| Justamom, kids and parents do feel better about being waitlisted over being rejected. There is that feeling that the kid would have been accepted had there been room, and you know what, that may well be. It's just that there is no room, and not going to be any room. The kids that are rejected often feel that the message is that you are not a match for our school. Two different messages entirely. So a courtesy waitlist does not necessarily mean, they are just trying to save your feelings. THey are sending a message that way too.
Certain schools are good feeders to some colleges. They send a lot of kids to the college. Yes, even HPY like some highschools over others because of the quality of those apps. You can see which ones they are by where they go visit. You don't see them in certain schools are neighborhoods, and always in others. Colleges do not like to insult or embarrass those counselors because they often work with them. So a waitlist is face saving for all concerned when a kid who is highly recommended, high grades, high test scores, but just not with an extra that the school wants enough to sacrifice those basics and still accept another kid. It sends the message that the kid is qualified, would have been accepted because of his profile, but we needed some other students with different majors, skills, experiences, background, ethnic type to round out the class with lots of diversity.
Alums often feel better when their kids are waitlisted. Just not enough room, instead of no match. |