Do colleges waitlist overqualified students?

Yo! I've heard some rumors that colleges sometimes waitlist overqualified students because they think we won't actually attend. Is that true? Kinda worried about my chances now.

Hello! It is true that some colleges may waitlist overqualified students. This practice is known as yield protection, and its purpose is to ensure that the college maintains a high yield rate, which refers to the percentage of accepted students who actually attend. When a college believes that an overqualified student is unlikely to enroll, they may place the student on the waitlist to avoid wasting an acceptance offer. This practice is relatively controversial, as it may penalize exceptionally strong candidates.

However, it's important to note that not all colleges engage in yield protection, and at the most selective institutions, expectations for all applicants are so high that this practice isn't really relevant. To protect against yield protection (no pun intended), though, essays and demonstrated interest can play a significant role in whether a college believes you would genuinely enroll if accepted. So, make sure your application effectively conveys your sincere interest in the particular school and how you would contribute to its community.

In summary, while yield protection does exist, it's not necessarily widespread. Focus on thoroughly researching the colleges you are applying to and crafting outstanding applications that truly demonstrate your passion and commitment, rather than worrying too much about something outside of your control.

Best of luck with your college applications - I'm sure yield protection won't stop you from receiving lots of acceptance letters!