<p>Today I was told by my top choice that “rejections and acceptances” had been sent out however I was in an “unranked wait list pool” and after April 15th they would make a decision regarding the pool. I have two questions.</p>
<p>1) would this imply that its a small wait list pool and if there are opening the whole pool is accepted?</p>
<p>2) I contacted a professor and told them I was not in need of funding and would even TA without compensation etc to get a spot, would this help me? I am basically wondering if its easier to get off a wait list when the department doesnt have to worry about housing/funding/etc.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The answer to your question REALLY depends on the department.</p>
<p>But here’s what I can tell you. The committee will rank the waitlist when they hear from all accepted applicants. If some of these applicants decline, then the folks at the top of the waitlist will be offered admission. If some of these decline, then some of the folks ranked next in line will be offered admission.</p>
<p>As to your funding question: Some programs fund all the students they admit. Others do not. But I would be VERY surprised (shocked, actually) if a committee ranked an applicant higher on the waitlist due to his/her ability to pay her/his own way. </p>
<p>It is probably (but not definitely) the case that some at the top of the waitlist, if admitted, will be offered funding, and those in the middle of the waitlist, if admitted, will not, and those at the bottom will not ever make it to the admit list.</p>
<p>And there is no way for you to know how many people are on that waitlist.</p>
<p>I hope this helps!</p>