What are the chances of me getting into at least one of them?
Hang tight and get ready for a long summer! Take previous years numbers with a grain of salt. While some top colleges have already reportedly gone to their waitlists, others have extended the deadline to deposit, which could very well push their waitlist offers to July, or even later.
If you can afford to be full pay, get that on the table with admissions because it is going to help.
If you have a backup, definitely deposit there.
My guess is that state flagships will fill and not need many, if any, from their lists. Their balance of cost, accessibility, and reputation appears to be making them very popular right now.
Good luck to you.
Thank you so much!
Do you think that universities would get more people off their waitlists?
I can afford to be a full-pay with UC schools but not private schools… Two out of my six waitlisted schools are my dream schools that happen to be private schools.
When you say state flagships, does that include the UCs?
Unfortunately, very, very few private schools will select students with high financial need from their waitlists – even if they are need-blind during the regular process, they are often need-aware for wait list. And I anticipate that this year they will be even more so because there is going to be more need among continuing students and accepted students.
In the meantime, you can contact the school and tell them that if you get off the waitlist, you will definitely attend (if that’s true).
What are the schools you were waitlisted at?
In California, the state flagships are UCLA and UC Berkeley.
Admitting from the waitlist is due to an underyield situation, although some colleges could be underadmitting and then using the waitlist in order to avoid an overyield situation.
This year’s yield may not be predictable or similar to previous years’ yields. At state universities, there may be higher yield from in-state students, but lower yield from out-of-state and international students.
The the chances vary depending upon the schools’ selectivity and propensity to use the waitlist. As ever, things change year to year, so there alway is that curveball as well. This has been a particularly unusual year.
I suggest you write to to the schools and let them know you want to stay on the waitlist, and why as well as check the box unless the school specifically says nit to do so. Any new information, achievements, awards , activities to 3nhance your application should be submitted. You might want to ask your GC to contact your top choice and let them know you’d definitely go there if that’s the case.
Needing financial aid does decrease the chances of clearing the waitlist at most schools but I’ve seen kids accepted from WL with aid packages, so it’s not impossible
Once you’ve sent out your WL info, start focusing and preparing to go to a school that accepted you. I would not focus on the WL schools as that can detract from the joy of getting ready for a school that has welcomed you.
I have already sent all the waitlisted schools LOCIs.
About contacting my guidance counselor, would that seem desperate?
@ucbalumnus
Do you predict there will be lower yield for private universities?
Now I’m curious…
LOL I wrote something but then saw it was already covered above…basically have your GC reach out to each school and advocate on your behalf.
Good luck!
@Mwfan1921 Haha! Thank you!
How would I go about doing that? I would just tell my GC to call each school and tell them that I am very interested in XYZ school?
Sorry for asking a lot of questions, it’s just that I want to increase my chances
Yes, exactly. If you do have a clear first choice have the GC tell the school that too, but I expect they have been down this path before.
@Mwfan1921 Thank you so much!
No, it’s not “desperate.” This is not like pursuing a love interest who might think you’re needy. I recommend picking ONE college for your GC to call. She/he should tell the admissions office that you will definitely attend if admitted (if that is true for you). Your CG can only say that for one college.
While I agree that the GC should only tell one school that they are OP’s #1, because we are in a waitlist situation and getting off the waitlist is against the odds, IMO it’s ok for the GC to call all the schools, get the lay of the land, and advocate on OP’s behalf. My kids’ HS GCs do that with waitlists.
@Mwfan1921
Do I tell my GC what my #1 is and then tell him the other lovely waitlisted schools?
@brantly Lol at the love interest. thank you too!
Students whose parent finances put them in the lower part of the full-pay range (as opposed to the plutocrat range) may not yield as well to expensive colleges. International students may yield less due to travel difficulties. Some domestic students or parents may prefer closer to home now, which could rearrange who yields where.
Private schools where students and parents feel like they are paying for the residential college experience (versus the academic content and/or prestige factors) may also lose yield if the experience continues to be leveled (i.e. all colleges doing distance education).
No, it’s not desperate. When it comes to picking off the waitlist, the Adcoms want game over. So they want to pick those most likely to come. Having a GC say, “this student will come to your school. First choice” means something. I’d pick such a student over others , all things equal.
@cptofthehouse I really appreciate that, thank you!