After months of hard work and angst, it’s disheartening to be placed on a waitlist. The silver lining is, that you are still in the reckoning and have some power to sway the decision in your favor. 

It can be an excruciatingly long wait before you can get admission off the waitlist. But if all your application outcomes are waitlists only, or you are waitlisted at your top-choice MBA program, then it’s worth exploring strategies to tip that scale in your direction.

What can you do to be accepted off the waitlist? Showing your interest in the program and updating on new developments in your profile are the two most important things. But, as different b-schools have varying expectations about receiving updates, let’s first examine some common rules and then delve into school-specific expectations. 

1. Accept the waitlist status. B-schools require applicants to confirm their continued interest in remaining on the waitlist. Failure to respond to them within the given timelines will reflect badly on you and give the message that you are not interested in the program. 

2. Acquaint yourself with the b-school’s waitlist process and adhere to it, whether it involves updating through an application portal, waitlist update forms, or through email. Some b-schools may not ask for updates at all while some encourage frequent updates. You should follow the guidelines given by the b-school regarding when to update them, how to update them and how much to update them. Respecting their process is crucial otherwise you will just create the wrong impression about yourself.

3. Get into self-reflection. Identifying where you went wrong is the first step to analyzing what you can improve. Unfortunately, b-schools do not give feedback to waitlisted applicants (I am aware of only Tuck and Yale that do), so you have to figure this out yourself (Self-awareness is an important attribute sought by b-schools). Examine your application minutely and seek feedback from family and friends to spot any loose ends. Pay attention to these specific elements: 

a. Evaluate your academic credentials (GPA and test scores) —are they competitive based on the program’s class profile? These scores signal your ability to manage the MBA program’s rigour, and, albeit a painful ask, an improvement here can show your seriousness about being accepted into the MBA program. If your GMAT or GRE score is low and you have only tested once, consider retaking the test. If you have attempted one type of test multiple times, consider switching to an alternate. For example, if GMAT hasn’t yielded good results, consider taking GRE or the newer versions of GMAT (Focus edition).

A lower GPA or a lack of quant subjects during undergrad could be another area for improvement. Completing the MBA Math, a 7-10 day investment, can be beneficial. You can also take business or math certifications to bolster your academic record. 

b. Also probe, were your essays impactful enough? Were you able to convey your leadership skills and impact through your essays, resume and the interview? Were your career goals and why MBA clearly articulated? Did you adequately use the application form to present your extra-curricular activities? If not addressing these through an additional essay will help at B-schools which allow these submissions.  

4. Reflect on what has changed in your profile since you applied and what new updates you can give. Some examples are:

• Changing your job and how the new one aligns with your career goals
• New and higher responsibilities at work.
• Any impactful achievements at work.
• Any impactful achievements in your extra-curricular pursuits?

All of these are materials for fresh updates. Make sure that you don’t just inform about these events but also explain how these have led to learning and growth and how these will enable you to contribute meaningfully to your MBA classroom.

Some b-schools accept fresh recommendations, so asking a recommender to validate your new achievements or give a perspective about you that wasn’t covered in prior recommendations is another way to share meaningful info about you.

5. Engage with the b-school community. There’s always a benefit in learning more about the b-school by talking to alumni and students. These conversations can help you understand your fit with the b-school, which you can incorporate in your waitlist updates. There’s also a possibility that these alumni and students become your champions and offer to write a letter of support for you. 

Moreover, attend b-school–organized virtual chats or waitlist webinars. Adcom members mostly host these and may also have some current students speaking about their experiences of handling the waitlist. These sessions can be super helpful in learning about the waitlist requirements directly from the adcom and asking them your specific questions. Some b-schools assign you a waitlist manager. Stay connected with yours if you have one and discuss with them how you can improve your chances of admission.

There’s a myth that you must visit the campus to increase your chances of admission. B-schools understand this may not be possible for all applicants, especially for internationals, and do not give preference for visiting the campus. Therefore, do not feel compelled to make a visit if you are placed on the waitlist. Instead, connect with them in other ways, as outlined above.

6. Lastly, be mindful of the frequency and relevance of your updates. Overdoing it can signal lack of maturity and good judgment in determining what information is relevant for your admission.

Now that we have covered what you can do to gain acceptance from waitlist, let’s also go through the specific requirements of b-schools and their waitlist processes.