College Waitlist Advice

Class Location: The Internet.

Description: This site will encourage and help students who have been recently waitlisted. 

Objective: Get accepted.

If you’ve applied to college program and the school has waitlisted you, you’ll probably feel some disappointment. But don’t let that disappointment keep you from continuing to pursue acceptance at the school. Instead of sitting idly, use the time to your advantage to do everything you can to convince the admissions office that you’re a great candidate.

Remember that getting waitlisted means the school believes you’re qualified for the program—otherwise you’d be looking at a rejection letter instead. Even though the university or college recognizes that you have the necessary qualifications, it may have waitlisted you for several reasons. The school may have already accepted other applicants with a similar profile and may be looking to diversify. Or there may have been candidates more qualified than you filling the slots. But after getting waitlisted, you can continue to submit application materials to the school to boost your chances of acceptance.

• Study your waitlist letter to see whether you can determine why they waitlisted you. If you can, then you know what weaknesses you need to address to show the school you’ve made improvements in this area.
• Remind the school of your strengths and inform them of any recent accomplishments.
• Let the admissions office know—again—why you make a great fit with this school in particular. It can’t hurt to visit the school again, call occasionally, or offer to interview.
• Get another recommendation or reference letter if you can. This is especially helpful if the person writing the letter can provide reasons why you make a good candidate for this particular school.
• Ask the school what you can do to bolster your chances for acceptance. You may not get any useful information out of this, but it can’t hurt to ask. This approach works successfully for many applicants each year.
• Do your best to improve your chances at the school, but make sure you have a back-up plan. Despite your best efforts, the school may just not have room for you. Always be ready with a plan B.