🛳️Navigating College Waitlists: What does it mean & how can parents & guardians be supportive?
Super Admin
👑With college decision deadlines now past, some students are on waitlists. This can bring about a mix of emotions – hope, uncertainty, and perhaps a little frustration. Let's navigate this together!
The waitlist isn't a denial, but rather a holding pattern. Colleges often use waitlists to manage their enrollment numbers, offering admission to qualified students if space becomes available after the initial group of admitted students makes their decisions by May 1st.
What Does This Mean for Students (and parents & guardians)?
- Be Realistic, But It’s Not Over Yet: While admission is possible, it's important to understand that the number of students admitted from the waitlist varies greatly from year to year and from college to college.
- Encourage Expressing Continued Interest (If Desired): If your student is still very interested in a college where they've been waitlisted, they can often take steps to express their continued interest. This might include:
- Sending a polite and thoughtful letter or email to the admissions office reiterating their strong interest and briefly highlighting any significant updates (e.g., improved grades, new achievements). Advise them to keep it concise and genuine.
- Checking the college's website for specific instructions on how to express continued interest or submit additional information.
- Sometimes, there might be an option to submit a brief additional essay or form. Make sure they adhere to any guidelines provided.
- Focus on the Schools Where They Were Admitted: Encourage your student to turn their attention and excitement towards the colleges where they did receive acceptance. This is where they will be going, and exploring those options with enthusiasm is crucial for their mindset.
- Understand the Timeline is Uncertain: Waitlist decisions can happen anytime between now and the start of the academic year (even as late as August in some cases). This uncertainty can be challenging, so managing expectations is key.
- Deposit at Their Chosen School: It's essential that your student has already submitted their deposit to a college where they have been accepted and are committed to attending if they don't get off the waitlist elsewhere. Missing the deposit deadline at their chosen school could jeopardize their fall plans.
- Encourage Patience: The waiting game can be tough. Remind your student (and yourselves!) that this process is often out of their control. Encourage them to focus on what they can control, like preparing for their next academic steps.
How Can You Support Your Students Through This?
- Listen and Validate Their Feelings: Whether they're feeling hopeful, disappointed, or anxious, acknowledge their emotions.
- Help Them Stay Organized: Keep track of any communication with waitlisted colleges.
- Avoid Excessive Pressure: While it's natural to want the best for them, try to avoid constantly asking for updates or putting pressure on them regarding the waitlist.
- Celebrate Their Successes: Remind them of the colleges where they were accepted and the exciting opportunities that await them there.
- Focus on the Future: Help them envision their success and happiness at the school they will ultimately attend.
Navigating the waitlist can be a learning experience in resilience and adaptability. It also offers a great opportunity to give support to our students through this phase with understanding and encouragement.
Parents and Guardians, have you navigated waitlists before? Feel free to share your experiences or any helpful advice for those who are in that process in the comments below. 👇