How does waitlist work?

I’ve been waitlisted at my top two schools (Northeastern University and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy-Boston). I really want to go to these schools.

The other schools I’ve been admitted(Wentworth Institute of Technology, UMass Boston, Suffolk University) requires a deposit by May 1. But the dilemma is that the schools I’ve been waitlisted to is suppose to notify me of my status after May 1.

Should I deposit at one of the schools I’ve been accepted to in case I don’t get in the waitlist school??

But what if I do get into the waitlist school and I’ve deposited at another school, can I still deposit at the school I’ve want to go to even though I’ve deposited elsewhere? Are there any consequences?

P.S. How do I notify the school that I don’t want to go to if I’ve deposited already? Does it have to be in writing or something?

Thanks

<p>HELP!</p>

<p>I plan on going into management in engineering and really want to go to at least a tier 2 school!</p>

<p>What should I do?</p>

<p>For The Love Of GOD, HELP!</p>

<p>I need to know whether depositing in the safety school is a good idea or not.</p>

<p>This is a common situation. You must give a deposit to a school you're into as most people do not get off the waitlist. Schools know several will not end up attending because of wait list acceptances. </p>

<p>Meanwhile, work on the schools you want to get off the wait list at. Have your counselor call to say how much you want to go. Write a letter and send it with a new letter of rec.</p>

<p>What if I get off the wait list and I've already deposited at my safety school?
Will I get my $300 deposit refunded? </p>

<p>And more importantly how will I 'tell' the school that I don't want to go to there. Does it have to be in writing and what should I write?</p>

<p>I feel kinda bad if I deposited and told my school, I will not be attending... because they(wentworth institute of tech, suffolk univ., or umass-boston) have been sending me alot of gifts/letters. Will they somehow sabotage my chances at other schools because of this betrayal?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>at most schools you will not get your deposit refunded, the best way to notifiy a school that you have decided against admissions even though you have placed a deposit is probably to call the college and talk to admissions about your situation. every college has a different way of dealing with people who have been accepted at other colleges off waitlists and decide to go there instead. you might have to write a letter of some sort, but talking to admissions both before you place the deposit to tell them of your situation and when/if you are accepted at the other school is probably the best way to go about it.</p>

<p>Would I have to call up the college? If I call up the college and ask before I deposit, would that make them not accept me?</p>

<p>Also once I deposit, do I have an obligation to go to that school? or do I just lose the deposit?</p>

<p>Because my friend told me that double depositing is very dangerous and both colleges can reject you... for unsportmanship or going back on your word... because they make you sign a paper when your depositing... hopefully they can't use that in the court against me if they sue me for not going after depositing..</p>

<p>Help!</p>

<p>You are not double depositing. What you are doing is sending in ONE deposit to your first-choice acceptance. Then if you get notified in June or July of getting into your waitlisted school, and you will send in your deposit to them only at that time. Whether or not you get the first deposit back is unimportant, and even moot; and can be dealt with at the appropriate time.</p>

<p>There is absolutely no need to let the first school know that you are trying to get into your waitlisted school, because it is only a waitlist.</p>

<p>You would be double depositing if you held spots at both Boston and Suffolk or any combination of schools which you have already been accetpted. If this is the case then yes, you risk losing you spot at both schools. </p>

<p>However you can back out if you were accepted form the waitlist. (school may require you show documentation of your waitlist admission). If you don't send a deposit to at least one school if your wait list does not come through, you may end up with out a school if your wait list does not pan out. Remember those schools may be admitting vaitlisted candidates also.</p>

<p>One more question, if you got into a waitlisted school, how would you tell your accepted school your not attending them in September?</p>

<p>Would it have to be in writing or could you just call them to tell them?</p>

<p>Yes, put in a deposit to another school. If do do hear from the waitlisted school I heard it might not be until June or so. If you do get in, you have to be willing to lose the deposit to that school. You have to pick one school for sure by May 1st and send them the deposit.</p>

<p>It's always harder if yu've developed a "relationship" with the school, esp if you were going to do athletics and the coach had been in touch. But be honest if you do get in the waitlisted school. I would send a letter to admissions if you have to withdraw your acceptance. I'm pretty sure you'll lose your deposit. They are non-refundable, I beleive.</p>

<p>How would you word the letter to your safety school? </p>

<p>Can somebody give me an example? Or do you just call the admissions and say "I'm not coming."?</p>

<p>I'm thinking you can e-mail the admissions office (unless someone else thinks a letter is better) and say somthing like:
"due to change in circumstances, I will not be attending (name of school). Please remove my name from your enrollment. Thank you.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>(your name)</p>

<p>I would think that would be quick and to the point. If you think there's a chance you can get your deposit back, maybe a letter would be better, and you could include a line asking about the possibility of a refund. I doubt you'd get it, though.</p>