Being Waitlisted...

[sepia]

I am waitlisted for CMU's COS. I think this year waitlisted candidates have higher chances of getting in. Because many say that, when compared to previous years, programs were tighter in sending out more admits then they would be supporting due to economic situation.

Am I so optimistic :? Any speculative ideas?

[GraduateSchoolNut]

The truth is no one can answer this question. It could be true but you could be at the bottom of the waiting list.

It could not be true and you could be at the top and make it in. You could be at the top and not make it in.

Nothing anyone says here on these boards is going to make it more or less certain for you. That's probably not what you want to hear, but it's pretty much the truth.

[bernard]

I am not sure about this, but I think schools sometimes group waitlisted applicants into different sub-areas. If one student rejects their offer in sub-area A, then the next waitlisted person in the same sub-area gets accepted.

[finest_engineering]

That may or may not be true. Most students enter these programs immediately following earning their BS. In this case, the students eventual subarea may change. It is very common for a student to get into a grad school in one subarea and then change to another, even before actually arriving at school. I am not aware of any school that does not allow this (within same department that is). You will be required to take courses in several different areas while at school, many students take courses from different areas early on in order to help them decide which area they want to continue on in.

Don't over-think it too much dude. You will either get in or you won't, you will not be able to figure out much before you hear from them. You have gotten into some great schools already.. Start thinking about which school that you have gotten into you would go to, if you get in off of a waitlist, then think about those ones.