Should I accept the CMU waitlist?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

The School of Computer Science was my top choice but I listed my second choice as the College of Engineering majoring in ECE. On my letter they said that they don’t anticipate any wait list openings in ECE so they put me on the wait list for other departments at the College of Engineering.

They also said that I would be on the priority waiting list. Does anybody know how many students from the priority wait list are accepted?

The thing is, I know I want to major in CS. If I accept the wait list and get in to another department in engineering, would there be a likely chance that I can transfer to ECE or to the School of Computer Science? Also, what would the timing of this be? (Would I only be able to do it my second year meaning I practically waste my first year?)

Carnegie Mellon CS is my first choice and I don’t want to waste an opportunity to go there by denying the wait list, but then again it seems like there is a very low chance I could go there for computer science. Thank you everybody so much for your help!

2

I got waitlisted from MCS so I feel your pain as it was my number one choice too. Everyone who was waitlisted receives the option to have priority waitlisted which means that they hear in early may about the admission decision ,and if they are accepted they HAVE to enroll in the college. As for whether you should accept priority waitlist, I would ask a counselor how hard it is to switch departments because I have no idea.

3

I got “priority waitlist” as an option, as well. Seems everyone did.