Should you stay on a college waitlist?

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.

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.

How likely are you to get off a college 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.

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%.

Why do I keep getting waitlisted for college?

This is often a result of there not being enough available seats in the class to offer you a spot for registration. But, keep in mind, spots may become available down the road. Being waitlisted is not uncommon. One survey showed about 10% of applicants placed on them, with about 20% admitted later ¹.

Picking Your College Major (no BS rankings, just the truth)

Is the waitlist a good or bad thing?

Basically, schools waitlist because they like you, not because they don't like you. If a school didn't think your application was up to snuff, they'd reject it upfront. While many applicants interpret waitlisting as a sign that they're not good enough, this is a narrow and inaccurate perspective.

Is a college waitlist a 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.

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

Are waitlists soft rejections?

Don't check it obsessively. That's not healthy. ❤️‍ A note: I know for some of you, getting that waitlist decision is incredibly painful. It is, in lots of ways, a soft rejection, and I believe that's by far the healthiest way to look at it, but that's also what makes it sting even more.

What happens if you are waitlisted for a college?

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.

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.

Can you remove yourself from a college waitlist?

If you are on a waitlist at one school and receive an offer from another, you should accept the offered position and send a notification to take yourself off the waitlist – which is courteous to other applicants and to the school.

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).

Do grades matter for waitlist?

Deferred and Waitlisted Students

That correspondence will include grades from the second semester of your senior year. Colleges and universities look for consistency or improvement when you're in this position, so don't slack.

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 a college waitlist binding?

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.

Why are waitlists not ranked?

Finally, some college waitlists rank the applicants on it.

Nevertheless, most colleges don't rank waitlist applicants and instead make their admissions decisions based on other factors such as what majors they want to have represented and which applicants will be most likely to attend if admitted.

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.

How long does it take for a college to accept or reject you?

The date by which you apply will vary by your application plan. If you apply under an earlier plan, you'll probably get your decision earlier, too. But in general, it usually takes admissions offices 1-2 months to return your admissions decision.

How do you deal with a college 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 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.

What does it mean to be waitlisted for a college class?

Answer. If a class is full, a student can choose to be placed on a waitlist to enroll in the class if a seat becomes available. When a student is added to the waitlist, they are assigned the next available position number.

Do colleges tell you why they rejected you?

While colleges are not likely to share their specific reasons for rejecting an application, colleges do tell you if they rejected you. For students wondering what to do if you get rejected from all colleges, you may want to consider taking a gap year and reapplying next year.

How do you know if a college rejected you?

Most universities send acceptance and rejection notices at the same time. Others have “rolling admissions” where you can apply almost any time and they will decide within a few weeks of your application.

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.