The college admissions process is a long and complicated one, and one of the final steps is finding out whether you’ve been admitted, denied, or waitlisted. For those who have been waitlisted, it can be a confusing and frustrating experience. But what exactly does it mean to be waitlisted, and what can you do about it if this happens to you?
Here’s what you need to know about being waitlisted:
What Is a College Waitlist (What Does It Mean to Be Waitlisted?)
Every college knows that not every student they admit will decide to attend their institution. So when some of the admitted students back out and decide not to attend, the admissions office will want to admit additional students to fill out their incoming class. To help them fill these openings when they occur many colleges (not all) will create a waitlist. The admissions office will consult with the waitlist to admit additional students to the college as spots open up.
So a waitlist is a list of students who have all the necessary qualifications to be admitted – but for some reason, the admissions office wasn’t able to admit them at the time their application was reviewed.
Students who have been placed on a waitlist might feel like they are in limbo as their applications haven’t been accepted or rejected outright. If you’re waitlisted, don’t give up hope – there’s still a chance you may be able to attend the school, but admission is certainly not guaranteed either.
How Does a College’s Waitlist Work?
Over the years, an increasing number of colleges have begun using waitlists over the years. However, the way in which these waitlists function varies from college to college.
