Multiple Waitlists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is asking if they can tell all the schools that if student is offered a spot off the waitlist they will take it[b], or if they should only say that to one school, presumably their first choice.

Yes - they can say this - because - if any of them calls they will say yes.

Then, they can decide how to handle the other WL if they get off one of them.

OP - you also need to work hard to show interest in coming off those waitlists....get help from counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is on three waitlists with three schools. One is the clear top choice. She indicated to all of the schools that they are her top choice and will enroll if offered. If she gets into choice #2 before choice #1, we’ll take it. And then if she gets into #1 later, we’ll forfeit the deposit to #2.

If she told #2 she will enroll if offered, she needs to enroll and decline the other WL spots. What you're suggesting is different and unethical.

No it isn't - the chances of getting off ANY of the three waitlists is low.

This isn't like an ED binding situation.

Plus, it often happens that once you get of a WL and into a school you like better than your safety - you are so happy and bond with the new school....and you get tired of the uncertainty/rejection game and are often willing to take your name off the other WLs and move forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell all the schools they are your #1. Accepting to go on a waitlist does NOT make you unethical. The PP ^^ should get off her high horse. Good luck OP.

NP. Being on multiple waitlists does not make you unethical. Telling (lying to) multiple schools that they are your #1 and you’ll enroll if they offer you a spot, even though you intend to renege if you get a better offer, is in fact unethical.

1. Except - the OP IS willing to take the first WL that calls
2. And - the chance that TWO WL schools will be calling is SO SMALL

Meaning....there is a VERY low chance that they will renege.

It will all be a roll of the dice on which (if any) of the three schools has a spot to offer. At this point - you WILL say yes to any of them if they call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is asking if they can tell all the schools that if student is offered a spot off the waitlist they will take it, or if they should only say that to one school, presumably their first choice.

Yes, I think this is OPs question. I think if you will, in fact, take any of the WL options over what you have in hand, it is perfectly fine to go ahead and say to all of them that you will join if accepted. The chances that you get off 2 WLs is extremely close to zero. As soon as you get get off the first one, withdraw froma LOL other WLs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is on three waitlists with three schools. One is the clear top choice. She indicated to all of the schools that they are her top choice and will enroll if offered. If she gets into choice #2 before choice #1, we’ll take it. And then if she gets into #1 later, we’ll forfeit the deposit to #2.

If she told #2 she will enroll if offered, she needs to enroll and decline the other WL spots. What you're suggesting is different and unethical.

Who anointed you the ethics police? There is nothing unethical about this approach. School #2 gets my deposit AND gets to fill their spot with another kid on the waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell all the schools they are your #1. Accepting to go on a waitlist does NOT make you unethical. The PP ^^ should get off her high horse. Good luck OP.

I am the PP, and that isn't quote what I was saying. I don't have a problem with students telling all waitlist schools they would commit, but then they need to commit to the first that offers and pull the others. Telling all the schools they are #1 can't be true, so that's really unethical. Telling a school you will commit and that planning to drop them for a different school should that one come through is definitely unethical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is on three waitlists with three schools. One is the clear top choice. She indicated to all of the schools that they are her top choice and will enroll if offered. If she gets into choice #2 before choice #1, we’ll take it. And then if she gets into #1 later, we’ll forfeit the deposit to #2.

If she told #2 she will enroll if offered, she needs to enroll and decline the other WL spots. What you're suggesting is different and unethical.

Who anointed you the ethics police? There is nothing unethical about this approach. School #2 gets my deposit AND gets to fill their spot with another kid on the waitlist.

She told school #2 she would enroll and accepted their offer (extended because she said she would enroll) while she fully intended to go w/ school number whatever. That is absolutely unethical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is on three waitlists with three schools. One is the clear top choice. She indicated to all of the schools that they are her top choice and will enroll if offered. If she gets into choice #2 before choice #1, we’ll take it. And then if she gets into #1 later, we’ll forfeit the deposit to #2.

If she told #2 she will enroll if offered, she needs to enroll and decline the other WL spots. What you're suggesting is different and unethical.

