What happens if I accept a waitlist offer?

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.

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.

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 waitlist offer?

This can be as simple as “Thank you for your consideration. I'm still very interested in your school, and I'm grateful for a place on the waitlist.” Don't use those exact words, though, or it will sound like you've copied them from the internet, which would be true.

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 waitlisted students get accepted?

Is accepting a waitlist offer 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.

How many people who get waitlisted 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 go from waitlist to accepted?

Should you respond to a waitlist email?

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.

Can you reject a waitlist acceptance?

If enough admitted students decline the offer, you stand a chance of converting from waitlist to acceptance. However, don't count on it… as most of the people on the waitlist won't make it. Focus on your other options first… when it comes to make a decision, see if you can get off from the waitlist.

Why did I get waitlisted instead of accepted?

Here are the most common reasons applicants are placed on a waitlist: Too few spaces are available. There might have been too many students with your particular set of credentials or academic interests. The admitted applicants were just slightly better than you in some arbitrary way or applied earlier.

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?

Does waitlist mean accepted?

No. Being waitlisted means you have met the requirements, but you will be admitted only if a spot in the incoming class becomes available for you. If a college has rejected your application for not meeting its requirements, you will not be added to their waitlist.

Can I withdraw from a college commitment after waitlist acceptance from another?

It's neither illegal nor unethical to withdraw from a college after May 1 because you accepted a waitlist spot at another school (or if you change your mind for any reason).

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.

What is the waitlist acceptance rate for college students?

As a rule of thumb, around 10% of students who are waitlisted at an elite universities will ultimately earn admission. This, of course, can vary from year to year. There are years when some colleges, like Dartmouth College for the Class of 2025, don't turn to their waitlists because they don't need to fill seats.

When should I hear back from waitlist?

How Long Do Waitlist Decisions Take? If you're waitlisted, you may not expect a decision until May at the earliest and sometimes even as late as July or August. This can make being waitlisted all the more frustrating since there is no set deadline to hear back.

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)

Is waitlist part of acceptance rate?

When we talk about acceptance rates here, or see them on USNews or College Navigator or whatever, do they generally include waitlist accepts or no? They should include waitlist acceptances. The initial acceptance rate is announced round April 1 or so. The final acceptance rate would not be known until 9/1 or so.

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.

What does it mean to get off the waitlist?

It means you are neither accepted nor rejected but rather “put on hold.” The good news is that you can correspond to the committee's requirements with a chance of getting off the waitlist. Let's discuss what you can do in a situation like this and how you can get off the waitlist.

Can you accept multiple waitlists?

A campus might have enrollment goals for a particular major, leading to the admission of students who applied to that program, but not others. Or a campus might admit broadly. Can a student accept multiple waitlist offers? Yes.

How many people does Harvard put on the waitlist?

Unfortunately, how many people are on the Harvard waitlist is not public knowledge. 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.

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.