Can you accept multiple waitlists?

A campus might have enrollment goals for a particular major, leading to the admission of students who applied to that program, but not others. Or a campus might admit broadly. Can a student accept multiple waitlist offers? Yes.

Can I accept two offers of admission?

Double Deposits

Double depositing means putting down a deposit, and thus accepting admission, at more than one college. Since a student can't attend multiple colleges, it is considered unethical.

What happens if I accept a waitlist offer?

For example, because you're notified later than other applicants, you may have fewer housing and financial aid options. Keep in mind that college waitlist offers aren't binding. You won't be required to attend the college if they accept you from the waitlist.

What percentage of waitlisted students get accepted?

What Are My Chances of Getting Off the Waitlist? 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%.

What happens if multiple colleges accept you?

It's obviously impossible to attend two schools at once, so the act of formally accepting multiple college offers is widely considered unethical. Your acceptance and deposit are the schools' way of telling which and how many students will be in their freshman class.

Do waitlisted students get accepted?

Can I accept a college offer and then reject?

Can you reject a college after accepting? Certainly! From the day you accept your acceptance offer to the day of your graduation, you can choose to no longer attend the university you're currently at. This is even true for those who accept an early decision acceptance offer, which are usually binding.

Can I say yes to two colleges?

One common question we receive from our students and families is whether you can accept offers from multiple colleges or universities. In short, the answer is no, you cannot.

Why am I getting so many waitlists?

Here are the most common reasons applicants are placed on a waitlist: Too few spaces are available. There might have been too many students with your particular set of credentials or academic interests. The admitted applicants were just slightly better than you in some arbitrary way or applied earlier.

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).

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

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.

Can you reject a waitlist acceptance?

If enough admitted students decline the offer, you stand a chance of converting from waitlist to acceptance. However, don't count on it… as most of the people on the waitlist won't make it. Focus on your other options first… when it comes to make a decision, see if you can get off from the waitlist.

Do most people who get waitlisted get accepted?

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.

Can you accept an offer after accepting another?

You are perfectly free to rescind your acceptance, and take up the second offer. Even if you have actually begun the first job, you can resign and go to the other. Some people in the first company may then have doubts about your judgment. Others might cheer you on, for having found a much better situation.

Can you accept a different offer after accepting?

Yes. Technically, anyone can turn down a job offer, back out of a job already started, or renege on an acceptance at any point. Most states operate with what is called “at will employment.” This means the employee and the employer are not in a binding contract.

Can colleges see if you accepted another college?

For the most part, the answer to this question is: no. College admissions officers don't have secret meetings to gossip about which of the incoming freshmen applied to their schools. They are much too busy reviewing applications for that.

How do colleges decide who to take 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.

Should I accept college waitlist offer?

It makes sense to keep your spot on the list only if you're really interested in going to the college. Before you decide, find out whether there are any conditions attached to being waitlisted. For example, because you're notified later than other applicants, you may have fewer housing and financial aid options.

How long do waitlists usually take?

There's no set timeline for hearing back when you're waitlisted. It could be weeks or months before you receive an official acceptance or rejection. Colleges may accept you from the waitlist as space opens up or wait until after National Decision Day on May 1.

Are waitlists 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 it better to be deferred or waitlisted?

If you are waitlisted, you remain in a state of uncertainty without the guarantee of being reconsidered. While deferral status requires you to wait longer for a decision, it gives you an opportunity to strengthen your application before the regular decision round.

What happens if you accept admission to a college and change your mind?

Can I back down after accepting an undergraduate admission offer? Of course, you are never obligated to attend a school if you don't want to. At any point, you can say you no longer wish to attend that college. However, if you've already sent in your enrollment deposit, you will lose that.

Will a college accept you twice?

The short answer is, yes! You can reapply to the vast majority of colleges; however, it's often not your best option.

How do you let a college know you are not attending?