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Is it impressive to get waitlisted?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 21, 2026

If you are placed on a waitlist, you can usually find out if the school has gone to their waitlist in the past and if so, how many students they admitted from the waitlist. In some cases, your chances of eventually getting in are very good; at other colleges, waitlisted applicants are almost never admitted.

Is it good to get waitlisted?

Getting on a college waitlist means that an applicant has all the necessary qualifications, but that the admissions office could not offer them acceptance at the time. Getting on a waitlist does not mean you should give up hope. Waitlisted students still have a chance at earning admission into the school.

How common is it to get waitlisted?

According to a 2019 National Association for College Admissions Counseling report, 43% of colleges use waitlists. Half of the students offered a spot on a waitlist accepted it, and colleges on average admitted 20% of students off the waitlist. At the most selective institutions, that figure was 7%.

Is it better to be waitlisted or denied?

Being waitlisted is better than being rejected because you still have some chance of getting into the school. According to the NACAC survey, the average acceptance rate across all institutions for those who choose to stay on the waitlist is 20% and 7% for selective institutions.

What percent of waitlisted students get accepted?

According to a 2019 survey from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), 43 percent of four-year colleges reported using a waitlist in 2018. Of all the students who accepted a position on the waitlist at these colleges, 20 percent were admitted.

24 related questions found

Are Waitlists ranked?

Just like in the regular admissions process, colleges need to evaluate their yield, institutional needs, legacy status, and other factors before deciding which students, if any, to admit from the waitlist. Waitlists aren't ranked – meaning there's not a number one student who will definitely get in if there's room.

Should I accept waitlist offer?

First things first, be sure to accept your waitlisted status. When a school informs you that you have been waitlisted, they are essentially offering you a spot on the waitlist. Therefore, to be added to the waitlist, you must accept the waitlist offer.

Can you get rejected after being waitlisted?

Wait-listed applicants can typically either accept or reject a waitlist offer, usually via postcard or online. Those considering accepting – which is required for further consideration – should ensure the school is truly a top choice, experts say.

Do waitlisted students get rejected?

Waitlists and deferrals are two different things, but they share some similarities. While neither is an outright rejection, they both mean you will have to wait longer to see if you will be admitted. Being deferred can mean a wide variety of things.

Do colleges waitlist overqualified students?

Overqualified students (quantified primarily by GPA and SAT/ACT) are routinely being waitlisted or denied at “no problem” colleges because the admissions committee feels doubtful these students are likely to enroll if accepted.

Does NYU have a waitlist?

You can relay your level of interest in NYU by way of our Waitlist Response Form online. There, you will have the opportunity to express your interest level in NYU.

Are Waitlists binding?

WAITLISTS AREN'T BINDING: You can accept spots on as many waitlists as you like. You can stick with the school where you've deposited or choose to attend your waitlisted school, but more than likely you'll lose your deposit at the college where you've accepted a spot — and you should accept a spot somewhere.

What does waiting list mean at NWU?

Your application has been approved based on your current results. You still need to meet the minimum requirements for your intended course of study based on your final grade 12 results. “WAITING LIST” Due to reasons pertaining to capacity restrictions your application has been placed on a. waiting list.

How do colleges decide who to waitlist?

Nevertheless, most colleges don't rank waitlist applicants and instead make their admissions decisions based on other factors such as what majors they want to have represented and which applicants will be most likely to attend if admitted. How lucky do you feel?

Why am I getting waitlisted by so many colleges?

Most of the time, it means you have the academic credentials to be admitted, but for one reason or another, the admissions office wasn't ready to accept you. If you've been waitlisted, don't panic. A good plan of action is to make sure you have a solid list of safety schools to apply to just in case.

What should I do if I get waitlisted?

Here's what you can do to boost your chances of being accepted.

  1. Get a sense of your chances of admission. ...
  2. Write a letter to the admission office. ...
  3. Study hard. ...
  4. Stay involved. ...
  5. Request another (or a first) interview. ...
  6. Realize that you've already achieved something. ...
  7. Reconsider the colleges that accepted you.

Do waitlisted students get financial aid?

Some highly selective (and wealthy) colleges will meet demonstrated financial need even for waitlisted students — Macalester and Colgate, for example. That means eligible students will receive a financial aid package regardless of whether they're accepted during the regular admit period or off the waitlist.

How long does it take to hear back from waitlist?

Colleges will put students on the waitlist during the regular decision round of admission. Once on the waitlist, you might not be notified of your admittance until after the May 1 deadline to secure your spot at a school by sending in your deposit.

What percent of Harvard is black?

And even at just 11% Black overall, Harvard is one of the Blackest Ivy League schools.

What percent of Harvard is white?

The enrolled student population at Harvard University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 39.7% White, 13.7% Asian, 9.46% Hispanic or Latino, 6.56% Black or African American, 3.94% Two or More Races, 0.197% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.118% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Who got into Harvard 2025?

The Class of 2025 admitted 1,968 students out of a record-high 57,435 applicants, marking the lowest admissions rate and the most diverse class in the College's history. Here are 5 students from the historic Class of 2025. Jose Marco C. “Marcky” Antonio was waiting with his twin brother in the attic on Dec.

Does Tulane waitlist everyone?

Some years, we admit a group of students off the waitlist, others not. Last year, it was fewer than 50. COVID-19 has made these numbers more unpredictable this year. We'll let you know as soon as we can.