Can you appeal if you don't get accepted?

<p>In the UK we have a process called "clearing" where if you don't get accepted to your Universities you can apply to those that still have vacancies. Is there anything like this in the US? Or a way of appealing if you really want to get in to your chosen school but get declined?</p>

<p>You can always appeal, and some people have had success, but for the vast majority of cases, the decision is final. </p>

<p>Every year there is a list of colleges (sorry I don't have the website, maybe another poster can help out) that have vacancies and are still accepting applications. However, the colleges on the list may not be the ones that you're interested in attending.</p>

<p>Some of the state schools have an appeal process because their criteria is based on objective things like GPA and SAT; they may guarantee certain profiles will be accepted. But most competitive schools have so many subjective things they evaluate that an appeal would be useless. There are a lot of colleges that have spaces open in May, after decisions have gone out; I think its the NACAC (?) website that posts a list. Also, some schools aren't on that list but will accept kids after the deadlines anyway. I know a very smart kid (very good grades and GPA) that didn't get in ANYWHERE in April but with some phone calls from GC got into two schools that are pretty competitive.</p>

<p>yep, but they RARELY work.
i was deferred at a school. then they denied me, i appealed. nothing happened.</p>

<p>NACAC</a> 2008 Space Availability Survey Results</p>

<p>Here is the list; it gets taken down Sept 1 and the new one isn't posted till next May. But some of the colleges are decent.</p>