Wait List Question

[aks42]

Hi everyone,

I've recently been informed that my top choice school has put me on their wait list. I already got an offer from another school where I could do well, so in the grand scheme of things I'm not too fussed because I can still go to grad school in the fall. Anyway, when I asked for more details about where I was ranked on the list, I was informed that "when a spot or two opens up, we will let the committee rank those on the list and then make offers" (verbatim from the email) Has anyone had any experience like this with being wait-listed, and is there a way to increase my chances of receiving an offer should a spot open up? Again, this is my top choice school, and I want a good assessment about how much of a shot I have before I decide to accept the other school's offer.

Thanks in advance!

[Neist]

I was on wait list funding this round and I was eventually given it, but my program told me explicitly where I was on the list. Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do to improve your odds. You have to hope that someone who was accepted and funded attends elsewhere. 

Do you know how many funded slots they give? The more they give, the likelier there will be people who rotate into those funded slots.