Waitlists

by Patrick O'Connor, Ph.D.

A letter indicating you’ve been waitlisted usually comes all by itself. The letter indicates the college is still considering your application, but must hear from the admitted students before they may—again, that’s may—offer you admission.

This is tricky for two reasons. First, it’s tough to wait longer; you were ready to hear yes or no, and instead, you got “give us a little more time”. Many students just can’t live with now knowing anymore. If that’s you, thank the college, say you’re not interested, and move on.
 
Second, waitlist rules vary by college—so…

• Re-read the letter from the college to see if it gives you any information about the waitlist—how the order to making offers is determined, when it is determined, and what you need to do to stay on it. If all the admitted soccer players turn down College X and College Y, College X may only go to the waitlist for soccer players, while College Y may start offering admission to the students at the top of a pre-determined list, whether they play soccer or not. This makes for a pretty bad soccer team, but this does still happen at a few schools. Find out if you’re dealing with an X or a Y.
  

• If this information isn’t in the letter, call the college and ask. They may give you some suggestions on what to do; use them, since they are basically telling you how to improve your chances of getting off the list.
  

Next, it’s decision time. Given the options you have, do you still feel you want to wait and hear back from this college? As you think about this, let these two questions be your guide:

1. If a slot doesn’t open up at this college, what other college will I choose to go to?
2. If a slot does open up at this college, what college will I select?

If the answer to both questions is the same, you don’t need the waitlist. If your decision depends in part on financial aid, remember that the amount of aid that’s available to students who come off the waitlist is usually limited. Colleges typically offer all their aid to students who are admitted; as a result, the aid offered to students taken off the waitlist is limited to the amount of aid turned down by admitted students. That’s no reason to give up—it’s just something to consider, or ask about.

If you decide to go for it, don’t be shy. “I want you to know I am still interested in attending College X this fall” sends a clear statement on where you stand; if this is your first choice college, make sure you say that, as long as you mean it. Grades in current classes, additional awards and maybe another letter of recommendation could make a difference, as long as the college lets you submit them. Send in one complete package of new material as soon as it’s ready, then call or e-mail about two weeks after that to let them know of your continued interest.

Most colleges won’t review their waitlist until after May 1, which is when most colleges want students to send in a deposit, or at least tell then they are coming. If you’re still waiting to hear from a waitlisted college on April 30, put in the required deposit at another school, so you have somewhere to go in the fall. If the college of your dreams pulls you off eh waitlist later on, cancel your admission in writing at the other school—and know you probably won’t get your deposit back.

If you want to go for it, give it your all—but remember, you already have a life; now, you’re just looking for a college.