How does waitlist order work?

Schools offer a limited number of seats in the lottery, and this number can vary by grade level, school, and school year. Schools use waitlists to fill seats when they become available, and they make offers to their waitlisted applicants in order. There is no guarantee that schools will make waitlist offers, however.

How does Waitlisting work?

The waitlist helps colleges keep students on reserve. Once available slots fill up, and students start declining acceptance offers, the college admissions committee can begin moving on to the waitlisted students.

What are the chances of getting 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%.

Are college waitlists first come first serve?

The waitlist process uses a "first come, first served" concept, meaning that those earliest in line have a lower waitlist position number. Those in the front of the line will automatically be enrolled when a space opens as long as they meet the enrollment requirement/requisites.

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 Does Waitlisting Work?

What happens if you accept waitlist?

Many times after accepting a place on the waitlist, colleges will encourage students to write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) and give the admissions office a little more information about what they've been doing since they submitted their applications.

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

Should I attend class if I'm waitlisted?

Show up anyway. Particularly if it's a larger class in a lecture environment, showing up on the first day can be an important first step. Some students might be under the impression that the professor will always contact you if a space opens up in the class.

Should I accept waitlist offer?

First things first—be sure to accept your waitlisted status. When a school informs you that you have been waitlisted, they are essentially offering you a spot on the waitlist. Therefore, to be added to the waitlist, you must accept the waitlist offer.

How does an unranked waitlist work?

With an unranked waitlist, the school draws from a pool of applicants when a seat opens up. The decision about which applicant to select from this pool could hinge on several factors, such as application strength or the need to create a balanced class in terms of diversity and experiences.

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.

What should you do if you are waitlisted?

How are waitlists ranked?

The waitlist isn't ranked; instead, admissions officers review the school's institutional needs and decide whom to admit from the waitlist based on those factors.

Why is every college waitlisting me?

Your declared major might be the issue. Many schools look for a balanced makeup of their freshman class in terms of area of study. If there are too many students with your intended major, you might be placed on a waitlist while the school attempts to accept more candidates from other majors.

What does it mean if a college waitlists you?

Being waitlisted means you still have a chance if they don't see anyone they like better in the regular admissions cycle. It is better than being rejected, but don't count on getting in. This is when you need to expand your college options and consider other schools.

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 waitlist a good thing?

Getting waitlisted at a college certainly isn't a bad thing—your application was good enough to not get rejected! —but it's definitely an uncomfortable place to be. After all, when you're on the college waitlist, you don't know whether you'll be admitted or not, and that alone is anxiety-inducing.

Should I say yes to waitlist?

Some students should not accept spots on a college's waitlist. And even though it's so easy to check the “yes” box, it's ok to check “no.” After all, the tables have turned in the college admissions process once colleges have notified applicants of their decisions.

What is the difference between waitlisted and accepted?

being accepted means they want you. If you confirm your decision to attend, you will enroll in that university. being waitlisted means they still want you, but not as much as they want the other admitted students. If enough admitted students decline their offer, you may stand a chance to backfill their position.

What is a waitlist position?

Waitlists are a way for programs or schools to fill any open seats after offers are released. Being on a waitlist means your child does not have an offer to that program, and not all students on waitlists will receive a waitlist offer.

How do you email a professor about getting off the waitlist?

My name is [your name]. I'm a [class year] and my major is [your major]. I signed up for [class name and time] but was waitlisted. I'm really hoping to take this class because [explain why you need it to graduate, and/or why you're interested in this class specifically].

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.

Is getting off waitlist random?

Just like in the regular admissions process, colleges need to evaluate their yield, institutional needs, legacy status, and other factors before deciding which students, if any, to admit from the waitlist. Waitlists aren't ranked – meaning there's not a number one student who will definitely get in if there's room.

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).

What happens after waitlist?

If your college application is waitlisted, it's basically the same as receiving a "maybe" from that school. If your application is deferred, you will not receive an early admission decision. If waitlisted, agree to enroll in a backup school, but consider writing a letter of continued interest.