So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance

Today, Chicago Booth emailed to inform me that I was being kept on the waitlist. The email wasn’t a surprise, since Round 3 and previously waitlisted applicants that were admitted were called yesterday and I didn’t receive a phone call (again). I experienced a bit of déjà vu yesterday and was bummed that I am in the same spot I’ve been for over two months now, but I’m looking on the bright side, much like Lloyd Christmas (see clip).

Most likely the chances of getting off the waitlist at this point are even slimmer than before, but as long as I am interested in attending Booth, I’ll do what I can to make that very small chance a reality. It’ll involve an even deeper re-evaluation of my entire application and seeing where I can address any weaknesses or clarify any potential ambiguities. In the meantime, however, I can’t consign my entire future to an uncertain hope, so I am continuing to make other plans.

If I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that it is hard to rely on external factors for your own success. Instead, the ability to make the best decisions based on the available/relevant information, build meaningful relationships, and persevere and trust yourself are the important things. A little luck also never hurt anybody. While it’s best not to look to Dumb & Dumber for guidance as a general rule, I hope I can match Mr. Christmas’s optimism and admirable ability to focus on his next steps, particularly in these next few months.