What to Do If You're Waitlisted

As college decisions are being released this month, it is quite likely you will be placed on one or more waiting lists. In fact, because colleges across the country received record numbers of applications this year, many highly qualified students are being waitlisted. Being placed on the waiting list means that the college was impressed by your application and feels you meet the standards for acceptance, but for whatever reason is unable to offer you immediate placement in their incoming class. After May 1, the enrollment deadline for most schools, colleges will reassess their enrollment numbers and may offer admission to some waitlisted students.

Being waitlisted can be a very frustrating experience.  It feels a bit like you’ve boarded an airplane and now the pilot says he’s not sure the flight’s going to take off, so you’re just stuck on the tarmac unsure of what to do. The important thing to know is that you CAN take action.  There is no guarantee, of course, but there are certainly steps you can take to increase your chances of getting off the waitlist and into the college of your dreams.

First, accept your waitlist position right away!  If you are certain you want to remain on a school’s waitlist, let them know that as soon as possible.  This indicates to them that you are still eager to attend.

Second, write a letter to the admissions office expressing your continued interest in the school and updating them on what you’ve been doing since you applied. Be sure to express your enthusiasm for the school and demonstrate that enthusiasm by including specific classes, professors, or programs that you are particularly excited by. You can also show your enthusiasm by speaking to current students or alumni and mentioning those conversations in your letter. Most importantly, inform the college of developments in your academic and extracurricular life that they should know about: awards, projects, leadership positions, performances, publications, etc.. Waitlists are not ranked, so admissions officers decide whom to accept from the waitlist by reevaluating each application as slots open up. They want to see that you’ve continued to be engaged both academically and in extracurricular activities.

Third, let your college counselor and teachers know that you’ve been waitlisted. An additional letter from your counselor can be a huge help because it shows the admissions office that you have the support of your high school faculty. You can also ask your recommenders to write follow-up recommendations. If there’s a different teacher or mentor (from your job, synagogue, camp, etc.) whom you’d like to ask for a recommendation, that can be useful as well. Just make sure that all the letters are adding new information to your application and not simply reiterating what’s already been said.

Fourth, make sure you understand the college’s waitlist policies. Some schools do not allow waitlist applicants to defer after being accepted. Some schools accept students from the waitlist under the condition that they defer a year. Do some research about the college’s policies to make sure that remaining on the waiting list is the right choice for you.

Finally, don’t despair! We know it’s difficult, but try not to let the waiting consume your life. If you’ve been accepted to other colleges, get excited about attending those colleges. Go visit! Watch an online lecture! Talk to a current student! That way, if you don’t get off the waitlist, you’ll still feel great about where you’re headed next year and if you do, it will be an exciting bonus!