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[redsoxfan1989]

Deleted.

[ph14]

Resolve any tiny speck of doubt in favor of riding the waitlist. There is no downside to doing so. If you know you would not attend because you have better offers then take yourself off of the waitlist.

[cron1834]

How much are you actually spending on Cornell? I don't like this sleight-of-hand trick where people won't say how much they're actually spending down their reserves. If you're dropping $100k in cash-on-hand into Cornell, plus $40k debt and interest, that's very different from spending $20k plus the debt. I would personally do the latter and not the former (obvs).

Of course, some peeps have families so wealthy that this doesn't matter. If that's you, then obviously you should ride the waitlists. B/c your numbers mean they will be sticker (eta June improvement would help, duh).

[politics89]

Cornell seems an odd school choice based on your goals. I would definitely ride Harvard's at least, but did you apply to BU/BC? If you want state gov't, there for free would seem to make more sense to me.

[redsoxfan1989]

[quote="cron1834"]How much are you actually spending on Cornell? I don't like this sleight-of-hand trick where people won't say how much they're actually spending down their reserves. If you're dropping $100k in cash-on-hand into Cornell, plus $40k debt and interest, that's very different from spending $20k plus the debt. I would personally do the latter and not the former (obvs).

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[redsoxfan1989]

Cornell seems an odd school choice based on your goals. I would definitely ride Harvard's at least, but did you apply to BU/BC? If you want state gov't, there for free would seem to make more sense to me.

At the end of the day, BU/BC were only 10k cheaper a year and I didn't want to risk graduating and having trouble finding a lawyer job (which is my actual goal -- I'm interested in politics and government, but more interested in actual law practice, hence why law school and not public administration school). I think ten years ago I might have agreed with you but I think that BC/BU will be a rat race for those limited state government positions, whereas a Cornell degree would offer more flexibility.

[cron1834]

How much are you actually spending on Cornell? I don't like this sleight-of-hand trick where people won't say how much they're actually spending down their reserves. If you're dropping $100k in cash-on-hand into Cornell, plus $40k debt and interest, that's very different from spending $20k plus the debt. I would personally do the latter and not the former (obvs).

Of course, some peeps have families so wealthy that this doesn't matter. If that's you, then obviously you should ride the waitlists. B/c your numbers mean they will be sticker (eta June improvement would help, duh).

Cornell is about $10k per year after scholarships and I have $50k of savings. So let's call the cost of Cornell $90k, of which $40k will be debt-financed.

Woah, you must have about $150k from Cornell, then? That's good for your #s.

Cornell is not a bad bargain here, but why not ride a few of the WLs? It's very low-cost to do so.

[redsoxfan1989]

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[cron1834]

Duder, you're retaking in June. Nothing can be known until July 7th. If you get a 172, then you'll really regret having dropped off these waitlists. What's the harm in sending out a few LOCIs?

[hopefulapplicant2]

Here is how I decide to stay or release my place on a waitlist. I used a simple question was I ready to say no to that institution? If I am not ready for no then it has to be a yes and remain on the waitlist.

I have already been offered a place at the top school of my choice from the waitlist. So I am in the process of notifying other schools that I will not be either waiting or attending. For the record I was on 5 waitlists, two in the top ten, three in the top twenty and accepted by two in the top twenty. My last acceptance was up in the top 10.

I think there is no analysis needed beyond a simple yes or no to the question.

If you are not ready to say no to a school, then releasing your waitlist positions will be a self rejection without the denouement of how things may play out. Things could end up favorable..