Re-evaluate your list. Pri­or­i­tize those wait-list schools.

A Speedy Response. Hope­fully you responded quickly and hon­estly as some schools look at response time to be on their wait-list. Did you tell your col­lege why they would be a good fit for you and why you want to be there?

Be Real­is­tic. Some schools will respond to those on the wait-list and some will not so keep in touch, but don’t overdo it. If you have some­thing sub­stan­tive and new which has taken place since you last wrote, men­tion it.  It’s not in your best inter­est to send weekly or daily emails.

Know that the deci­sion is out of your hands.

Make the best of your situation.

Embrace the accep­tances. It’s tough when a dream school defers a stu­dent, but being placed on the wait list might be a sig­nal to move on. While there is a chance that a stu­dent may be admit­ted in the late spring or sum­mer, it is best for stu­dents to embrace the schools that have accepted them.

A Wild Card. Once your let­ter is off to the school, focus with all your heart on mak­ing your best choice among the places you have been admit­ted. It is best to treat the wait-list school as a “wild card;” deal with it when you receive it.