How to De-Stress College Waitlist Limbo

This has been a record-breaking year for deferrals and waitlists. Why? The rise in number of applications overwhelms colleges..for example, the University of Michigan  received 90,000 applications last year (already a huge increase) and 109,000 in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Keep your stress level down by not overthinking your waitlist options. Make a thoughtful decision about whether staying on any waitlist makes sense for you. Consider factors like:

• How much you genuinely prefer this school over your confirmed options

• Your financial situation if aid packages differ significantly

• The waitlist admission statistics from previous years

• Your willingness to potentially make quick decisions (sometimes just 24 hours) late in the process

Remove yourself from a waitlist if the uncertainty becomes too taxing! 

Accept What You Cannot Control

The waitlist process is largely out of your hands. Admissions offices make decisions based on numerous factors that you cannot influence. Accepting this reality can be empowering and immediately reduce your stress level. Focus your energy on what you can control. 

Have a Solid Plan B

Commit to another college you feel good about. Pay the deposit, go on social media to meet other incoming students, and start envisioning yourself on that campus. Getting excited about a concrete alternative distracts from the waitlist pressure.

Set a Mental Timeline

Give yourself a date when you'll mentally "move on" completely. This doesn't mean you won't accept a surprise offer if it comes, even as late as August, but it allows you to psychologically close this chapter if needed.

Reframe the Situation

Remember that your worth isn't determined by a college's decision. Many successful people attended their second or third-choice schools, or transferred later. Your college experience is what you make of it, regardless of where you land.

By implementing these strategies, you can transform the waitlist experience from an anxiety-inducing limbo into a valuable lesson in patience, resilience, and embracing uncertainty—skills that will serve you well throughout college and beyond.