Waitlisted for Columbia Chemical Engineering PhD

[Moccalatte]

Hi  Everyone,

I've received an email from a prof. in Columbia saying they were impressed with my credentials but since they cannot over commit, they are putting me on a "(short) waiting list" and I will be notified by April 15.

My questions are:

1. Is there anyone else who was or you know of that was put on a waiting list and accepted?

2. What is the typical size of a waiting list? He says in parenthesis that it was short.

3. If I am accepted will I get funding? Is this a question I have to discuss at this phase or wait until after a notification?

4. What do I do now to increase my chances of acceptance?

Thank you