What do you do if you are waitlisted for grad school?

If you’ve been waitlisted for grad school, consider doing the following:

1. Don’t take it personally.
2. Make sure you follow instructions.
3. If feedback is offered, take it.
4. Mount a letter of recommendation campaign.
5. Request a campus interview.

What does it mean when a program is waitlisted?

A waitlist is a holding list for qualified applicants when a program reaches capacity (becomes full). Even after a program reaches capacity, space often becomes available as accepted students change their minds, move away, or fail to meet the conditions of their admission.

Is being waitlisted for grad school bad?

Getting into grad school can be a very competitive process, and while being waitlisted may not be your first choice, there are some silver linings you should keep in mind. Being waitlisted is a clear sign that the school considers you to be an eligible and attractive applicant.

What are the chances of getting in waitlist?

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 accepted.

Should I accept waitlist offer?

Don’t worry – accepting an admission offer at another college will not hurt your chances of being admitted off the waitlist. Colleges realize that students need a place to go in the fall and will not penalize someone for accepting a spot somewhere else while waiting to hear back on a waitlist decision.

Is being on a waitlist bad?

Getting waitlisted at a college certainly isn’t a bad thing—your application was good enough to not get rejected! —but it’s definitely an uncomfortable place to be. After all, when you’re on the college waitlist, you don’t know whether you’ll be admitted or not, and that alone is anxiety-inducing.