<p>Looks like size of waitlist has increased dramatically in the last couple of years. </p>
<p>According to Matt McGann’s blog in 2009 there were 454 applicants (2.9% of the applicants) offered a spot on the waitlist , in 2010 the number increased to 722 or 4.3% of the applicant pool. This year about 1,000 or 6% were offered a spot.</p>
<p>Also, note the following</p>
<p>2009 accepted 1597 to fill a class of 1075
2010 accepted 1611 to fill a class of 1075
2011 accepted 1715 to fill a class of 1125</p>
<p>So basically in 2011 MIT accepted 100 more students to fill a class that is only 50 students larger. Unless the yield rate declines, the number of people getting in off the waiting list should be smaller than last year. Combine this with the fact that the number of people offered a spot on the waitlist is approximately 35% higher in 2011 than in 2010 and it looks pretty grim.</p>