Why are so many students getting waitlisted?
Asked by: Willard Johnston | Last update: December 10, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (40 votes)
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.
Why am I getting waitlisted by so many colleges?
It could be a combination of factors, such as the increased competition and the fact that colleges sometimes waitlist students who might not be a perfect fit for their expected class composition. Waitlists can help colleges achieve their desired class ``balance'' in terms of demographics, talents, and other attributes.
Is a waitlist basically a rejection?
Being waitlisted means that the admission committee sees potential in your application but is unable to offer you a spot at that precise moment due to limited space. Should some students opt not to enroll, spots may open up, and applicants on the waitlist might then be offered admission.
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.
How do colleges decide who to waitlist?
A college may put you on a waitlist. This can happen when you meet the admissions requirements, but the college has already accepted the number of applicants it has room for. If a spot becomes available later on, you may be offered a place.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE WAITLISTED FOR A COLLEGE and What NOT to do
Is a waitlist first come first serve?
If a family submits an application after the lottery is performed, they are made an offer on a first-come-first-served basis. If there is a waitlist, the student is placed on the waitlist in the order that their application was received.
Do colleges waitlist overqualified applicants?
It is true that some colleges may waitlist overqualified students. This practice is known as yield protection, and its purpose is to ensure that the college maintains a high yield rate, which refers to the percentage of accepted students who actually attend.
What college admits the most students off the waitlist?
UC Santa Cruz, which admitted the highest number of students off the waitlist – 10,812 – was tied with Stony Brook University—SUNY for the second-highest percentage at 88%.
How can I increase my chances of getting off the waitlist?
- MOST IMPORTANT! Write the school a short essay to demonstrate your continued interest! ...
- Look for other ways to show continued interest in the school. ...
- Make sure to accept your spot on the waitlist. ...
- Submit a deposit to another school. ...
- Only focus on things that are in your control. ...
- Be ready to decide if you do get accepted.
What not to do when waitlisted?
Don't let them think you've got sour grapes. Don't fill out the card stating that you wish to remain on the waitlist and then do nothing else. You need to submit a powerful Letter of Continued Interest as soon as possible.
How do you respond to being waitlisted?
Express your interest
Use this opportunity to stand out from the crowd; write a letter to the admissions office and discuss recent academic achievements and noteworthy qualities that may sway the admission decision in your favor.
Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted?
Waitlisted: Which is Better? There is no such thing as one being better than the other. They are two different outcomes that are related to when you apply. Being deferred happens after you apply in the Early Action or Early Decision rounds and the college decides it cannot provide a decision right now.
Do colleges tell you why they rejected you?
While colleges are not likely to share their specific reasons for rejecting an application, colleges do tell you if they rejected you. For students wondering what to do if you get rejected from all colleges, you may want to consider taking a gap year and reapplying next year.
What happens if you accept a college waitlist?
For example, because you're notified later than other applicants, you may have fewer housing and financial aid options. 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.
Are waitlists need aware?
Some schools are “need-aware,” meaning that they look to admit students off the waitlist who do not need financial aid. This is because the schools have already used their financial budget by this time. Some schools, like Notre Dame, are need-blind for domestic students, but need-aware for international students.
Why was I waitlisted for a class?
Being "waitlisted" for a college class means that the class has reached its maximum capacity for enrollment, but you've been placed in a queue alongside other interested students, in case a spot becomes available.
How likely is it to get accepted after being waitlisted?
According to recent data from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, colleges on average admit 20% of students off the waitlist.
How do colleges decide who gets off the waitlist?
Get the 411
Once a university can better gauge its enrollment numbers, the school can begin to offer vacant spots to candidates from the waitlist. The waitlist isn't ranked; instead, admissions officers review the school's institutional needs and decide whom to admit from the waitlist based on those factors.
How do you get past a waitlist?
- Accept a spot on the waitlist.
- Express interest again in the school.
- Submit a deposit to another university.
- Manage expectations in the admissions process.
- Continue to focus on high school academics.
- Be ready to make a decision if admitted.
Why are so many colleges waitlisting?
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.
How many kids does Harvard waitlist?
Unfortunately, the number of people on the Harvard waitlist is not public knowledge. Due to Harvard's competitive nature and the published numbers from similar schools, Harvard's waitlist is roughly 1000 to 2000 people. For the 2026 class, we know that Harvard accepted 36 students from the waitlist.
Do 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.
Is Tufts syndrome real?
Often called Tufts Syndrome, yield protection is alive and well, though perhaps not in the ways students assume. Yield is the percentage of accepted students who choose to enroll. A high yield rate helps colleges minimize the volatility of the admissions cycle.
How long can you stay on a college waitlist?
How long does it take to get off the waitlist at a college? There's no set timeline for hearing back when you're waitlisted. It could be weeks or months before you receive an official acceptance or rejection. Colleges may accept you from the waitlist as space opens up or wait until after National Decision Day on May 1.
Which colleges reject overqualified students?
No school has actually admitted to turning down students because they are overqualified.