Who anointed you the ethics police? There is nothing unethical about this approach. School #2 gets my deposit AND gets to fill their spot with another kid on the waitlist.

She told school #2 she would enroll and accepted their offer (extended because she said she would enroll) while she fully intended to go w/ school number whatever. That is absolutely unethical.

Completely disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they call you or do they send an email once you get off the waitlist?

email -- make your kid check email religiously for the fast turn around some school have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is on 3/4 waitlists at the moment. Would be happy to take any one of them over the option in hand. Can one signal commitment to join to the multiple schools on the WL? Or should that only be communicated to one school on the WL?

Yes, also signal the student is withdrawing any FA application, willing to come full pay. This usually gets their attention.

I think you are really overestimating the power of full pay. My kids and literally every one of their friends are full pay at any school. It isn’t really the hook you think it is!

+1 my full pay kid was WL at 3 targets and 2 safeties, and all of those schools gave plenty of FA to lots of kids. Then my kids got off a WL with $20K per year in merit aid! It's not the money, people. Show interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they call you or do they send an email once you get off the waitlist?

email -- make your kid check email religiously for the fast turn around some school have.

The one my kid is in said they will telephone and then follow up with an email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is on three waitlists with three schools. One is the clear top choice. She indicated to all of the schools that they are her top choice and will enroll if offered. If she gets into choice #2 before choice #1, we’ll take it. And then if she gets into #1 later, we’ll forfeit the deposit to #2.

If she told #2 she will enroll if offered, she needs to enroll and decline the other WL spots. What you're suggesting is different and unethical.

Who anointed you the ethics police? There is nothing unethical about this approach. School #2 gets my deposit AND gets to fill their spot with another kid on the waitlist.

She told school #2 she would enroll and accepted their offer (extended because she said she would enroll) while she fully intended to go w/ school number whatever. That is absolutely unethical.

Completely disagree.

How is lying ethical? If you tell someone you will enroll if they admit you, then they admit you and you hold out for another offer, that's not really ethical. How has truth become so arbitrary?

As I said previously, I think it's fine to tell all WL schools you will enroll if they admit because chances of any admitting are slim, and only 1 will offer at a time. But, then if one offers, you take it and withdraw the others if you want to be ethical. And telling all they are #1 wouldn't be true, so I wouldn't do that. Just because playing the schools by lying suits you best doesn't make it ethical.

[Anonymous]

I thought WL worked like ED - if you accept- you have to get off others.

Maybe I’m wrong ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought WL worked like ED - if you accept- you have to get off others.

Maybe I’m wrong ?

You were misinformed. You don't need to get off the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is on three waitlists with three schools. One is the clear top choice. She indicated to all of the schools that they are her top choice and will enroll if offered. If she gets into choice #2 before choice #1, we’ll take it. And then if she gets into #1 later, we’ll forfeit the deposit to #2.

If she told #2 she will enroll if offered, she needs to enroll and decline the other WL spots. What you're suggesting is different and unethical.

Who anointed you the ethics police? There is nothing unethical about this approach. School #2 gets my deposit AND gets to fill their spot with another kid on the waitlist.

She told school #2 she would enroll and accepted their offer (extended because she said she would enroll) while she fully intended to go w/ school number whatever. That is absolutely unethical.

Completely disagree.

How is lying ethical? If you tell someone you will enroll if they admit you, then they admit you and you hold out for another offer, that's not really ethical. How has truth become so arbitrary?

As I said previously, I think it's fine to tell all WL schools you will enroll if they admit because chances of any admitting are slim, and only 1 will offer at a time. But, then if one offers, you take it and withdraw the others if you want to be ethical. And telling all they are #1 wouldn't be true, so I wouldn't do that. Just because playing the schools by lying suits you best doesn't make it ethical.

Question for you Officer Ethics:
Waitlists will not move until after May 1. In order to not get caught without a school to attend, you need to tell one school where you were accepted that you will attend. You do that by placing a deposit.
On May 10th, you find out that you were accepted by one of your waitlist schools. Is it ethical to accept that waitlist offer of admission?