Summary of "COLLEGE WAITLIST 101 | HOW I GOT OFF PRINCETON & COLUMBIA WAITLISTS | tips + advice for scheming"

Summary of the Video (College Waitlist Advice: Princeton & Columbia)

The presenter explains that after being waitlisted at many schools (including Princeton and Columbia), they ultimately got off the waitlist at Columbia and Princeton, and chose to attend Princeton. They made the video because they kept receiving repetitive questions (via email/DM) about how to improve waitlist outcomes, noting that online guidance is often vague—such as “submit a letter of continued interest” and “hope for the best.”

Main Arguments / Advice

1. Follow each school’s waitlist instructions exactly

Read the specific waitlist policies for each school.
If an update letter (such as a letter of continued interest / LOCI) is required, submit it.
If it’s optional, submit it.
Watch for schools that explicitly say not to submit updates.

2. Use waitlist-policy research to “strategize”

The presenter argues you can’t accurately predict your chances, but you can look at historical data about how often offers are made from the waitlist.

If a school rarely admits from the waitlist (example given: ~1%), do everything you reasonably can.
If a school admits a larger share (example given: ~20%), don’t overdo updates—keep efforts strong, but not excessive.
They emphasize that percentages are most useful for planning intensity rather than making predictions.

3. Write a strong, concise LOCI

Keep it one page.
Include:
- Gratitude for the waitlist spot and acknowledgment of competitiveness
- Reaffirmation of commitment (e.g., if offered admission, you would commit)
- New updates since the initial application (awards, projects, research, etc.)
- Clear explanation of what you want to study and how it connects to your strengths
- Links to relevant work (e.g., portfolio/art website, research)

They also describe an example LOCI structure used for Princeton:

A paragraph focused on academic/career fit
A brief maintenance/update line (e.g., GPA)
Closing thanks plus contact/reference details

4. Go beyond the minimum if you truly want the school

After submitting the LOCI, they recommend taking additional steps to stand out. Their approach included:

Emailing alumni interviewers they had previously met:
- Asking for advice on waitlist next steps
- Asking whether the interviewer knew of any students who got admitted
Emailing other university contacts in fields aligned with the applicant’s interests:
- Sharing tailored reasons for interest
- Asking for advice and/or connections

Key reminders from the presenter:

Be specific about your interests and why you’re reaching out.
Don’t sound demanding (e.g., “get me in”); ask for guidance.
Don’t annoy staff or risk being blacklisted.
Responses may be unlikely, but it’s still worth trying.

5. Stay consistent with updates—without spamming

Update the school only when you have real new accomplishments/projects.
Example cadence they used: about once a week.
Don’t repeat the same message.
Don’t send updates if nothing has changed.
If allowed, upload new PDFs to the portal.

6. Mindset: don’t rely on the waitlist, but don’t give up

They acknowledge that waitlist admission is statistically unlikely.
However, they argue you shouldn’t treat it as impossible—people do get admitted.
Final takeaway: do your best, follow the rules, update strategically, and keep it reasonable.