Is visiting a waitlisted school weird?

[woolfie]

I'm second on the waitlist at a school that I'm really into. I live really close. Okay, you can obviously tell from my profile that it is Miami University and I live in Ohio. It would be easy and cheap to visit them and I was told by the DGS that the second person on the waitlist usually gets in, at least in previous years. I have another offer and I am visiting their campus this weekend, but I don't feel like I can make the right decision without visiting. The visit is really going to help make or break a decision for me. I need to know what the town is like that I'd be living in, what the people are like that I'll be studying with/under, etc. Should I wait and see if I get in and then visit? It seems like that could be very close to April 15th and I have other offers. What do you guys think?

[BrandNewName]

I'm second on the waitlist at a school that I'm really into. I live really close. Okay, you can obviously tell from my profile that it is Miami University and I live in Ohio. It would be easy and cheap to visit them and I was told by the DGS that the second person on the waitlist usually gets in, at least in previous years. I have another offer and I am visiting their campus this weekend, but I don't feel like I can make the right decision without visiting. The visit is really going to help make or break a decision for me. I need to know what the town is like that I'd be living in, what the people are like that I'll be studying with/under, etc. Should I wait and see if I get in and then visit? It seems like that could be very close to April 15th and I have other offers. What do you guys think?

I'm visiting the school I'm waitlisted at and the DGS was more than open to the idea -- he even said I was welcome to attend the recruitment weekend with accepted student, but that they would be unable to give me any funds to come. I am unable, unfortunately, to make it to that weekend, but I am still going to go speak with a few professors and current students while I'm in the area. I don't think it's odd -- you need to make a decision and you're considering all (possible) options. Also, look at it as a really unique opportunity to network as well. Good luck!

[ZeeMore21]

I think it can only help you woolfie! I am not sure what kind of waitlist system they have at Miami though--do they have a ranking system or not? If not, I would assume that the most enthusiastic person from the waitlist would have more of an advantage. I have always heard that keeping in contact with the department is always good. You visiting the campus shows how enthusiastic you are about the school, and I think the department will take that into account.

Edited March 7, 2011 by ZeeMore21

[woolfie]

Thanks guys, I've decided to visit. It's only an hour and a half away, I can do it in one day. I thought it would be weird, but it seems like it's not. I don't want to wait until the last minute to visit, so I might as well right now. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[rubyrunner]

I'm second on the waitlist at a school that I'm really into. I live really close. Okay, you can obviously tell from my profile that it is Miami University and I live in Ohio. It would be easy and cheap to visit them and I was told by the DGS that the second person on the waitlist usually gets in, at least in previous years. I have another offer and I am visiting their campus this weekend, but I don't feel like I can make the right decision without visiting. The visit is really going to help make or break a decision for me. I need to know what the town is like that I'd be living in, what the people are like that I'll be studying with/under, etc. Should I wait and see if I get in and then visit? It seems like that could be very close to April 15th and I have other offers. What do you guys think?

I'm in the exact same situation (live close to the school where I'm waitlisted & didn't feel like I could make the decision to attend on short notice without visiting). I decided to visit, and I'm incredibly glad that I did. I'm pretty sure it didn't make an impact on my chances of eventual admission, but it was personally beneficial to chat with POIs I hadn't made contact with before and affirm that I would jump at a chance to go to this school! Most people didn't even seem to know that I was waitlisted, but I'm sure they would have treated me respectfully either way.

[grifter]

I think the only risk you run is some slight personal awkwardness if your actual admission status comes up in conversation among other students. If you can handle that, then it couldn't hurt. As for the visit as a means to impress the committee, my thinking is that the door is closed on that. I know from last year that the committee at Miami does indeed make a ranked list that is consulted in order, so your position on said list is most likely fixed by this point and not likely to be improved by your presence there. If you do know that you are ranked high on the list, I would wager that you get an offer made (and I hope you do, seeing how much you want it)--you might just have to hold out 'til April 14th at 11:58 eastern standard time.

Best of luck

[ZeeMore21]

Woolfie, I still think that since you are so high up on the waiting list, it would be wise to go visit sooner rather than later--Being optimistic, I think you have a good chance of being taken off of the waitlist. In that case, you wouldn't have to be scrambling in April to make a visit since you would already know how you feel about the school. Just my two cents : )

Edited March 7, 2011 by ZeeMore21