<p>Is it reasonable to request more details from a college as to reasons for rejection or wait-listing an individual candidate? I don't want to question the decision as much as learn specifically areas that hurt my D's chances of acceptance (ie: GPA, Test Scores, EC's, etc...)? Should I expect an answer or just expect the standard 'it's a very competitive applicant pool' response?</p>
<p>You won’t get a useful answer–or really, any answer, other than a boiler-plate.</p>
<p>If it’s a wait-list, it might be useful to have the school’s guidance counselor call the school and ask if there is any additional information they need–and to tell them that your kid would definitely attend if taken off the wait list (assuming that’s true).</p>
<p>Some schools will give you an answer. But if her stats were well in range, the answer Troy is that it’s just really competitive and there isn’t room for all of the qualified.</p>
<p>I don’t think they will give you a clear answer. I heard a story of a transfer applicant who got rejected calling the office to ask about why he got turned down and the college rep actually answer and said that because he was missing a prereq. He ended up getting accepted though because he actually had everything but it was a transcript problem. I think they are unable to give you actual answers anyway. They will probably say something like what you just mentioned especially if it’s a college where so many students apply. I don’t think they have time to care. I know it’s just so frustrating to hear this.</p>