What to Do If Accepted, Rejected Or Waitlisted At Colleges

russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538

Just When You Didn’t Think It Could Get Any Lower…Another Year of Record Low College Acceptance Rates: What’s An Applicant to Do? 

Available for Interview: A Kaplan Test Prep College Admissions Expert to Explain the State of College Admissions and What Accepted, Rejected and Waitlisted Students Can Do Next

New York, NY (April 5, 2012) – “Thank you for applying, but unfortunately…”  While many of the millions of high school seniors who applied to college succeeded in getting into their top picks in a year when the nation’s top colleges accepted record low percentages of applicants (Harvard at 5.9%, Yale at 6.8%, Princeton at 7.9%, Dartmouth at 9.4%, Duke at 11.9%), those who were outright rejected or waitlisted into admissions limbo are wondering what to do next.  And what of those who were accepted to their top choices, but can’t decide where to enroll?  Here are some pieces of advice for each scenario that a student may find themselves in:

  • My top choice school rejected me!  Where do I go now?  Yes, it’s a major disappointment, but with many of the nation’s most competitive schools announcing record high rejection rates this cycle, you are in good company.  A college rejection is not a stigma.  Life’s fate will not be determined by having earned more “yes’s” than “no’s.”  Now you must seriously consider one of your “ safety schools,” which may be more appealing than you originally thought.  Focus on the options that are available, citing the positive aspects of the colleges that said “We want you.”
  •  I’ve been waitlisted.  Do I wait?  The last thing you should do if you are put on a wait list is wait. Take action!  Submit new relevant information to the college admissions office: midterm grades, awards, new leadership roles, etc.  Show them why you are a “must-have student.”  Chances aren’t great getting off the wait list, but taking some concrete steps may increase the odds.
  • I got in to several of my top schools, but how do I decide which one to attend?  This is not exactly a bad situation to be in, but that doesn’t mean the decision will be easy. Refer to the list of factors you considered when you first applied.  See how well the colleges that have offered you admission meet those requirements.  If how to pay for college is also an important factor, evaluate their financial aid packages.  The best way to make the final decision is to visit (or revisit) the campuses that are still in the running.  Then discuss it with those who know you best and make an informed decision on a school that you are excited about.

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One comment on “What to Do If Accepted, Rejected Or Waitlisted At Colleges”

  1. As a private college counselor, I think you have provided some excellent advice for high school seniors. These are questions that I get quite often and your answers are right on. The more information that students and their parents have about college admissions decisions, the better. Too often they don’t know where to turn and they believe information that is not always accurate.


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