What percent of waitlisted students get in?

Asked by: Belle Pouros  |  Last update: December 1, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (49 votes)

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.

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 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.

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%.

I applied to 20 colleges… in the US and UK…. Here’s how it went

41 related questions found

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.

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.

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.

Why is everyone getting waitlisted?

Your declared major might be the issue. 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.

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 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 did I get waitlisted instead of accepted?

Colleges have a limited number of seats each year given physical space requirements or to maintain faculty-to-student ratios, so some students are put on a waitlist in case enrollment spots open up. Universities offer some applicants spots on the waitlist during the regular decision round of admission.

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.

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.

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 to do after being accepted from waitlist?

Many times after accepting a place on the waitlist, colleges will encourage students to write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) and give the admissions office a little more information about what they've been doing since they submitted their applications.

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 is a hidden waitlist?

The 'hidden' waiting list is the time it takes to see a specialist in a public hospital outpatient clinic. These consultations often result in patients being added to the elective surgery waiting list.

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.

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?

Tips For Getting Accepted Off The Waitlist
  1. 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. ...
  2. Keep in touch. Some schools recommend that you visit the campus. ...
  3. Keep your grades up. ...
  4. Write a letter reiterating your desire to attend the university.

Do waitlisted students get accepted medical school?

If you can pinpoint how you can improve your application and execute those changes quickly, you have a good chance of being accepted to medical school the following cycle. Plus, if you're on a few waitlists, there's always a chance that an acceptance will come through as you go through the reapplication process.

How do colleges pick from waitlist?

Colleges typically use their waitlists to fill shortfalls in the freshman class, as well as to meet other "institutional needs." A "shortfall" occurs when admission officers check the demographics of the students who have already enrolled and find that they are lacking females ... or males ... or students from the ...

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.

How many students does Harvard put on the waitlist?

On average, how many students are typically placed on the Harvard waitlist each year? The number may vary each year, but approximately 1,000 to 1,500 students are placed on the Harvard waitlist annually.