2005 MIT MBA Admissions Waitlist Chat with Rod Garcia

hsWang

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:08:10 AM) First of all, I'd like to thank Linda Abraham and her team for allowing us to use their technology to communicate with waitlisted applicants.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 10:09:06 AM) I want to welcome you all to Accepted.com's MIT waitlist chat.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 10:09:16 AM) I also want to welcome Rod Garcia, Director of MBA Admissions; Jon McLaughlin, Assistant Director of MBA Admissions and Barry Reckley, MIT Sloan's Director of Minority Recruitment and Retention.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 10:09:27 AM) Thanks to everyone for joining.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 10:11:03 AM) I think the turnout testifies to the wonderful service you are providing by being here today. Is there anything that you and Rod want to convey to start with?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:12:05 AM) Thanks Linda, we are trying to be proactive in answering people's questions--it is extremely hard to do individually given the volume of correspondence to the admissions office.

jan (Feb 17, 2005 10:12:33 AM) I am a candidate waitlisted without an interview; do I rank lower than waitlisted students with an interview? I understand that MIT interviews all admitted applicants. Will additional interviews be conduct when the adcom starts reviewing the waitlist again?

Jonathan (Feb 17, 2005 10:12:45 AM) I've heard mixed messages as far as what one should do while on the waitlist. Are updates, additional letters of recommendation, etc. expected from waitlist candidates?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:15:40 AM) Jan--No you are not ranked lower. You would have the additional burden of interviewing, and we try to schedule waiting list interviews in May. For the last several years we have conducted waitlist interviews, so I wouldn't worry too much about it yet.

Steve Cohn (Feb 17, 2005 10:16:21 AM) Jon, what are your recommendations on what to do if Sloan is your top choice but you have acceptances at other schools?

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:16:50 AM) Barry, what are the reasons someone may be put on waitlist?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:17:18 AM) Jonathan--mixed messages from us or from various sources?

jan (Feb 17, 2005 10:17:51 AM) Thanks Mr. McLaughlin.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:18:16 AM) Steve: There are a number of reasons, from the quality of the application to the number of applicants/seats that are available.

ScottL (Feb 17, 2005 10:18:36 AM) Barry: What are the most useful additional materials to submit to increase one's chances of being accepted to MIT Sloan off of the waiting list?

Jonathan (Feb 17, 2005 10:19:25 AM) Jon, regarding the various sources, some have indicated that if you don't send additional information, that will be taken as a sign that you do not have an interest in the program. So therefore you should certainly submit supplementary information. Others have indicated that you should use extreme discretion when sending more information. And therefore, supplementary material is really optional and you can be admitted without it.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:20:23 AM) Steve--I would convey that to us in an email. We can't change our overall timeline for admissions decisions but at the end of the day, we certainly would want to draw from people who want to be here.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:22:43 AM) Jonathan--Rod's letting me take this one. I think part of the reason for the confusion is that different schools do have different policies. You should look on the schools website for the info. Parse the language carefully because they are usually pretty direct. For us, we encourage a limited number of updates if they are significant and relevant. The types of information we have found useful (in no particular, with no order) are usually a short letter of continued interest, a recommendation that sheds new light (hard to do), an update on a significant career or personal event relevant to us (i.e. a promotion, deepened extra curricular) and any insights from a visit or conversation. There is judgment involved here, and too much is definitely too much. I get flooded with emails that don't contain a lot of information. However, I'm not saying you have to do these things to get in off of the waiting list.

guppu (Feb 17, 2005 10:23:03 AM) Rod, I have to ask, since MIT is known as a technical powerhouse, does MIT make a special effort to push its students interested in heading engineering corporations?

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:23:36 AM) Guppu: no.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:23:45 AM) Scott, to be honest with you it's a question quality, not so much quantity when sending in addition materials.

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:23:50 AM) Rod: What things can waitlisted candidates do to improve their candidacy?

