What to do if you are on a college waitlist?

As a student, if you await a college admission decision, being stuck on the waitlist can be quite an ordeal. While it can be an emotionally rocky time, it is also a crucial period to re-strategize. College Waitlist is a list of candidates whose applications are reviewed by the college but are put on a hold for the following two reasons: –

1. The number of open seats in the incoming class is less in comparison with the number of candidates who have applied to the university or a specific major.
2. The student’s credentials like- standardized test scores or extra-curricular activities do not meet the required standards.

Waitlist acceptances often roll out gradually throughout May, June and July. Some colleges might admit just a few students from their waitlist in one year to dozens or even none at all in other years depending on the number of spots available.

Some things that you can do while you are waitlisted from college.

1. Decide whether to stay or withdraw from the list- Once you are waitlisted, the next step is to decide whether you want to accept or reject the offer of staying on the waitlist. Communicate your decision to the college by the date specified in their offer.
2. Contact the admission officer- Waitlisted students are advised to contact the admission department to know the process the university follows for waitlisted students, like- if the college has a priority list. Applicants can contact the admission department to show their continued interest and update them about their latest personal or academic endeavors via email or a continued interest letter.
3. Secure your spot at another school– Even if your waitlisted university remains your top choice, explore other options and choose the best fit for yourself from the other universities that have offered you admission. If you do manage to get off the waitlist after May 1, you will be allowed to withdraw your registration and accept the offer from the university which had waitlisted you earlier. This will ensure that you have secured a seat for yourself for the Fall session, even if not at your dream college, and would not have to take a gap year and reapply. This, however, should be an informed decision and involve thorough research on the student’s end. You can visit the campus or talk to the senior students at the university.

4. Be prepared to take a decision, if accepted– Once you get off a waitlist while you celebrate your acceptance, you should take some time to re-evaluate your options. This is because being waitlisted gives you the time to weigh other options and re-evaluate. If you are truly passionate about attending your top choice, accept the spot off the waitlist, inform the university, and submit deposits. It is also important to inform any other university whose offer you might have accepted, that you will not be attending the Fall session. Even if you decide to reject the spot off the waitlist, inform the college so that other candidates can be given the opportunity.
5. Disadvantages of being admitted off a waitlist– When a student gets accepted, they often hear back by early summer, so even though there are still two or three months before college starts to get everything in order, as an international applicant you will need to expedite your I-20 from the college to start the Visa application process. Make sure to be on top of your paperwork once you’ve officially accepted the offer.

Also, Merit scholarships are usually not offered to waitlisted candidates.

If this article answers your queries, check our website –www.collegecore.com. For assistance related to Undergraduate College Applications and Admissions, please book an appointment with Ms Urvashi Malik, Founder- CollegeCoreEducation.