Status of Candidates’ Weekends Decisions
Just a quick FYI regarding Candidates’ Weekends notification, as we receive many questions about how/when we mail the decisions:
- We mail invitations to Candidates’ Weekends via UPS overnight for domestic students and USPS International Express for overseas students. Sadly, it is not unusual (due to things beyond our control!) that the packets don’t arrive the next day.
That said, see #3.
- All other decisions are mailed via standard US Postal Service.
- Decisions will also be available online through your application account on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 9pm EST.
We will mail ALL decisions no later than Friday, February 1, 2008.
Regards,
The Olin College Office of Admission
Should we expect Saturday delivery?
Comment by Nathanael Plater — January 30, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
Firstly, thanks for the update on admissions. Secondly: wow, it’s really insane to think that this past year or so of being totally excited about Olin, of waiting, comes down to this one letter/web-post on one day in one moment, either to end most unfortunately or to be perpetuated with yet another stage of admissions.
Comment by Kevin Simon — January 31, 2008 @ 1:32 am
Ditto what Kevin S. said and AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I’m freaking out!! I keep hoping/expecting a UPS truck that I know has a good chance of coming/not coming until Monday! AHHHHHH!
And I don’t think UPS delivers on Saturday…but USPS does. (God forbid!)
Comment by Kevin S — January 31, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
Raise your hand if you can hardly sleep in anticipation and/or have considered camping out at your mailbox to wait!
Comment by Cady — January 31, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
I’m so nervous, yet it’s so exciting! Good luck, everyone! And to those who make it to CW, I congratulate you all.
Comment by Tracy Wong — January 31, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
Come on UPS!
Comment by Teddy Poppe — February 1, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Best of luck to all. I went to Babson back in the 80’s before Olin. It’s a great place to College.
I started www.carshelpingamerica.org and still have fond memories of college.
Comment by Marty Schloss — February 1, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! *raises boths hands in reply to Cady*
*flails arms around while running in circles*
Go U(S)PS!
Comment by Tracy Wong — February 1, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
HI…one very excited family received a canditate invitation in Marietta GA! Looking foward to meeting you all on Weekend #1!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Sandi — February 1, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
I just got my decision in the mail - I’m so excited! (Though hesitant about leaving California weather.)
I can finally breathe easy now; I’m going on february 29th.
Good luck to the rest of you!
P.S Hi Sandi! I’m looking forward to meeting you too!
Comment by Michael Murphy — February 1, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Sandi, how did you get the letter so fast? Did it come through UPS or what service?
Comment by Samantha — February 1, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
Samantha, it came overnight UPS:-)
Comment by Sandi — February 1, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
I want my mail!! AHH!
Comment by Andrew L. — February 1, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
I also got a “happy” letter in the mail today. I’m more excited than I’ve been for a while, possibly ever.
I’m weekend number two myself.
Comment by Kevin Simon — February 2, 2008 @ 3:01 am
How many people applied this year? And how many were invited for CW?
Comment by Katie — February 2, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Feb 29 from Cali
Comment by Scott — February 2, 2008 @ 11:32 am
Week-end number one for me (from NJ). How exciting! Congrats and good luck, everyone!
Comment by Liz — February 2, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
So if we haven’t received anything yet, should we be thinking rejection? I say this because they said that candidate packets/invitations would be mailed overnight, while all other decisions (re: rejection) would be mailed regular USPS. That said, even if the above is true, not everything sent overnight on Friday gets there on Saturday, so I suppose I can’t be certain till Monday, though am now REALLY anxious….
Comment by Aidan — February 2, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
http://hs.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10123290939
Did a search and could not find a Facebook group for all us, so I went all efficient and made one. Come and join and brag?
Comment by Liz — February 2, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
CW invitees, check out the Facebook Group: http://hs.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8024088529
Comment by anxious — February 3, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I just realized there was a blog about this! I got my letter yesterday, and I’m pumped to be going! To make it even better, I’ll be celebrating my 18th bday, March 1st, there!
Comment by Cat Leece — February 3, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
Mine came FAR sooner than expected. 5pm delivery on Friday night, but I got it delivered to me in bed on Saturday morning. I’ll see everyone at CW1.
Comment by Chris Marra — February 3, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
I was wondering why the decisions weren’t posted online when i woke, and i spent about a half-hour searching the website before i saw 9 PM est.
I thought it was 9 AM.
