LOCI - Write When "Not Encouraged"? Forum

[Dreadhead168]

Hey all -- bringing up a topic that I know has been asked before (I've searched across the forums) but have not seen answered.

I understand that the general consensus after being waitlisted at one's dream school is to write a letter of continued interest (LOCI) to increase your chances of making it off the list. I was waitlisted at Berkeley, yet the school's notice stated that "Submission of additional materials or a letter of continued interest is not encouraged as these will have neither a bearing on your wait list placement nor on your admission."

After consulting a few reference points on what to do after being waitlisted (including Phillyphantic's article here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... hp?t=27169), it seems that writing such a letter after being encouraged NOT to would be unwise. I get that--nobody wants to piss off the admissions committee. Yet I've seen handfuls of posters stating that they sent LOCIs anyway, and it seems that people tend to disregard other statements made by ad comms (such as the "we don't negotiate scholarships" claim) with occasional success.

Are there any current pr past Berkeley students on these forums who have had success getting off the waitlist (or know somebody who has)? Was a LOCI sent? I suppose this question can also extend to other schools that have the same disclaimer regarding submission of supplemental material after being waitlisted.

If this question would be better directed in a different thread, I'm open to suggestions.