When to visit to be remembered from the waitlist Forum

[twinsy]

I was wait-listed at U. Chicago (my top choice).

I have heard advise that it is worth visiting in order to make an impression. I am trying to figure out when to visit in order to maximize that effect. Should I go as early as possible, or wait till after admitted students weekend?

[cavalier1138]

Visiting isn't going to change things. If you were waitlisted, it means that your numbers were on the cusp of being good enough to admit you, not that Chicago didn't believe you were interested.

What's your current LSAT/GPA.

[FND]

Visiting isn't going to change things. If you were waitlisted, it means that your numbers were on the cusp of being good enough to admit you, not that Chicago didn't believe you were interested.

What's your current LSAT/GPA.

keeping in touch with admissions and letting them know you will attend if offered a spot can make the difference as to who they take off the waitlist.
Remember, by the time they're pulling names off the waitlist, they're looking to fill seats. The last thing they want is to pull someone off the waitlist who won't attend, and having to go back to the waitlist... or worse, being a full fare paying student short.

I'd say any reasonable excuse to stay in touch and to re-affirm interest helps, as long as you stay on the right side of the interested/pestering line

[The Lsat Airbender]

Touching base (carefully) from the waitlist can definitely help, but visiting doesn't do anything more than an email.

Also lot of admissions departments have unofficial or official policies not to keep track of visits because they don't want to unfairly advantage people with the financial resources to travel to the school.

[QContinuum]

What's your current LSAT/GPA.

Also, what do your other options look like? If you were waitlisted at Chicago (meaning you'd likely end up paying full freight if ultimately admitted, unless you receive substantial need-based aid), you should be looking at substantial merit aid offers from the lower T13/T20. In many/most cases, taking one of those options is likely to be the prudent choice over paying full freight at Chicago.