So… You’re On the Waitlist

It’s officially spring term at Carleton! The sun is shining! Classes are underway! Students are both stressed and happy all at the same time! And campus has been buzzing about the upcoming Carl Days, while current students reflect on how they find their way here. Many of my friends committed to Carleton after attending Carl Days in 2024, where they met Carls with whom they are still friends with even now.

I, however, didn’t attend Carl Days. I wasn’t even accepted to Carleton when Carl Days was running! In fact, I didn’t get accepted into Carleton until May 23rd. How could this possibly be? I got into Carleton off the waitlist.

Waitlisting, while annoying, is a very common part of the college admissions experience. Even still, when I was waitlisted, I had no idea what my best course forward was. Here’s some advice I’ll give to you that I wish someone would have given to me when I was waitlisted.

Be Proud of Yourself

A common misconception is that a place on the waitlist might as well be a rejection, and this couldn’t be further from the truth. Getting onto a waitlist, especially at a small and competitive school like Carleton, is still an incredible accomplishment!  A place on the waitlist really does mean that Admissions views you as a qualified candidate, but just can’t guarantee you a space in the next class. It’s a positive reflection of your strength as a student and all of the work you put in to your applications. You should be proud of yourself for making it this far!

I was lucky that my family and I immediately understood that being on the waitlist was a win. I became interested in Carleton largely because my mom is an alum (big shout-out to the Class of ’98) and encouraged me to apply. Carleton is a reach for anyone, so I was thrilled that I had even a chance to join this community. Even though opening the decision can be a bit of a disappointment, it’s important to view the decision in context: getting into Carleton is really hard, and you were one of the lucky ones to be seriously considered!

Be Patient, and Learn to Live with Multiple Futures

The biggest part of being on a waitlist is waiting. Whether or not there’s movement off the waitlist depends on many things, including how many students that were accepted actually commit to Carleton, so don’t hold your breath. The waiting game can be tough, especially when so many people around you are committing to schools with so much certainty. It always felt like I had an annoying asterisk when I told people about my plans for after graduation: I’m going to this school unless…

I won’t lie and say that it’s not frustrating, but it’s important to learn to live in the discomfort. Getting out of your comfort zone is a big part of going to Carleton anyways! It’s a difficult task, but it’s important to learn to balance multiple possibilities at the same time.

My other advice is to get excited about the possibilities that are already guaranteed! The college that you eventually commit to will be a really great one, it’ll have its own unique things that will work well for you. Keep in mind too that getting off of waitlists is pretty rare, so it’s important to prioritize the opportunity that you already have in front of you. I was really excited to go to the college I had committed to, and I still think it would have been a great experience, but I’m more than happy to be at Carleton now!

Don’t Close the Door Too Early

While I don’t want to give any false hope—like I said, getting off the waitlist isn’t common—I am positive proof that getting into a school off the waitlist is possible! If a school you’re waitlisted at is something you’re excited about, I would encourage you to stay on that waitlist, even if you think that your chances of getting off of it are unlikely.

I got off of the waitlist at Carleton two days before my last day of high school. It was a totally unexpected phone call, and I had only a few days to decide. It was such a short amount of time to make a decision that was so huge. I talked about it with family and friends, and we all decided that even though it meant rearranging the vision that I had for my next four years, it would be worth it. Taking that leap of faith and saying yes to the school halfway across the country was the best decision I ever made.

Conclusion

Waitlists suck, but if I can tell you anything about this process, it’s to have faith that the right thing for you is right around the corner. Whether that’s Carleton or another school, your best path will unwind as you walk forward.

Emma (she/her/hers) is a sophomore prospective Art History major/European Studies minor from Attleboro, Massachusetts. When she’s not in class, you can probably find Emma engrossed in a terribly long conversation in Burton Dining Hall, knitting at a Bald Spot picnic table, or perusing the museum studies stacks on third libe. Beyond blogging, she works for the Registrar’s Office, teaches adult tap dance classes downtown, and loves submitting to student publications like babyteeth and No Fidelity. She loves Carleton for the number of opportunities it offers and the close connections she’s formed with professors, not to mention proximity to coffee from Goodbye Blue Monday and early morning walks through the neighborhoods.