Now that the application process is over I have a question regarding Waiting list.
It is clear if you are accepted or rejected. But how does waiting list works? Is there a ranking on a waiting list. It may make sense to reject a least likable school if you are number 3 on a waiting list in your favourite school…Thanks for your responses
At the school I’m familiar with there isn’t a numerical ranking. It depends what the school needs, after the admitted students make their decisions about where to attend.
The school may find itself short of a day student 9th grade girl, so that’s who gets off the wait list, even though a 10th grade boarding boy has better grades and scores.
Maybe not enough violin players are coming, so that’s who gets off the list. The wait list helps round out the class.
Plenty of discussion on how wait lists are handled on the infamous Wait List thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1300302-the-wait-list-p1.html
This thread will tell you that wait lists are often deeper than the number of acceptances sent out and they are not ranked. It’s a VERY long thread so you may want to use the search function within the thread to look for comments on ranking, but @cinnamon1212 answered your question.
You’ll never find out where you’re ranked on a waitlist. Sometimes your guidance counselor can find out, if they are friends with anyone in the admissions office.
But overall, I would treat a waitlist as a rejection, and move onto your next choice school. Very few kids get accepted off the waitlist.
Re-read @cinnamon1212 post above. If you are WL and you are a girl and the school is short boys, you aren’t coming off the WL. Your dorm is full!
Likewise, if you are the brainiest boy on the list and a good runner, it won’t matter if the school is desperate for boys who want to sing in the chorale and do theater.
It takes some special luck to get off the WL. It’s not like waiting in line to get a table at a crowded restaurant…
Honestly kids, there is a slim to none chance of coming off any waitlist. If you go back and look at how many are waitlisted and how many come off you will be seriously thinking of other options. A waitlist IMO is a soft No.
Also, one AO did tell us that if someone is ranked 1 or 2 on the waitlist, they’ll let them know. Otherwise, it’s anyone’s guess.