What if I’m waitlisted?
Shelly Humbach • March 13, 2020
By now, application decisions should be rolling in to your inbox/mailbox. If you haven’t already heard back from all your schools, the wait is almost over. Most colleges aim to have final decisions to everyone who applied before April 1. But what if your “final” decision isn’t so final?... What does it mean to be on the waitlist?
Why do colleges have waitlists? Can’t they just say yes or no?
With students applying to more and more schools, it’s become more difficult for colleges to predict how many of their admitted students will actually enroll. Students are being accepted to many colleges – but you can only enroll at one. That means many students who have been admitted to the college are not going to attend.
Enrollment targets are a serious issue for colleges – too many students result in overcrowded dorms and classroom, but not enough can mean funding shortages. If a college realizes they may fall short of their enrollment target, they can accept students from their waitlist to fill the gap.
So – I'm on the waitlist. What should I do?
Essentially, you can reply to the waitlist offer one of two ways:
1. “No, thanks!” Although the college offered you a spot on their waitlist, you are not obligated to accept that offer. Maybe the school that waitlisted you is not your first choice – if so, no big deal. You can let the college know that you do not plan to remain on their waitlist.
2. “Yes, I’m willing to wait.” If you think this school might really be the one, let them know that you are interested in waiting. Follow the reply directions in your decision to confirm you intend to remain on the waitlist. It’s also a great idea to follow up with a personal email to tell the school – if they accept you from the waitlist you intend to enroll (only do this if it’s true). You can also reiterate why you think this college is such a good fit and ask if any additional information like new SAT/ACT scores, senior year final grades, etc. could help to improve your chances of admission from the waitlist.
You should seriously consider all of the admission offers you receive. Schedule visits, compare financial aid packages, talk with your parents and your counselor, make a pro/con list, etc. You have to confirm your enrollment with a college by May 1 (that’s the National Candidates Reply Date). Most schools won’t make decisions about their waitlist until after May 1.
In addition, there are typically only a small number of students admitted from the waitlist (sometimes not any). You should confirm your enrollment with one of the colleges that has admitted you (even if you stay on the waitlist at another college). It’s hard to hear that you are on the waitlist (especially if it was your first choice), but maybe it’s an opportunity to get excited about a school that really wants you (and hopefully they offered you great financial aid to prove it). Many colleges can be a good fit if you have the right mindset.
In June, I hosted my annual Senior Essay Writing Workshop. This was the first in-person workshop since 2019. I bet you can guess why. I was elated to meet my students face-to-face after months, even years, of connecting through the screen. Imagine my surprise at their height, super-smiles, and warm laughter. Dang, it was wonderful. So, essentially, all my in-state seniors gather at my house for a three-hour intensive workshop on crafting a killer college essay. As I was preparing for the event, it occurred to me that I might be in competition with their PHONE. Classic directness (this is probably a character flaw) led me to inform my students and their parents, in advance, that this would be a no-phone gathering. My messaging went something like this, Important: Phones are placed in a basket at the door and retrieved at noon. No exceptions. Parents: If you need to reach your student during the workshop, text me directly at **********. Now, I am fully on board with the phone-free movement. I support it, advocate for it, and live it (I brilliantly quit all personal media last November). And I thought: my event, my rules. I was a little concerned about how this announcement would land. Turns out my concern was mainly about the parents. The kids? Not so much. In fact, research indicates that students crave phone-free learning environments. Suffice to say, the workshop was a smashing success. Not a single student pushed back against the policy. One poor soul forgot to retrieve her phone and left it sitting all alone in the basket. Not to worry, though. She didn’t get far before turning back to grab it. Here’s the truth: We don’t have to bow down to every technological whim or societal pressure. As adults, we know the phone is a problem, and it’s our job to foster healthy, happy individuals. So let's keep this momentum going. As Maya Angelou wisely said, “When you know better, do better.”
I work with incredible colleagues; collaborative, smart and supportive. They make me better and I am deeply grateful. Every year, Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy of Big J Educational Consulting share invaluable information regarding college admissions. Their research is impeccable and accurate and provides crucial data to help students and families make informed college decisions. Read on, share broadly and give a shout out to these generous professionals! Early Decision and Regular Decision Acceptance Rates Class of 2028 Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based and Merit Aid Class of 2028 In-State and Out-of-State Acceptance Rates Class of 2028 Financial Aid for International Noncitizens Class of 2028 International Noncitizens Acceptance Rate and Yield Class of 2028 Percentage of Students Submitting SAT and ACT Scores Class of 2028 Athletic Divisions and Conferences (partial list) Class of 2028 - NEW! These charts are visual, interactive, and easy to use. They make it possible to instantly sort using any column's metrics and to easily compare subsets of colleges. They are free and can be accessed at www.bigjeducationalconsulting.com/resources . From Jennie and Jeff: We hope you find these resources helpful in your work guiding students. Please feel free to share them broadly as long as they remain in their original unedited form. Permission is not granted to those charging a fee for their distribution. If you find an error after cross-referencing with an institution's Common Data Set, please contact us at info@bigjconsult.com . Thank you!
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