The stakes feel high when your #1 choice college writes to say you’ve been waitlisted. But don’t get caught up in whether you should be happy you’re not rejected or sad you’re not accepted. Instead, focus your thoughts on something productive: a plan.First, there are a few important things to know. Only about 5%–10% of students are admitted off the waitlist for any given school (even less for highly selective colleges). Second, waitlisted students are not told whether they’ve been admitted (or not) until after the May 1 deadline. This means that you will have to choose the best fit from among your acceptances.
Before making your stand to be admitted off the waitlist, pause for a moment and consider how much you actually want to attend this college. You should really only ask to remain on the waitlist if you are certain you will attend upon acceptance. If your acceptances from other colleges take priority or are equally desirable, it’s best to refuse that waitlist offer. However, if this is, in fact, your dream college, do immediately notify the admission office that you would like to stay on the waitlist and prepare your best persuasion tactics. You’ve met the basic admission requirements of your dream school having been waitlisted, so now it’s time for the final push.
Do your research
Find out if being waitlisted has any disadvantages. Due to a later acceptance, you might find fewer housing, parking, and financial aid opportunities. It’s important to understand what these difficulties are ahead of time so that alternative options can be found, such as considering another college you've been accepted to that is comparable to your dream school. Also call the admission office and ask if the waitlist is ranked. If it is, find out where you rank—the higher you are on the waitlist, the greater your chance of acceptance.
Related: 5 Things to Research Again Before Choosing a College
Maintain your academics and activities
Resist the temptation of slipping into senioritis and maintain good grades to impress your dream college with your dedication to academics. Colleges may use your final grades as their deciding factor for acceptance, so keep up the good work and, even better, show improvement if you can. Also, be sure to invest in your extracurriculars/ Are you head of a club or interested in becoming one? Want to enter a competition? Go for it. Colleges are interested in students who will contribute to their campus community, not just do well academically. Showing leadership and commitment to your high school and local community can help you gain an edge in the eye of the admission office.
Find ways to further market yourself
Don’t just send your request to stay on the waitlist and relax. This is where those persuasion tactics come in. Write a letter to the admission office and explain why you think their school is the perfect fit and how you can contribute to their college community. Above all, emphasize your desire to attend and make sure to let them know you will be attending if accepted. Also, take the opportunity to inform them about any new accomplishments, honors, stellar grades, or anything else to demonstrate you go the extra mile.
Going the extra mile might look like one final letter of recommendation, which some schools allow. Find a teacher, mentor, or counselor who is willing to write one for you explaining why you would be a good fit for the school. If you haven’t been interviewed, request to be, and if you did an interview, go for round two. It’s important to put a face to the application, and there’s no better way to do that than to sit before the dean of admission and put forth your best self. I know of one young lady who even made a pop-up book of the college’s campus from a brochure and taped a photo of herself, so when they opened the physical mail it said, “I’ve been picturing myself at your university!” Get creative, and compete if you really want this.
Related: How to Ace Your College Interview
If you follow all of these tips, know that you’ve done your best. Prepare for the fall semester, and meanwhile, keep your fingers crossed for your dream school’s last-minute decision. However, a word of caution: Do not harass the admission officers with multiple emails or phone calls. This could easily provoke a rejection.
If you are accepted off the waitlist, celebrate the end of college admission purgatory! Inform your previous school that you will not be attending and your dream school that you will be attending. You deserve to look ahead to your first freshman classes and the educational enlightenment your dream college has in store for you. By the time you get there, you’ll have earned it.
