What does it mean if I'm 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.

Is it better to be waitlisted or deferred?

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.

How do you respond to being waitlisted?

What to Do If You're Waitlisted | The Princeton Review

Should I accept being waitlisted?

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.

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.

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

As decisions keep rolling out, I know you might have some questions. 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 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).

Can you get waitlisted Early Action?

Yes, students can be deferred in the Early Action/Early Decision round and subsequently waitlisted by the same school after the Regular Decision round. It's more common than some think.

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.

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.

How do I get off waitlist?

What do you say in a waitlist letter?

Should I show up to a waitlisted class?

You should attend the classes that you take. The professor won't wait for the add/drop deadline to start teaching; if you wait that long to start learning, you're going to fall behind. Attend as if you are in the class. Usually the drop/add period is only the first week, so you aren't losing much in going.

Does waitlist mean you are qualified?

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.

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.

What is the waitlist rate for Harvard?

Due to the competitive nature of Harvard, and the published numbers from similar schools, Harvard's waitlist is roughly 1000 to 2000 people. For the 2026 class, we know that Harvard accepted 36 students from the waitlist.

Is being waitlisted for university bad?

Being waitlisted means you were good enough that they insisted on giving your application a second look, so being waitlisted is less like being put on hold and more like being asked out on a second date. You've piqued their interest, but they're not exactly ready to commit yet.

Is getting off the waitlist random?

Sometimes colleges never take anyone from their waitlists, and at other times, when they do take applicants, it seems random. It's actually not completely random, and you do have some power here. But, just as with any admissions decision, there are no guarantees.

What does waitlisted 0 mean?

The result produces a Registration Add Error: Example: “Closed - -0 Waitlisted” (meaning that the course is full, and there are no students on the waitlist) or “Open – Reserved for Wait List” (meaning that there is an open seat but it is reserved for a waitlisted student who is at the top of the wait list).

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 do you start a successful waitlist?

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.