Is it better to be waitlisted or rejected?
Asked by: Dr. Emmie Wiegand | Last update: October 5, 2023Score: 4.7/5 (2 votes)
Being waitlisted means you still have a chance if they don't see anyone they like better in the regular admissions cycle. It is better than being rejected, but don't count on getting in. This is when you need to expand your college options and consider other schools.
Is a waitlist better than a 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.
Do most waitlisted students get accepted?
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.
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.
Why was I waitlisted instead of rejected?
Too many students enrolling can be just as bad as too few. The waitlist gives the admissions office flexibility to maintain a good class size of incoming students. Once a school has instituted a waitlist, the admissions office will admit students off the waitlist as needed until they have filled the incoming class.
Advice for College WAITLIST or REJECTED (Still Get the Future You Want)
What are the chances of getting in after being waitlisted?
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Do grades matter for waitlist?
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 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?
How many people get off Ivy waitlist?
From Ivy League acceptance rates to admissions numbers at UCLA and Boston College, these stats provide insight into how often students get admitted off the waitlist each year. The chances of being admitted to an Ivy League college from the waitlist are only 8.8%.
What percent of people get waitlisted?
Among schools that accept lower than 50% of applicants, 82% maintained a waitlist. Furthermore, schools with lower acceptance rates were more likely to place a higher percentage of applicants on the waitlist.
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.
How do colleges decide who to take off the waitlist?
If you rank higher, you'll have a greater chance of getting off the waitlist. But some colleges may neither rank waitlisted students nor accept them by priority. Individual colleges may take a more holistic approach. They may make their decision based on factors such as which majors they want represented.
Is waitlist worse than deferred?
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.
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.
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 when you are waitlisted?
Writing a letter of continued interest does more than tell the school to keep you on the waitlist. It can also highlight your recent accomplishments. And the letter might even improve your chances of getting off the waitlist.
How do I get off the waitlist early?
- Decide if you still want to attend. The first thing you should do is consider how much you still want to study at the college. ...
- Keep in touch. Some schools recommend that you visit the campus. ...
- Keep your grades up. ...
- Write a letter reiterating your desire to attend the university.
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 the odds of getting in after being deferred?
The deferred acceptance rate and number of students accepted can vary by school. Many colleges don't release acceptance data for deferred students. Some estimates say that most colleges will accept at least 5-10% of deferred students in regular decision pools.
Can you wait a year after getting accepted to a university?
Once you're accepted to college, you can defer admission for a gap year. You can defer enrollment, but you can't defer acceptance. Colleges want you to take a gap year! But they also want to know that after your gap year, you'll come to their school.
How does an unranked waitlist work?
Unranked waitlists
With an unranked waitlist, the school draws from a pool of applicants when a seat opens up. The decision about which applicant to select from this pool could hinge on several factors, such as application strength or the need to create a balanced class in terms of diversity and experiences.