The newspapers and online media has been quite busy. In the last couple of weeks, much has been written regarding this year’s admission cycle, most of it on the low acceptance numbers and the high number of waitlisted students at selective schools. With that in mind, we must celebrate the good news for our seniors. Our students were accepted to amazing schools across the country and received more than $3 million in merit awards.

We must also help students to  move on from the denials and waitlists. College decisions are driven by institutional priorities. In any one year, they may want more female engineers, students with leadership skills and extensive community service, or they may want geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. These priorities have nothing to do with students. So, if you received good news, congratulations! And if the news is disappointing, get excited about your other choices. Go back to the colleges that accepted you. Attend New Students’ Day and remember why you applied to these colleges in the first place.

That said, waitlisted students have two options, choose a college where they were accepted or accept their position on the waitlist. Students who choose to remain on the waitlist must respond to the office of admission to accept their position on the waitlist. Students should provide any new information to the college: higher standardizes scores, recent accomplishments (athletic, academic, extracurricular, awards), an extra letter of recommendation from a senior year teacher, and a letter to admissions explaining why you still feel the college is the best choice for you. Finally, be realistic about your chances. At selective colleges, the waitlist chances are slim. So, remember that the colleges that accepted you know that you have wonderful talents that will allow you to enjoy your college experience, contribute to their community, and grow as a learner.

NOTE: Students who elect to remain on a waitlist must still send in a non-refundable deposit to one of the schools where they were accepted. Additionally, students and families must remember that acceptance of a favorable waitlist decision often needs to be made with 48 hours.