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 do you deal with being waitlisted?

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%.

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

Is waitlist worse than 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 WHEN YOU'RE WAITLISTED FOR A COLLEGE and What NOT to do

How bad is being waitlisted?

The bad news is that you've only got a slight chance to move from the waitlist to acceptance. According to National Association for College Admission Counseling, about 30 percent of students who are waitlisted finally get admitted. That means there's a 70 percent chance that you will not get off that waitlist.

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.

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.

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.

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 do you say in a waitlist letter?

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.

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.

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 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 you respond to a waitlist decision?

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.

Do colleges look at senior grades for waitlist?

If you are waitlisted at a UC, the admissions office may consider a variety of factors when making a decision on whether to admit you or not. This can include your high school senior grades, as well as any additional information you may have provided since submitting your application.

Is it good to be waitlisted?

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.

Do senior year grades matter for waitlist?

For starters, it could be the case that you've been placed on the waitlist for your college of choice. Finishing out your senior year well and with high grades provides you with the best bet for moving off the waitlist and into the accepted position.

Are college waitlists first come first serve?

The waitlist process uses a "first come, first served" concept, meaning that those earliest in line have a lower waitlist position number. Those in the front of the line will automatically be enrolled when a space opens as long as they meet the enrollment requirement/requisites.

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 colleges decide who gets in?

Admissions officers look at “hard factors — GPA, grades, and test scores — and soft factors — essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest — to gain a full picture of applicants.

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.

Why am I getting waitlisted everywhere?

It could be a combination of factors, such as the increased competition and the fact that colleges sometimes waitlist students who might not be a perfect fit for their expected class composition. Waitlists can help colleges achieve their desired class "balance" in terms of demographics, talents, and other attributes.

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).