Hey all!
So I’ve been offered a spot on a wait list for Rice, and in the decision letter it said I should go ahead and commit to another college. I plan on doing so, but my question is how do I go about finding a roommate for that college when there’s a small chance I might withdraw if I get an offer from Rice. To make things a little more complicated, I started talking to someone before the Rice decision came out and told them I’d know if I could fully commit after Rice’s decision (thinking it would be a yes or no). My parents are slightly concerned that if I tell her, or anyone for that matter, that I got waitlisted, then she/they could go to the college admissions people and tell them I might withdraw in which case they could revoke my acceptance. Is this true? If so, how long should I wait before finding a roommate? I don’t really want to wait until June/July
Not true. Every school is aware of the WL issue and that they may lose students from May 1 through summer.
I’d just let the U assign you a RM. avoid an awkward issue altogether!
So I don’t necessarily need to keep this wait list a secret? I can just tell the girl hey I’m wait listed and don’t want to back out on you last minute so feel free to find another roommate?
I’d take the random roommate. My D1’s roommate did not show up freshman year, she got a different roommate than she had been initially assigned. But it isn’t like your college is going to rescind someone who takes a spot on a waitlist at another college. They have their own waitlist, of course. You can also wait until June/July if you want to try to find your own. At some point Rice will come back to those they don’t make offers to, and let you know that their waitlist is now closed and you aren’t getting a spot. I feel like this usually happens in June…
Now… your odds of getting off a waitlist aren’t that great. Last year over 1,600 students took spots on their waitlist, and 127 were accepted. I guess if you want to pick a roommate now, full disclosure about your WL status is best (maybe they are on a WL, too). Your parents’ worries are unfounded about your college rescinding you, they know lots of their admitted students are on waitlists.
No need to keep it secret.
The way you worded it is perfectly fine. I think the person would appreciate your honesty.