Why do some people say it's not good to accept offer after getting off waitlist

[newgrad1234]

[BeatrizBear]

I haven't heard anyone say that around here but probably it's related to funding. I assume people that get off the wait list are the worst off when it comes to funding, although this probably varies per school.

Edited February 26, 2015 by BeatrizBear

[ERR_Alpha]

My undergrad advisor says getting off the wait list basically means you're the bottom of the barrel for the incoming class. If you get in somewhere right away, it's likely they want you more badly than wait list school.

[TakeruK]

Sure, getting in from the waitlist means you are not their top choice. But it's not like the school was like "ugh, now we have to start accepting from these losers in the waitlist". Remember that there are many more applications that did not make it onto the waitlist and many others on the waitlist that will not get offers. In my field, graduate admits happen at the 5% to 10% level. If you get in off the waitlist, it means you probably were in the top 10% to 20%, instead of the top 10% of applicants. It's not a bad thing at all--if the school is a program you are interested in, no one will know whether you got in from the waitlist or the first list.

[HBKss]

 But it's not like the school was like "ugh, now we have to start accepting from these losers in the waitlist". 

 

Love that statement... :-)

[thr0waway]

you may not get your choice of advisor, since the professors you want may choose the better students

[BeatrizBear]

Keep in mind that some programs take five people or less per season. Getting on the wait list still means you're a competitive applicant. If you get funding and it's a school you're interested in, why wouldn't you take it?

 

you may not get your choice of advisor, since the professors you want may choose the better students

 

You may not get your top choice adviser even if you're accepted right off the bat. Not to mention, this might depend on everyone else's research interests. If there's no overlap then you won't be competing with them for an adviser.

Edited February 26, 2015 by BeatrizBear

[victorydance]

None of this matters....you are in or not. 

[kewz]

As long as you are in and do good work, nobody cares if you were waitlisted or not.

[Marst]

you may not get your choice of advisor, since the professors you want may choose the better students

This depends more on the program than on whether you were accepted off a waitlist or not.

[uselesstheory]

From what I've heard -- it doesn't matter if you were accepted right away or accepted off the wait list: students typically do not know, within a cohort, unless you discuss it, and in either case, you are in the program because the program wants you. Usually acceptances vs. wait lists come down to funding and POIs (as well as the thoughts of the admissions committee, which may or may not contain faculty who have anything to do with your interests or POIs). If you get into a program off a wait list and want to attend, by all means, attend. 

 

However, I am speaking from my field-specific perspective, and I am especially unfamiliar with the 'hard' sciences with regard to this issue. In sociology, it seems to be more of a non-issue than an issue.

[TXInstrument11]

I'm with everyone else here. I haven't really heard this advice before. However, I have to admit that I am kind of peeved about not being accepted by my other choices and would probably turn them down if I were wait-listed and then given an offer. 

 

Social psych is uber competitive and it's not like I'm the perfect applicant (far from it), but part of me would stubbornly refuse to play ball. If it were clear - after watching the results page fill up with other prospects - that I was basically "bottom of the barrel" for them and I got a crap funding offer, I would politely tell the school to go f*** itself. 

 

That approach is not practical or recommended, but it might be emotionally satisfying. 

Edited February 27, 2015 by TXInstrument11