Waitlist–It’s Not About Waiting
Waitlist—It’s Not about Waiting
As we enter March and approach the end of the decision cycle, many of you may have received a waitlist decision and are disappointed or confused. I wanted to give you some advice, short and sweet, about how to view this status and what to do about it.
A waitlist status is not about being on hold, suspended in time, or in limbo. There are two specific reasons why we at Babson put a candidate on the waitlist. One, if your waitlist decision comes at this point in the Admission cycle, it means that the Admissions Committee wants to review more of the applicant pool before making a final decision on your application. Two, a waitlist decision coming later in the cycle, after April, for example, means that we really don’t have any more seats and are waiting to hear whether those already admitted are accepting our offer or not.
Regardless of why you are on the waitlist, you need to see this as a decision that gives you a measure of power and avenues for action. It is a time to craft a strategy and execute. Here is my simple advice on how to do that.
- Answer: How important is Babson to you? Do you really want to study here? Are you really convinced that you are an entrepreneur of any kind and want to network for life with others like you?
- If the answers to 1 are Extremely, Yes, and Absolutely!, then check the box to indicate that YES, you want to be on the Waitlist and then, connect with your Admissions recruiter.
- How to “connect?” Let your recruiter know that you want to remain on the waitlist. Ask her if there is any further information you could provide that would strengthen or clarify your application. Offer examples of what you could submit.
- After that conversation, check in. Not daily, but respectfully and regularly. Provide updates, if you have anything truly new and important happening to you or your work life.
Taking action and setting up a regular check-in schedule will give you some control as well as letting the Admissions Committee know that you remain as committed to attending as ever and would come if offered the chance.
Finally, last spring, I posted a video about the waitlist. I encourage you to take a look. The information and outlook expressed are as relevant this spring as they were in 2011.
Thank you, waitlisted candidates, for your interest in Babson and for your application. I hope this advice is useful. And I hope for the very best outcome.
Good luck. Think big.
Best, Barbara