title is pretty self explanatory. I'm wondering how much difference an LOI can make for a school that gives you a number on the waitlist. Anyone know the answer?

 

[Street Philosopher]

My buddy told me that his ranked WL doesn't move unless someone above him drops out of the list. This was UT Memphis.

 

[cocoabutter]

I am on a ranked waitlist at University of South Florida. From my impression at this school, supplemental materials, including LOI's, will not help. They have ordered the list in the order that acceptances will be given out as people decline. They do not look at the apps again, so sending additional info is useless. Like Street Philosopher said, ranked waitlists only move if the people ahead of you withdraw or decline their acceptance.

 

[HoMuffin]

Thanks for the replies! That was what I thought too, which is too bad. My top choice school has me on a ranked waitlist and I would love to increase my chances somehow. I guess I'll just have to sit and wait!

 

[manta]

grrr...so, I was waiting on this one school before writing a LOI. When I finally got the rejection letter, I wrote a LOI and sent it in the next day. I get home from work and find the "congrats! you're on the alternate list" letter in my mailbox.
I called the admissions office, and the alternate list is set (I'm in the bottom tier 🙁 - I don't know if it would've made a difference, but I wish I had that letter in beforehand!) I was told that the alt. list makes life a lot easier on the admissions committee - they don't have to meet every week or two to discuss applications anymore. Makes sense.
No moral here....drat. where's the violin smiley guy....


Good luck y'all - hope the wait-list fairy is kind to you.

 

[LizardKing]

maybe i can help you out here. I was on 8 waitlists last summer, and finally got into 3 of the schools.

LOI is the best hand you can play...play it wisely. It won't do anything for you if you're at the bottom or middle of a waitlist, but almost certainly get you in somewhere if you're on the borderline or near the top.

Even on ranked waitlists, it can make a difference. Of course, it depends on the school.

By all means send the letter of intent to your favorite, and send letters of interest to all the other schools. Make it short and simple. One paragraph on how you're still extremely interested in their program, blah blah. Attach a sheet with updated grades and activities. Don't put too much writing or they won't look at it. Send it priority or overnight, and you can be sure at least somebody in the office will pay attention to it.

Good luck. It's a stressful game, being on waitlists, but I swear there's light at the end of the tunnel...you just gotta be aggressive.