How To Handle Being Waitlisted: A Step-By-Step Guide
Waitlisted #Waitlisted
Learning that you are waitlisted for your top-choice school can feel like a defeat, but it means you still have a chance of gaining admittance. The admissions officers liked you, but there just was not enough room in their admission class to accept you at this time.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will get into your school of choice. U.S. News surveyed 91 ranked colleges that reported they admitted anywhere from zero to 100% of wait-listed applications. However, the data did show that the average was about 1 in 5 admitted.
The numbers are hard to predict and can vary from university to university and from year to year. For example, Harvard in 2017 admitted exactly zero students off its waitlist. However, according to the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons, ideally, they would like to admit between thirty to forty students off their waitlist.
Colleges will put students on the waitlist during the regular decision round of admission. Once on the waitlist, you might not be notified of your admittance until after the May 1 deadline to secure your spot at a school by sending in your deposit. Sometimes, students don’t find out until the fall semester is about to start.
Ultimately, what it comes down to is whether or not there are openings for students left in the incoming class, and how many of the admitted students chose not to enroll. By looking at the yield rate of colleges (or the percentage of admitted students who enroll in the school), you can get a better sense of how many students tend to accept their admissions offer. The Dean of Admissions at Brown University said, “Predicting our yield is largely scientific, but it’s not perfect,” he said. “We make a number of (admission) offers that we think will get us close to our target (class size). But in any given year, you may be really close, (or) you may not be.”
The waitlist means you are still a competitive student, and if any spots open up either before or after the May 1 deadline, the school might notify you about an admission.
Deferral Vs. Waitlist – What’s The Difference?
Getting deferred at a university versus put on a waitlist are extremely different situations, but they do pose some similarities. Neither of these situations is outright rejections – it just means you will have to wait longer to see if you are admitted to the college.
Being waitlisted means they have thoroughly reviewed your file, but the admissions officers have decided to put you on the waitlist. Depending on the college, your chances of admission could be excellent, but at other colleges, zero students might get admitted off the waitlist. Often, more information is not required to help with your admission.
If you are deferred, it means the college will take a second look at your file in the Regular Round. Therefore, your application is now considered among the regular pool of applications. In this case, you are no longer held to the rules of ED and can choose to accept or deny an admissions offer if you receive one. Sometimes the college wants more information before they make a decision regarding your application. Once the admissions officers receive the updates – like new grades or test scores – this information is added to your file for consideration.
What To Do If You Are Waitlisted
If you received that waitlist notification, there are still a few things you can do before May 1 to tip the odds in your favor.
How To Write A Waitlist Letter
Once you receive your notice that you have been waitlisted, you should consider writing a letter to the admission officers. No more than one page, the letter should convey your continued interest. You should send it as soon as possible to help sway your admission status positively.
The letter should include:
Waitlist Letter Example
Dear Mr. Patterson,
I am writing to inform you of an addition to my Brown University application. Although last week I learned that I am on the waitlist, I am still very interested in attending Brown University, and if I were to be accepted off the waitlist, I would attend with great enthusiasm. Therefore, I wish to take this opportunity to update you on my activities and achievements since applying.
I have been spending over 10+ hours a week continuing my research in the Zebrafish lab, working with my mentor to advance stem cell research to potentially help improve human lives by creating a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues. I have presented my research at my high school science fair and was awarded first place. This summer, I will continue to make strides with this research project. My science fair presentation, along with pictures and a video, can be found on my LinkedIn page: .
This semester, I am taking a full course load to challenge myself academically. I have exhausted all of the advanced courses at my high school and have taken all eight AP math and science courses available. I am currently on track to receive an “A” in each of my classes.
I look forward to the opportunity to continue my research at Brown University in the future. Thank you for your continued consideration of my application,
Sincerely,
Julie Montgomery
Waitlist FAQ
Q: Should I put a deposit down at another school even if I am on a waitlist?
A: Yes, you can and should put down a deposit at your second-choice school, because there is no guarantee you will get off the waitlist.
Q: Should I mail or email my Waitlist Letter?
A: Email is fine, as long as you receive a confirmation from the admissions office that they received your letter.
Q: When should I send my Waitlist Letter?
A: As soon as possible. Preferably within a week or two of receiving notice that you were waitlisted. Do not delay.
Research for this article was contributed by Moon Prep college counselor, Lindsey Conger.