What to Do if Waitlisted to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton

You open up the online portal, a glimmer of hope dancing in your pupils, your body fraught with nervous anticipation. All of your hard work has, you hope, paid off, with the coveted admission that you had dreamed about. To your dismay, your eye catches sight of the string of words “you have been waitlisted.”

If you've been waitlisted at a top school, it's natural to feel disappointed and unsure of what to do next. A waitlist means, in most cases, imminent rejection; this is the brutal truth of the matter, although the exact percentage of students taken off the waitlist does vary from school to school. Being waitlisted doesn't always mean you won't get in — it means that your application was great, not excellent, and that the admissions committee is still considering your application but wants to gather more information before making a final decision. In most cases, there is a series of steps you can take to boost your chances of being taken off the waitlist. 

Here are some steps you can take to improve your chances of getting off the waitlist and accepted into a top school:

Submit any additional information that the admissions committee has requested. 

This may include additional test scores, transcripts, or letters of recommendation. Be sure to submit this information as soon as possible, as it will help the committee make a more informed decision about your application. In many cases, students are waitlisted due to uncertainty about a student’s profile, and a supplementary letter of recommendation can add the extra oomph that leads to an acceptance.

Write a letter of continued interest. 

In this letter, you should explain why you are still interested in attending the school that you’ve been waitlisted from, and how you would contribute to the university's community. This letter should be sent to the admission office, as it will be added to your file when the admission committee reevaluates waitlist candidates. Be sure to highlight any new achievements, awards, or experiences that you have had since you submitted your initial application. In general, awards or extra-curricular achievements related to your potential field of interest, and a detailed note about how the university will allow you to pursue your area of interest will land well with the admission committee. Ivy Brothers suggests diving deep with researching the school, finding particular professors with whom you hope to work.

Stay in touch with the admissions office. 

You don’t want to be forgotten about, which often happens with the waitlist pile; some candidates are more shortlisted than others. Keep the admission officers updated on any new information that may be relevant to your application, such as changes in your grades or test scores. Communication is essential here, as you want to establish a warm line of contact, so that when your profile is revisited, the admission officers are all well-acquainted with your profile. You can also check in periodically to see if there have been any updates on the waitlist.

Consider visiting the campus. 

If possible, plan a visit to your desired school and meet with admissions representatives or current students. This will give you a better sense of what the university is like and may also make a positive impression on the admissions committee. Schools track when students do an official visit to the campus, and demonstrating interest is essential if your application finds itself in the waitlist pile. 

Keep your options open. 

Most students are rejected from the waitlist at the majority of schools. While it's important to remain hopeful and take steps to improve your chances of getting off the waitlist, it's also a good idea to consider other colleges and universities as backup options. This will ensure that you have a plan in place in case you are not admitted to your desired college.

Being waitlisted at your school of choice can be frustrating, but it's not the end of the world. By following these steps and staying focused on your goals, you can increase your chances of getting off the waitlist and into the university. Good luck!

The best way to get off the waitlist is to book a consultation with Ivy Brothers, who has perfected a proprietary strategy known to us as the post-application boost process.