Tips for Handling College Waitlist Offers

I'm a little stressed thinking about the possibility of ending up on a college waitlist. What do students typically do if they find themselves in this situation?Should I reach out to the admissions office or provide additional information to boost my chances? And how likely is it really to get off a waitlist? If anyone has been through this before and could share their experience or tips, I'd be super grateful. Thanks in advance for the help!

Being waitlisted can indeed be stressful, but it's essential to remember that it's not a rejection — it simply means your application is still under consideration. Let's talk strategy.

First, make sure to accept your place on the waitlist if you're still interested in the school. Accepting your spot is typically done via the school's applicant portal, but details should be provided in the waitlist notification.

Secondly, submit a deposit to your top "admit" college, even while you wait to hear back from the waitlisted school. Getting off the waitlist is no guarantee, and you want to be sure you have a spot secured somewhere for the fall. If you get in off the waitlist, you can notify the school you originally planned on attending (although do be aware you likely will not receive your deposit back).

Now, as for enhancing your chances of acceptance, generally you want to write a letter of continued interest, where you would emphasize your enthusiasm for the school and discuss any relevant updates like improved grades or new achievements. Just ensure you're not rehashing information already provided in your application. You want to contribute new and valuable data that would potentially sway their decision in your favor.

For more detail on how to write a strong letter of continued interest, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest

In some cases, you could also ask for an additional letter of recommendation to be sent to the college, particularly if it's from someone who can provide a unique perspective and affirm why you'd be a great fit for the school. However, like with the letter of continued interest, you should only submit this additional letter if the person could add insight that isn't already captured by your original application. Admissions officers are busy people, and they won't appreciate reading the same thing twice.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of getting off a waitlist can vary widely from year to year and by college. These statistics are influenced by factors such as yield rates and the size of the incoming class, which can be difficult to predict. You can certainly remain optimistic, but don't pin all your hopes on getting in off the waitlist - instead focus on the options where you've been accepted.

Finally, do remember to keep an eye on the deadlines and communication from the waitlisted school to ensure you're ready to take immediate action when required. Enrolling off the waitlist often happens on a very quick timeline, sometimes as late as the week before orientation!