<p>"good news: you weren't outright rejected. but you're still not in. so congratulations...sort of."</p>
<p>^ that's all I can imagine.</p>
<p>Probably something along the lines of “Due to the large amount of extremely qualified applications we received this year, we were unable to admit many outstanding candidates”</p>
<p>It’ll be apologetic, as well as optimistic. Also, it’ll praise your efforts and achievements, and encourage you to stay in contact.</p>
<p>Probably it says: “You suck, but not that much.”</p>
<p>^ That’s basically the gist of it 
Except they say it in bigger words.</p>
<p>Handala92 is correct. It then goes on to say a bit about the body of applications received, some (brief) stats and how the waitlist process will proceed.</p>
<p>Since I’m “lucky” enough to have received one… =/</p>
<p>We have finished the selection process for MITs Class of 2014, and while we are unable to offer you admission at this time, we have placed you on our Wait List.</p>
<p>As you probably know, the candidates on this list are the first to be considered for admission should space become available in the class. As not every student will choose to enroll, its possible that well be able to admit some additional applicants in May.</p>
<p>I know it is stressful to wait for decisions from colleges, and that this letter simply extends that waiting period. Please know that we wouldnt ask you to wait longer if we didnt have a good reason for doing so each person on the Wait List is someone wed love to see at MIT.</p>
<p>At the same time, we have to be realistic and note that there are no guarantees so you should make sure that you have another option for next year should a spot at MIT not become available.</p>
<p>Please complete and return the Wait List card (which youll receive in your mailed letter) by April 18 to indicate whether or not you wish to stay on the Wait List. We will give you an update by late May.</p>
<p>Whatever your choice, and whatever the final outcome, we thank you for applying to MIT and we offer you our very best wishes for the future.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Stuart Schmill
Dean of Admissions</p>
<p>id rather be outright denied that waitlisted. i just dont want to get a false hope of getting into harvard and the other schools… i say this particularly with harvard because of its yield rate for admissions</p>
<p>Stu and team are amazing people. Human like everyone else.</p>
<p>If you stay on the waiting list - send extra material - anything you think might enhance your application. They do pay attention to that sort of stuff. No guarantees, but if there happens to be space, sometimes a polite student with passion who stays in touch might get an edge if the waiting list opens.</p>
<p>Well said. I was on the waitlist for Harvard initially, and was taken off it. It happens, just check last year’s thread.</p>
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<p>I just asked my sister, who was Waitlisted by Barnard 2 years ago, what a waitlist letter said, and despite thinking that she wouldn’t remember, that’s almost exactly what she blurted out. “While we are sorry to be unable to offer you admission at this time, we are able to offer you a place on the waitlist.”</p>
<p>Harvard’s typically emphasizes that the committee “has not been able to reach a final decision,” presumably as it expects to deliberate over which candidates to take from the waitlist when spots open up.</p>