Waitlist Whaaaaat?
Your college applications are in. You have done the tours. You have ranked the schools on your list. You wait. And then you wait….list. What? Whaaaaat? What just happened? This year, many more students are getting word that instead of being directly admitted, they have been waitlisted for admission.
What is a waitlist? A waitlist is not a deny. It is the school acknowledging that they would admit you-if they had room. They are basically saying, “depending on how many seats are accepted by the students who are directly admitted, we may have a seat for you.” Not exactly the message seniors are looking for. It is the equivalent of hurry up and wait-more. Wait more. You’ve been waiting all year, so go ahead and wait some more. While the news can be frustrating and anti-climactic, colleges know that not all offered students will accept and there will be room for more students as time goes on. When a student who is offered admission initially commits to a different school, room opens up for students who are on the waitlist.
All schools have different processes and preferences so make sure to check their guidelines, but there are some guidelines to get you through. Often, waitlists aren’t ranked, so there are some tips and tricks to move through the process and still show your number 1 that you haven’t given up on them.
Decide if your waitlisted college is REALLY your first pick. Putting the initial feeling of rejection aside, ask yourself if this is the college for you above all others or did others on your list float to the top during your application process.
Accept your position on the waitlist. A waitlist letter doesn’t automatically put you on the waitlist, it offers you a spot. You need to accept your spot on the waitlist through a process outlined by the college.
Write a personal email or letter to the recruiter for your area. The letter should reiterate your interest in the school, but more importantly-why. Go into detail why you would still like to attend. You should be personal, compelling, and talk about why this school is THE school for you. Colleges are looking for the students who are able to demonstrate why their college isn't just a school, but their number 1-and why this is the year they need to be there.
Some schools have an appeal process. The appeal process may allow you to provide additional or new information such as a raised SAT score or GPA, additional personal growth, or achievements. In some instances, you can also turn in an additional recommendation letter.
Waitlist spots will not be offered until May-August so you have time to do additional emails following up with interest, making zoom appointments with recruiters, do reach outs, etc.
Commit to another school. The deadline to commit to a school is often May 1, and waitlists don’t move until after that. Know that you will not get your deposit back if a waitlist spot opens up for you. But even more importantly, be excited about where you deposit. After all, it may very well be your next home and soon to be alma mater.