The 22 Fall application season is drawing to a close, and universities have been sending out notifications to applicants one after another.
Aside from clear-cut acceptances and rejections, some students have received waitlist emails. While not yet admitted, a waitlist means there's still a lifeline for your application. If you seize the opportunity, there's a strong chance you'll eventually be admitted!
What is a waitlist?
A waitlist is a common outcome in graduate school applications. Each year, the number of offers a school can extend is fixed and determined before they begin accepting applications. Therefore, some applicants inevitably don't receive an admission offer right away.
Unlike a rejection, a waitlist means the school has evaluated your application holistically and deemed you qualified, but they simply don't have enough offers to go around.
However, not every admitted student will enroll. If some admitted applicants decline their offers, students with similarly strong profiles on the waitlist get a chance. The school will further screen the waitlist and ultimately extend offers to those selected.
Typically, waitlisted candidates are not ranked, so you don't need to worry about your position on the list. However, schools may categorize applicants by background and experience—such as the competitiveness of your undergraduate institution, grades, or outstanding internships—to select the most suitable candidates for any open spots.
As for the often-asked question online—whether you can ask someone admitted but not attending to decline their offer and “refer” you off the waitlist—such shady tactics are generally impossible to pull off.
Schools have their own predetermined lists and exercise independent judgment. They won't hand a spot to a specific person just because you're friends or acquaintances.
So, upon receiving a waitlist notification, instead of trying these ineffective tricks, your first step should be to take proactive and constructive self-rescue measures tailored to your situation.
What to do after receiving a waitlist notification?
Waitlisted students typically consider their next steps: accept the waitlist decision or decline the school’s waitlist offer.
Whether staying on or leaving the waitlist, you'll usually need to inform the school or admissions office. This not only clarifies your intentions but also helps the process move efficiently, so you can get a final result sooner!
We also remind everyone to check carefully whether the school requires you to fill out a response form first to indicate your decision regarding the waitlist.
Below are a few questions to consider before making your decision. Understanding your own situation is the only way to make the right choice.
1. When will the school tell you if you're admitted? In other words, how long are you able or willing to wait? Timelines vary by institution, so the wait could last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. If possible, ask the school in advance when they expect to make a further decision on your status.
2. If you're also waiting on or considering offers from other schools, you need to determine your chances of admission, the deadline for paying deposits if admitted, and so on, to ensure your overall application timeline isn't disrupted and you have enough time to wait for the waitlisted school's outcome.
3. Consider what you can do now to strengthen your application, such as any updates you can share—improved grades, new test scores, or additional experience. You can later write a Letter of Continued Interest to detail these developments.
The importance of a Letter of Continued Interest!
Once you've decided to accept your spot on the waitlist, if you're truly eager to attend the program, we recommend following up to help your case.
At this point, consider sending an email to the admissions office at an appropriate time—often called a Letter of Continued Interest. Its purpose is to reiterate your strong interest and update the school on your recent accomplishments to boost your candidacy.
In the first paragraph, introduce yourself with your name, school, and major, then mention that this program is your top choice, how its excellent resources and geographic location will benefit your career, and articulate your rationale.
For example, you might note that although you've received offers from other schools, you still strongly hope to be admitted to your dream school and are willing to remain on the waitlist until the final decision.
Next, update the admissions office on your recent improvements: outstanding grades in your latest courses, higher GRE/GMAT scores, highly relevant internships, significant growth in your professional skills, new research projects, etc.
All of this demonstrates to the admissions office that you are more than capable of succeeding at their institution.
Finally, thank the school again for reviewing your materials and for giving you further consideration. Reiterate your strong desire to enroll.
Being waitlisted is an opportunity—don't let it slip away. Prove to the school once more your outstanding qualifications and genuine enthusiasm to attend.
Be thoroughly prepared in every application stage. Even at the final stretch, don't let your guard down—keep monitoring your status. Offers aren't just something you wait for; they're something you fight for!
We wish everyone the best in ultimately receiving an offer from your dream school!
