The University of Pennsylvania, or Penn, is an extremely prestigious school and member of the Ivy League, and so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s very hard to gain an offer of admission. Students at Penn are known for being brainy and business-minded, whether they are studying economics or anthropology, political science or, well, business. It’s also the only Ivy League school to offer an undergraduate degree in Business.
Getting into Penn is a major lift. It takes exceptional grades, superior activities and extracurriculars, and a dose of kismet. When the admissions officers at Penn review applications, they aren’t just looking at the numbers — Penn receives tens of thousands of applications, and tens of thousands of those applicants are completely qualified based solely on numbers. They’re also looking for an almost spiritual fit. You vibe with them. A Dean of Admissions at Penn described the conundrum admissions officers face, and how they deal with it, like this:
“The space limitations are real. The distribution of our academic programs is real. The necessity of diverse points of view, experiences, skills, and expectations among our students to create the strongest, most flexible, innovative, and problem-solving environment is real. And at the same time, our applicant numbers keep growing.”
If you’re reading this post, you’re either on the receiving end of one of those hard decisions, or nervous you might be. Penn received 59,000 applications for 2,400ish spots for the class of 2026. Most of those students got a no. A small number got a yes. And an equally small number were offered spots on the waitlist. If that describes you, we can help.
We are really good at helping students deal with a waitlist decision, so send us an email. We specialize in helping exceptional students get into their dream school, even when the odds are against them.
In the past, it’s been reported that around 3,500 students are historically offered spots on the waitlist. About 2,500 have accepted that offer in the past, and the number of students who are eventually admitted off of the waitlist has ranged from 20 to 175. There was a significant spike in acceptances off of the waitlist in the midst of Covid, but that should not be seen as indicative of the norm. In a typical year, the waitlist acceptance rate is between 2.5% and 5%, which is a little less than half of the regular decision acceptance rate.
If you’ve been notified of a waitlist decision, this is what comes next:
Say Yes, But Line Up a Backup
The first thing you need to do is to accept the place you’ve been offered on the waitlist. If you don’t do this, you won’t be considered. After that, you must line up a second choice by submitting a deposit to a school that you’ve been accepted to and would be happy to attend. This is a critically important step, because there is no guarantee that you will get into Penn, and you do need somewhere to go in the fall.
Letter of Continued Interest
Once you’ve accepted your place on the waitlist and lined up a backup option, you need to update Penn on what you’ve been up to since you first submitted your application. For this, you’ll need to write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) that will be sent in either via email or through the online application status portal.
The LOCI will be your one place to put any new cards on the table and advocate for yourself as a student who should be accepted off of the waitlist. This isn’t a place to argue with the admissions officers or to try to aggressively pitch yourself, though. Instead, you need to respectfully present updates that may sway their decision.
Introduction: Start the letter with a formal greeting like, “Dear Penn Admissions Officers” and write a few sentences clearly stating that Penn is indeed your first choice and that you will accept a spot if it is offered. They will not offer you a spot if they are not very confident that you will say yes, so give them that confidence.
Updates: Next, you need to write 1-3 short paragraphs updating the admissions committee. Only include things that were not on your original application, and focus on the three areas Penn cares about most: academics, activities, and employment. About 40% of admitted students for the class of 2026 worked during high school, so if you’ve had a job and didn’t include it — mention it now. Eighty percent of admitted students for the class of 2026 were engaged in community service activities. If you have updates related to community service, include them! Academics should, of course, be obvious. Include any significant awards and recognitions.
Picture Yourself at Penn: Close out your LOCI by helping the admissions officers picture you at Penn. How will you contribute to the community and shape Penn once you are on campus?
Close out your LOCI by signing off respectfully. Then edit, edit again, and send. Once it’s sent, try not to dwell too much. It is extremely unlikely that you’ll hear back before mid-May, so you need to move along with your life. Enjoy the end of your senior year, settle into the idea of going to your backup, and celebrate how much you’ve accomplished so far.
If you’re anxious about being on a waitlist, we’re pros at this. We guide students towards an outstanding future.