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As the decision season begins, colleges are beginning to release their regular decision notifications. With it may come a nerve-wrecking fear that many high school seniors may have: the waitlist. The waitlist is a list of applicants who have not been accepted or rejected. To help lessen the stress here at SK Education, we are here to guide you through what to do and what not to do.
Make a Plan
If you do not already have a plan, try devising one as soon as you can, especially if you are interested in schools that do not release their decisions until May 1st like the UCs. This is the time to revisit your spreadsheet of colleges and parse out which universities you are still considering.
If you are still considering the university, accept your waitlist position. Although tempting, do not wait until you hear back from all the colleges to accept your position, unless you are waiting to hear back from a college that is at the top of your list. Most colleges have a long waitlist that allows the school to have greater flexibility over its incoming students.
While Waiting
While waiting to hear back from admissions, be sure to keep up your academics and extracurriculars. Plan your post high school-graduation with an emphasis on academics that are worth mentioning to the universities. Choose activities and programs that show your interest in the specific college and demonstrate your interest. They want to know you are interested in attending their institution.
The Waitlist Response Letter
While waiting, most colleges require their waitlist students to write a response letter that is highly personalized. This includes but is not limited to, writing in your own tone while staying positive, being specific in your goals for the college and what you will do with the experience you will gain, and sharing exciting news on what has changed since your application that may make you more appealing. Sometimes writing this in a time when you are already stressed with AP tests can be daunting so if you need any assistance, please feel free to reach out to us.
General Notification Dates
Key Takeaways
- Re-evaluate your college list and prioritize the likely colleges that you would like to attend and may get accepted into.
- Do not hesitate to to accept the waitlist
- Fill your time with activities that would make your application more appealing.
- Draft a highly personalized waitlist response letter that focuses on your personal goals, how the college can help you achieve that, and many more.
