Potential grad students can find success at waiting game

After years of standardized tests, internships, grueling classes and months of stress in the application process, a letter comes in the mail to congratulate students on their addition to a dream graduate school’s waiting list.

The competitive nature of popular top-tier graduate school programs for law and medicine pushes schools to reject and postpone admission to thousands of applicants.

Rob Schwartz, the assistant dean of admissions for UCLA School of Law, said that at any given time a few hundred people could be on the waiting list.

On average, 30 to 40 students of that pool will be added to the incoming class of a little over 300.

Students who find themselves on the waiting list for their first-choice graduate program do have options. They are free to enroll in a different school or accept a future offer of admission if a spot opens up.

While it is not a guarantee, letting a school know a student is interested in its program can be a helpful tool when the time comes to decide who gets in.

“The most helpful thing (students) can do is express their interest (in) coming here in writing, so we can get it in their file and our admissions committee can see it,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz warned, however, that students should show careful thought and restraint when sending in additional information. Additional information should update an applicant’s recent history or develop a clearer understanding of a person’s profile and should be sent no more than once a month.

“Knowing someone wants to come is very helpful. ... They can send supplemental information too, but they should be careful to make sure it’s going to add something to their file,” Schwartz said.

Gina Camello, director of admissions for the Keck School of Medicine at USC, said she agrees that providing the school with information about their intentions to enroll can be valuable for admissions.

“(Showing interest) is always a plus. If a student really is waiting at a top-choice school, sending a letter of intent is helpful. ... It’s the applicant informing the school about the updates that pertain to them,” Camello said.

While applying to law schools, Aditi Chatterjee, a third-year political science student, was put on the waiting list for one of her top-choice schools. She kept in contact, sent in the requested documents and was accepted off the waiting list. She is attending Columbia Law School in the fall.

“Don’t think that just because you’re finished applying you can slack off. If you are waitlisted, try to do as much as you can to show them you’re still working,” Chatterjee said.

Though additional information can increase a student’s chances at many institutions, admission practices at every school differ.

For example, the medical school at UC San Francisco is a particularly competitive program. The admissions process contains two applications, an interview and rolling admissions decisions. This system notifies selected candidates of their acceptance and continues until the class is full.

Despite the different practices of schools, applicants who have questions or want advice are encouraged to contact admissions offices for help.

“(Applying) doesn’t have to be a big dark thing; we can answer questions about the process,” Schwartz said.