Deborah Pevenstein (Feb 17, 2005 10:24:20 AM) Barry: When are the successful wait list candidates notified? Is is a rolling process?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:26:28 AM) Deborah: Most waitlist candidates will hear something around the second round admit date, or during the month of May/June.

hopeful_MIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:27:20 AM) Barry: Can you give us more details on the waitlist candidate process in May, June & July?

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:27:24 AM) Steve: You should certainly convey to us (or to the schools you are waitlisted at) that you are interested in being considered for admission and that you have a lot of patience to wait. I know this is easier said than done. Bear in mind that schools, including us, do go to the waiting list but the only thing we can't predict is when to go to the waiting list.

Sinan (Feb 17, 2005 10:27:46 AM) Rod: I am concerned that, if I receive an acceptance in June I will not have enough time to gather my necessary documents and my sponsor will not have enough time to gather the necessary funding. Isn't it possible to release a decision in April or early May perhaps?

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:28:38 AM) Jon: What is the preferred method to send updates - email/ mail/ fax or phone? Is there an acknowledgement whenever a new information is added to the waitlist file to confirm that the information has been received?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:28:46 AM) All--one of the advantages of the waiting list process is that it sometimes gives us a chance to take a deeper look at applications. Some of our best students have come off of the waiting list!

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:29:16 AM) Sinan: we are fully aware of this situation and may, in fact, go to the waiting list as early as April or May.

Chen (Feb 17, 2005 10:29:31 AM) Rod: I am wondering whether the adcom will review all the additional material that we provide upon receiving those materials or will they be accumulated and be reviewed after the second round is completed?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:30:04 AM) Steve--the best way, by far, is to email the address on our FAQ page. Emails to other areas may not get into our system, and we do try and track them. We actually consider it interesting data if a candidate consistently doesn't follow our directions.

hsWang

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:30:22 AM) Hopeful_MIT: The waitlist is used to shape the class, therefore, beyond the second round admit date, there isn't a specific date/time. Is this what you where asking about?

D2001 (Feb 17, 2005 10:30:42 AM) Jon: Could you give us some idea as to how many waitlist students have been accepted in recent years, and whether there has been a difference in the percentage of Round 1 candidates admitted versus Round 2?

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:30:47 AM) Chen: we do read and review additional materials as they come.

Amit (Feb 17, 2005 10:31:14 AM) Rod: I am on the MIT MLOG waiting list. You had mentioned last year that the process is different but is the philosophy same? i.e. does the same advice apply?

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:31:33 AM) BArry: Are the waitlist interviews conducted on-campus or are they conducted telephonically?

hopeful_MIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:31:53 AM) Barry - Thanks. Rod answered my question. It sounds like the wait list has a lot of fluidity and flexibility...therefore no firm structure is in place.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:31:54 AM) Steve/All--I should also say we are a pretty small shop, and we simply can't give everyone phone time or respond to a series of individual questions (again part of why we are here today). We want to be as responsive as we can, but I'm not sure it feels that way from your end.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:33:00 AM) Steve: They are conducted on campus, at different locals throughout the world, and if necessary via telephone.

manish (Feb 17, 2005 10:33:10 AM) Barry: Hi, I just joined so I don't know if this question has been asked - Is there any way we can get feedback on what we need to improve in order to get off the waitlist?

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:34:02 AM) Amit: I can't speak for MLOG and don't want to give wrong advice.

Steve Cohn (Feb 17, 2005 10:34:15 AM) Thanks Jon! That is really helpful.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:34:56 AM) d2001--We don't really track the difference between Round 1 and Round 2 (we consider the waiting list as a whole) and everyone on the waiting list is equal.

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:35:12 AM) Jon: What are some of the most common mistakes waitlist candidates make?

RodGarciaMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:37:15 AM) All: I have to run since I have another meeting to participate.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 10:37:24 AM) Thanks for coming Rod.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:38:52 AM) Manish: At this point we are concentrating on Round 2 applications, we would like to consider feedback interviews, however at this time we don't have the resources. If we do have interviews it will be in the early summer months.

