Are my chances good when on a waitlist?

While many colleges will waitlist hundreds or even thousands of students, not all of those students will accept a spot on the waitlist, making the pool and the chances of getting in slightly better in some cases. According to NACAC, 20% of all students who chose to remain on waitlists were ultimately admitted.

How likely is it to get accepted after being waitlisted?

According to recent data from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, colleges on average admit 20% of students off the waitlist. At the most selective institutions, that figure was 7%.

Is Waitlisting worth it?

It depends on the student's individual situation and priorities. For some students, the chance to attend their top-choice school is worth the wait and uncertainty. For others, it may be more important to have a definite plan in place and move forward with the college they have already chosen.

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

First, a note: I know getting that waitlist decision can be painful. It is, in lots of ways, a soft rejection and that's by far the healthiest way to look at it, but that's also what makes it sting even more. So, be sure to take care of yourself.

Is being waitlisted for a college good or bad?

Being waitlisted for college means you have met the requirements for admission, but your application was not strong enough to give you a seat in the first group of admitted applicants. You will be admitted if and when a spot becomes available after other students have responded to their acceptance offers.

Waitlisted at a Top College? What Are Your Chances? Data Revealed!

What are the chances of getting into Harvard if you are waitlisted?

And, while we can't know for absolute certain, there were likely more than 1,000 students waitlisted that year, so the acceptance rate off the waitlist was, at most, an uninspiring 2.7%. If you want to get off the waitlist, though, you'll have to write a great letter of continued interest.

Why did I get waitlisted instead of accepted?

Colleges have a limited number of seats each year given physical space requirements or to maintain faculty-to-student ratios, so some students are put on a waitlist in case enrollment spots open up. Universities offer some applicants spots on the waitlist during the regular decision round of admission.

What not to do when waitlisted?

Don't let them think you've got sour grapes. Don't fill out the card stating that you wish to remain on the waitlist and then do nothing else. You need to submit a powerful Letter of Continued Interest as soon as possible.

How can I increase my chances of getting off the waitlist?

Is getting waitlisted better than rejection?

Getting on a waitlist is not a rejection — waitlisted students still have a shot at earning admission to the school. College waitlist statistics from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) show that 43% of postsecondary institutions used a waitlist during the 2018-19 school year.

Do colleges waitlist overqualified applicants?

Waitlisting seemingly overqualified applicants is a factor at some colleges, but being able to pinpoint which ones in particular participate in that ploy is very difficult. One school that has been relatively famous for this in recent years is Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL).

Should I show up to a waitlisted class?

You should attend the classes that you take. The professor won't wait for the add/drop deadline to start teaching; if you wait that long to start learning, you're going to fall behind. Attend as if you are in the class. Usually the drop/add period is only the first week, so you aren't losing much in going.

Why join a waitlist?

“Often people will join wait lists at multiple communities to ensure they have options in the event their needs change and they are ready to make a move.” Joining a waiting list at the community – or communities – of your choice has other benefits as well.

Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted?

In general, you can assume that your odds are better if you've been deferred rather than waitlisted. Deferred students are reconsidered during the regular decision round and should have about the same chance as other regular decision applicants.

Is waitlisted at Harvard good?

Getting waitlisted by a prestigious university such as Harvard can be considered an accomplishment. Harvard is already a very selective school and has limited waitlist slots as opposed to being rejected outright. This proves you have what it takes to surpass the competitive screening and interview process.

What does off the waitlist mean?

It means you are neither accepted nor rejected but rather “put on hold.” The good news is that you can correspond to the committee's requirements with a chance of getting off the waitlist. Let's discuss what you can do in a situation like this and how you can get off the waitlist.

How do they decide who gets off the waitlist?

If you rank higher, you'll have a greater chance of getting off the waitlist. But some colleges may neither rank waitlisted students nor accept them by priority. Individual colleges may take a more holistic approach. They may make their decision based on factors such as which majors they want represented.

What is waitlist strategy?

In essence, a waitlist is a list that prospective customers join, signifying their intent to purchase a product or service that's not yet available. This strategy generates early excitement and anticipation amongst consumers, leads to valuable customer insights, and lays the groundwork for successful product launches.

How do you stand out on a waitlist?

Write a letter to the admissions office.

Emphasize your strong desire and continued interest to attend the college. Make a case for why you're a good fit. You can tell them that you'll enroll if they accept you but only if you're absolutely certain you will enroll.

What happens if you get off a waitlist after May 1?

If you get off the waitlist at another school and accept their offer (this is typically after May 1^st), you call the original university that you submitted your statement of Intent to register and let them know that you do not plan to attend that university.

What happens if you don't commit by May 1?

Since the May 1st deadline is widely known, many colleges don't accept late decisions. Some universities may give an extension beyond this date, but don't bet on it. If you've missed the May 1st deadline, you need to contact the college admissions officers at your intended university's admissions office immediately.

How long should a waitlist letter be?

A Waitlist Appeal Letter should be between 500-650 words (the length of a Personal Statement) and include the following: Specific after specific of how a student is going to contribute their singular hook to an institution through the school's programs, institutes, activities, culture, traditions, etc.

Is getting waitlisted at an Ivy good?

Be realistic: While it's important to stay positive, it's also important to be realistic about your chances of getting off the waitlist. Ivy League waitlists are incredibly competitive, and the odds of being admitted off the waitlist are low. Extremely low when we are talking about the most competitive schools.

Who gets off the Harvard waitlist?

Some years, Harvard accepts zero people off of their waitlist. They say that in other years they've accepted hundreds, but we think that is pretty misleading. Most years, only a few people are chosen from the hundreds asking to be reconsidered for a spot.

What are students chances of getting admitted from a waitlist at top 30 universities?

As a rule of thumb, around 10% of students who are waitlisted at an elite universities will ultimately earn admission. This, of course, can vary from year to year. There are years when some colleges, like Dartmouth College for the Class of 2025, don't turn to their waitlists because they don't need to fill seats.