Advice After Waitlisted at a Top MSF Program

Hey all,

I got waitlisted at a strong MSF program (think top-tier for IB placement) and I'm trying to figure out the smartest way to use the time I have. Would really appreciate input from anyone who's been through a waitlist, or sits on the other side of it.

Quick background on me:

• Currently an IB analyst, about 4 months into the role, working in a top bank in my region (not U.S ofc)
• Did my undergrad in the US at a non-target
• Here's my weak spot: my grades weren't great, especially early on. They climbed a lot once I locked into finance, but the GPA isn't a selling point
• My actual experience is legit though. In my application I talked about real deals I'm staffed on right now, not internships or case studies

The program gave me the option to submit a waitlist essay for "a new employment opportunity, award, or other meaningful update." They also said they don't give individualized feedback.

My questions:

1. The essay. I don't have a new job or an award. What I do have is more live deal experience since I applied, a few new mandates across different markets, more responsibility, etc. Is "I've done more real deal work since applying" actually a meaningful update in their eyes, or do they want something more formal like a promotion or a title change? How do you make an update essay land when the update is "I kept doing my job, just more of it"?
2. Networking. Does reaching out to current students, alumni, or admissions actually move the needle on a waitlist, or is it noise? If it helps, who's worth contacting and what's the right way to do it without being annoying? Or do these decisions come down purely to space and yield, where nothing I do matters?
3. Anything else you'd do in my spot that I'm not thinking of?

Trying to be proactive without overdoing it. Appreciate any honest takes, including "just wait and see" if that's the real answer.

My goal is to use the MSF to lateral in the U.S.

Thanks.