What if Your Child Has Been Waitlisted?

Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming, and we all know what that means (well at least those of us with high school seniors do) -- college decisions are arriving daily.  What if your student has been waitlisted at the school of his or her dreams?  Here are some tips for your teen:

• Find out if the wait list is ranked and if so, what your position is.

• Ask what percent of students have been accepted from the wait list in recent years. 

• Ask about the college’s policies regarding financial aid and housing for students admitted from the wait list.  Will these services be available later on?

• Try to find out what your application was lacking.

• If you want to remain active on the wait list, return the reply postcard indicating your intention.  (You should not be asked for a deposit at this time.)

• Write a letter to the dean of admissions affirming your desire to attend.  If it is your first choice, say so.

• Include any significant new information in your letter, such as grades, awards, activities, or anything else that addresses areas that might have been initially lacking.

• Ask your counselor to send a similar note conveying your enthusiasm and desire to attend.

• Consider sending an additional recommendation from someone who knows you well

• Don’t overdo it – restate your strong interest and provide relevant data, but don’t harass the admissions office.

• Send your end-of-year grades if the wait list has not yet been closed.

• Make sure you send a deposit to one of the colleges where you have been accepted to secure your spot. 

 

Typically, students are not notified that they have been accepted from the wait list until after May 1.  This is why you must send a deposit to another college or university.  This also means that if you are accepted from the wait list, you will most likely lose the deposit you already made to the other school.

Please note that the rate of acceptance from a wait list is often relatively low.  To see the wait list statistics for a particular school, visit CollegeBoard.  Search for the school, and click on the tab labeled “Applying.”

Remember, even if you are not admitted to your “dream” school, there are plenty of opportunities to have a great college experience!