<p>I have just been waitlisted by JHU and was wondering how the waitlist works.</p>
<p>I have been accepted by other universities I like, but am nevertheless intrigued by this waitlist process.</p>
<p>As I understand it, students get taken off the waitlist after May I, when other students decline their acceptance offer. Therefore, JHU can only start notifying people after May 1- which is when I in in turn must decide where I am going. </p>
<p>So if I were to accept being in this waitlist and "wait it out", wouldn't I lose all my other acceptances? Most universities require a deposit by May 1...</p>
<p>How many people actually then risk it and stay on a waitlist?</p>
<p>Some colleges waitlist more people than they actually accept. You can call the college and ask how many people were waitlisted last year, how many people were accepted off of the waitlist last year, and how many were waitlisted this year. Obviously, this year is different from last year, but if they say that they waitlisted 300 people last year and accepted 2 from the waitlist, that will give you the idea.</p>
<p>No matter what you do, put a deposit down to a college where you were actually accepted. The deposit is not binding and so if you are accepted from a waitlist, you just tell the original college that you won't be coming. It is a good thing to impress upon the college where you were waitlisted that you would definitely attend if offered a slot.</p>
<p>The whole process about waitlisting is totally in the college's favor. You may not be told that you have been accepted from the waitlist until a week before classes begin. If you want to stay on the waitlist, that is fine, but try to mentally get on with your life.</p>