<p>I don’t know if I agree with my title lol.
Here’s a scenario.</p>
<p>Accepted at College A with a nice scholarship. Waitlisted at college B. Both are rather good LACs, but college B is a bit better than college A, and I’ve always liked it more. </p>
<p>But since my acceptance, college A has been so generous (with the scholarship), and so nice with accommodating my needs and answering all my questions and just making sure I’m 100% comfortable with the school. Meanwhile college B has treated me like I don’t exist; one letter and they “can’t” even tell me how many people are on the list.</p>
<p>I’ve always liked college B better as a school, but if I somehow get accepted now, attending will require swallowing my pride. And it will be mean to college A, where everyone (the dean, professors, admissions people, students) has been so nice and helpful, and many of them will find out.</p>
<p>I’m sure many people are in somewhat similar situations. What will/would you do?</p>
<p>Also, once school starts are waitlisted admits treated any differently by their peers or faculty or the admin?</p>
<p>Once you’re in, you’re in. They’ll woo you, lure you, sweet-talk you, treat you like royalty. But when you’re on the waitlist, you’re not in. Don’t take it personally. They drew the line where they did. But if you’re on the waitlist it means there’s a chance, however small, that they’ll redraw the line and include you in the magic circle. Once that happens, you won’t be treated any differently than any other student. You’re either in, out, or in limbo. The waitlist is limbo. Eventually you’ll be either in or out. But however long it takes, once you’re in, you’re in.</p>
<p>It is pretty much random where people get in anyways. When I was in high school, I was friends with someone who as accepted to an ivy league school but rejected by a far less prestigous school. Why? They were definitely qualified. I was wait-listed at a school where I was sure to get in while getting acceptances to schools both more and less prestigous. The whole admissions process is a crap shoot, I honestly doubt they read every application.</p>
<p>You didn’t get into a school you prefered, join the club. I didn’t get into my first choice school. If you get in off the wait-list, you still got in, you are no different from anyone else who got an acceptance. Your pride should not be a factor. The same person doesn’t read every application, you may have gotten screwed. There are too many variables, if you get in off the wait-list then you’ll have to weigh your options. For now, be happy you got a scholarship to school A. If there isn’t much of a difference in prestige, why would you even consider school B when you got a scholarship to school A?</p>
<p>I would go to college A. It sounds like a wonderful school and they gave you a scholarship. Most people do not get into their first choice colleges and never regret it. Good luck!</p>
<p>College A, definitely. Why prolong the stress by staying on a waitlist when you know there is a perfectly good school that WANTS you, for sure, and has already proven that they care about you.</p>
<p>But I know how you feel about not wanting to turn a school down when everyone has been so nice - I was in that situation just a few days ago, but I tried to be really kind when I turned down my acceptance and let them know the school was great, but that there are better options for me. I’m sure they will understand; they probably have hundreds of kids doing the same thing.</p>
<p>The reason I chose to stay on the list is because I really like college B. It’s not just about prestige, even though it is more prestigious. During visits (before getting my decisions), I preferred college B’s campus, culture, academics, etc. It felt “right.” College A is great, but college B is better and I like it better for reasons other than rank and prestige, and I felt more “at home” there. </p>
<p>Even though college A is good, I wasn’t even seriously considering it until recently, and a large reason I started considering it was just because of how nice everyone was, and the scholarship (the money isn’t vital but the gesture was really appreciated).
But I think going to college A just because the admin is nice is silly, especially when I prefer college B in every way except how they treat waitlisted students. But based on the responses, every school does that.</p>
<p>If you were on the waitlist at College A, rather than accepted, you’d probably be treated as dismissively as you are by College B.</p>
<p>The bigger issue is, unless you have Colleges C, D, E, etc. to which you’ve been admitted and like better than A, you’re probably going to A anyway, so why the angst?</p>
<p>From all you have said if College B accepts you, just go. It probably will make you happier and you won’t be in a “what if” situation. </p>
<p>I would do the same and go to college B. You should also be happy that your first choice (if it is) waitlisted you. At least you still have a chance. I don’t even have a chance at my first choice anymore…</p>