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No More Nail-Biting: 8 Steps for Dealing with the MBA Waitlist

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By QS Contributor Updated Jun 16, 2020
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MBA waitlist
What are top schools looking for in their applicants?

Upon hearing they’ve been placed upon a waitlist (read more posts about being waitlisted), applicants often feel helpless, like there is now nothing they can do but hope and be patient. For motivated MBA hopefuls who have worked tirelessly throughout the application process, this stagnancy can be very frustrating. However, there are several active steps applicants can take to improve their chances of moving from the waitlist to the guest list. 

Most importantly, don’t lose faith. MBA admissions committees don’t waitlist every applicant.

The fact that they’ve placed your application aside instead of simply rejecting it means you’ve impressed them enough to be seriously considered and that you have a fighting chance, especially if you follow the steps outlined below. 

Accept waitlist invitations

For starters, when your target school offers you the choice to either accept or reject a position on its waitlist, it is always best to accept and withdraw later if necessary. The next step is to immediately request an MBA résumé review, which will offer you insight into why you were waitlisted and possibly even feedback that will allow you to take action to improve your MBA résumé in order to gain admittance. If you are unsure as to whether the program to which you’ve applied offers MBA résumé reviews, it is perfectly acceptable to call and inquire unless specifically directed otherwise by the school. 

Keep your MBA résumé current

Another approach you should definitely try is sending in an update letter, detailing any notable accomplishments or impressive developments you’ve made since submitting your application and MBA résumé. This is not, however, a recommendation letter (which we will cover in a moment). Some examples of this are a new job, a promotion or a distinction of some kind.

Continue networking

Mention any interactions you may have had with students or alumni as well as any school events you may have attended. If you plan to retake the GMAT, include the date of your retest. Send in only one letter, approximately three to four week after being waitlisted. 

Update recommendation letters

Unless the school specifically instructs you to refrain from sending in additional recommendation letters, submitting a new recommendation letter may serve to bolster your profile and prompt the MBA admissions committee to give your application serious consideration. The same is true for letters of support, which provide additional voices weighing in on your behalf. As with updating a school on your MBA résumé, do not send in a letter of recommendation unless there is something new to inform them of.

Retake the GMAT or math-heavy courses

If you’ve been waitlisted on account of either a weaker than desired GPA or GMAT score (under 700), enrolling in some community college courses or retaking the test to prove your intellectual ability can definitely help. It is best to excel in courses in the areas of accounting, microeconomics, calculus or statistics. Raising your GMAT score to at least a 680 can dramatically impact your chances, especially since it is probable that the MBA admissions committee was impressed by your application and just may have had concerns about your score. 

Fill in the gaps with another essay

If your target school is willing to accept additional essays, writing an essay that demonstrates strong qualities or provides information that is missing from your original application may prove advantageous. 

Visit

Another active step you can take rather than sitting at home and biting your nails is getting yourself to campus! Ask to see an MBA admissions officer and if you aren’t accommodated, be brave enough to ambush one on his or her way out of the office.  Smile, introduce yourself and keep the conversation under five minutes unless the officer continues to initiate. 

Stay in touch

Though one update letter is enough, continue to send short notices once every few weeks to the waitlist manager or director of MBA admissions to demonstrate your interest in the school and preparedness to provide any additional information that may be helpful. 

Remember that a place on the waitlist is not a rejection! Your future is still in your hands and you can most certainly affect your chances of transitioning from waitlisted to admitted.