Columbia is hard to get into – the Class of 2027 saw 57,129 applicants with an overall acceptance rate of 3.9%. Yeesh! Competitive! But if you’re here, you know that. If you’ve been waitlisted by Columbia, you know the path to admission is very hard, but not completely impossible. Today, we’re going to talk about the actionable things you can do to get off the waitlist.
First, let’s see Columbia’s data on their waitlist!
…oh. Never mind. Really throws a wrench in this paragraph we wanted to write. Perhaps this is a growth area for you, Columbia. We know you like to be a lil secretive with your data, but this is one that helps students.
Based on what we know about Columbia, top-tier schools, and the Ivy League in general, we can tell you that they probably have about 1000-1500 students accepting spots on the waitlist, and anywhere from 0-40 kids being accepted off that waitlist. Of course, that depends on the year. Instead of panicking about their absolute lack of transparency about a scenario that causes students a lot of anxiety, let’s talk about what we can control!
Step 1: Accept Your Place on the Waitlist
Columbia has very limited data on their waitlist process, because of course. They have one FAQ about the waitlist, and it’s not even about this part of the process. What we do know from experience is that Columbia will reach out to you about how to accept your spot on the waitlist, generally via their admissions portal. Go ahead and do that, and let’s move on to Step 2.
Step 2: Secure Other Plans
While we know you may have your hopes and dreams pinned to Columbia, we are extremely risk-averse. That means you should go ahead and accept a spot at a college you were accepted to and would be happy to attend. Because no matter what, you’re going to college. Onwards, to Step 3!
Step 3: Update Columbia
When you’re waitlisted, we recommend sending Columbia a letter of continued interest. Their one singular FAQ about the waitlist is actually about this:
“We encourage students to submit an additional one-page statement expressing interest in the waitlist. Additional submissions, including extra letters of recommendation, are discouraged by the Committee on Admissions.”
Let’s jump in. This will be slightly different from a deferral letter, but you’re still trying to have the admissions committee walk away with the feeling you’re perfect for the school and vise versa. Since this is your last shot at chatting with admissions, you need to make sure the tone is the right mix of professional and confident – NOT sad or desperate or beggy!
Opening: Start off with a formal, professional greeting like "Dear Admissions Committee" (or use the name of a regional counselor if you know it). Pretend you’re writing this letter to a boss, potential job prospect, or like, a senator. You need to show reverence!!
Reinforce Interest: Columbia knows you like them, but you need to let them know you really like them (like, like-like them), and give evidence to that fact. In no more than three sentences, reiterate your enthusiasm for Columbia. Be clear and straightforward about your commitment: let them know that if accepted, you're all in. Tell them that Columbia is your top choice, the ideal place to pursue your studies and realize your potential, and provide a specific reason to solidify that impression.
Update: Now, it's time for a quick update on what's been keeping you busy since your fall application. No senioritis allowed for Ivy-bound students, so we sincerely hope you haven’t let senior spring affect your drive. Share your proudest accomplishments over the last few months – whether it's becoming the top-ranked student at your school, taking on new leadership roles, earning awards or recognition, securing new internships, or completing a big research project. These should be things that build your application further and prove you have the passion to make it at Columbia. Keep it succinct, a short paragraph with no more than three standout achievements.
Closing: Wrap up your letter with the same professional vibe you started with. You want to reiterate your enthusiasm and succinctly express the academic reasons driving your desire to attend Columbia (could be a lab, a class, a professor, the Columbia Core, etc.), capped at a sentence. Conclude with a very profesh closer like "Sincerely" or "Respectfully.”
This should not be longer than a page, as stated by Columbia. Remember kids, if you don’t send in a letter of continued interest, you are definitely not getting off the waitlist. You need to write this letter ASAP, and it needs to be perfect. If that scares you a little, we can help.
Step 4: The Waiting
Plan on shooting over your update in early spring, like around April. Also, drop a quick message to your school counselor to make sure Columbia gets the lowdown on your latest grades.
Now, onto the part we can't really speed up. We’re sorry!!! Brace yourself for the waiting game. Columbia might start dishing out responses in May, but it could drag on till July. Don’t annoy the admissions people beyond your letter.
While you're killing time, put all your energy into polishing up that letter, and secure a spot at your backup school. Best of luck!
If you’re on a waitlist and feeling anxious, we can help! Please reach out to us today if you need help with your waitlist letter.