Waitlisted @ Columbia

[rajmago]

Hi,

I've just been waitlisted at Columbia. I haven't yet received an invite for an interview and have not yet been contacted by my waitlist manager. Aside from sitting and waiting, what can I do to get off the waitlist? How does Columbia handle waitlists. Can you comment on waitlistees ultimately accepted? this is for the J-term.

Also, I've been meaning to do a school visit. In your opinion, would that help?

Thanks in advance for your help,
-Rajat

[mbamission]

Hi Rajat,

I definitely recommend a formal campus visit, as this shows you are motivated and interested in attending CBS. If you can try and arrange to meet with your waitlist manager (if assigned one), even for just five minutes, to reiterate your interest in the school, and follow up with a thank you note. The waitlist manager, or admissions office, should be able to give you the details of how the process will work.

Good luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

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[rajmago]

Hi Daniel,

Much appreciate the information on campus visit. I'll be booking my flight later tonight. what else can I do to get off the waitlist? How does Columbia handle waitlists? Can you comment on waitlistees ultimately accepted?

Thanks,
-Rajat

[mbamission]

Hi Rajat

Unfortunately there is no secret code to getting off the waitlist. You want to show sincere, continued interest without crossing the border into nagging the admissions office. Unfortunately I have no specific insights into how Columbia handles waitlists or what the ultimate waitlist acceptance rate is. If past years are any indicator you likely will have to be patient --as spots off the waitlist tend to open up in earnest in April.

Good luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

Visit the mbaMission Blog

Follow mbaMission on Twitter

[rajmago]

Hi Daniel,

Not sure if I'd have to wait till April for a spot as classes for J-Term start in January.

I've been considering picking up MBAMission's Waitlist Guide. But it looks like the last revision was a year ago and the description doesn't seem to explain whether the guide includes school-specific information. This is important as policies vary from school to school. Can you tell me a little more about the MBAMission Waitlist Guide with respect to the information it provides?

Thanks,
-Rajat

[mbamission]

Hi Rajat,

Apologies -- I forgot we were talking about J-term. The Insider Guide discusses a few of the different types of waitlists utilized by top schools, general waitlist strategies, and examples of letters one could write to a waitlist manager. It also includes an interview with the Wharton director of admissions on waitlist policy. But it does not get as detailed as "At Columbia say X, but at Wharton say Y".