What to Do if You're Waitlisted
Boost Your Chances of Getting Off the Waitlist.
You’ve sent in your applications. Now you’re waiting for a letter from each college you applied to, a letter telling you that you’re accepted as a student or that your application for admission is declined. There’s another possibility. A college may put you on a waitlist.
This can happen when you meet the admissions requirements, but the college has already accepted the number of applicants it has room for. If a spot becomes available later on, you may be offered a place.
The college won’t make you this offer, however, until after the May 1 decision deadline has passed. If you’re on the waitlist, it’s hard to know what your chances of acceptance are.
Decide Whether to Stay on the List.
Your next step is to respond and let the college know whether or not you want to stay on the 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.
Even if you decide to remain on the waitlist, prepare to attend another college. Choose the best fit from the colleges that accepted you, fill out the paperwork, and send a deposit. You’ll forfeit this deposit if the college that waitlisted you offers you a place and you accept. Still, you need to be sure you have a place in an incoming first-year class next fall.
Take Control of the Waitlist Process.
If you decide to stay on the waitlist, take the initiative. Here’s what you can do to boost your chances of being accepted.
Get a sense of your chances of admission.
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.
Write a letter to the admissions office.
The college has already decided that you have the academic credentials for admittance. Now’s the time to mention any additional academic or nonacademic factors that might help your case—any new achievements or supplemental information. 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.
Study hard.
This is no time to slack off. If you're waitlisted, you may be reevaluated based on your third- and fourth-quarter grades.
Stay involved.
Show admissions officers you're committed to sports, clubs, and other activities. Realize that you've already achieved something.
You were waitlisted, not turned away. Many students weren’t as successful. Reconsider the colleges that accepted you.
If you’d be just as happy at one of your other choices, send in a deposit. Plan to attend that college. Then turn down the spot on the waiting list. You'll be surprised how much better you feel after your decision has been made.