Waitlisted? Action Plan and Notification Dates

As regular decision notifications are released, we know there are many seniors who will be waitlisted. This feeling of limbo, where you’re neither accepted nor rejected, where time almost stands still, can be extremely stressful for students, especially if you don’t have a strong list of Early Action acceptances in your back pocket.

Unfortunately, for waitlisted students who are interested in schools like the UCs, you’ll be waiting until at least May 1 (decision deadline day) to learn whether you have been accepted off the waitlist. But even when time feels like it’s standing still, you DO NOT need to remain idle.

WAITLISTED? TAKE ACTION

Our top tips for getting off the waitlist don’t vary much year to year but the individualized strategy behind each student’s focused action plan is extremely personal.

The first step is to understand WHY you were waitlisted and then to implement your action plan to move forward… into your dream school!

This is where we come in.

Accept Your Position on the Waitlist (if you want it) and prep a strong waitlist response letter.
DON’T Wait Until May 1 to Secure Your Acceptance. Review your acceptances and make your final selection, then pay the deposit (if you get off a waitlist and accept, you’ll have to forfeit that deposit though).
Finish the School Year Strong. Plan a scholarly summer–one that’s worth relaying to colleges.
Demonstrated Interest. Ensure the college or university KNOWS you remain interested in them!

For a limited time, we’re offering one-hour consultations through our Admissions Doctors program. We’ll walk you through the reasons you were potentially waitlisted and guide you on implementing your customized, step-by-step Waitlist Action Plan. Have other questions? We’re here to help!

WAITLIST NOTIFICATION DATES: A SAMPLING

American University	By May 31
Bates College	Most by June 30, no later than August 1
College of William and Mary	By August 1
CalTech	After May 1
Connecticut College	After May 1
Dartmouth College	By June 30
Dickinson College	Begins Mid-April
Georgia Tech	After May 1
Grinnell College	After May 1
Hamilton College	After May 1
Harvey Mudd College	After May 2
Johns Hopkins University	After May 1
Kenyon College	By June 30
Macalester College	By May 31
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	Mid-May
New York University	By August 1
Pomona College	After May 1
Providence College	Mid-May
Stanford University	By July 1
Trinity College	By July 31
Trinity University	By August 1
Tufts University	By early June
Tulane University	By July 1
UNC Chapel Hill	By June 30
University of California, Berkeley	Between May and August
University of California, LA	Between May and August
University of Georgia	After May 1
University of Massachusetts – Amherst	Begins early May
University of Miami	By June 15
University of Michigan Ann Arbor	By Mid-June
University of Notre Dame	Between May 3 and May 15
University of Virginia	By June 30
University of Wisconsin-Madison	By July 31
Vanderbilt University	Early May through mid-summer
Washington University, St. Louis	By June 30
Wellesley College	Before August 1
Wesleyan University	By June 30
Williams College	Begins in May