Liangju Bian (Feb 17, 2005 10:39:05 AM) Barry, do waitlist applicants need to be considered demographically at the last minute for the sake of class diversity?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:41:19 AM) Steve--I think it is a "barbell" kind of thing--one group of mistakes has applicants contacting us every day, sending email after email and phoning (imagine doing that if you are trying to get hired somewhere) the other group of errors is assuming we don't want to here from you at all, or that clicking the waitlist response is sufficient indication of interest. I've spoken to people (who are here now ) who assumed the waiting list was practically a rejection and so never contacted us.

Deborah Pevenstein (Feb 17, 2005 10:41:31 AM) Can you give us an idea of the average number of acceptances drawn from the wait list each year?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:41:42 AM) Liangiu Bian: We use the waitlist to shape the class; there's no hard and fast rules, and there is no demographic considerations.

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:43:04 AM) Thanks Jon, your responses are very helpful.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:43:21 AM) Deborah: There isn't a hard number I can give you, sorry.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:44:10 AM) As for waitlist interviews (for candidates who haven't been interviewed) we have done those in May the last several years, and often those interviews have had a certain amount of feedback (i.e. could you talk about this part of your application...we didn't see XYZ, but that depends on individual applicants.)

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:48:28 AM) Folks: The number varies each years, we try to plan to be active with the waitlist however, number varies each year.

mbagrl13 (Feb 17, 2005 10:48:52 AM) Barry: I have heard of students receiving conditional "acceptances" where the students are asked to take an economics or other finance type class prior to matriculating. Does this mean that if the student completes the required coursework, they are definitely admitted?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:51:36 AM) MBAgrl13: To answer your question directly, yes!

Sung_04 (Feb 17, 2005 10:51:57 AM) Barry: I've heard that people will be admitted off the waitlist to "round-out" a class, is this true?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:52:54 AM) Sung_04: Yes, among other things that we are looking for.

pidday (Feb 17, 2005 10:53:42 AM) Barry: I am interested in contacting local alumni to further discuss the Sloan MBA program. Is it best for me to reach out to the MIT Sloan Alumni Clubs to do this?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:55:52 AM) All--Just so you know, we are starting to review the waiting list right now, and we will make sure to update people if anything changes.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:55:53 AM) Pidday: If you wanted to make contact you can, it on the Sloan's website.

arvybaby (Feb 17, 2005 10:56:03 AM) Jon: I would like to submit an additional recommendation because I believe it will improve my candidacy. Should I have the recommender send the recommendation directly to the mailing list with the appropriate title, or should I have them send it to me and then forward it to the mailing list. While the FAQ page indicated that all materials should be submitted to the mailing list, it didn't seem to address submissions from third parties.

sean (Feb 17, 2005 10:56:40 AM) Barry: When you look at the waitlisted applicants, do you consider the candidates with the strongest case or the ones who will best complement the admitted students?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:57:02 AM) Arvybaby--it's actually best if they submit electronically to the mailing list.

Amish (Feb 17, 2005 10:57:26 AM) Jon: Do current student and professor recommendations help with the waitlist process?

Liangju Bian (Feb 17, 2005 10:57:54 AM) Thanks. Barry!

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:58:24 AM) Sean: To be honest, we are looking for many different qualities.

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 10:58:50 AM) Barry: When should we get in touch to schedule feedback interviews?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 10:59:50 AM) Steve: That will come from us, we will reach out to you.

MITFan (Feb 17, 2005 11:00:04 AM) Hi Barry. I am on the waitlist and I am concerned about my housing and financial aid situation, especially if I get accepted in the later rounds. What advice can you give me?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:00:13 AM) Amish--certainly any specific and knowledgeable letter of recommendation that sheds new light may help, but I wouldn't seek out students or faculty if you don't know them well, they won't be able to share much insight. And our students are quite protective of their school.

