Hi guys,
My day hasn’t been great. My secondary school counselor had contacted schools about two weeks ago, asking for preliminary info, and was told that I was on track for definite admission. However, this changed by yesterday, and he was told that 5 schools would be waitlisting me because of lack of aid. This came true today. I do not need full aid, but a fair portion.
What are the chances of getting off a waitlist with aid? Also, is the practice of waitlisting a qualified applicant because of aid common?
Thanks!
It isn’t exactly that they waitlist qualified applicants because of aid-- it’s that, except for Andover (truly need-blind) and Groton (separate consideration for admissions and FA-- so kind of need-blind), you go into a separate pool if you need financial aid-- and that pool is more competitive than the full-pay pool. So it’s saying they DO consider you qualified, but others in the FA pool were ranked higher, and they only have so much money. As far as the WL is concerned, people HAVE gotten off various WL, with financial aid, but it means that not only do some admitted kids have to turn the school down to open up a slot (beyond their expected yield), but some admitted kids WITH financial aid have to turn them down to open up a slot AND money. So, again, it’s harder if you need FA. Again, Andover is different-- there, if you get in (even from the WL), at least my understanding is that they will still give you FA. If you got in some places with FA, you should feel great. If you want to stay on a Waitlist, they often don’t move (or don’t move much) until around April 10th. If there’s a place you’re really interested in, make sure you let them know you’re really interested-- and, if you think you can make do somehow with less aid than originally requested, let them know that too (although, of course, that’s often not a choice). Good luck, though, and hopefully you got SOME good news today. Needing FA definitely makes it tougher.
I was accepted to Westover with no aid. Many schools will WL instead of doing this because it’s better for their numbers.
This is very interesting. How about merit scholarships? Would we know already or is that a different notification? We are hoping for some merit $$$ at Choate, Peddie, Loomis (scholars program) and Episcopal. Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Stargirl3 makes an excellent point, as always; occasionally, schools will just admit without aid (as Westover did her). But because they know that at least MOST applicants who request aid will have to turn down an admission offer without aid, most schools choose not to do this because of what it does to their yield numbers: they WL those kids instead. Occasionally, schools will even call before March 10th and ask if you could possibly attend without aid and, if you say no, they’ll WL you. But, if you look back over previous years’ final stats, you’ll see admission rates are much lower if you need FA, with lots of applicants wait listed. What’s REALLY extra-hard is getting any FA as an international student.
I’m not sure about the merit aid. One person I knew who got it from Loomis 2 years ago was told with the FA package. Maybe others can let you know.
My advice. Let the dust settle and then push for your child. Call admissions. Call financial aid. Offer your support in other ways besides $$$$.
It happened to my daughter at sixteen schools over two years, over twenty times total (some schools did it twice)
And yes, we were told that it was specifically because of aid. She eventually found a place at a wonderful school, but it took three years of applications.
Excellent advice, thank you Momof5CT!
I have consulted with my parents. Apparently we (they) took a very aggressive approach to the FA, which theoretically lowered my “estimated contribution” significantly. My family’s true amount that we can pay is much more than what the calculated estimated pay is. Only one school was able to match my “estimated need”. It sorta sucks that the other schools were unable to offer me a lower amount of aid.
Is it tactful to hint that I may not need as much aid as they think I do?
“Tactful”? “Hint”? To heck with that - just tell them directly that your financial situation has changed, and you now need less financial aid than originally anticipated. No explanation needed. Tell them how much you are now able to pay, and ask if they can accommodate you.
I agree it’s better to push, not hint (what do you have to lose, after all). However, while this might have made a big difference BEFORE decisions were made, admission offers are now out. Very few people are taken off the waitlists at the particular schools you’re talking about (and, again, Andover is need-blind anyway, so it shouldn’t make any difference at all). It’s an uphill slog, because it still will require enough people turning them down beyond those they expect (given their estimated yield)-- and then they need to be looking for someone that fits your profile (gender, year, ECs, etc.). Schools don’t really have ranked waitlists-- when they DO go to their waitlists, they’re looking to fill holes in the class. Still, if they DO go to their waitlists, significantly less FA requested could make the difference–just don’t get your hopes too high. But do let them know, and let them know how much you love whatever school it is. I do have one other question: looking at the results list, it looks like you got offers from both Williston and Milton-- I assume with aid. Is there some reason those schools won’t work for you? Milton, in particular, is a da tactic school.
Sorry-- meant to say Milton is a fantastic school.
Congrats to you stargirl3 for acceptance. I hope you will get the aid you need from Solebury soon
I was re-directed from another thread to this thread…so re-posting
Son was accepted but placed on FA wait list. Anybody have experience with this? I assume this is a better position to be in than not being accepted and being placed on the general wait list or declined. I guess we’re just waiting to see if trickle down occurs when accepted students with FA move on to other schools.
Trying to wrap my head around the school accepting him but WLing him for FA.
@Goat4fun Even if aid doesn’t come through, I have so much respect for schools that accept kids without it, knowing that they can’t attend. By accepting him, they’re 1. sacrificing some good statistics (yield) and 2. acknowledging that money is an issue. But they’re also—and I felt this way with Westover—encouraging him. They’re saying that he’s a great kid, and instead of waitlisting/rejecting him and leaving him to wonder what he could’ve done differently, they’re telling him that it’s not his fault.
I know 2 kids who were in this situation last year, and fortunately both received FA from the wait list. They want your kid, there just isn’t enough FA to go around. Hopefully, as the admitted students make their choices, some will choose other schools and the FA you need will become available. Don’t count on it, but it is certainly possible.
Thanks for the responses stargirl and cameo. He was waitlisted at 2 other schools as well (not FA waitlist). Hopefully the one that FA wait listed him comes through.
We received the revisit invite (accepted) but FA waitlisted. We live out of state (far away from school). Both revisit dates are within 3 weeks. I suppose we shouldn’t attend revisit unless we get good news. On the other hand, would a trip symbolize our serious intent of wanting to attend the school. Perhaps having a meeting with the Dir of Admissions?
I think revisiting would be a great idea. Like you said, it shows how much you want to attend and it couldn’t hurt to talk with all of the AO’s and FA directors.