Most decisions are over by now or are coming out very soon… For those who got waitlists, you’re probably thinking “Great. What do I do now?”
In your decision letter, there should be explicit directions on expressing your interest/disinterest to be on the waitlist through a form. There should be a deadline listed for replying.
If you decline your spot on the waitlist, you’re done! If you accept, there will be some things to do. The first is to send them the things they are requesting, as soon as possible. Typically, colleges will ask for final grades, a statement of continued interest, an update on accomplishments, or a combination of these. It is recommended that you do not visit, bug the admissions office, and send other materials in hopes of increasing your chances of getting accepted. Waitlisted students are placed in the same pool as other waitlisted students and are not ranked in preference.
By May 1st you must commit to a school by making a (usually) non-refundable deposit. If you are accepted to the Waitlisted school, you will be given a time frame to respond. Some schools will also give you your financial aid package, so be on the lookout for that.
If you decide to commit to your waitlisted school, you will inform the original school of your intent to withdraw and forgo the deposit (if it’s non-refundable, usually is, just check) and then make a deposit to the new school.
DO NOT MAKE DEPOSITS TO TWO SCHOOLS. That is the last thing you want to do because if those two schools find out you made more than one deposit, they will rescind their offer of admission.
This explanation has been based off of my research, high school counselor, and my own waitlist decisions. Correct anything here if it’s wrong or add on if I missed anything.
If financial aid is a concern, check the school’s policies on financial aid. Some schools will state that they will give the same amount of financial aid had you been accepted already. Others will state that financial aid will be based on remaining resources.
Does anyone have a different take on the things I’ve said?
So,how much time do schools give you to respond once they notify you that you are off the waitlist? My son was waitlisted in couple of schools.Everyone has different notification dates so how do you decide?
Thanks!
Just because you don’t hear if your off a waitlist in May doesn’t mean that your not getting in. I know of one who got in her school of choice a week before classes started. They went on vacation in the beginning of August and came back to find an acceptance letter with response and tuition due the next day. Mom got on the phone and explained the situation and sent the payment the next day.
@Ac832 it depends on the school. They will tell you in the acceptance email/ call/ etc.
You have to be prepared ahead of time of which school you are willing to say yes to because they won’t respond at the same times. Make a list of preferences.
My daughter was on three waitlists, got off two. With the first one, she was called on May 2, and offered merit aid as well. Other than accepting the waitlist position by clicking, she hadn’t even emailed. We assume that she must have been very close to being accepted in the first place. She declined the offer. The second college eventually sent a letter saying they were not taking anyone off waitlist.
She attends the third college she was waitlisted at. She emailed, if I recall, three times in total. The first time was right after RD was released, to say it was her top choice and she would attend if accepted. She also stated that she didn’t need FA. If this is true of anyone reading this, I recommend you say so. She contacted them again in mid April, by having the counselor send updated grades, and a sincere, detailed, yet concise, LOCI. She highlighted what she planned to study and how she would be involved on campus. She made very clear that the school was her top choice and restated that she didn’t need FA. I believe she sent another brief email right after May 1, to remind them she was still interested.
The whole time, she did not think much about it. She was really getting into the idea of attending the college she deposited at. Then, on July 2, she finally checked her email and saw that the college had contacted her a couple of days earlier. Interestingly, her initial instinct was not to accept. Because she assumed it would never happen, she allowed herself to get immersed in the idea of the college she was planning to attend. However, she emailed them, and that’s where she is now. She’s happy, but believes she would have also been happy at the original school.
Don’t hold out hope for the waitlist. It will prevent you from being invested in the college you have deposited at.