<p>So I got waitlisted which is big since I was expecting outright rejection. However, on the letter WashU mentions that it can be very difficult to consider whether to sign up on the waitlist or not. This has me confused. Are there any setbacks associated with being waitlisted? The only one I could think of is the fact that if you get accepted of the waitlist you probably have decided your university already. So are there any setbacks on deciding to be considered waitlisted?
Also with so many students being waitlisted is it safe to assume that I will be rejected in the end?</p>
<p>Yeah that actually made me a little nervous too. I don't think there are any real setbacks though. I mean if they decide to take you off, you still have the option to turn them down I think.</p>
<p>The difficulty they speak of is the inability for some to have closure. Not everyone is willing to stay on a waitlist and potentially be faced with staying in limbo for several more months with only a very small chance of accepting a spot further down the line. The enormity of Wash U's wait list really decreases the chances of getting off the wait list.</p>
<p>Staying on a waitlist would then require rescinding an acceptance somewhere else and losing a deposit. This scenario isn't obviously the preferred route and 9 times out of 10 the wait listed candidate has mentally moved on by the time that June rolls around anyway and has taken ownership of their new school. I can't tell you how many times I have read people say that I want to go to a place that really wants them not one that isn't sure and has to see if others they want more decide to attend before accepting them.</p>
<p>The only time it can make sense is if a waitlist school is the clear number one choice and no other acceptance compares. For most highly selective schools the applicants have other good choices after all the acceptances have rolled in and they choose not to accept the spot if offered.</p>
<p>As hard as it may seem right now, going somewhere other than Wash U is not the end of the world and it all really does work out.</p>
<p>Good luck in whatever you decide to do.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Much appreciated...</p>
<p>Well said eadad. There are obviously positives and negatives in accepting a WL offer. The inability to have closure is a major negative. On the other hand if a particular school is indeed the number one choice, then it is a positive. I would look for many of the top schools to have WL activity earlier than usuall this year (possibly as early as the end of April). If in doubt, then accepting a WL might be the way to go. You can always drop off or decline an offer of admission if and when it is made. Look for most top schools to be more active than normal this year in regard to using their WL. Given the ecomomic situation, it will be a very difficult year to predict and project.</p>