If you have just been put on the waitlist, congratulations and also I’m sorry. Being waitlisted causes a rollercoaster of emotions, and as someone who was waitlisted at 6 schools, I am right there with you. For some schools, you might have been very pleased to hear that you have been waitlisted but for others, you may have been disappointed. But regardless of which of the two situations you are in, there is still hope. If you think about it, being placed on the waitlist is a college’s way of leading you on: do they want me or do they not want me? Being waitlisted is hard; especially if you are impatient like I am. Try not to be stressed and follow these steps.
The first thing to do is read the school’s “Waitlist FAQs.” This alone will answer many of your questions. Keep an eye out for important information such as when you will hear back about the waitlist, how long you will have to accept the offer if you are accepted, whether they take letters of continued interest, and whether the school’s waitlist is ranked.
Next, accept your waitlist offer! Usually, colleges will either have a separate form or a check box at the bottom of your decision letter. However, if there is a place for writing a letter of continued interest—a letter to admissions to try to convince them to take you off the waitlist—you should wait until you have finished writing the letter (keep reading tips for writing the letter) to accept the waitlist. Accept the waitlist offer as soon as possible because some schools take students off the waitlist on a rolling basis and even for the schools that don’t, it shows that you are very interested.
If you would like, you could search for the school’s past year’s waitlist data. This way you can see if the school has previously accepted many students from the waitlist.
Then, if the school accepts them, you have the option to write a letter of continued interest (LOCI). But do not just assume that the school takes these letters. If they clearly state that they do not want any more information, do not send them any! They will not appreciate that their directions are not being followed. If it is unclear whether or not they take letters of continued interest or other information, do not hesitate to reach out to the admissions office. I would suggest just calling and asking to check.
If the school accepts LOCI, writing one can help you immensely. Some tips for writing a good LOCI include keeping it short (one page is good) and sharing new information. Most schools clearly state to not share old information which is very important to remember. When reevaluating your applications, the admissions will review all of the initial information you sent, essays, transcripts, etc., so you do not want to repeat things you have already said. Some other things you can write about include why you want to attend the school (the more specific the better), why you are a good fit for the school, and what you would bring to the school. If the school you are writing to is your top choice, in the first paragraph, you can state that if you get off of the waitlist you will attend—known as a letter of intent.
After you write and send out your letter, there is not much more you can do except pray, manifest, and send out good vibes to the universe. The timeline in which you hear back about the waitlist varies by school, but most waitlist acceptances will come out after the school’s commitment date. This means that you should commit to another school and put down the deposit, and if you get accepted off the waitlist and decide to go, you can withdraw your decision but you cannot get your deposit back. Don’t forget to constantly check your email and applicant portals for new notifications. Schools will send you an email when the waitlist closes and the class is full. As a senior who has recently gone through this process, Anjani Bodar (12) advises students in this position to “don’t stress out too much. Keep up your extracurriculars and your grades, but regardless everything will work out in the end.” Good luck to everyone who has been waitlisted!
