A couple years ago, a friends kid got in off the wl to Chicago in early April. There was speculation that Chicago purposely under admitted so they could post a super low admit rate in their decision day press release, and then use the wl to add to the class. I don’t think Bates plays those games though.
Yes, I remembered that about Chicago, @wisteria100. Some were Z list, but not all. But I shared your opinion that Bates would not do that either. And I know that last year, they only took 7 from their WL, which is close enough to being over-enrolled to spook the enrollment management folks!
She’s not an athlete; not sure she has any hook other than full pay and that’s not really a hook with Bates. I didn’t actually ask about the timeline of her decision (when she had to respond) but can find out…
Okay- looks like I owe everyone a huge apology for spreading false information! Turns out my friend’s D was actually admitted during the RD round. From the electronic communication we were sending each other I thought it was from the WL because I had “misremembered” her being waitlisted (before her telling me about getting in). So sorry!! Hate to be that person spreading fake news. @gardenstategal you were correct about my post #108 being misinformed 
Side note, but I love it when people act like adults and fess up when they’re wrong! Thanks for modeling good behavior @lr4550. :-bd
@lr4550 , you are awesome! Thank you so much for following up (and restoring my faith in Bates!) Your loyal fan, …
@lr4550 , I LOVE your post! Is it wrong of me to secretly hope that no one gets off the WL, because it makes for good yield stats? Yes, that’s mean of me, especially when my own D got off the WL at Bates and loves it. Fingers crossed for all you hopefuls!
You guys are too kind- such nice words after such a mess up! I follow the Bates thread because I adore this school… and I too have my fingers crossed for all the WL hopefuls!
My son said he got an email saying something along the lines of ‘Bates has extended the deadline to notify us of gap year plans.’ I wonder, does this mean they overenrolled, or came close, and are hoping some consider postponing enrollment? Purely speculation on my part. For all I know, all schools do this (though I never saw anything from my older son’s school).
Not trying to dim the hopes of the WL crew, just passing on info.
@jackson345 , as mere non AO mortals, we cannot know, but this is pretty much the same email Colby sent out last year when they ended up over-enrolled…
I would guess thathat your interpretation is likely to be the right one.
@jackson345 , I suspect you are correct. If that is the case, they might also send a letter saying they won’t take people from WL. That’s what Carleton did when my D was waitlisted there.
It does sound as if Bates has over-enrolled. When Carleton had an over-enrollment of 52 students in 2016 for it’s class of 2020, our daughter and other incoming Carleton freshmen received a letter from the college saying that the deadline for informing the college of their desire to take a gap year was extended to July 1 (or Aug. 1), if I recall correctly. Carleton’s letter seemed to encourage a gap year if students had even vaguely considered it.
Sounds as if there is little hope for anyone on Bates’ 2018 wait list.
My DS was accepted RD, but decided to enroll at UCLA instead. So hopefully he opened a spot for someone off the WL. I really adored Bates, and felt sad he didn’t enroll. Finger crossed for those on WL!
He would not open a spot unless you put down a deposit. If that were the case then there’s potential for a wait listed student. It’s a wonderfully unique place and worth pursuing for those who remain interested.
My daughter also released her spot. I completely loved the school and now wish she would stop wearing the t-shirt. I look at it as having second thoughts but she says it’s comfy. It makes me sad as well!
I received an email from Bates stating that they would not be taking anyone from the waitlist this year (I assume due to over enrollment and the extended deadline for gap year programs). Does anyone think that summer melt might occur and there could POSSIBLY be a chance for some of us to get off the waitlist?
@hmg1999, that email is the end of the line.
Summer melt folks come off an active WL.
There will be no waitlist activity at Bates this year. Summer melt will simply reduce the amount of overenrollment.
As a current Bates student, I can confirm that the class of 2022 has been over enrolled and there is unfortunately zero chance anyone will get off the waitlist this year. They have emailed us asking people to switch to off campus housing to make room for first years, and have said in the Facebook group that there are so many first years that even the backup AESOP trips won’t be enough to accommodate all the first years and that more trip leaders are needed. I believe the sharp increase in applicants (45%) really threw off their admissions data and their yield rate was much higher than expected. Congrats to all who got in, but Bates seems really concerned about the amount of first years entering. Sorry to all those who were waitlisted.
@Batesstudent96, if you know of anyone looking for off campus housing I have a line on a room in a house with other Bates seniors. Someone who was planning to live in the house is giving up the space.