As a college solutions specialist with College Funding and Planning in Kansas, Michael Berlau helps students and their families to navigate the process of applying for and finding financial aid. Michael Berlau draws on detailed knowledge of the application process, including how wait listing works.
Receiving a wait list letter can be disheartening, especially if it is for one of your top-choice schools. It is important to remember that wait listing happens when you meet a college's criteria but the college has reached its admittance capacity. If one of the admitted students decides not to attend the college in question, the school may offer you that slot.
If you still want to attend, you will need to respond to the wait list offer and let the school know that you would like to stay on the list. You will not receive any offers of admissions until after the decision deadline, but you can contact the college and find out where you rank on the wait list.
If you choose to contact the school by mail, you can also add any information that you feel might make you a more competitive candidate. This includes any new achievements or honors, as well as anything not on your original application.
Finally, because there are no guarantees once wait listed, you may wish to consider other schools. If you have been accepted to a school where you believe you would be happy, you can send in a deposit so that you have a secured place. If you receive an acceptance from the school where you are wait-listed, you can then decide whether you want to forfeit that deposit.
If you have not yet received an acceptance, you can spend some time deciding on your backup plan. You may decide to take a gap year and prepare a second round of applications, or you may choose to apply to a school that is still accepting applications. Either way, you may still have a chance of transferring to your top-choice school in the future.
