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Waitlisted....what are the odds?


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Just got an email that I'm waitlisted at my top choice school. What are the odd/chances of getting in off the waitlist? Can anybody speak from experience?

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I think every school and year is different. I was wait listed at purdue last year (and this year as of today) and they emailed us in April or May and said they would be unable to accept anyone off the wait list. The results forum shows that some people have made it off the list there in other years but not in 2014. My guess is that purdue has a top program and so it is less likely that someone would reject that offer. With other schools I couldn't say. It might make a difference how high a program is ranked as well as how expensive. Some might reject an expensive school for a cheaper one. That's about all I know. But don't give up hope and appreciate that you weren't outright rejected from a top school.

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I agree with jpiccolo - it really depends on the school. I've also been wait listed at 2 schools so far. I went to a grad student panel at a conference recently and someone mentioned that they knew someone who got wait listed at 4 schools, and ended up getting into all of them, so definitely don't give up hope. I would e-mail them and ask if you can figure out which spot you are on the wait list. They might tell you and they might not, but it never hurts to ask. I e-mailed one of my schools and asked, and I was told that I was in the top "quadrant" of the wait list. If they're able to tell you, this might put your mind at ease a bit. Good luck! :) 

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Just got an email that I'm waitlisted at my top choice school. What are the odd/chances of getting in off the waitlist? Can anybody speak from experience?

 

I feel you, I got waitlisted at one of my top two schools. I'm a bit disheartened because apparently there's the "high wait list" and the regular wait list...that I'm on. I plan on e-mailing to see what my odds are though. Can't hurt, right?

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It really does depend on the individual students and where they choose to go. I also got waitlisted at UConn and plan on contacting them to see where I am on the waiting list. Do you think that I should email instead of call? I don't want to be annoying. haha

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Unfortunately it's a smaller, more affordable school, and close to home, which is the big draw for me. It's probably the draw for others applying as well! 

I'm going to email today to see if they can tell me my position on the wait list. I would call, but the email that they sent me specifically said to email with any questions. 

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Does anyone have any past experience with Towson university, Missouri state, or university of South Dakota and know what the chances are of getting off the wait list? I know it varies for each school and year, but I didn't know if people knew if it was likely people got off the wait list at these schools. It's my second year applying and all I really have right now are wait lists, no acceptances! Any info would help, thanks!

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Like others have said, it definitely depends on the school, but I know quite a few people who were waitlisted multiple places last year and ended up with multiple offers. It depends on which schools too - my friends were applying to the same in-state schools as each other. Since it was mostly the same group of people applying to the same programs, once the first "round" of acceptances chose, tons of spots opened up. So if you have several applications in one state to similar programs, I'd say there's a really good chance. But not so much if you have applications spread out between different states and schools with different levels of competitiveness.

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I was put on a waitlist at my favorite program the other day. In my email accepting my waitlist status, I politely asked if there was any way I could find out where I was on the waitlist. With that particular program they do not tell students where they are at on the waitlist. I don't get why it is so secretive but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. 

 

Lakegirl, I am also on the waitlist at USD too. Judging by the results section, it looks like they send out a large number of waitlists. I was really surprised with the many waitlists that were posted. I didn't email them and ask about the waitlist rankings but I have been thinking about it!

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You had to send an email to accept your waitlist status? Is this common? I was waitlisted at UConn, but was never instructed to follow up with them...

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I think accepting a waitlist just depends on the school. 3 required confirmation, and 1 didn't for me. Maybe the one just assumes that of course everyone wants to remain on their waitlist, because they're so great... ;) I followed up with that school just to be sure, but they assured me that I didn't need to take any action and that they would contact me after April 15th if a spot opens up.

 

Also I doubt they randomly pick people off the waitlist. Most programs seem to rank, even if they don't release this rank to us. With the amount of time and effort programs put in to selecting their applicants for admission, I can't imagine they don't have a system for their waitlisted applicants.

 

I do have one acceptance already, but some of my schools for which I'm on the waitlist are considerably cheaper, and I am seriously considering attending if I get the chance to. The waiting is so hard!

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I just got waitlisted at my top choice school and I'm so discouraged. Anyone have any experience getting off of waitlists?

Try going on the results page for that school and see if any of the students posted any waitlist admission offers. And you can always call the school and see if they will tell you where you are ranked. If you're in the top tier you might still have a chance. Good luck!! 

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Try going on the results page for that school and see if any of the students posted any waitlist admission offers. And you can always call the school and see if they will tell you where you are ranked. If you're in the top tier you might still have a chance. Good luck!!

I've looked and I can't seem to find any answers :/ Does anyone know anything about Emerson and getting off of their waitlist? I would appreciate it enormously
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