There are few admission notices on the waiting list-although it is possible-so experts encourage applicants to consider other options. Ellen Chow, director of undergraduate enrollment at Johns Hopkins University, said: "The factors that determine whether you will be admitted to the school waiting list are often out of your control, so it is best to prepare for the school you are currently admitted to." In Maryland, I wrote in an email.
? What is a university waiting list? In view of the requirement of physical space or the maintenance of the teacher-student ratio, the number of seats in the university is limited every year, so some students are placed on the waiting list in case the enrollment quota is vacant. In the regular admission decision round, the university will provide some applicants on the waiting list. Applicants on the waiting list usually have to wait until May 1 day, the deadline for senior high school students to submit deposits and ensure their status in universities, before they can receive a reply on the admission decision. Sometimes, they don't find out until the fall semester.
The final decision of the admissions office usually comes down to whether there are vacancies for freshmen-that is, how many admitted students finally decide not to admit. Caroline Pippen, a master's admissions consultant at IvyWise, a university consulting firm, wrote in an email, "How a school uses its waiting list will depend less on the level of selectivity and more on their output and enrollment goals." . In essence, this means that universities aiming at specific enrollment goals may dig up their waiting lists at a higher speed. Whether it is an elite school or a university with less choices, when another potential student refuses his admission notice, he will turn to the next candidate.
Applicants should also know that the university waiting list is an important tool used by schools in enrollment, which may not reflect the applications of future students. Being on the waiting list means that the student is a competitive candidate, but the university is trying to recruit comprehensive courses and predict who will eventually be admitted, which may mean giving priority to students according to their main choices or the ideal qualities they bring to the school. Ian fisher, senior director of education consulting and strategic partnership, said: "I think it's really important for students to consider the waiting list from the perspective of institutions, rather than letting students consider what the waiting list thinks of them as applicants." At Coach Bright Horizon College.
? What should I do after being put on the waiting list? Experts advise alternate applicants to carefully follow the specific procedures of the university. If they want to be admitted, please take the following seven steps:
? Accept a position on the waiting list. ? Express your interest in the school again. ? Submit a deposit to another university. ? Manage expectations during the registration process. ? Continue to pay attention to high school. ? If you are accepted, be prepared to make a decision. ? Notify the school where you submitted the deposit. ? Accepting job applicants on the waiting list can usually accept or reject the waiting list. Experts say that those who consider accepting it-which needs further consideration-should ensure that schools are indeed the first choice. Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of the admissions company Command Education, wrote in an email.
? Experts say that even if the school does not need additional follow-up, applicants on the waiting list should contact the admissions office, perhaps by email, to prove their continued interest. But you know, universities have different methods for waiting lists. Some people may need other materials, such as the updated information of the applicant, while others may not even read the information (if provided).
Pippen suggested contacting the regional admissions consultant for details and suggestions on the waiting list. "Many schools do consider showing interest during this period, which means that letting universities know that you are still interested in participating can bring you closer to the top," Pippen said. "This is because, when the time is ripe, the school hopes to quickly enroll students who can accept their admission notices, so that they can reach their target enrollment as soon as possible during the summer vacation." She said that writing a letter of interest is a way to show continuous interest, emphasizing that students are very suitable for campus and providing any important personal or academic updates. However, she warned against giving too much power to the power of the letter of intent, because "this is just one of many factors that affect the waiting list decision that universities must make."
? The admission expert who submitted the deposit to another university said that even if the applicant is on the waiting list of the first choice, it is wise to submit the deposit (usually several hundred dollars) to register in another university before the traditional May 1 deadline. Finally, considering the situation of rising from the waiting list, applicants should find their own satisfactory universities. According to the data submitted by 98 national universities with alternate students submitted by US News Network, some universities admitted as few as zero applicants from the waiting list in the autumn of 2020. In all these schools, the average proportion of students admitted from the waiting list is 39%.
The chances of the National College of Arts and Sciences are much lower. According to American news data submitted by 63 national colleges of arts and sciences, these schools-emphasizing undergraduate education and granting at least half of liberal arts degrees-accepted an average of 65,438+07% applicants in the autumn of 2020. "Start getting excited about the choices you have," Zhou wrote in an email. "Although it may not be your first choice at the beginning of this process, starting to think of yourself as a student there and learning more about academics, courses and student groups may change your mind."
? In order to get more detailed information about the university waiting list, future students can contact the admissions office and ask for information, such as the size of the talent pool or related data. But experts say that universities usually provide limited details, which makes applicants almost at a loss.
"Unfortunately, there is no way to estimate these odds, and trying to do so will only drive you crazy," Pippen said. "The decision of the waiting list depends on various factors and events that students may never know-why they are on the waiting list, how many students are on the waiting list, how many students and what kind of students choose to accept their positions in the class, the enrollment needs and institutional priorities of the college, and the availability of financial assistance-the list is endless." In addition, even if there was data on the university waiting list last class, compared with this year, it was an apple to orange situation. Experts say that students should focus on what they can control, instead of indulging in the possibility of withdrawing from the candidate list.
? Continue to pay attention to high school scholars. The last few months of high school are full of milestones, including college entrance, dance and graduation. Experts suggest that although it is important to meet the deadline before going to college in autumn, high school scholars should still be given priority. The school will not only receive each student's final report card, but also get high enough scores in the pre-university courses or international diploma exams to get university credits.
? If you are accepted, be ready to make a decision. Experts say that the timetable for admission from the waiting list varies, but many schools try to let applicants know before June 30. If the admission notice does come, future students should be prepared to act quickly. Fisher said that once the proposal was put forward, time began to pass, and the university hoped to get a quick reply-usually within 24 to 72 hours. This means that families need to be prepared for this possibility and discuss in advance the expenses they can afford and other factors that ultimately determine the university.
? Inform you that applicants who have been accepted from the waiting list of the school that submitted the deposit do not need to accept it. However, experts say that applicants who accept applications should inform the schools that submit deposits to remind officials that they will not participate. Please note that most deposits are non-refundable. From there, concentrate on preparing for the autumn entrance before the deadline and submit the required documents. Feld said, "through the list of students admitted", such as ensuring housing, asking financial aid questions and registering for admission guidance.