Opinion on Wait list

[XXQQCC]

Hello~

I'm just wondering how we should consider about waitlist.

If a school gives you offer after wait list you, should you accept it?

I heard about one opinion that you shouldn't go because you are not the school's top priority, and this is particularly important for grad school (more specifically phd).

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks! 

[uromastyx]

I think there are many factors to consider here, and thus a truly subjective decision.

Which program has waitlisted you? Is it a top program? Is it well respected? Are there people there that you'd like to work with?

What does their particular waitlist mean? Are they selective? i.e. do they admit 2 people and waitlist 2 people or do they admit 20 and waitlist 5?

Was competition stiff? If so, then a department may be very happy to have you.

But it's a simple matter of whether that is a school that you want to attend. If it's your top option then I don't understand declining an acceptance after being waitlisted. (I can see feeling bitter, of course)

If they didn't want you then they would have rejected you outright. Ok, you aren't mommy and daddy's favorite, but I believe that almost all profs will judge your academic performance, your character, your potential, etc. And many people blossom in grad school, that is, the "top candidate" isn't always the top candidate.

Whether to accept an admit after being waitlisted is a personal opinion. What do you want? Where do you want to be? How do you personally feel about being waitlisted?

It all depends on your perspective and your desires/goals.

[phku]

I was under the impression that those waitlisted were well qualified and would be accepted if it were not for lack of funds.  In other words, those accepted outright are candidates the program is pretty sure they will have funds available for (granted status quo of current grad students in the program in march), and those waitlisted would have been accepted if funds were available.  Is this about right?

Edited February 16, 2013 by phku

[cyberwulf]

In fields like stat and biostat, there is really no difference (all other things being equal) between going to a school that waitlisted you vs. one that accepted you initially. Only faculty members on the admissions committee know how candidates ranked relative to each other, and even they will likely forget after a few months, so you should have equal access to good advisors when the time comes to start dissertation work.

[JZappa]

^This. And also if you prove that you're a great student they aren't going to care about what they thought of you before they met you anyway.

[XXQQCC]

^This. And also if you prove that you're a great student they aren't going to care about what they thought of you before they met you anyway.

In fields like stat and biostat, there is really no difference (all other things being equal) between going to a school that waitlisted you vs. one that accepted you initially. Only faculty members on the admissions committee know how candidates ranked relative to each other, and even they will likely forget after a few months, so you should have equal access to good advisors when the time comes to start dissertation work.

I was under the impression that those waitlisted were well qualified and would be accepted if it were not for lack of funds.  In other words, those accepted outright are candidates the program is pretty sure they will have funds available for (granted status quo of current grad students in the program in march), and those waitlisted would have been accepted if funds were available.  Is this about right?

I think there are many factors to consider here, and thus a truly subjective decision. Which program has waitlisted you? Is it a top program? Is it well respected? Are there people there that you'd like to work with? What does their particular waitlist mean? Are they selective? i.e. do they admit 2 people and waitlist 2 people or do they admit 20 and waitlist 5? Was competition stiff? If so, then a department may be very happy to have you. But it's a simple matter of whether that is a school that you want to attend. If it's your top option then I don't understand declining an acceptance after being waitlisted. (I can see feeling bitter, of course) If they didn't want you then they would have rejected you outright. Ok, you aren't mommy and daddy's favorite, but I believe that almost all profs will judge your academic performance, your character, your potential, etc. And many people blossom in grad school, that is, the "top candidate" isn't always the top candidate. Whether to accept an admit after being waitlisted is a personal opinion. What do you want? Where do you want to be? How do you personally feel about being waitlisted? It all depends on your perspective and your desires/goals.

Thanks for everyone's reply! I really appreciate it!