Waiting list questions : speech pathology

[Speech Path]

I have been put on three waiting lists for graduate school. And I still haven't heard back from one program yet. Is there anything I can do to help increase my odds? Also, if I don't hear back by April 15th then does that mean I didn't get a spot? I'm feeling really uneasy, can someone please help me out?

[mbf]

It's very possible you won't hear back until April 15th. Some people that have been accepted to a "back up" school but waitlisted to their "top choice" will accept at the back up and continue to be on the waitlist at their top choice. If a seat opens for them at their top choice after April 15, their seat at their "back up" school will become open. Depending on how many acceptances and their targeted class size, that "back up" school may either keep their class size as is, or look to their waitlist to fill that now empty seat.

It is possible that you'll hear before April 15th, but it's more likely if you hear anything it would be after April 15th.

Some programs keep waitlists open until classes start, and it's not uncommon to see some acceptances May through June. I was on two waitlists last year, and while I didn't get off either, several people from one of my waitlists were pulled from the list well after the April 15th deadline.

 

Good luck
 

[twinguy7]

I second what @mbf said.

Also it wouldn't hurt to email the schools your waitlisted at with an email of "Continued Interest".  Just letting them know you are still waiting to hear back and would love to attend their program.  That way, when they do start pulling people off the waitlist your name may pop up in their minds because they saw it in an email or letter you sent them.

[Afternoonprogram]

I would also try to include some new information in your "still interested" email/letter.  Try to do a new shadowing opportunity or attend a local seminar (early intervention is always having workshops in my area) or even reading a journal article.  I would include that info in the email as in I would like to provide additional information about my interest in speech pathology; I have recently  . . . . 

[AlwaysaFalcon]

When I was on multiple waitlists I started to hear back anywhere from April 15th and before till June unfortunately. It depends really on how fast people let the schools know whether they are accepting or denying.