As seniors begin to receive responses, many are finding that they have been wait-listed.  However, there should not be an option of a wait-list; universities should be required to make a definitive admission decision, either accepting or denying the applicant.  Students on the wait-list lose opportunities to apply for scholarships or accelerated programs at other schools. Being wait-listed not only lengthens their planning for the future but also adds unnecessary stress.

“Students are wait listed because the university is waiting to see who else is fit for the college,” said counselor Linda Hull.   Because such a small percentage of students are accepted once wait-listed, the process should be removed altogether.  Ultimately, a student placed on a waiting list most likely will not be accepted.  According to www.collegedata.com, only 30 percent of students who decide to remain on the wait-list are accepted.  Giving students false hope is unfair, particularly since seniors work diligently throughout high school to be accepted to their dream school. Rather then responding to a student’s application with a “maybe,” universities should take into account the students’ four years of hard work, and answer them simply with a “yes” or “no”.

“I think the wait-list process makes it more confusing when choosing what college to attend,” said senior Josh Lee.  “I would rather just have a direct answer.”

When applying to college, students search for the best option to fit their goals for the future.  Students need to investigate all of their options, but those who are wait-listed do not receive their final admission decision until late May or early June, after the May 1 deadline to comment to a school.  Students are still able to apply for financial aid and accelerated programs; however, they will not be beneficial if the student is not accepted to the university.  There are many students who depend on financial aid to support them through college.

“It is easy to miss deadlines for financial aid programs when wait listed,”said Hull.  “If you start to see deadlines coming for certain programs, you need to start asking yourself if you want to wait to see if you get accepted.”

Students who are wait-listed have to decide if they are going to wait for the decision from the college they are wait-listed from,

or consider the other universities that have already accepted them.  Not being able to make plans until the end of the school year adds extra stress on seniors who have many crucial decisions they must make before summer begins. In addition to the college process, seniors have a lot of other things they need to focus on before completing the year.   Seniors need to pay attention to successfully ending their last year of high school rather than worrying about getting into the college where they are wait-listed.The slim chance of being accepted once wait-listed, the little time left to explore other options at different schools and the added stress can all be avoided if colleges simply accept or deny an applicant.