If you are still in the running for freshman admission you will be offered waitlist (as you have met the freshman admission requirements but they don’t have room for you). If the waitlist closes and you fit into the conditional admission bucket you will be offered a pathway off the waitlist. Happened to one of mine but he ended up at UGA for business and didn’t want to transfer. Ended up being a great decision as he has graduated with an amazing job in an amazing city. I do think it is often not the right decision to take the conditional pathway offer but that is a personal decision.
It definitely has to be offered officially in writing and will be contained in your rejection letter - either when you are rejected EA or RD or when the waitlist closes