<p>Ok, so say Cornell accepts 5000 people out of 25,000 this year. Only 2000 people enroll, and the other 3000 who also were admitted decide to go somewhere else. However, even though only 2000 people decided to enroll, there are technically 3000 spaces left. So when the adcoms are desperately seeking ways to get more enrollments, is that when the wait list comes in handy? Also, i guess at some schools, once you're rejected, you're rejected for good, and they're not gonna try to "call" you back once they discover so few people have enrolled? Basically, in a situation like this, are there "second chances" ie. wait list and other similar systems, where once you were rejected, the college might try to accept you ?</p>
<p>Well, first of all, schools account for their expected matriculation percentage when they decide how many people to accept. So every school accepts more people than they have spots for. If they don't come out even (usually), then, yes, a waitlist is then the tool of choice for evening it up.</p>
<p>This situation would almost never happen. Adcoms have been doing this stuff for years, and although it fluctuates, the yield rate remains roughly the same each year. Cornell's yield vassilates between 50-55%. Never would there be such a dramatic reduction in yield that they would have "call backs."</p>
<p>hmm, ok. And the wait list, doesn't that hold a small number of applicants, like 100 or so ? or is that info not revealed ?...also, in general, there are never really any "call backs", ever, right ?</p>
<p>No, there aren't call backs</p>
<p>Wait list information is usually not disclosed to the public and the number of wait listed applicants that actually get in is very slim.</p>
<p>darn. Ok, thanks halopeno2.</p>
<p>Some college guidebooks, and I think, US News' ultimate college web site (the part that they charge a fee to use) tell you what are the most popular colleges that students choose to attend over specific colleges that accepted them.</p>
<p>Colleges gather this info by the post decision surveys that they send many students.</p>
<p>With many kids applying to 8-12 schools, colleges always accept way more than they have places for, knowing that a certain percentage will decline the invitation to attend. Every once in awhile, they underestimate the number that will accept, and actually have more acceptances than they have room for. Periodically you read of colleges are universities with more acceptances than dorm space. etc. When they don't fill the spots, those that have wait-lists use them.</p>