What is the average waitlist acceptance rate?

Asked by: Precious Nader  |  Last update: October 5, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (26 votes)

According to the most recent data from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, 20% of all waitlisted students were admitted on average.

What are the odds of getting accepted after 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.

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.

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.

How many applicants are waitlisted?

The truth is, the number of students who are waitlisted changes from year to year, so it's impossible to say how many people will get waitlisted at a certain school. The number can range anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred.

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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.

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.

What percent of waitlisted people get in?

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Is getting waitlisted better 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.

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?

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.

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.

Do your senior year grades matter?

Senior year grades, especially if they have a significant impact on the cumulative GPA, can affect a student's ability to secure these financial resources. Additionally, some scholarships have specific requirements related to senior year performance or maintaining a certain GPA throughout college.

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.

What does waitlisted mean in Canada?

Open - The college is still accepting applications to the program. Closed - The program is already full for this start date. Waitlisted - The college has established a waitlist of applicants for this program, however you can still apply.

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.

Why do colleges waitlist so many people?

The waitlist helps colleges keep students on reserve. Once available slots fill up, and students start declining acceptance offers, the college admissions committee can begin moving on to the waitlisted students.

What does waitlisted 1 mean?

 If your waitlist position is number 1 (one), it means that you are next in line to receive an email when an open seat becomes available.

What does it mean when you are on the waiting list?

Meaning of waiting list in English. a list of people who have asked for something that is not immediately available but will be in the future: The hospital has a two-year waiting list for minor operations.

What does it mean if a waitlist is full?

Waitlist full indicates no wait list seats are available. You may not register or waitlist this class, as currently waitlisted students have preference.