arvybaby (Feb 17, 2005 11:00:18 AM) Jon: Why does MIT put people on the waitlist without an interview? I'm in that camp, and I'm not sure how to take that. How do I compare, for example, with someone who is on the waitlist, but did receive an interview?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:01:53 AM) arvybaby--see above near beginning of posts. Remember, we have a limited capacity to interview and some difficult choices are made. Again, once you are on the waiting list that group is considered as a whole.

sammy (Feb 17, 2005 11:02:25 AM) Jon: What is the best time to send in updates? For example, are Round 1 waitlist candidates considered seriously for the second round? If so, then the best time would be right now. If Round 1 and Round 2 waitlisted applicants are considered together after the Round 2 decision deadline (early April) then it would be appropriate to send updates at that point of time, also increasing the chances that there will be more substance in the update. What do you recommend?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:03:06 AM) MIT Fan: Normally, if you’re taken off the waitlist in the spring, there really isn’t a problem with housing and financial aid. If admitted in the summer, you might have a problem with housing.

manish (Feb 17, 2005 11:03:36 AM) Thanks, Barry. Since the feedback interviews are planned for the summer months (after the deposit deadlines at other schools), will revisiting Sloan now and setting up an adcom appointment be fruitful in getting any insight on what one needs to do to get off the waitlist?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:05:25 AM) sammy--your plan seems well thought out; other than that brief letter of interest, the best time is when you have something substantive to add. You do want to plan for a little lead time too. Again, most waitlist decisions have been May and June (makes sense as the class is shaping up) though some have been on the timeline you suggested.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:05:31 AM) Manish: Again, IF WE PLAN WAITLIST INTERVIEWS, you should wait to hear from us. We are talking about Feedback interviews.

Kumar (Feb 17, 2005 11:06:00 AM) Barry: How do you value visits to the school?

Amish (Feb 17, 2005 11:06:21 AM) Jon: Thank you for your insight.

MIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:06:32 AM) Jon: Would getting a new job since submitting the application be something worth updating you about?

hsWang

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:06:48 AM) MIT--yes.

Chen (Feb 17, 2005 11:06:57 AM) Jon, just to clarify arvybady’s previous question; it is prefer to ask the recommender to email his / her recommendation to the waitlist email address, correct?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:07:08 AM) Chen--yes.

ansharma (Feb 17, 2005 11:07:54 AM) Barry: Are campus visits encouraged for waitlisted candidates? Specifically if someone has not done that before?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:08:23 AM) Kumar: We feel it's very important, it helps develop your sense of the institution you're attending. We encourage visits, however, admissions staff can not meet with visitors, at this time.

JesseAtkinson (Feb 17, 2005 11:08:54 AM) Barry: I am expecting increases in responsibility in my job, so I want to wait to submit extra material. At what point is it too late to send information assuming I chose the Aug. 12 deadline?

mbagrl13 (Feb 17, 2005 11:09:40 AM) Barry, if we are fortunate to get accepted from the waitlist, when do preterm classes begin in August?

Liangju Bian (Feb 17, 2005 11:11:24 AM) Jon and Barry, thanks a lot for your precious time and kind help!

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:11:46 AM) MBAgrl13: August 22nd.

Amish (Feb 17, 2005 11:11:59 AM) Barry: Given that we are on the waitlist, have we passed the GMAT hurdle? Or is any part of the application open to enhancement?

ansharma (Feb 17, 2005 11:13:42 AM) Jon: How can a waitlisted candidate communicate in best possible way that Sloan is his first choice? Would an additional essay help?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:13:46 AM) JA: I feel up until that date - Aug. 12.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:15:25 AM) Amish: Again it's about the total application, it could be a number of different pieces within your applications, not just the GMAT score.

Chen (Feb 17, 2005 11:15:38 AM) Barry, I am planning on another campus visit in the beginning of March. Is the Ambassador Program still available at that time? Will I be able to meet a representative from the adcom?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:15:57 AM) All--Again, we just want to say we know this can be a frustrating process and everyone wants certainty. Certainty is hard right now though, for all of us, as we are still waiting for the class to shape and trying to get a handle on how this year will play out. That is why there are very few quantifiable things to tell people: but do know we realize how much effort you put into the application and we value that. We plan to respect that effort by being timely with our updates and as open as we can be about our process. If there are major events/updates we will post them and reach out. I know if may not feel like we are paying attention but we are.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 11:16:47 AM) Jon, the fact we are holding this chat shows your commitment to communication and your understanding.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:17:38 AM) Chen: The Ambassador's schedule is online- no, you will not be able to meet with the adcom.

