<p>I was waitlisted at Vanderbilt and I would go there with no hesitation if I were taken off the waitlist. However, I saw that the confirmation date for my safety school (and most other schools) was May 1st. Vanderbilt takes students off the waitlist around late May. How does this work? If I do confirm my intent to enroll at my safety, don’t I HAVE to go there, even if I get taken off of the waitlist for Vanderbilt? What would be the point of a waitlist in this case?</p>
<p>You don’t have to go to your safety school. If you decide to attend Vanderbilt after depositing at your safety school, you can forfeit said deposit, and will have to put down an additional deposit at Vanderbilt to secure a spot there.</p>
<p>No, you don’t have to go to the school you confirm with and deposit at. If you get into the waitlist school, even in July, you just let the school you confirmed with originally know, and lose your deposit.</p>
<p>"What would be the point of a waitlist in this case? " Every college is familiar with this system. It’s called the summer drop-off – where committed students later withdraw from the spot.</p>
<p>Your task is simple: 1) accept the offer and make the deposit at your safety (or whichever you prefer the most). 2) tell Vandy you wish to be on their Waitlist. 3) if Vandy returns and offers you a spot (and it’s affordable), tell the first school you need to withdraw (you likely will lose your deposit) and enroll at Vandy. 4) If Vandy doesn’t offer you a spot from their WL, you route to the Safety is marked out – go and enjoy.</p>