You find yourself in the application portal repeatedly refreshing the page counting down the seconds. Your finger is trembling as it hovers over the “view decision” button. With a hesitant click, you reveal your decision, and your eyes quickly scan the page. A sinking feeling takes root in your chest as the bold letters deliver the news: Your Decision: Waitlist.
It’s not a definitive rejection, but disappointment still washes over you. You’re left in this weird middle ground of yes or no and have no control over the situation.
If you find yourself in this situation, take some deep breaths and read this article. I once stood in your shoes, having been waitlisted by Barnard College, Columbia University, only to later secure a full ride to Barnard off the waitlist. Here’s a guide to help you navigate this decision and maximize your chances of moving from the waitlist to acceptance.
- Don’t take it personally + Relax
The first thing anyone wants to do when faced with rejection is take it personally. However, this is the biggest mistake that you could make. Why? Because this decision isn’t personal. It’s not a reflection of what you can achieve or how intelligent you are. Rather, it’s a decision that has a multitude of outside factors that you can’t control such as how much money the institution has, how big the class is, or the expected yield. Your waitlist isn’t a definitive no. Go take a break, relax hang out with friends, and celebrate the other schools that did say yes. Try not to compare your acceptance to other students. Someone else’s acceptance doesn’t speak about your capabilities, your hard work, experiences. Sure, it speaks about theirs but you’re both different people going through different things. So, put down those Ivy Day tiktoks and invite your friends to go hang out.
- Dont spam email admissions
Don’t do it. They’re most likely not going to reply to you. Trust me, they know how much you and thousands of other students want that spot. Sending multiple emails to admissions after they’ve advised against it won’t benefit your application at all. It might even hurt your chances. Keep in mind, despite appearances, admissions officers are human too. So, if you need to update them on activities, submit the information through the platforms they’ve specified. I’d only suggest reaching out if you’re unsure about what to do next.
- Reflect on your choices
Celebrate, just because one school said maybe doesn’t mean others didn’t say yes. Celebrate those acceptances and start getting serious about the other schools. It might be disappointing that your top choice didn’t come through, but there are still amazing people to connect with and incredible opportunities waiting for you at other institutions. While this institution might not sparkle as brightly as the one you were waitlisted to, it doesn’t mean that it shines any less and can’t support you in the same way the other institutions can. Make the best of your situation and immerse yourself in the other schools and what they have to offer for you.
- Commit to a school don’t bank on a waitlist acceptance
Do not wait for the waitlist acceptance. The biggest mistake you can make is waiting for an acceptance from a waitlist while refusing to commit to a school. I know, I know, it’s very hard to not consider it, believe me, I did when Ivy Day didn’t work out in the way that I had hoped. However, the biggest disservice you can do to yourself is miss out on an education and connections because you’re waiting on a decision that may be out of your control.
- Examine your CommonApp
To many, this choice may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, I highly recommend stepping back from the situation and taking a closer look at your Common Application (CommonApp). As a member of my low-income high school’s first graduating class, my college admissions journey faced its share of challenges. Nonetheless, with the invaluable support of my counselors and teachers, I was able to reassess my approach and identify areas for improvement within my CommonApp.
What you might find yourself “missing” could be as simple as failing to elaborate on the community impact of your extracurricular activities. In my case, I realized I hadn’t sufficiently quantified many of my activities.
While Danalize was created after my admissions process, I made sure to include it in my Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) with quantifiable impact. This addition addressed a crucial gap in my CommonApp, emphasizing the tangible contributions I could make to any academic community.
- Write your LOCI
The 5th and final step is to write your letter of continued interest. Here are some resources to get you brainstorming + my second LOCI I wrote to the Barnard admissions office before ultimately getting accepted a month later. I’d recommend reaching out to teachers and counselors to proofread your LOCI.
LOCI Instructions + Inspo I used:
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/letter-of-continued-interest
https://prepory.com/blog/letter-of-continued-interest-2 (My college counselors worked at Prepory)
Final Words:
While receiving a waitlist decision or rejection may result in feelings of disappointment, it’s important to understand that regardless of your chosen educational path, it’s not indicative of how intelligent or capable you are. It’s a common misconception that students attending prestigious institutions may seem like the smartest people in the world but the reality is that brilliance exists across all educational settings.
What truly influences how capable you are is how you’re able to utilize your available resources. Many of you tuning in may find yourselves as the first students in your family to go to college. It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate these milestones, honoring the work you’ve done along the way.
I wish you all good luck and a ton of success at your institution of choice. If you need any assistance or guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at: danalizeblog@gmail.com.
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