Being waitlisted or deferred from the college of your choice is never easy. Waitlists and deferrals are two different outcomes, but they share some similarities. A deferral is unique to the early admission process whereas the waitlist is unique to the regular admission process. In both situations, you will have to wait longer to hear a final admission decision. While they vary slightly, there are overlapping strategies with which to respond. Below are constructive and concrete steps you can take in response.
A deferral means that your application will be reconsidered and a decision will be rendered at a later date. Quite simply, the admissions committee is not yet ready to make a final decision.
The admissions committee wants to see that you are maintaining a strong transcript, and one of the most important pieces of information they will be looking for are your first semester grades. The LHS Registrar automatically sends first semester grades to schools.
Students should determine what the college requires, what is appropriate to provide, and heed those preferences. If a college explicitly states that deferred students should not submit additional application materials, then do not send in anything else.
It might also be a good idea to visit or revisit the school if this is feasible. This can help with the process of assessing all your options and making the decision that is right for you.
If you are put on the waitlist, it means you have met the admission requirements, but the college has already accepted the number of applicants it has room for. If a spot becomes available, you may be offered admission, but keep in mind that this could occur after May 1, the date when colleges expect a deposit from a school you were already admitted to.
If you are placed on a college’s waitlist, most colleges will give you the option to remain on the list or opt out.
Each college has different policies and procedures, so carefully read the waitlist information provided by the college and adhere to the instructions. Some colleges require that you simply agree to remaining on the waitlist, some allow you to submit a paragraph describing your interest and/or update your application materials, and others allow you to submit unlimited additional material.
If the college allows it, it is recommended that you do one or more of the following tasks:
Whether you are deferred or waitlisted, avoid the temptation to begin a flood of recommendation letters and phone calls to the admissions department. In almost every case, this can have an adverse effect on your chances for admission. Some institutions even state in the letters that they do not take any additional letters of recommendation or phone calls on the student’s behalf. If the admissions office does need more materials, they are generally interested in concrete information (standardized test scores, grades, etc.) rather than personal testimony or recommendations.
Remember to send a deposit to one (and only one) of the schools to which you have been accepted while you wait.
Most importantly, look at the pros of the colleges to which you have been admitted. You are most likely to have a wonderful experience at one of these if you decide to attend with a positive attitude!
Please keep in mind that it is important to be patient during this process. Also, there are obviously many students who are happy and excited, and also students who are disappointed and sad. As a community, we need to acknowledge this and take care of each other, always keeping in mind that where students attend college does not determine their self-worth. There is more to a student than their resume, and all students deserve to be celebrated for their contributions to our community.