Key takeaways:
- Most waitlisted students hear back from colleges after May 1 and before the end of June, but you might not receive a decision until August.
- Admissions departments often post decisions to student online portals or notify them by email, but some call instead.
- You could potentially improve your chances of an acceptance letter by updating the college about new achievements and writing to the admissions department.
If you’ve been waitlisted by a college, you’re probably wondering “what’s next?” Here’s what you need to know about waitlist decisions, when they come out, and how you could potentially increase your chances of an acceptance letter.
When do waitlist decisions come out?
Waitlist decisions tend to come out after May 1, with most students hearing back from the college in May or June. All students receive a decision before the start of the fall semester in August. They’re usually delivered on a rolling basis.
For example, a school offers acceptance to 10 waitlisted students on May 2. Eight decline the offer over the next two weeks. The school then sends acceptance letters to another eight waitlisted students on May 20. The process continues until all seats are filled for the upcoming semester.
When colleges have thousands of waitlisted students, it can take weeks or months to go through and notify the entire list. Waiting for a school’s decision can be nerve wracking, especially if you have to make a choice about a backup school in the meantime.
How do schools notify you if you’re accepted from the waitlist?
In most cases, schools notify waitlisted students they’re accepted (or rejected) by email and/or through the student portal. You should check your email and student portal regularly to see if you’ve received an update – and always look at your spam folder so you don’t miss an important message.
Some colleges call, too, so keep your phone close just in case.
Can you improve your chances of getting accepted off of the waitlist?
Yes, you can sometimes improve your chances of getting accepted off of the waitlist. For instance, some colleges accept letters of interest from waitlisted students. If your school does, write either the admissions department or the regional admissions dean, indicating how much you’d like to attend the college should you be accepted and why. Always keep it polite, proofread before sending, and ask for feedback from trusted mentors.
You might also be able to send in accomplishment updates, such as huge jumps in your grades, higher SAT/ACT scores, or awards relative to your intended major.
Should you accept a waitlist offer?
Whether you accept a waitlist offer is entirely up to you! However, very few students are accepted off waitlists (if any), and you could lose out on other college offers or deposits by waiting. Before deciding, research the school’s acceptance rates off waitlists and compare your options.
A strong mix of reach, match, and safety schools can help you have options in case you are waitlisted by your first-choice college. Discover the colleges that fit you through College Match today.
