College Waitlists: FAQs
How do college waitlists work?
When do I get a decision?
What do I do about FAFSA?
How do colleges decide who is admitted off the waitlist?
How can I increase my chances of admission?
Waitlisted? Here’s What You Should Know
Were you waitlisted and are you now wondering about your odds? Don’t panic. Here’s a guide for everything you need to know about what to do next. By following these simple steps, you can raise your chances of getting accepted into the school of your dreams!
How does the college waitlist work?
First of all, it is important to understand that being placed on a waiting list is not a rejection. The waitlist by nature is a message from your desired college that you are qualified for admission, however they do not currently have space for you. In almost every circumstance the college waitlist consists of a large number of qualified students from which the college will pick from if their accepted applicants decide to go elsewhere. There have been studies done by higher education professionals that produced statistics indicating that as many as 30% of students who are placed on a waiting list will actually be accepted to the college.To break it down even further, follow your own college application process for example by asking yourself the following questions. Did you apply to more than one college? Were you accepted to other colleges? In all likelihood many of the students who got accepted into the school you were waitlisted by are in the same boat as you. Statistically speaking, there will be a significant number of these accepted students who choose to go elsewhere, so do not give up hope yet!
If you are offered a spot on the college waitlist, you may accept the invitation and be automatically added into this pool of applicants. You also have the option to decline if you would prefer not to wait for their admission decision or have decided to go elsewhere.
You should keep in mind that some college waitlists provide your waitlist ranking number. If you have been ranked highly by a college, the chances increase that you are likely to be accepted off the waitlist. The waitlist ranking number is becoming much more rare, but definitely keep a lookout for it on the off chance your desired school still uses it.
Decision day
May 1 is National College Decision Day, the deadline for seniors to pick their college. This means that once colleges know which students in their original pool of accepted applicants will be enrolling in the coming fall semester, they can assess how many students to add from the waitlist. This number varies year to year. Waitlist acceptances often roll out gradually throughout May, June, July, and sometimes even August right before the school year starts.
FAFSA delays are affecting waitlists
The FAFSA situation can be a headache for waitlisted students. They're in this weird spot where students might not have even filled out their FAFSA yet because they're unsure if they'll get in anywhere. But then, if they do get off the waitlist, they're scrambling to sort out financial aid in time. It's like adding an extra layer of stress to an already nerve-wracking situation. Expect it to (frustratingly) add time to your wait.
If you are still waiting on your school's financial aid offer, you might need to hang tight a little longer. Try giving your financial aid office a shout if you have questions - but remember, they might not have all the answers if they're still waiting on your FAFSA info. Remain on top of your financial aid applications and know your school's deadlines. Once your FAFSA is in, you might not have control over how long it takes to get your financial assistance letter. But you can use that time to figure out your budget and come up with a plan to cover your expenses for the upcoming year.
The most important factors colleges use to determine waitlist decisions
When it comes to college admissions officers re-evaluating their their pool of waitlisted applicants, the following factors are widely accepted as the most influential in swaying them one way or another:
The total number of students desired for their freshman class
This aspect of the waitlist decision-making process truly is the hardest part to predict, especially within the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the past, schools decided how many students they would like to admit each year. The more spots they need to fill, the more likely you are to get accepted!
There is a desired number of different majors for their freshman class
Every department within a college institution lays out how many students they would like to admit each year. That means that every year this number fluctuates and can be determined by college budgets, faculty availability, and support services.
The likelihood that you are still interested in attending their college
This factor mainly depends on how much continued interest you have expressed to the school. If you are able, continue to reach out to admissions officials and if you are able to interview with them again, do it. These actions tend to increase your chances of being accepted.
The strength of your application
Admissions officials are commonly tasked to make very difficult choices when it comes to final applicant decisions. In all likelihood, these decisions can come down to minute differences in the applications themselves.The factors they will consider are your grade point average, extracurriculars, SAT/ACT scores, and letters of recommendation. If you are well versed in these areas, you’ll have the best shot at being accepted.
Final tips to increase your chances of acceptance
Send a letter of interest to your desired college admissions officials
Continue working hard and keep your grade point average up
If you have a low SAT/ACT score, try to retake it if possible
Send updates on any new personal accomplishments relevant to your application
We know that this is an extremely stressful time in your life and we are here to help! If you have any more questions please feel free to contact us! Stay tuned for more information on college admissions updates on our website: https://www.socraticsummeracademy.com/blog.
