The College Admissions Decision: To Wait or Not to Wait — That is the Question
As the college admissions decisions come in (mostly private colleges at this point), many of you have realized that there are 3, not 2, possibilities in the case of many colleges. These three are “Admitted”, “Rejected” and “WAITLIST”.
3 Things About The College Admission Waitlist
…whether your youth signs up to join the waitlist or not:
01
Please understand that your youth has still not picked a college. He or she will still need to pick a college and deposit by May 1st, unless your youth attends a 2-Year College – which is a viable path also! So, please be sure that your youth picks an affordable college by May 1st.
02
In the case of nearly all waitlists, by the time the college or university returns to the waitlist, its merit and need based funds are reduced or non-existent. So, please do not have the expectation that the same possibility for funding is likely. For this reason, parents, lets carefully guide our youth to cost effective decisions – even in the face of having to see them disappointed.
03
In view of the above, a college admissions decision of “waitlisted” is like an admission “rejection”. Rejection at his or her young age is often very difficult for us to watch and can be gut wrenching and even guilt inducing. That said, what a great opportunity for him or her to learn a life lesson? – one from which him or her should not be protected.
The Lesson? Failure is part of life and, therefore, progress in life is usually 3 steps forward and 2 steps back — something we, as adults have learned through failure and rejection. A more spiritual lesson is that it’s a chance to teach our youth that God is in control, no matter what happens.