What To Do If You Are Waitlisted By Your Dream College?

The waitlist can be a source of both hope and confusion. You're not rejected outright, but you also don't have a guaranteed spot. Having helped hundreds of students navigate the complexities of college admissions, in this post we break down the waitlist, why it exists, and how to turn being waitlisted into a fresh opportunity for getting in.

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You were waiting to be accepted or rejected, but… now you’re waitlisted…? It feels like good news and bad news, a source for hope and confusion...  So what’s next?

The fact is, being waitlisted is not an offer but it can still be an opportunity, offering you a final shot at admission if you make the right moves.

We’ve helped hundreds of students navigate waitlisting, and now it’s your turn, so keep reading and discover how waitlists work and the 5 important things you can do in response — both to soften the emotional ups and downs and turn your waitlist status into an acceptance letter.

Why Do Colleges Use Waitlists?

Understanding waitlists — why colleges use them — can make understanding being waitlisted and what to do about it a little clearer.

Each admissions cycle, because of limited space, many colleges need to put on hold even well-qualified applicants while they wait to get a clearer sense of enrollment numbers, as some number of admitted students will choose to attend elsewhere.

This means colleges get “accepted” and “rejected” too: even at the very best universities, like Harvard or Stanford, a certain percentage of “admitted” students each year will go elsewhere!

Waitlists help colleges manage this uncertainty in predicting their "yield rate" (the percentage of admits who will choose to attend) by giving them a ready pool of good-fit, highly interested applicants to turn to if an unexpectedly large number of admitted students decide to attend elsewhere.

A Roadmap for Waitlisted Students

The waitlist can be a strange place but don't despair. While there are no guarantees, there are actions you can take to maximize your chances while also protecting your options. Here's your roadmap:

1. Take It All In

Admissions notifications are emotional events, and getting waitlisted is likely to leave many students without a sense of closure, resulting in some turbulent emotions, in addition to confusion about what to do next.

For many students though, being waitlisted can feel like rejection too.

This makes it important to connect with your support network for moral support!

Taking it all in and “resetting” your vision for college and your emotions is an important step for getting yourself in the right frame of mind before weighing your evolving options and making decisions about what to do next.

2. Don’t Be Afraid To Reapply

Your college journey so far has given you plenty of opportunities to reflect on both your achievements and the selective nature of the admissions process — valuable insights you can use if you decide to take a gap year and reapply again a year later, or to reapply strategically as a transfer student. Gap years don’t have to feel like lost time — far from it; likewise transferring, if planned well, can also offer unique benefits.

With an optimistic mindset, you’ll quickly see how to turn not getting in into new opportunities for academic and personal growth that give you new advantages when it's time to reapply.

3. Get Strategic Guidance From an Expert

If you’re not seeing it this way — optimistically — or just need help understanding and navigating your own best next steps, we encourage you to connect with a Crimson strategist. They have the expertise and experiences guiding other students to be able to help you see what’s possible, including finding authentic ways to pursue your passions while positioning yourself for elevated success in the next admissions cycle.

The fact is, real clarity isn’t always easy to achieve — especially in such an emotionally charged and formative endeavor as getting into your top-choice schools.

With expert guidance you can feel far more confident when taking your next steps, as you consider:

• Whether to stay on the waitlist or only target other institutions
• Whether to try to get off the waitlist and into the school
• Whether to take a gap year and reapply (and how to make use of the gap year)
• When to send a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) and what to say in it

4. Look for Ways To Get In

What if you do indeed want to get off the waitlist and get an offer?

If this is your goal, it's important to closely read and monitor any follow-up communications from the school about your next steps.

Converting your waitlist status into a real offer is possible, but it does take work and execution.

Depending on the school and the guidance provided, next steps can include:

• Composing and submitting a strong Letter of Continued Interest or similar update letters
• Having school reports submitted (by your school counselor)
• Providing an additional admissions essay, and so forth…

5. Don’t Stop Your Activities

That’s right, being waitlisted doesn’t really mean just waiting! In fact, if you’re planning to try to get an offer, or reapply next year, don't stop now. In the realm of academics and extracurriculars, demonstrating a deeper commitment and motivation can give your applicant profile the boost needed to get you into the acceptance category later in the process.

A Practical To-Do List (As You “Wait”)

Here's a practical checklist to help you stay focused and on top of your game!

___Ensure a Spot at Your Plan B School

If your Plan B School is an option you don’t want to lose, be sure to meet the deadline for accepting their offer of admission! If you miss this deadline (typically around May 1st), you are very likely to lose your spot there!

(Yes, unfortunately getting into the waitlist school is likely to mean losing your deposit at the Plan B School.)

___Weigh Alternatives

A waitlist scenario leaves with uncertainty about the outcome, making it a good time to think through some alternative paths:

• Transfer pathways: Is another college a better stepping stone to your dream school?
• Gap years: Could a year of work, travel, or focused study enrich your experience?

___Inform Your School Counselor

If you’re deferred or waitlisted, don’t keep it a secret! Keep your school counselor informed of any communications related to your application. In addition, your school counselor may need to submit an additional report or update during the deferral or waitlist period.

___Stay on Committed & Excited

I understand that waiting creates stress, but try to focus on finishing your senior year strong and enjoying the school activities you've committed to. The waitlist process can take time, so stay patient, continue to demonstrate interest in your top-choice schools, and continue cultivating excitement for whatever your future holds.

___Communicate & Monitor Updates

• Some colleges might request additional information, such as updated transcripts. Be sure to follow any specific instructions from the college.
• In addition to ongoing extracurricular involvement, continued dedication to academics also won't hurt. Depending on circumstances and timing, if you can retake the SAT or ACT or raise your GPA, it might give you an edge!
• If the college accepts but doesn't ask for them, consider sharing updated test scores, transcripts, or additional recommendations that could strengthen your application. Again, make sure to verify this with the college before sending anything.

___Work on Your LOCI

If your next steps involve submitting a Letter of Continued Interest, you’ll want yours to stand out. Start writing down key ideas for your letter after checking out our companion post: One More Shot: How To Write a Winning LOCI After Deferral or Waitlist

Final Thoughts

Navigating the waitlist requires careful strategy and a proactive approach. Remember, while getting off the waitlist isn't guaranteed, taking the steps outlined above significantly improves your chances.

By crafting a powerful LOCI, staying positive, protecting your options with a Plan B, and continuing to demonstrate your interest, you position yourself as a strong candidate should a spot open up.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure about how to approach your specific waitlist situation, don't hesitate to seek professional guidance. The experts at Crimson Education are offering personalized LOCI support today that ensures students are taking full advantage of any waitlist opportunity!  Book a free consultation to get started.