Wait Lists...So hot right now!

Once rare, wait-listing is the “new dinner” in the college admissions process- it’s really, really trendy. Parents, before we begin to blame colleges for the added stress on our teens, let’s try and understand why so many students are being wait-listed. The perception that college is harder than ever to get into means that students are applying to more schools. Colleges are having a tough time predicting matriculation rates, and wait-lists act as a hedging mechanism. Think of wait-lists as insurance for a college.

Here are the statistics: according to the college admission counseling association, an average of 27 percent of students on wait lists are ultimately offered admission. For colleges that admit 50 percent of their applicants or fewer, however, that percentage drops to 18.3. For universities that admit even a smaller fraction, the odds are lower still.

For wait-listed students here are some suggestions:
According to the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) "Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities in the College Admissions Process," a student who is wait-listed has the right to ask the college for a history of the school’s wait list that indicates the following (you can also find this information on the web):

• how many students have been on the wait list in the past?
• how many were offered admission?
• what types of housing and financial aid were available for those students who were later accepted?

Your guidance office may be able to help you find out:

• Where you are ranked on the wait list
• What the major obstacle is to your being accepted

Students don’t forget to:

• Keep the college updated—academic milestones, projects, awards, or outstanding achievements.
• Write a letter to the Dean of Admissions that reiterates your interest in the school.
• Get Creative!