Comment by Scott — February 4, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
I just wanted to respond to Katie: This year, 965 people applied and 184 people were invited on to Candidates’ Weekends. This was an INCREDIBLY competitive pool, by all measures.
-Caitlin
Assistant Director of Admission
Olin College of Engineering
781-292-2212
Comment by Caitlin Snow — February 4, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
And I am rejected. I would just like to be honest for a second and say that I hate and resent all of you who made it. I know I am supposed to say good luck but everyone knows that it is always total bull. Your dreams came true, and mine, once again, were crushed. Good day, I hope you choke on your food.
~A
Comment by Aidan — February 4, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Ah, got the USPS letter today. It was very nice, and I appreciate you reviewing my application.
Comment by t — February 4, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
Mine came very soon as well, at about 4:00 pm EST on Friday, here in Concord, MA. It’s nearly impossible to describe how thrilled I was (and still am)!! See about half of you at CW 1.
Comment by Andrew — February 4, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Me too, rejected! I do regret for devoting too much on Olin College, and I do hate one of the Harvard students who recommanded Olin to me. You know tomorrow is Spring Festival, the most important festival, like Christmas in US. I don’t know how to maintain a good state of mind on that day, together with my family. Anyway, this spring festival will be unforgettable. Actually, I somehow envy you 184 cadidates. However, on behalf of Chinese government, congrats! Good luck with you guys, though some of you will still be eliminated eventually. 这飞机该撞你们学校了吧！赶紧上啊！
Comment by Wang — February 4, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
To Adian,
It’s unfortunate that you didn’t get into CW.
What’s more unfortunate however is that you took your emotions out in a negative way. I wish you could only see that no matter what college you get into you will get a world class education and that your future truly depends upon how much you affect your own path towards success and overcome the obstacles thrown at you by life.
Also, for anyone who hasn’t, join the facebook group!
Comment by Chris Fitzhugh — February 4, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
Haha Aidan I feel the same as you…on a much less violent scale.
Yes, it really sucks we were rejected…a lot. Really really. We really wanted to go. But really, we are destined for somewhere else…somewhere possibly better. Olin isn’t the only amazing college out there. There are tons of them! Where ever we end up, we will have great college experiences!
But I still really wish I could have went. It hurts a lot inside.
Comment by Kevin S — February 4, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
THATS WHAT SHE SAID.
Comment by Michael Scott — February 5, 2008 @ 11:30 am
What’s most unfortunate is that Olin’s applicant pool includes future Darwin Award Winners who use smiley face emoticons and devote their time to facebook groups. Michael Scott is ma Boi!!!!!!!! Represent Peace.
Comment by Rejected Hopeful — February 5, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Yo homesizzle why u frontin and deleatin my posts? GO OLIN OILERS!!!!!
Comment by Michael Scott — February 5, 2008 @ 11:49 am
As Chris said, your success depends on your character and your perseverance. Most of the Fortune 500 CEOs did not go to an Ivy League school. As Matt Damon says in Good Will Hunting, “You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for a buck fifty in late charges at the public library.”
Chillax. Olin is a damn hard place to get into (the median Math SAT II score on the waiting list was 800).
Good luck with the rest of your applications.
Comment by jaguar — February 5, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Just a clarification on jaguar’s comment - the implication is that one must have 800’s on standardized testing to be selected as a Candidate, let alone make the waiting list. That’s not the case! While academic performance is a very important aspect of our process, it is not the sole criterion for selection. That said, our waiting list is quite strong and they scored quite well on the Math Level 2 Subject Exam.
Keep breathing…
Allison
Comment by Allison Bahme — February 5, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
Dang, the other Kevin S didn’t make it. I was starting to look forwards to that duel.
I’m sorry to all those who aren’t going to CW, but everyone’s not pulling your leg when they say not to let this stop you. That’s the truth about all college apps and anything of this sort. I applied to MIT early (Olin was and still is my first pick) and got deferred, and I’ve seen many friends who would be perfect somewhere get flat out rejected.
The moral of the story: life goes on. You’ll all get into a good college (hell, Cal Poly is a state school and has a 97% rate of employing people in a real job or sending people to grad school. It just goes to show that there are still great educations out there), have a great time, get a good job and do very well, with or without Olin. I’m sure of it guys!
Comment by Kevin Simon — February 5, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
Just got mine through USPS last evening. Hurray! I cried when I received it.
I am really sorry for all those who did not make it. But I think if you are applying to Olin, you are probably the type that is fought over by many other excellent schools. If you are good, you are good. No rejection letter can change that.
