What to Do If You're Wait-Listed

In the whole college application process, applicants fear for and worry about two things the most: being rejected and being put on the waiting list are these two things. It can seem that getting waitlisted is just as bad as getting rejected, no matter whom you were and that is understandable. Being put on the waiting list is like being in admissions limbo; you are stuck in between without really for some time what your fate is going to be. For those that are put on a waiting list, there are a few key things that are important to always keep in mind.

It's Not the End--At Least, Not yet

The waiting list is not rejection, however way you choose to select. While it is coming too close for comfort in most cases, it is a lot better than nothing and it proves that the admissions officials did feel a you are worthy of a position, but in most cases they were simply not enough in the class pay admissions only admits so many students per year, which leads many latecomers and slightly less qualified students left in the dark, whereas they normally might not be. Too many students apply to school just for the acceptance letter, or to have their options open if and when the time comes necessary. Keep that in mind as you go through your waiting process, and although you may feel like you've been waiting for quite some time there are a great deal of students who are going to cancel their plans and not attend that school, perhaps choosing to attend school across the United States or maybe no school at all. The college application process is rigorous, with many potential college students all trying to find a college at once. It is important to remember that if you were waitlisted, chances are you're not the only one.

It Makes You Better Than Most, If Not All

Part of the reason why many students also discouraged when they are put on a waiting list is because it makes them feel like they were less worthy or qualified a position in the class. Keep in mind that the admissions officials could have very easily thrown your application and the rejection pile like so many others numbering in the thousands, but there was something about the application that need to think twice about. Perhaps you had poorer grades but an exceptionally high SAT score; perhaps it was the other way around. Maybe you have wonderful grades and test scores, and academics seem to be all you are worried about the high school. Or, perhaps she participated in a support and did ok in school, but let your senior year slipped is a tad bit too much. The moral of the story is, that we all fall somewhere between some time or another. Being put on the waiting list is just a chance to really buckle down and figure out what you really want and whether this is even the school that you want to attend.

Be Proactive

This is not the end; there are things that you can do starting with finding out what your odds are. Your position on the waiting list means a lot; if you are number 1 you are in, if you are number 999 your chances are slimmer.

Also, write a letter to the admissions officials explaining to them why you should get in. They have already determined that you have the right makings, help them understand what else you have that makes you an exceptional pick. Nothing is guaranteed but your future is worth a try.