"No matter where you go, there you are." This oft-cited phrase has been attributed to several various sources from Confucius and Thomas à Kempis to Buckaroo Banzai and Gnarls Barkley. No matter how hard you try to chase the happiness that must be somewhere other than in front of you, many have found that real happiness and growth come from discovering the grass growing right under their feet.
When it comes to the reality of college admissions acceptances and denials, there are many paths to a student's contentment and satisfaction. Whoever coined the term, the saying is true especially when students and parents consider which colleges acceptances to choose and whether or not to stay active on a waitlist.
However a student went about creating the college application list, he or she likely received a mixture of acceptances and denials. Those students who played the "top 20 game" and applied only to the most elite schools might have ended up with a shorter-than-desired set of college choices. Those with a more open-minded approach to what makes a "right fit" school might have a wider set of options. And then, there are the waitlists.
What to do about a waitlist? According to a U.S. News & World Report article published on April 13, 2017, only an average of 1 in 5 of students were admitted off waitlists; as self-reported by 91 ranked institutions. For many of the elite universities and liberal arts colleges, less than 10% were admitted from the 2015-16. Scores of thousands of students find themselves waitlisted by their dream and reach schools, but accepted to others they thought of as targets or safeties.
If you are still holding out for that dream school, do your research before you decide to keep yourself on the waitlist. Look up the school's statistics on what percentage of students are admitted from the waitlist. Find out if financial aid is still available if you are admitted off the list, etc. Feeling hopeful? Go ahead and keep yourself on the list in addition to paying the deposit at your best choice school. For your best choice school, note all the important deadlines for other payments, orientation, housing and such so that you don't miss them. Meanwhile, update your dream school on your academics or anything else noteworthy. You could write the school a letter about why you still want to attend.
If you are lucky enough to get in from the waitlist, you will have to move quickly to accept, plan housing, register for orientation and such. Be sure to notify the school where you confirmed acceptance that you will not attend so they can open up a spot for someone on their waitlist. Your deposit will not be refunded.
What matters is that you go to a place that you like; a place where you will feel motivated to work hard and graduate; a place where you can be happy. You may be surprised how many schools can fit that bill. You wouldn't have applied to a school if you couldn't imagine yourself there. Thousands of colleges have the classes, clubs, housing, dining commons and intramural or club sports to provide you with the experiences you seek. Ask any recent college graduate where he or she went and you will hear stories about making the most of it and embracing discovery; and probably some about why a school didn't work out. And statistics show that just as many Fortune 500 leaders go to less well-known undergraduate institutions as the elite schools.
You have heard college counselors, teachers, school counselors and other students and parents who have run the application gauntlet before you say that you will end up where you are meant to be. That one dream school will not make or break your life. Remember, it's nice to go to a school where you are wanted and valued. Reality presents us with tremendous gifts and opportunities.
Embrace where you go and make the most of it!
