Is there anything you can actively do to move up the waitlist at a school?

[wobuffet]

I know a economics graduate student who was my instructor for several challenging undergraduate courses; he's currently attending a school where I'm waitlisted.

Would asking him to put a good word in to the admissions committee be

i. efficacious?
ii. appropriate?

Eek, I would guess neither. But he'd probably know better; assuming you know him personally at all and getting into that school is important enough to you, why don't you just contact and ask him? If he's unwilling or doesn't think it'd be a good idea, it's a moot point anyways.

[Harry Lime]

If I were the grad student I would say, "Sure buddy, no problem." and then do nothing.

[echocentric]

Thanks for your inputs. Special thanks to Walt for scenario analysis.

I think it is best to just sit back. The faculty I was considering to mail are noble laurate/almost equivalent and i dont want to put any negative impression there. Since the wait list of so short 3-4, I don't think sending them email be of much help either.

Going for a visit is not a financially viable option for me. I am an international student.

[tommyg28]

I contacted a school to express interest and ask for my position on the list. This didn't seem to be frowned upon, but obviously this is speculative (hard to infer from an email). However I was told that I was in x position on the list and that last year they let in y<x on the list, with a caveat that it varies from year-to-year as to how many they take off the list. This was obviously useful stuff, so I would recommend it. I can't imagine it would bump you down any places, but who knows?

[tm_guru]

Thanks for your inputs. Special thanks to Walt for scenario analysis.

I think it is best to just sit back. The faculty I was considering to mail are noble laurate/almost equivalent and i dont want to put any negative impression there. Since the wait list of so short 3-4, I don't think sending them email be of much help either.

Going for a visit is not a financially viable option for me. I am an international student.

What school is this? Caltech, CMU?

[echocentric]

What school is this? Caltech, CMU?

Columbia University

[Gecko]

If you're on the waitlist at Chicago, declare your undying hate for all things Keynesian

[walt526]

If you're on the waitlist at Chicago, declare your undying hate for all things Keynesian

Better yet, assassinate a prominent Keynesian.

Full fellowship if you do it according to some ancient ritualistic human sacrifice.

[Norsker]

Depends. Do you have mob ties(Harry Lime might help you with that) and no moral compass?

[peepo]

Better yet, assassinate a prominent Keynesian.

Full fellowship if you do it according to some ancient ritualistic human sacrifice.

Can anyone lend me Paul Krugman's address and an obsidian knife?