What does it mean if I was waitlisted?

Waitlisted means that the admissions office has reviewed your college application and determined that you have the academic and personal credentials for admittance, but you were not selected during their first round of admissions.

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%.

Does waitlist usually mean 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 to do if you get waitlisted?

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.

Rolex Waitlist Do's and Dont's

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.

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.

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?

The most important: Write an essay to show demonstrate your interest! Look for any way to show continued interest in the school. Make sure to accept your waitlist spot! Submit a deposit to another school.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

How do I ask for waitlist status?

Contact the admissions office or check the college's website to find out if the college ranks waitlisted students or if it has a priority list. Most are willing to let you know your status. The higher you rank on the list, the better your chances are of being accepted.

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 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.

How does waiting list work?

Waiting List (WL): If the passenger status is marked as WL followed by a number then the passenger has a waitlisted status. This can get confirm only if the passengers who have booked before you for the same journey cancel their ticket.

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.

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.

Is it common to be waitlisted?

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.

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.

Why are people waitlisted?

A waitlist is a list of applicants whose admission may be reconsidered in the coming months if there are gaps in the incoming freshman class. Most schools classify their applicants according to certain factors. They take into consideration legacy, race, international status, athletics, and much more.