<p>After emailing and waiting for what seems like forever - one of my daughters schools emailed back stating that she's been waitlisted and the letter is in the mail.</p>
<p>It's a private school that we couldn't afford without a decent amount of aid so I'm wondering how I'll know whether it's worth following up on the waitlist.</p>
<p>I don’t think they would make an offer, if any, until your D is admitted, which could be mid-summer. My D was waitlisted at a school and their letter says: It is also important to note that FA opportunities for students admitted from the wait list will be limited to state and federal grant and loan programs for which you may be eligible; school grant funds will most likely be unavailable.</p>
<p>If you can’t afford it without the aid (and big loans are not aid in my book), then I hope she has a back up she’s happy with and you can afford. Best wishes.</p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt to follow up on the waitlist. Go on ahead and do it, then proceed with the schools that accepted her and just forget about the WL. If she clears the waitlist, and IF they can come up with what she needs, then you can start cooking with them. </p>
<p>WL kids usually get what’s left of the financial aid, so it can go either way. Kids who were offered money and decided not to go to the school just might leave enough for the school to offer WL kids money. Often, it doesn’t happen. Even schools that guarantee 100% of need often do not include the waitlist in that guarantee. But, I 've known kids who have cleared the waitlist from a school that does not guarantee to meet need that still got decent financial aid packages, so it can happen. Just don’t hold your breath, and go ahead as though the school is not an option after sending in your WL paperwork.</p>