Should you reply to a waitlist email?

Express Interest Again in the School Experts say wait-listed applicants should contact the admissions office, perhaps via email, to demonstrate continued interest even if the school doesn't require additional follow-up. But know that colleges have different approaches to the waitlist.

How do you respond to a waiting list?

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 do you email after being waitlisted?

An expression of gratitude for being deferred/waitlisted (Think positive—you're still in the running!) A statement about your continued interest in the school. An acknowledgment that the school is your first choice (if this is true)

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.

Should I accept waitlist offer?

Taking into account the low percentage of students accepted off the waitlist, it's smart to go ahead and accept a spot at one of the best-fit colleges that did accept you. Don't worry – accepting an admission offer at another college will not hurt your chances of being admitted off the waitlist.

Do waitlisted students get accepted?

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.

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

The meaning of waitlisted is pretty simple: you haven't been offered acceptance, nor have you been rejected. You are currently being held on a waitlist and might eventually be accepted if a spot opens up. Schools use the waiting list to deal with the uncertainty of the admissions process.

What percent of waitlisted people 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%.

How do I follow up after being waitlisted?

Express your interest

If you're waitlisted by a school that you had your heart set on, express your interest to the school shortly after accepting your waitlisted status. This conveys to the admissions committee that you're interested in this college and want to be a student there.

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.

How do you respond to a waiting email?

When should I hear back from waitlist?

How long does it take to get off the waitlist at a college? 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.

How do you respond to a waitlist email for medical school?

Assess the reasons for being waitlisted and respond accordingly. Thank the adcom for its continued consideration. Stress the positive. Only inform your waitlisting school of other acceptances if you are at a point where you will remove your name from the list if you don't receive an acceptance.

How often do waitlisted get accepted?

Half of the students offered a spot on a waitlist accepted it, and colleges on average admitted 20% of students off the waitlist.

How do you respond to thanks for waiting?

When receiving an email that says “thank you for your patience,” there are only a few ways to respond: "No problem" "It's my pleasure" "Thank you for your effort here"

What happens if you get waitlisted?

The college waitlist is a list of applicants who might or might not be offered admission to a particular college. Schools usually start to admit applicants off the waitlist after May 1 and will continue to admit applicants until they've filled their entire freshman class.

Should I send a follow up email after applying to college?

It doesn't hurt to follow up after sending an application -- that is, if you do it tactfully -- and it could help if you do it strategically. But remember, if you didn't do enough before applying, then the reason your phone doesn't ring: it's likely you.

How do you respond to a waitlist email example?

Letter of Continued Interest Example #1

Dear Director of Admissions, Thank you for reviewing my application. City U is my top choice for college, and I would be thrilled to join the Class of 2026 in the fall if accepted off the waitlist. I would like to update my application with some recent accomplishments.

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?

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.

Do waitlist decisions come in waves?

We did see a wave of applicants get accepted off waitlists in both 2020 and 2021 and even in 2022, but that was a new trend. Usually, I say think of it as a gentle rejection — and I still do for the most part.

Is accepting waitlist binding?

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. Keep in mind that college waitlist offers aren't binding.

Is it better to waitlist or appeal?

That said, writing a waitlist letter is a must if you are serious about attending that college if admitted. An appeal letter is even less likely to work. In general, appeal letters only result in admission if there was a mistake made in the initial evaluation of your application.

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.