Accepted, Denied or Waitlisted - What next?

Continuing the trend we started seeing a few years ago, many of you have received offers to join a wait list.

As more students apply to larger numbers of colleges, it has become increasingly difficult for colleges to predict their yield. As a result, the use of wait lists has grown, creating a pool of qualified students colleges can dip into to shape and fill their incoming class. Historically, the number of students who are accepted from the waitlist varies from year to year and from college to college but it is usually a small percentage of students who opted to stay on the waitlist; in some years, it might be none.  The good news is that, while wait list offers are certainly not guarantees, they do indicate that the college likes you and might accept you if they have room.

Your first task, once you have heard from all of the colleges you applied to, is to decide from among those that have accepted which you will attend.  That reply date has traditionally been May 1^st. Take time to consider all your options. You may also want to do more research and, if possible, visit some campuses again during April and speak with current students. Most colleges offer special visit days for accepted students, some virtual and some in-person; take advantage of those if you can.

Try to make your decision by mid-April so that you can send in your tuition deposit (where required) to reserve your place well before the deadline.  You may not deposit at more than one college. 

We also encourage you to advise your runner-up colleges that you appreciate their offer but have decided to go elsewhere. Colleges will appreciate this information and your thoughtfulness might help future applicants from your high school. 

If a college that’s high on your list has offered you a place on their waitlist, reply quickly as colleges have been known to admit candidates from waitlists in direct relation to the order replies come in.  When you reply, you should include a note expressing your continued strong interest in the college, if allowed to do so; if it is your first choice, say so (and be sure your school counselor is aware so they can confirm that should the college contact them). In addition, should you have new information worth submitting to update your profile — a new set of strong grades, another teacher recommendation, etc.— be sure to mention that in your note or ask your school counselor to pass on that information. Do pay attention to your colleges’ guidelines and avoid sending excessive additional information or multiple emails to make your case; that can be counter-productive.

If you are placed on more than one waitlist, rank them in order of preference. You may be contacted and asked for an immediate decision.  If you do not want to remain on a particular waitlist, notify that college as soon as possible as it will reduce the waiting period for someone else. 

It’s important to realize that a waitlist means what it says: “You have to wait.” Wait lists can start moving as early as April and may continue moving into the summer. If you are offered a spot and decide to accept it, notify the college where you initially deposited, as well as any other waitlist colleges, that you will be enrolling elsewhere. Remember that you may not deposit at more than one college at the same time.

Lastly, while we encourage you to accept a waitlist offer if it’s from a college high on your list, you need to be realistic about your chances. It’s best to assume you will be attending the college where you deposited and become excited by it since that is probably where you will go.

We hope you are excited by the options before you and wish you the best!