<p>My son is hoping to get into a NYS state school but was waitlisted. Fine, we picked another school and my wife, myself and my son are happy (although it was more expensive). We are proceeding as if he is going there. My question is, why would a school tell you have to wait until JUNE 15!! We heard back today, May 10 from another school and he was not taken from the waitlist... fine, May 10 is ok.. but June 15? Does anybody find something not right about that or am I being a little sensitive.</p>
<p>I think you’re being a little sensitive. It’s understandable. The whole college search & selection process is completely crazy-making. But you’re being a little sensitive.</p>
<p>Many colleges and universities know how many students they need to enroll in the fall, but they don’t know exactly what fraction of the students they admit will actually enroll. So they wait until the admitted students’ reply deadline of May 1 and see whether they still have places to fill.</p>
<p>The college that’s already told your son they don’t have room for him must have had a really high yield, and they know they need few students, or perhaps none, from their wait list. Other colleges still don’t know for sure after May 1 though. If the students who told them “yes” on May 1 start getting into other colleges from those wait lists and bolt, that will create new vacancies in a freshman class that previously looked full.</p>
<p>The whole process often really does take weeks to play out.</p>
<p>It’s a two way street. The colleges hope to fill slots (to keep overall costs low – I’m sure you support that) and they make offers. Students are free to decline those offers. Some families will welcome the call. You find it burdensome, others find it an unexpected blessing.</p>
<p>Also your college may have committed kids who drop out due to being accepted off other Waitlists or other reasons (this is called the summer “melt”). Then slots open up – so the college goes to their waitlist. Bizarre cycle.</p>
<p>I’ve heard of some contacts even happening as late as August… all to fill those last few slots.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, too, DadRangerFan, that your son can remove himself from any wait list at any time. He can also weigh any offer that comes, whenever it comes. If a New York public university offers him a slot in July or August, he can accept it or not.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input. One thing is for sure, I admit I am overly sensitive when it comes to my son. 4 more weeks we will know either way.</p>
<p>As I said: crazy-making.</p>