Experience with Georgia Tech Waitlist?

Hey y'all. I just got my decision from Georgia Tech and I've been waitlisted. Anyone here ever been in the same boat? What should I do next, and is it common for a lot of people to get off the waitlist?

Firstly, congratulations on making it to the waitlist of Georgia Tech! That in itself is an impressive achievement, since Georgia Tech is a highly selective institution. There are a few things you can do from this point.

First, you should accept your spot on the waitlist if you're still interested in attending Georgia Tech. Usually, the college will send specific instructions on how to do this. Once you've done that, it's a good idea to also deposit at another school that you’ve been accepted to as a back-up - this is crucial because the timing of waitlist admissions is often very close to or even after the deadline to deposit at other schools.

As to your question about the possibility of getting off the waitlist, it's hard to predict with accuracy as it varies from year to year and depends heavily on the yield that Georgia Tech managed to achieve with its initial batch of admits. In some years, many students might be accepted from the waitlist if the yield is lower than expected, while in other years, nobody might be accepted. Understanding this unpredictability is important.

You can also consider sending a letter of continued interest (LOCI) to Georgia Tech if they allow it. This is a letter or email you send to the admissions office expressing your continued desire to attend the university, noting any recent achievements or developments in your academic or extracurricular life since you submitted your application, and explaining why the school is a good fit for you. However, be sure to follow Georgia Tech's guidelines on this - if they explicitly ask you not to send additional materials, you should respect this instruction.

Lastly, continue to maintain your strong academic performance. If you do get off the waitlist, colleges may ask to see your final high school transcript before you enroll so it's important to not let your academic performance slip.

Keep a hopeful mind and remember that at the end of the day, where you go to college doesn't define you or your future success. Best of luck!