First off - congratulations!! It may not be the result you had hoped for, but it is certainly still an amazing accomplishment. Being accepted onto a waitlist for college may feel like a bit of a gut punch, but it’s imperative to view it as the complement it is: you are a front-running candidate to enter the program. Remember: they also had the option of not putting you on the wait list at ALL.

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As someone who has been on multiple waitlists for various types of programs, I completely understand your pain. Sometimes it’s easier to just know one way or the other…ESPECIALLY if that’s your first-choice program. There’s nothing more agonizing than feeling like you’re putting your life on hold as you’re waiting for a yes while most of your other friends are already excitedly making plans for their next year

The one positive thing here is that you have been given the gift of more time. When you get immediate acceptance into a program, the clock is ticking right away. You will sometimes need to accept a place before all of your options are in front of you.

Getting put on a waitlist for college gives you a chance to really assess the situation and decide if it’s an option you would take, or if you may be better off elsewhere.

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Being waitlisted gives you more time to evaluate your options

While it is tempting to spiral into a hopeless mess of “why couldn’t I have been just a single HAIR better”, only let yourself wallow in that for a day or so. As cliche as this sounds, this might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Take the pressure off of “why wasn’t I good enough”, and instead consider if it’s maybe a sign that it might not be the right program for you right now. You’re clearly thoroughly qualified to get in - they would’ve given you a rejection letter if you weren’t a suitable candidate. It just means that this year, other students were better-suited for that opportunity.

Maybe one day you will be perfect for that opportunity. But maybe also, the program itself might not be right for you. Even if, on paper, it seems like it should be the perfect program (or if, on paper, it seems like the “best” program), it still might not be exactly what you need.

Being waitlisted for college gives you a chance to really question whether or not it’s the right opportunity for you right now.

What should you do when you find out you’re on the waitlist for college?

When you first find out that you’re on the waiting list, make sure to respond with a quick message saying thank you and that you’ll still be interested if an opportunity comes up. Say this regardless of whether you think you would go or not. You want to give yourself enough time to really come to a conclusion if you’re no longer interested, and then tell them then.

Don’t assume that just because it’s a prized program, nobody’s going to reject their offer and you won’t get in. There ARE wait lists for a reason. There are many reasons for students to turn down amazing schools…from scholarships to changing majors to life circumstances. As long as you’re on a waiting list, there’s a chance of you getting an offer.

If you decide you don’t plan on attending, let them know. They will appreciate being told so that they can go ahead and move the next person on the list. Don’t make this decision too quickly, though. Until you’re definitely out, it’s always best to keep your options open for a bit.

There are a few other questions you can ask them as well. It never hurts to find out where you are on the list (most of the time, they can’t actually give you a rough estimate of how many wait listed people usually get in, but being 1 or 51 on the list can make a huge difference). It can also be useful to know when the confirmation/payment deadline is for those who have an offer. Once the class has paid their deposit money, there will be fewer people dropping out.

What’s the best way to handle the waiting list uncertainty?

My best advice, however gutting this may seem, is to make other plans and move on with your life without it. Treat it as a “you had an amazing application and should be proud of yourself, but it’s a no for this year” letter. This doesn’t mean that if you DO end up getting in you should’t consider going. But, take this time to create another plan so you have something to start getting excited about. Whether this means pursuing another offer or planning a super awesome gap year of working and gaining life experience instead is up to you.

Leave the potential eventual “yes” as an exciting future disaster. You never know, you might end up making another plan that’s 60000x more fulfilling.

For your own sanity, know your cut-off date of when you would need to be accepted by. If you truly think you can drop your life in the second week of classes and start at that program, then go for it. For most people, this would be unrealistic, though, so setting up a “need to know by” date will make your life way less stressful.

Contact the school a day or two before your cut-off date to see where things stand. While it’s not good to hound them constantly regarding what number you are, it never hurts to check in at that time when it really matters. Knowing it’s now or never for you could also give them an opportunity to change their minds and give you a chance if you’re one of the next on the list.

When you really are at that last possible day of needing to know, tell the school that you’re out. As much as it might be fun to find out the week before things start that you did actually get in, all you’ll be doing is adding unneeded stress and confusion to your own system. If there’s no feasible way of going, it’s better not to know. The school will also appreciate being told that you’re no longer interested because it takes time for them to reach out to the prospective students one by one. Being courteous to admissions staff is always appreciated, and it could mean a gold star if you re-apply in the future.

Don’t plan your life around going, but also don’t actively make decisions that would prevent you from going

…until you’re ready to say no.

What does this mean?

This means decisions like: if you’d need a summer job to help pay for school (but you wouldn’t need one to take a gap year), get a job. You won’t regret this one anyways. That money’s going to be useful whether it goes towards education or not.

If you need to accept a spot in a different program (but still would switch to the other program if you got a spot), only take commitment steps that you’re willing to abandon. This means that you might not want to pay your deposit for your second choice school until the last possible second. It also means you might need to question whether or not you’re willing to pay the deposit and abandon it, or if paying the deposit on your second-choice program means you’re officially saying no to the waitlist.

Being on a waitlist is a delicate balance, but only you will know the right decision for you. Sometimes the best thing you can do is make a decision and go with it. Other times, the dream program itself is worth waiting for.

What to expect when you get IN off the waitlist for college

If you get in off of a waitlist, be prepared for a whirlwind of excitement and crazy. You won’t have much time to accept your spot, so be prepared to make a gut-reaction instant decision no matter which way you go. Hopefully if you haven’t withdrawn by now, it means your plan is to say yes if you get in, so your decision should be simple. If you haven’t made a decision yet, you’ll very likely just get so excited that you’ll end up saying yes by default.

Once you start school, don’t let the fact that you were waitlisted get to your head. It’s easy to feel like you’re automatically at the bottom of the pile and need to prove your worth. The thing is, once things start, you’re all at ground zero. Very few (if any) faculty members will remember who was on what list, and all anyone will know is the impression you make in the first few weeks of school. You all earned a place, and you’re all clearly worthy of being there.

If you didn’t deserve to be there, you wouldn’t have been waitlisted in the first place!

What about if you DON’T get in off the waitlist for college??

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Well, at least you’ve prepared for this scenario, so hopefully it hasn’t left you with no plans whatsoever.

If you don’t get in, know that it was for the best. Any program, no matter how prestigious, is not perfect for everyone. There will be so many other ways to achieve your dream that don’t include going to that school that year.

If you still feel drawn to that particular program, ask for feedback if you can. Maybe with another year of specific dedication, you’ll be able to make it in next time. Remember: if you’re wait-listed, they already like you…so, you already have a ton of things going for you!

No matter how special it could be, this isn’t the be-all-end-all of opportunities

Sometimes life sucks. Sometimes life isn’t fair. Sometimes things just don’t go your way. Trust that if something like a school doesn’t turn out, it doesn’t mean that life is out to get you. It just means that life has other, better, more exciting plans.

Some time on the waitlist for college will usually either bring you clarity that sends you in another direction or make you so desperate to go it’s insane. Whichever way your brain takes you, trust that it’s right…and then thank your time on the waitlist for bringing you that clarity.

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Who is Nadya Corscadden?

Nadya holds an MA in Musical Theatre and is no stranger to the home learning scene. Having spent a good chunk of her younger years in distance education (and opting for some correspondence electives at university), she has accumulated many tricks to help maintain focus and inspiration. She has a passion for independent learning and wants to help anyone and everyone find their stride in this atmosphere whether it’s homeschooling or simply studying for that next big test!

She is also a triple threat singer, dancer and actress….and can’t wait until stages are alive again!

On the Waitlist for College? Here's What to Do