To Wang,
Others recommended Olin to you in goodwill, they did not mean for you to be rejected. 请注意你的言辞形象，你代表我们广大华人。别以为这里没人看的懂中文。
Comment by Rui Wang — February 5, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
I knew that Math II would screw me over. That’s what I get for taking it about 2 years after I had learned/used any of it. And without a graphing calculator. Oh, well. Oh, and to Chris F., please get off your moral pedestal. You sound like a dipshit. Negative? All I did was vent on some online blog to people I don’t know and will never meet. I didn’t break anything, beat anyone up, cry into my pillow, etc. And finally to Kevin S., I don’t believe in destiny. It’s just BS people tell themselves to get over rejection and to cope with the many other hard realities of life. Think about it. Was it the Jewish POW’s destiny to rot away and die at Auschwitz? I surely hope not.
~A
Comment by Aidan — February 5, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
ok, well you’re sort of a quasi-pessimist and an obvious failure of a cynic so i would just shut up if i were you. and as Allison mentioned above, you’d be surprised at how *little* SAT scores influence your admission. so quit making lame excuses for yourself…Math II is at most basic algebra.
Can somebody block this moron from posting? He somehow believes that fuming on an admissions blog is more productive than crying into a pillow. His justification for a lack(?) of negativity and the brilliant historical allegories are rather boring.
Comment by jaguar — February 6, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
Aidan,
I wish you the best of fortune in life.
Comment by Chris Fitzhugh — February 6, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
Aidan,
You still have your whole life in front of you. College is just four years, and it’s not what college you go to that matters, but what you do. I kind of felt down after being deferred from my earlies, but I’m much happier now and decided to just make the most out of whatever college I get into. Even if I don’t get into Olin or MIT, I can try to have an awesome four years at some other college. Right now I’m just having fun the rest of senior year, relishing the fact that I’m done with apps and high school. You have no excuse to not do the same.
Scott
Comment by Scott — February 7, 2008 @ 1:04 am
Oooh… Rejected. XD I was disappointed but expected it. What made me really happy actually was…
THE REJECTION LETTER WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED! HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURE!
Not even NC State’s acceptance letter was signed by hand.
Thanks, Olin.
And congratulations to all who made it to CW. Good luck, and enjoy yourselves. And happy Chinese New Year.
Comment by Tracy Wong — February 7, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
I agree with Scott, and I would prefer it if this thread didn’t turn into a bunch of bickering please. I would like to think that we’re above that as members of the 1000 odd people who applied to Olin.
I do feel sorry for those who did not get invited to CW, and understand that I cannot truly comprehend your sense of loss. I’m not going to tell you how and how not to cope with rejection because that’s not fair.
Comment by Kevin Simon — February 7, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
Jaguar. Oh poor Jaguar, you poor failure of a cranky old man, expounding your wisdom garnered from Hollywood movies. See, I can do it too
Though I am surprised you’re the only one who actually called me out, as I was (somewhat purposefully out a sense of curiosity. Only somewhat however) as much of an asshole as possible, though did it such a way as to make yourself look worse. Way to go! Now to address your points (plural, even though you only addressed one of mine). 1. When you are splitting hairs, every little bit makes a difference. Test scores are said not to matter, as most are at the top. There is no appreciable difference between a 780 and an 800. Second, I know that it is basic algebra, that is why it pisses me off so much. It was not that I didn’t know it, it was that I was so rusty, I became much too slow. And before hint at me being an idiot, you don’t even know me or my score. I said I hated people who got in, but not any specific person, nor do I doubt any of your abilities. Third, I didn’t say i showed a lack of negativity, I said that I expressed my negative emotions in a fairly harmless way. And yes, i think it was better than sobbing. Fourth, all they could conceivably to is IP block me, as there are no accounts. Then I could just anonymize, or use a different computer. And finally, I thought I was quite entertaining, I spiced things up. You seemed entertained enough to respond after all…
Sorry to anyone I may have actually offended.
~A
Comment by Aidan — February 11, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
*though you did it in such a way*
*and before you hint*
Shot myself in the foot with typos there.
Comment by Aidan — February 11, 2008 @ 11:36 pm
Kevin Simon — there’s another “Kevin S.” at Olin; he’ll be a senior next year, so you can duke it out with him;)
Comment by Ryan Mitchell — February 12, 2008 @ 3:52 pm