From the Admissions Office 
March 27, 2008

Now that we’re nearing the end of Round 2, we thought it would be a good time to talk about admissions decisions — specifically, the wait list. This outcome raises a lot of questions from candidates, because each business school has different policies regarding follow-up and timing. We’re fortunate to have so many strong and qualified applicants, but we’re in the difficult position of having a limited number of seats available in the class. If we’re not able to offer admission but see strong aspects in an application, we’ll offer the candidate a spot on the wait list.

So what should you do if you’re wait listed? We’ll dispel some of the top myths and give tips for a successful strategy to increase your chances of turning a wait list decision into an offer of admission.

The Waiting Game

While a few candidates will receive an update regarding their wait list status in April or May, most won’t hear until the summer. We will stay in touch throughout this period as the class continues to take shape. Unfortunately, because each year is different, it’s difficult to predict what movement will take place on the wait list or what your chances of admission are, but we’ll try to keep you updated as we have new information.

New Materials

We encourage candidates to submit new materials during the wait list process to strengthen their applications. Start by evaluating your application to determine why you were placed on the wait list. The top three reasons candidates are wait listed are 1) lack of quantitative preparation, 2) unclear post-MBA goals, and 3) low test scores or GPA. If you can identify a "soft spot" in your application, it’s best to address it as soon as possible. If you’re not sure why you were wait listed, feel free to ask the admissions office for feedback.

Offers of Admission

The wait list isn’t ranked; if a spot becomes available, we review the applications on the wait list and make offers accordingly. To make your application stand out from the crowd, send us an update if your application changes in any meaningful way — for example, if you retake the GMAT, are promoted at work, or take a class. While we want to hear from you during the wait list process, please make sure your emails and correspondences add to your application and address any concerns we may have.


We hope this is helpful as candidates prepare for the next steps in the admissions process. If you have additional questions about the wait list or any other aspects of the MBA program, please post on the admissions message boards.


Admissions Office
Yale School of Management
135 Prospect Street
Box 208200
New Haven, CT 06520-8200
203.432.5635, Admissions Office
203.432.6380, Visitor Center
fax 203.432.7004 
mba.admissions@yale.edu