Navigating the Wait List

When a student is admitted to a college it’s easy to know how to react and celebrate their accomplishment. When they are not, there are often feelings of sadness and disappointment. Being placed on a wait list can feel to a student like they are stuck in limbo riding a wave of great uncertainty about what to do next. That is understandable, however, there are things a student can do to navigate the wait list process and keep their college options viable.

First, trust the language in the wait list letter. The student has probably been reassured that being on the wait list means that they are competitive in the pool of applicants, and if places in the class become available the admissions committee will go back and review their credentials. It is generally true that the chances of being admitted off the wait list are often slim and vary from year to year.

Beyond that, here is a list of the other top things I would recommend doing:

• Accept a place on the wait list either by postcard or online. This step is required to stay active as a viable candidate.
• Express continued interest . Contact the admissions office (or the regional representative if known) directly by email, letter, or perhaps phone. The student should emphasize their continued interest particularly if the college is clearly the first choice. Resist the temptation to claim that more than one college is the first choice and that the student will enroll if admitted. If it comes down to just a few available places in the class, chances are high that the admissions staff will focus on the students who have been in touch and genuinely seem interested in attending if invited.
• Submit new grades or significant updates about awards, honors or leadership roles. In some cases a college may require an additional essay to remain a viable wait list candidate. Another letter of recommendation may also be encouraged, however, a flood of new letters of support is discouraged.
• It is essential to deposit and secure a spot at another college where the student has been admitted prior to the May 1st enrollment deadline. Recognize that the family will likely forfeit the deposit if the student accepts another offer of admission later.
• A student should consider what their decision is likely to be if offered a place in the class. Colleges should not press for an instantaneous decision and should provide time for the family to talk before finalizing the decision.
• If a student is admitted from a wait list they must let the college where they originally deposited know that they intend to enroll elsewhere so the college can fill the gap in their class.
• If possible, gain insight about the timing of reconsideration for wait listed students. Periodic checks with the admissions office—perhaps once early on following the wait list decision, and again as the May 1st deadline approaches--- is reasonable. Usually students will not hear until after May 1st although, on occasion, colleges may move to their wait list prior to the deadline if the rate of return on deposits is slow compared to previous years. Wait list activity can technically continue through the summer and generally colleges will notify wait listed students once their class is full so that students are not left wondering if there is still a chance of admission.

Over my years as a dean of admissions, wait listed students did many things beyond threatening to set up a tent outside the office attempting to gain the attention of the admissions committee. One student sent cookies decorated with the name of the college; someone mailed an enormous self-portrait that cost a fortune to ship; and another student created small, intricately painted rocks like the ones traditionally found on campus. Some tactics are clever, yet others draw attention for the wrong reason and are quite time consuming. There is really no reason to be THAT student. On behalf of college admissions colleagues everywhere students should be encouraged to spend their precious time successfully finishing their senior year and not dabbling in projects—however ingenious---to turn the heads of the admissions staff.