So, You’ve Been Waitlisted. What Now?
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You might’ve heard words like “deferred” and “waitlisted” before but might not know precisely what that means for the next step in your college journey.
As you start this new process, we’ll define these terms and, more importantly, help you navigate your next steps if you encounter these new routes along the way.
What Does Waitlisted Mean for College?
College admissions teams use the term “waitlisted” as part of the decision-making process, and it means a student hasn’t been accepted, nor have they been rejected to their school. The application instead is placed on hold, and a student may or may not get accepted depending on the specific school’s admissions process and whether more student spots become available.
Waitlist decisions are mostly made during the regular decision round of applications, as opposed to early action or early decision. However, you aren’t guaranteed to hear back from the institution by a specific deadline. Most schools won’t update students about their waitlist status until after May 1, the national deadline for students to submit their deposits to secure a spot at school.
Read More: Everything You Need to Know About the College Admissions Process
You might ask yourself, “Is being waitlisted bad?” and the short answer is no. While it’s not an outright acceptance to the school, colleges have a limited number of spaces for incoming students, so they must judge applications and their overall admissions process with that in mind. A waitlisted student is a competitive candidate, but the school must measure its enrollment goals when accepting students, meaning it may prioritize other students based on major choice or other qualities. Overall, a waitlist is more about the school than you or your application.
When applicants are waitlisted, they can stay on the waitlist or be removed. Some industry experts estimate that, on average, 20 percent of applicants who remain on a waitlist eventually get accepted into their intended college. For colleges with stricter admissions requirements, the chances decrease. And if you are accepted, you’re just as legitimately accepted as any other student – your waitlist days are officially over.
Next up: what the heck does “deferred” mean, and is it the same as being waitlisted? Follow along as we distinguish between the two, and of course, what can you do about it?
Deferred vs Waitlisted
Unlike a waitlisted decision, “deferred” decisions are mostly made during the early action round of applications. If a student is deferred during early action, that means the admissions team was unable to provide an ultimate decision on acceptance or rejection to the school by mid-December, but that the application will be reconsidered during the regular decision round.
In addition to application timing differences, another key difference between deferred vs waitlisted is that an application is guaranteed to be reconsidered when it’s deferred, while an application placed on a waitlist is not.
What to Do If You’re Waitlisted or Deferred?
While receiving a deferred or waitlisted decision isn’t ideal in the college admissions process, it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it! Read on.
If you want to attend a specific school after being deferred or waitlisted, there are a few things you can do to try to increase your chances of getting admitted:
- Accept a spot on the waitlist
- Reach out to the school again to express interest
- Submit a deposit to another university (just in case)
- Continue to focus on your academics
- Be ready to make a decision if admitted
While there’s no guarantee you’ll be admitted to your intended school, it’s important to try your best while being thoughtful; if it doesn’t work out with one school, there are plenty of other opportunities at other schools and different alternatives altogether.
Another option to explore if you’re waitlisted or deferred is applying for a new adventure that fits in with your future college career – and will impress an admissions team giving you a second look: study abroad.
CIEE Options for High School Graduates
CIEE offers high school graduates, and those at the start of their college career, two amazing study abroad opportunities: CIEE Gap Year and First Year Abroad.
Both offer great alternatives to explore if you were recently waitlisted or deferred, and not just as an intermission in your college journey but as an actual next step towards your goals!
Read More: What Is the Most Important Factor in College Admissions?
CIEE Gap Year
If you need a quick refresher, CIEE Gap Year is a way for high school graduates to travel to fascinating destinations around the world, including cities like Paris, Rome, Berlin, and even Kyoto, Japan, among others.
Read More: Taking a Gap Year in Japan
When you do a gap year with CIEE, you’ll defer the start of college to travel, pursue your passions, or gain focus for your upcoming studies (or all three!). While on program, you’ll immerse yourself in a language for a semester or academic year in a global destination.
You’ll take 15-20 hours of language classes a week, live with a carefully-screened host family, explore local culture and landmarks, and truly adventure. When your program is complete, you’ll head back to the U.S. with a new global perspective and a lot to add to your college application. You’ll feel refreshed and more confident than ever to start college.
CIEE First Year Abroad
CIEE First Year Abroad is the start of your college career! If the traditional college path in the U.S. isn’t your vibe, or if you were recently waitlisted or deferred, first year abroad is an excellent way to earn your first semester or first year college credits while abroad.
You’ll get to choose from incredible international cities like Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, London, Sydney, and many others! You’ll take intro-level college courses each week, just like on a typical college campus, but you’ll also get to dive into local cultures and go on fantastic excursions.
Read More: Top 5 First Year Abroad Programs
After program, you’ll return to the States to complete your degree (after doing all that exciting traveling and exploration) by either continuing your education at our academic home and school of record, Dean College, or by transferring your credits to a CIEE university partner or school of your choosing.
Like CIEE Gap Year, completing a first year abroad program will make you an excellent candidate for any university.
Read More: First Year Abroad: More Than Just Great Food and Fun Travel
When you ask yourself what being waitlisted means, of it as an opportunity–an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world around you and a chance to tackle college with even more confidence. You got this!