“I put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There’s only one thing you should know…â€
It’s technically not true, but in my opinion, getting waitlisted is in a lot of ways worse than a ding. Great. All that stress I went through and thought would be finally over today just continues. For all I know, I could be the next one line to get in, or at the very bottom of a list a mile long. My life is still in limbo.
I had friends last year who sat on their waitlist statuses right up until the school year began. None of them got through. And with the competition this year, I doubt there’s going to be much room for people waiting to get in.
So if I equate this outcome to a ding, and assuming Stanford is ding as well, I’m essentially down to my last app. I’m hanging by a thread now. One more spin of the wheel. One more roll of the dice. I’m used to equating the admissions process to a marathon or some great battle. Now I use games chance. 🙁
I’m thinking about applying to Columbia for their April round, just in case. Columbia seems to have fewer essay requirements and I could probably turn around an app in the time allotted. But then again, I really don’t know if I can stomach another business school application. Also, the fact that I might be stuck at my job even longer is making me loathe my work even more.
I am so sick of the admissions process right now.
I am in the exact same situation as you are and it is excruciating. Trying to decide between rd 3 or rd1 next year. Good luck with Columbia!
Ha – I might as well have written this post myself. I got dinged from HBS and CBS, wait-listed at Wharton, and all things point to Stamford dinging me as well. WTF!!! If I don’t get in anywhere, I might roam the world in search of purpose, like a karate master or a shift-less hobo (fine line in between them, in fact). Best of luck to all of you!
Well looks like there are at least three of us on the waitlist. Let’s grab drinks in Philly if we all manage to get in. 😛
Hi Mark – I’ve been reading your blog for several months and I just wanted to offer you some words of support. I too got dinged from CBS (w/ an interview) and HBS w/o an interview (and I went to the college for undergrad and have donated and raised LOTS of money since then, but I digress…), and have heard nothing from Stanford. It’s tough and it sucks. However, I will say that two of my friends who are 1st years at Stanford got their interview invites within a week of the decision deadline, so keep hope alive! Also, I know some people who were WL’d at Wharton Rd1 and got in yesterday, so hopefully they’ll have some spots open up. I’d definitely schedule a visit, write an update letter, try to get more letters of recc’s to send them, etc. I know ppl who pestered there way off WL’s at HBS and Wharton in the past, so it could work. Also, UCLA is still in play, right? I know they are in process of releasing decisions, so I’ll be crossing my fingers for you!
First round on me if we get in. Keep your head up though, you are young and can reapply later. I am 30!
Don’t worry, Mark! I’m sure you’ll get super good news really soon! If they have you waitlisted then they certainly believe you’re worth more than a look. You reminded me about this article in BTG: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/12/13/the-three-kinds-of-waitlisting-schools Unfortunately, Wharton doesn’t have a clear cut policy in this respect… But I still think you should be optimistic! 🙂
Thanks Dana. I really appreciate your support.
LOL. Yeah, it’s amazing how quickly the years catch up on you.