What is the difference between waitlist and hold?
Asked by: Dr. Gust Romaguera V | Last update: September 16, 2023Score: 4.5/5 (10 votes)
Being waitlisted is an official application decision. Most times, waitlist decisions come later near or after deposit deadlines once the school has a better sense of how the incoming class is shaping up. Most times, however, you will receive a hold decision (admit/deny/waitlist) before the deposit deadlines.
What does it mean when your college application is on hold?
These holds are placed for a variety of reasons, but generally mean that the department needs to follow up with you to resolve an issue, or to request some additional information.
What is the difference between a waitlist and a hold medical school?
On hold means not rejected at this time. Yet, not on the wait list if they have that at that program too. Some may use on hold to mean wait list.
Is it better to be waitlisted or 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 does waitlist mean for law school?
Being on the waitlist means they still think your application is strong and you might be accepted at a later date. However, if you are starting law school with the next wave, then it is important to continue looking at other options in the event you are not accepted to your top choice.
When you're placed on Hold / Waitlist...
How likely is it to get off law school waitlist?
Realistically, your chances of getting of a law school waitlist this cycle are slim. There are simply so many people on the waitlists that your odds of being the one to get off are not high. Though if your stats are within the school's median numbers, you are more likely to get off the waitlist.
Is waitlist a rejection?
Waitlists and deferrals are two different things, but they share some similarities. While neither is an outright rejection, they both mean you will have to wait longer to see if you will be admitted.
Is waitlist good or bad?
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 it okay to be waitlisted?
If you've been waitlisted, don't panic. It's not what you'd hoped would happen, but you still have a good chance of being admitted. Or you can back out and move on to other schools. But before you do anything about being waitlisted, it's essential to understand what it means so you can make the right decisions.
Is it harder to get 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.
Why do some students get waitlisted?
Space: Colleges have a limited number of spots for their incoming first-year classes. As such, they want to avoid accepting too many people all at once. Putting applicants on a waitlist allows schools to see how many accepted students have committed to attending before admitting additional students.
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.
Is staying on a waitlist binding?
Keep in mind that college waitlist offers aren't binding. You won't be required to attend the college if they accept you from the waitlist.
Can you put college acceptance on hold?
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. You must accept the offer of admission from the college in order to apply for deferred enrollment.
What does hold for semester mean?
What does “Hold for grades” or “Hold for degree” mean? If you select “Hold for grades” your transcript will not be released until all of the grades are received for the term you select.
What is tuition on hold?
A financial hold is a type of restriction imposed by an institution as a result of a student not paying their fees in full. This hold prevents students from enrolling in courses and accessing their transcripts. In order for this hold to be lifted, students must fully pay off any outstanding charges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 call you about waitlist?
While some schools send email notifications, most of our nation's elite schools notify waitlisted candidates via old-fashioned phone calls.
Can you get rejected after being accepted?
Yes, colleges can revoke an acceptance offer any time, including after admitted students put down their deposit. Most revoked admission offers occur between May 1 and the start of the fall semester.
Can a college take back a rejection?
While it's extremely rare for a college to overturn its decision, you may recommend that rejected students write a letter of appeal explaining why they deserve to be reconsidered. This action will give students the peace of mind of knowing that they have done everything possible to make a strong case.
Is it bad to be deferred from a college?
A deferral means the college wants to review your application again with the regular decision pool of applicants. While it might feel like a rejection, a deferral is not a denial, nor does it mean there was something wrong with your application.