Everything You Need to Know About Being Waitlisted

Being waitlisted is kind of like… now what? Do I have to wait until May to see if I’m accepted? June? Do I commit to my second-choice school? What are my chances of getting in after being waitlisted?

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Students are applying to more colleges than ever before, meaning that students are consequently being accepted to more colleges than ever before, giving them more options from which to choose. Colleges waitlist students because it’s difficult for them to correctly guess if a student they accepted will actually attend their institution. Therefore, they put students they like on the waitlist so that if their freshman class ends up with a smaller number of incoming students than predicted, they can fill it out by admitting students off their waitlist. 

If you were waitlisted, the college has finished reading your application and decided to put you on the “waiting list” for admission. This means they decided not to accept you in case they need you later on. So, yes, you will have to wait until May (or sometimes June) to hear more news. It hurts, but it also gives you a choice: you don’t have to accept your waitlist spot! You have the power! The tough reality is that while you still have a chance of being accepted, your chance sits somewhere between 1-5%.

Here are some things you can do while you wait:

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

If you decided to accept your waitlist spot, be sure to let the admission office know you’re still pumped about hearing their final decision this spring. This will help your chances of getting off the waitlist!

CONSIDER COMMITTING TO YOUR SECOND-CHOICE SCHOOL

If you love it and are confident that you will be happy and challenged at your second-choice school, it might be time to make a tough decision. 

In short, being waitlisted is both beneficial and frustrating. You, your family, and your College Advisor should make the decision together about your next steps. Ultimately, it’s your choice, and we’re here to support whatever decision you make!