Do grades matter for waitlist?

Asked by: Alexzander Satterfield  |  Last update: November 8, 2023
Score: 5/5 (49 votes)

Deferred and Waitlisted Students
Colleges and universities look for consistency or improvement when you're in this position, so don't slack. If you had a significantly lighter course load or let your grades slip, it's unlikely that will impact a school's decision to admit you.

Do 2nd semester grades matter for waitlist?

For UCD if you are on the waitlist: We will review your 200-word statement, as well as the fall grades and spring coursework-in-progress that must be submitted as part of your waitlist acceptance. So, for UCD doing well 2nd semester will help.

Is getting waitlisted impressive?

Getting waitlisted at a college certainly isn't a bad thing—your application was good enough to not get rejected! —but it's definitely an uncomfortable place to be. After all, when you're on the college waitlist, you don't know whether you'll be admitted or not, and that alone is anxiety-inducing.

What are the odds of getting off the waitlist?

While many colleges will waitlist hundreds or even thousands of students, not all of those students will accept a spot on the waitlist, making the pool and the chances of getting in slightly better in some cases. According to NACAC, 20% of all students who chose to remain on waitlists were ultimately admitted.

What percentage of waitlisted students get accepted?

As a rule of thumb, around 10% of students who are waitlisted at an elite universities will ultimately earn admission. This, of course, can vary from year to year. There are years when some colleges, like Dartmouth College for the Class of 2025, don't turn to their waitlists because they don't need to fill seats.

Ivy League coach reveals why HARVARD didn't accept me

33 related questions found

What not to do when waitlisted?

Waitlisted students can accept or reject the offer presented by the college. However, don't take up a spot on the list if you're not planning on attending the school anymore. You'd be taking the spot away from another student who may be more interested.

Is waitlist better than rejection?

Getting on a waitlist is not a rejection — waitlisted students still have a shot at earning admission to the school. College waitlist statistics from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) show that 43% of postsecondary institutions used a waitlist during the 2018-19 school year.

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

If a student is waitlisted, it usually means that a school feels the student is a good fit, but the school is constrained by class sizes. Keep in mind, however, that some schools use waitlist offers as “soft rejections.” The waitlist offer is more of a “courtesy” and they have no intention of admitting you.

Is there a downside to accepting waitlist?

There are three primary drawbacks to being waitlisted: Your chances of being admitted off the waitlist are typically low. Although numbers in recent years have increased for waitlist admissions, they're still markedly lower than if your student were to have been accepted in the initial wave of applicants.

Why am I getting waitlisted so much?

Many schools look for a balanced makeup of their freshman class in terms of area of study. If there are too many students with your intended major, you might be placed on a waitlist while the school attempts to accept more candidates from other majors.

Should I appeal a waitlist?

If you've been waitlisted at a college, and you'd definitely attend if you got in off the waitlist, then you need to write a waitlist letter. And if you've been denied at your dream college, and you're desperate to be reconsidered, then you should write an appeal letter.

What do you say to someone who got waitlisted?

Here are five meaningful things to say in a situation like this:
  • “I know this feels like the end of the world, but it will all work out.” ...
  • “If it is meant to be, it will be.” ...
  • “The college process is unpredictable, try not to take it personally.” ...
  • “You did all that you could do, and you should not have any regrets.”

Is being deferred better than waitlisted?

A deferred applicant will be considered again before any reconsideration is provided to a waitlisted applicant. As such, being waitlisted at a school is worse than a deferral because the institution has decided not to admit you unless other applicants decline their admission offer and seats become available.

Do senior year grades matter for waitlist?

Deferred and Waitlisted Students

That correspondence will include grades from the second semester of your senior year. Colleges and universities look for consistency or improvement when you're in this position, so don't slack.

Do my senior year grades matter?

Your senior year grades hold weight on your overall GPA, which is one of the components, along with SAT or ACT scores, letters of recommendation, etc., that institutions review as part of the admissions process.

Do colleges consider senior year grades?

The important thing to know is that colleges do look at your senior year grades. So, a weaker performance in senior year than in previous grades can impact your application and college admissions decisions.

Should I stay on a college waitlist?

It makes sense to keep your spot on the list only if you're really interested in going to the college. Before you decide, find out whether there are any conditions attached to being waitlisted. For example, because you're notified later than other applicants, you may have fewer housing and financial aid options.

How do I get off a waitlist?

Write A Letter of Continued Interest

This type of admission letter boosts your chances of getting off the waitlist. If you know how to write it effectively, you will get an opportunity to persuade the committee that you are the right candidate they need and improve your chances of getting off the waitlist.

What is the average waitlist acceptance rate?

Do waitlist students get accepted? Sometimes. According to the most recent data from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, 20% of all waitlisted students were admitted on average. For more selective universities, the admission rate is 7% on average.

What does waitlisted 0 mean?

The result produces a Registration Add Error: Example: “Closed - -0 Waitlisted” (meaning that the course is full, and there are no students on the waitlist) or “Open – Reserved for Wait List” (meaning that there is an open seat but it is reserved for a waitlisted student who is at the top of the wait list).

What's the difference between waitlisted and accepted?

What Does It Mean To Be Waitlisted? If you've been waitlisted during the RD review process, this means that the college has completed reviewing your file and you have not been accepted. However, if enough students that were accepted choose not to attend, you could be considered.

What are hard vs soft rejections?

For example, in dating, a soft rejection can be something like, “I'm busy Friday.” Which could mean they're available on Saturday or Sunday. A hard rejection looks like, “I hate your guts.” In which case, you should definitely move on. Hard and soft credit card declines work the same way.

Why are so many students getting waitlisted?

Schools use waitlists to ensure that they can remain selective while still knowing that they will be able to fill their freshman class, even if yield drops a bit. If fewer students enroll than were anticipated, the school can turn to the waitlist to fill the gaps.

Does being waitlisted mean anything?

Being put on the waitlist means a student is a competitive candidate, but colleges are trying to admit well-rounded classes and predict who will ultimately enroll, which may mean prioritizing students based on major choices or a desirable quality they bring to the school.

Do colleges waitlist overqualified applicants?

In some instances, colleges may waitlist overqualified students and take them off it upon enough demonstration of seriousness in attending. Got a stellar application but fear that you might not get accepted by an institution with a high acceptance rate?