Hey everyone, I applied to the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars and got placed on the waitlist. Has anyone gotten off the waitlist before? What are the chances of getting off the waitlist, and is there anything I can do to improve my chances?
Hey there! Congratulations on making it onto the waitlist for the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars. While it's understandably disappointing not to be accepted outright, being waitlisted shows that the program found your application impressive. As for your chances of getting off the waitlist, it's difficult to provide an exact number as the process can be quite unpredictable. The number of spots that may open up depends on how many accepted students decide not to attend the program, and that can vary drastically from year to year.
Some past participants have gotten off the waitlist, so it's definitely possible. To improve your chances, you can consider sending a letter to the admissions office, expressing your continued interest in the program and updating them on any recent achievements or additional information that might bolster your application. There's no guarantee, but this might help the admissions committee remember your passion for the program and keep you in mind if any spots do become available. If you want more guidance on how to write this letter, check out this CollegeVine blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest. Although its focus is on being waitlisted when applying to college, many of the same ideas apply.
In the meantime, don't let this deter you from seeking other leadership opportunities or summer programs. There are many other ways you can showcase your interests and abilities while also giving your college applications a bump. For example, you can find a list of other excellent options for leadership programs this summer on CollegeVine’s blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/high-school-leadership-summer-programs.
Stay positive and keep pursuing your passions! Good luck!
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