Waitlisted at College? Here's What To Do!

I am a mentor in a First-To-College program, Transitioning Together, at my local high school. My kids have not been waitlisted so I haven’t had to figure this out, but I wanted to share this a great resource from Transitioning Together for anyone who needs it.

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I was waitlisted…

You should:

Be proactive. If you care about attending the school, let them know; that means don’t be silent. Read their communication carefully and follow the instructions. Do what they tell you to do and don’t do what they tell you not to do. Don’t send additional letters of recommendation if they specifically state to NOT do so; you will pay the price.
Send new information. A waitlist is a great opportunity to share new information with a college or university. If you have an update on: semester grades, new test scores, new award(s), new employment, new leadership role(s), etc.
Create a strong letter to the Admissions Office (as long as it doesn’t say not to). Articulate why you are still interested in their college. If you don’t know the Admissions representative who handles your high school, try and find out.
Stay upbeat. Don’t come across as angry, threatening, or bitter in your letter, remember you are still applying for admission, i.e., they still hold all the cards.
Lastly, you have the option to ask your school counselor to contact ONE school on your behalf. Please think about this choice carefully because the counselor will convey your 100% interest in attending that school should you be admitted by coming off the waitlist.

You shouldn’t:

Be a pest. It’s important to be proactive, but don’t stock the Admissions Office and hound them with multiple emails each week.
Be desperate. Don’t fawn unnecessarily and share too many sentiments that make you sound as if you are unstable or unreasonably devastated by being waitlisted.
Send superfluous information. Be judicious about what you choose to share. Don’t send multiple extra letters of recommendation. Don’t send gifts/bribes.
Compare yourself to others. You might hear about another student who you feel is less qualified who was accepted. Don’t share that information with the admissions office.

Most importantly, you need to be proactive but it is equally important to be realistic. If you are still steadfast in your interest, then follow through with the above items, but think realistically about your other options. Take a harder look at the colleges that have told you that they want you and give them a fair shake.

Letter of Continued Interest

Goal – formally express your desire to attend the college

The letter must be:

Written as a formal document/letter.
Emailed or mailed to the admissions office, ideally to a specific contact.
Be sure to ask that it is included in your application file.
Sent by the end of January, ideally, or first week in February for deferral. For Waitlist, send by mid-April at the latest.
If you want to submit new SAT/ACT/TOEFL scores be sure to share this with the rep and send officially.

Additionally, notify the Records Office to send either your mid-year grade (if deferred) or third quarter grades (if waitlisted).

Format

Paragraph 1 – Re-introduce yourself as an applicant for admission. While you are disappointed to be deferred or waitlisted, you are grateful that you can continue to be competitive in the application process and that they’ll re-read your application.

Paragraph 2 – Update – Update them on new academic interests or accomplishments, new activities/involvements, and even new hobbies. The goal is to update them on new information – be specific.

Paragraph 3 – Why Them? – Give a good solid, specific paragraph about why you like the college, why it is such a good fit for you, and why you are a good fit for them. Make it sincere, specific, and heartfelt. If this is your first choice, say so, but don’t say it if it isn’t true.

Paragraph 4 – Conclusion – Tell them you’ll have new grades sent when they are available, and thank them for their continued interest in you as a prospective student at their college

Sample Letter of Continued Interest

Date

Ms. Admissions
Director of Admissions
Ideal University
Street Address
City, State Zip Code

Dear Ms. Admissions,

(Re-Introduction) Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I know that Ideal University is a competitive school, and I’m honored to be included on the waitlist. I’m writing to express my continued interest in your school and to provide you with some additional information for my application. Ideal University remains my first choice, and I would absolutely attend if accepted.

(Update) Since applying to Ideal University, I have received the Seal of Biliteracy in Russian, which is awarded by the state in recognition of a student’s proficiency in two languages. This award means a lot to me as it celebrates my family’s culture and demonstrates my passion for linguistics, language and communication. I also was a part of the Newton North Varsity Ice Hockey team that won the state championship this past March. It was an unforgettable experience to be captain of this selfless team that overcame adversity and injuries to achieve this amazing accomplishment.

(Why Them?) I’m still very excited about joining Ideal University’s English Department and working on literary research and writing poetry with inspiring faculty like Professor Smith. I love the sense of community on campus and school spirit – especially at the basketball games (Go Tigers!). The idea of joining Ideal University’s Outing Club and participating in their annual trip to Lake George greatly appeals to me and my sense of adventure.

(Conclusion) Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I will send my updated transcript as soon as it is available – I am anticipating all A’s and B’s this quarter and I feel that these grades are a better reflection of my ability. Please let me know if you have any additional questions and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Student’s Name

Adapted from The Admissions Strategist’s “Writing an Amazing Letter of Continued Interest (Samples Included)

p.s. Related posts:

First To College Program at Newton North High School

How to Prepare for the College Admissions Interview

Committing to a College: Cost Comparison Chart

Are Colleges Need Blind? Yes and NO!

Moving Tips for College Graduates

Dorm Room Essentials & My Daughter’s Move In

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