Kumar (Feb 17, 2005 11:17:55 AM) Thanks Barry. I got the opportunity to visit a few times after I had submitted the application. Would it be helpful to let the adcom know about this?

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 11:18:17 AM) Jon: Does MIT provide feedback to waitlist candidates who are ultimately not admitted, so that they can bolster their candidacy as a re-applicant?

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:18:57 AM) Kumar: Yes, if you learned something about the school, that you think we should know.

sammy (Feb 17, 2005 11:19:09 AM) Barry: When is the deadline for depositing the enrollment fees for Round 1 and Round 2 admits? I expect that is when the adcom will know how the class is shaping up.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:20:10 AM) Steve--See above for a not entirely clear answer The waitlist interviews often have some degree of feedback and we would love to be able to do it, but we are still debating how we can do that effectively and fairly with the resources we have. Timing is everything. I will say we have seen a great many re-applicant applications that have significant improvements.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:23:43 AM) ansharma--see above but for us it is all about striking that balance. Now, as you may guess, it is possible to strike that perfect balance between too much and too little, do everything right and still not get the results you want (the nature of the admissions beast), but at the end of the day you certainly maximize your chances by following directions, and expressing your interest.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:23:45 AM) Sammy: Early April and mid-May.

Amish (Feb 17, 2005 11:24:11 AM) Thank you all for your time: Linda, Jon, Rod, and Barry. Good luck to the rest of you on the waitlist.

Chen (Feb 17, 2005 11:24:16 AM) Thank you Barry. One more question; do you think that a waitlist candidate taking addition classes in Finance or Market will help to enhance his / her candidacy?

Liangju Bian (Feb 17, 2005 11:24:24 AM) Thanks, Jon. Do you think a CFA level one test on June 4th can help substantiate my candidacy? I want to pursue a finance concentration at MIT Sloan.

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:24:49 AM) Liangju--that is certainly the type of update that sheds new light on an application.

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:25:01 AM) Chen: Everything depends on your particular background, it won’t hurt.

Deborah Pevenstein (Feb 17, 2005 11:25:13 AM) Jon: Are people taken off the waitlist based on specific areas of professional interest to round out the class?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:26:47 AM) Deborah, it is pretty similar to the regular process; you want the best people and the best class

DavidB (Feb 17, 2005 11:27:23 AM) Can you be accepted off the waitlist without an interview? or is one always required for acceptance?

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:27:58 AM) DavidB--An interview is always required before admission.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 11:28:12 AM) Thank you again all for participating this evening. Special thanks to Rod, Jon, and Barry for taking the time to virtually meet with you, provide this information, and make this process as transparent and humane as possible.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 11:28:28 AM) Good luck with your applications!

JonMcLaughlinMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:28:28 AM) Linda--this has been great. Thank you for your work and help.

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 11:28:55 AM) You're most welcome. Again, I think this chat is a tribute to Sloan Admissions' dedication to applicants.

Liangju Bian (Feb 17, 2005 11:29:12 AM) Thanks, Linda, Jon, Barry and Rod for your help!

MBA05 (Feb 17, 2005 11:30:10 AM) Thank you Jon, Barry, and Linda

Deborah Pevenstein (Feb 17, 2005 11:30:18 AM) Thank you Linda, Jon, Barry & Rod for you patience with us all!

Steve (Feb 17, 2005 11:30:40 AM) Thank you accepted.com team!!

BarryReckleyMIT (Feb 17, 2005 11:31:00 AM) Lianda: thanks for your help

Linda Abraham (Feb 17, 2005 11:31:06 AM) You're welcome.