Is the waitlist binding? Help, I got waitlisted!

Hi Guys,
I just got waitlisted from Boston College. They told me that I can fill out a form to add my name to the waitlist. If I do fill out the form, and I get accepted, do I have to attend? They gave me till May 1 to submit the form. I don’t want to risk it because what if I get in to better ones, you know? And I still haven’t made up my mind from the universities I have right now.
Should I just fill out the form as soon as possible if that is not the case?

Placing your name on a wait list does NOT commit you to going.

Okay great thanks! @Oregon2016 Im just curious as to why some people would chose not to place themselves on the waitlist if it has no drawbacks whatsoever…

The reason they don’t simply stick your name on their waiting list is that they know that a substantial number of students who were waitlisted have already been accepted to schools that they prefer. So they don’t want to have to move through a list of students who already know they won’t attend, to get to those who are still interested. That also means students should take themselves off wait lists once they are accepted to schools they prefer anyway.

The drawback @confusedsenior28 is lack of closure. Given your own unique circumstances and preferences you just may decide that leaving open the possibility- however small- that a school is going to take you off its wait list is just too much uncertainty and mental anguish. Kids in my area want to have a graduation party with the colors of their new colleges and universities, and wear the sweatshirt, join the FB group and find the best roomie before leaving high school. Changing all of that in the middle of the summer isn’t necessarily easy or fun or worthwhile.

@confusedsenior28 IMO the main reason that a person would not put themselves on a waitlist is if he or she has already been accepted to a preferred school.

Both my Ds declined the waitlist (at their #1 schools) when they were accepted to their #2. Just why draw it out.