The Waiting (List) Game
How to Survive College Waitlists Without Going Crazy
This blog is for all you high school seniors stuck in limbo, waiting to see if you’ll ever get off your first-choice college’s waiting list. All around you seem to be signs of everyone else’s certainty: Instagram posts declaring students’ college commitments, bed parties filled with college swag and collegiate colors, and your best friend’s excitement over connecting with the “perfect” roommate. They all seem to be entering this next exciting phase of college planning while you are stuck in purgatory. I am here to tell you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! More and more colleges are using waitlists as part of their acceptance strategy so they can be more certain of hitting their yield (the percentage of students that accept their offers of admittance), and the delayed FAFSA debacle is certainly not helping matters. With that in mind, here are some survival tips to help you stay sane:
1. Communicate with the school. Unless a school expressly states not to contact them, write a LOCI (Letter of Continued Interest) expressing your absolute certainty of attending if admitted (please only do this if you’re serious about following through with that promise!) and fill them in on any new developments since applying in the Fall. Did you lead your team to State, star in your high school musical, or win a leadership award? Let them know; you never know what can make the difference.
2. Have a backup plan that you’re excited about.
Since Commitment Day is in May (as you probably already know, many schools have moved the May 1 deadline to May 15 because of the previously mentioned FAFSA debacle), you will most likely have to commit to another college while waiting to hear if you’re admitted at your waitlisted school. That also means moving forward with housing, looking for a roommate who is aware you might bail if the waitlist thing works out (unfortunately, this is very common in today’s college climate), signing up for orientation, and hitting any other deadlines the school has. In other words, get in the headspace that you will be attending that school and GET EXCITED! College is awesome, and there isn’t just one place where you’ll be happy. I promise. If it’s driving distance, grab a buddy and go back to visit your accepted school(s). Try to see the school through a new lens. Go hang out at the union, talk to students about why they love it there, and really imagine yourself being a student there. Mindset can really make a difference, so go in with a positive one. You can always change your mind later if you’re offered a spot off the waitlist.
3. Don’t give into the temptation of being a Second-Semester Senior. Like it or not, what you’re doing in school right now matters, so keep working hard and going to class! Continuing to pursue your academic and extracurricular interests shows your commitment and may make a difference if your waitlisted school reevaluates you.
4. Stay positive but realistic, and don’t obsess over the confusing statistics. Last year, Michigan took 955 students off the waitlist, which represented 5% of the waitlist, but only 77 the previous year. Similarly, Wisconsin admitted 11 off the waitlist in 2022 and 4,436 (61% of their waitlist) in 2023. Last year, no students got off Dartmouth’s waiting list and less than 6% were accepted from Cornell’s. So, what are you supposed to take from this? Stay positive while making other amazing plans!
5. Get comfortable with uncertainty. I know it feels like everyone except you knows what they’re doing next year, but here’s the thing: even some students who have formally committed (and by that, I mean announced it on your high school Insta account) will end up changing their minds when they get the email saying they’ve been offered a spot off a waitlist. How things appear in April is not necessarily how things will look in June (or this year, July!), so take a breath and remember life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Who knows, maybe being waitlisted is just the universe's way of nudging you toward an even better path.
So, what have we learned here? Let’s review. You are amazing, and any school would be lucky to have you. Remember that your worth is NEVER determined by any one acceptance letter. Stay positive; you never know what decision will lead you to exactly where you belong. Make plans and be open to changing them. Enjoy these last couple of months of high school. And tell your parents you love them; this stuff is hard on them too!