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4. Update Your Application Thoughtfully
If you’ve had notable updates since applying—an award, higher test scores, a leadership position—send them. Some colleges welcome updates, but others don’t, so check their policies. Don’t send a flood of extra materials unless invited.
The golden rule: Quality over quantity. One meaningful, substantive update that genuinely advances your story is worth a dozen generic notifications. You’re not flooding their inbox—you’re strategically expanding their understanding of who you are and what you might become.
5. Deposit Elsewhere—And Get Excited
Here’s the hardest truth: you may never get off the waitlist. Colleges often admit only a small percentage of students from it, and sometimes, none. It all depends on how many students that year accept their offer of admission.
So here’s your real power move: Commit fully to one of the colleges that has already said «Yes» to you. This isn’t surrender. This is strategic redirection.
So, while you keep the waitlist door open, secure your spot at another college by the May 1st deadline. Notify them that you’re coming, and pay the enrollment deposit. By securing your spot at another university, you’re not settling. You’re choosing. You’re deciding to turn a potential disappointment into an extraordinary opportunity.
Embrace it. Get to know your future classmates. Join admitted student events. Start picturing yourself there. Let curiosity replace uncertainty. Your college experience isn’t defined by where you start—it’s defined by how passionately you embrace the journey.
This is your moment. Not to mourn what might have been, but to celebrate what’s about to begin.
6. Maintain Perspective—You Are More Than This
College decisions can feel personal. But they’re not a reflection of your worth or potential. Admissions offices make impossibly tough decisions based on factors you’ll never fully see: delicate balances of institutional needs, enrollment caps in certain majors, geographic representation, and a hundred invisible variables that have nothing to do with you and you accomplishments.
No matter where you go, your drive, mindset, and curiosity will shape your success far more than a name on a sweatshirt.
Waitlist season is a time of uncertainty—but also of opportunity. If this college is truly your top choice, advocate for yourself with strength, clarity, and confidence. This is your chance to demonstrate the very qualities that make you extraordinary: your ability to advocate for yourself, to remain hopeful in uncertainty, to transform potential disappointment into fuel for your ambition.
And remember: where ever you go to school, your trajectory is yours to define. Colleges don’t create successful people—passionate, determined individuals create their own success, one committed step at a time.
Need help writing a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) or deciding your next step? Whether you need help crafting a compelling Letter of Continued Interest, strategizing your next move, or simply finding clarity in this uncertain moment, our team stands ready to transform your potential into possibility. We’re here to support you. Reach out to International College Counselors for expert guidance every step of the way.
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS
No matter where your family is in the college admissions process, International College Counselors can help you with every aspect, including building and honing the college list, fine-tuning college applications, and writing admission essays. The expert team at International College Counselors includes former college admission officers, high school directors and counselors, and writing professionals with a combined 250+ years of experience, helping students and families successfully navigate the college application journey. For personalized guidance, contact International College Counselors at 954-414-9986 or email Marlene at marlene@internationalcollegecounselors.com. |
