What is a college waitlist and how does it work?

I just got waitlisted at my top choice school and I'm not sure what it means. How do college waitlists work, and what are my chances of getting off the waitlist? Should I send additional information or just wait?

The college waitlist is a "waiting" list, which means that after colleges have sent out their initial acceptance and rejection letters, they have a group of applicants that they might still consider if spots in their freshman class are not filled. Essentially, being on a waitlist means you're in a holding pattern.

The odds of getting off the waitlist vary by institution. Some colleges accept a significant number of waitlisted students, while others accept very few or even none. Admission from the waitlist is mainly dependent on the number of admitted students who choose to enroll (also known as yield), and whether the college has any specific needs for the incoming class like a certain balance of majors or geographical distribution.

After being waitlisted, it's generally a good idea to provide any substantial new information that might strengthen your application. This could include updated grades, new test scores, or significant recent accomplishments. Before you send anything, though, it's important to check the school's policy, as some indicate they do not wish to receive additional materials from waitlisted students.

Simultaneously, be sure to respond to any other admission offers you may have received. Keep in mind that even if you are eventually admitted from the waitlist, you typically have a few days to decide whether to accept the offer, so it's important to have another plan in place.

Remember, being placed on a waitlist is not a rejection, but it does mean you need to make plans under the assumption that you might not be admitted from the waitlist. It's best to commit to another school that you would be happy attending. If you do eventually get an offer from your top choice, you can always choose to break that commitment and lose the deposit you made.

Being on the waitlist can be stressful, but stay optimistic. Many students have been accepted from waitlists and have had fantastic college experiences. Good luck!