Thursday, May 30, 2013

Working with Waiting Lists is Admission Candy Crush

As a relative showed me how to play Candy Crush the other day, I couldn't help but think that it is a good metaphor for working with waiting lists. While some may say that means it's time to take a few days off, I decided it meant it was time to write a blog post.

In Candy Crush, there is one overarching theme, but many different goals and objectives that get presented as you move candy pieces into various positions on your board. Sometimes, the program sends a surprise your way or one move sets off a chain reaction. While there isn't a stated time limit on making moves, there's a finite amount of movement allowed, so you have to be efficient.


I'm sure you can figure out some of the allusions I'm making, but I want to address the chain reaction scenario and how that relates to admission work.

As schools move to their waiting lists, the movement trickles down to affect many other schools. So, when a student on our waiting list gets an offer, they'll contact the school to which they originally deposited to let them know they aren't coming. With many schools making offers to students on the waiting list, some schools will see room in their class and make some waiting list offers of their own. Get it?

This is why things have quieted down, but there is still movement on the waiting list. We are close to being done, but we've come a long way from the beginning of May, when each admission officer was making offers on a daily basis.


Again, we're getting close to a full class. We'll release the waiting list soon, but there is still a little bit of movement.