Waiting Lists - Are They Real?

Everywhere we turn this year, we hear of many students getting waiting lists decisions.  While these may be a legitimate way of colleges to achieve their registration goals, it gives the impression that students have a chance to get in if the colleges miscalculate yields on the first round of acceptances.  The truth of the matter is that the chances for wait listed students to enroll is minimal.    2017 Common Data Set analysis shows that schools like Georgetown and UVA enrolled only 3% of the students in the waiting list.  While this data needs to be taken with caution, we would advise students to consider a wait list decision as a rejection in the making.  We recommend students to focus all of their energy in evaluating the colleges that admitted them during the month of April by attending Admit weekends or local admit events with alumni, evaluating pros/cons of financial aid packages and taking a deep dive into the curriculum offerings as the student narrows down academic options.   Most times students return from this process with a new perception and frankly excited to attend the selected college.

However, if still interested in pursuing the waitlist college, students should provide additional relevant information - senior year grades and accomplishments - that can help get the attention of the college admissions team.    Please be aware that if selected, all registration and  housing deposit monies paid to the other college will be forfeited.