Priority Waitlist-> Is it binding? Help...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>Here's my situation.</p>

<p>I was waitlisted at my first choice school, which does not rank or tier waitlisted applicants.</p>

<p>My college counselor said that after talking to the admissions folks there, she thinks I have a good chance of getting off the wait list.</p>

<p>My 2nd choice school, CMU, offered a slot on the priority waiting list.</p>

<p>For the meantime, I'm enrolling in another school that I wouldn't mind going to where I know I'll be happy, but is not as good as CMU or my #1.</p>

<p>My dad suggested that I accept the CMU priority waiting list, and said that he would pay the $800 deposit if I got in, but having read the letter he claims I can just withdraw if I'm later accepted at my #1 choice because CMU can't force me to go there.</p>

<p>I've heard different things on CC, one guy said:

[quote]
If you deposit at CMU, yes, you have to attend. Don't deposit there if you get off the wait list unless you are going to attend.

[/quote]

but another said (answering whether enrolling is binding)

[quote]
No, it just means that if you do not enroll you will lose your deposit.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm at a real crossroads here. I would love, love, love to go to CMU, but I like my #1 so much that I can't give up on an opportunity to go there.</p>

<p>What should I do? Can I deposit and not attend CMU? Will this make our school be blacklisted? (Like breaking an ED contract) Will I be taking some kid's slot that will not be able to be filled from the waitlist?
What happens if I accept the regular waiting list? If only %20 get off the priority list, will my chances go from slim to none?</p>

<p>I would really appreciate any help.</p>

2

<p>I am in a similar situation where I have another waitlist option which I might prefer, but I signed up for the priority waiting list because I thought my chances would be better and I would still be happy to attend CMU.</p>

<p>According to CMU’s Office of Admission Facebook page: “The priority waiting list isn’t binding in the way that early decision is, but you should only put yourself on it if you plan to enroll if offered admission from it. Students are given 24 hours to pay their deposit once we’ve notified them of their decision.”</p>

3

<p>Even if you were selected off the priority waitlist and sent in your $800 and then decided to go to your 1st choice school, CMU would simply go down the list. They have your $800 and I suspect no shortage of students to fill your spot</p>

4

<p>I called the admissions’ office two times, and they confirmed that it isn’t binding. If you get accepted from the priority waitinglist, you have to pay 800 dollars, but u don’t have to attend.</p>

5

<p>It looks binding if you carefully read the priority waitlist enrollment form. It says at the bottom of the document (requiring signature) we have to make sure to withdraw any other school deposits / confirmation earlier committed, when we send USD 800 deposit once taken off the waitlist.</p>

6

<p>It really isn’t. You have to pay the deposit if you are accepted off the waitlist, but you don’t have to attend.</p>

7

<p>So how did it turn out eventually?</p>

<p>Cause Im also doing the same thing …</p>