Multiple waitlists; Should I play roulette or play it safe?

[cloverbug]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone, there's a few like this but from about ten years ago or earlier so I figured things have changed. I have no acceptances and am waitlisted at 4 schools. I really want to go to U of I, but I don't want to lose a chance to go to school in the fall either. I can't afford to put multiple deposits down unless I dive into the moving money, which I would really like to avoid. I'm just not sure if I should hold out for the school I really want or take whatever offer I get from a school that will be just as good for me but I'm not sure I'll be as happy there. I've never been good at gambling. Any advice would be helpful and I'm sure I'm not the only one having this issue.

 

[LetItSnow]

Hi everyone, there's a few like this but from about ten years ago or earlier so I figured things have changed. I have no acceptances and am waitlisted at 4 schools. I really want to go to U of I, but I don't want to lose a chance to go to school in the fall either. I can't afford to put multiple deposits down unless I dive into the moving money, which I would really like to avoid. I'm just not sure if I should hold out for the school I really want or take whatever offer I get from a school that will be just as good for me but I'm not sure I'll be as happy there. I've never been good at gambling. Any advice would be helpful and I'm sure I'm not the only one having this issue.

My only advice is sympathy, sorry. It sucks having to play guessing games like that. I guess at the least you wait up until the deadline to put down a deposit, and then evaluate at that point. Maybe by then you'll have moved off one of the waitlists, or maybe by then you'll come to the conclusion that potentially losing a deposit is just the cost of 'doing business' and is an acceptable 'loss'.

Good luck. I've always thought the waitlist game is pretty hard on people emotionally. 🙁

 

[wildcatj]

I didn't think you had to put down a deposit to stay waitlisted... Am I totally wrong?

Sent from my HTC Glacier using SDN Mobile

 

[LetItSnow]

I didn't think you had to put down a deposit to stay waitlisted... Am I totally wrong?

No, I presume you're right.

I think the dilemma is what to do when/if one of the schools (presumably not cloverbug's first choice) calls her/him off the waitlist: accept and put down the deposit, or sit and wait to hear from a school higher on clover's "desirability" list and then risk having to pay another deposit and lose the first one.

That's how I read it, anyway?

It's a real dilemma since you can get called off the waitlist absolutely any time. I think my class had someone join us a solid week or two into first year. (Was a really awesome story - she had gotten waitlisted originally and was called off it. But she was out of the country and didn't get the message until it was too late. Then, someone from our class deferred for a year, leaving a spot, and the school called her back to re-offer the spot. Was a classy move by the school, since the whole thing was a communications issue that was nobody's fault, and it had to be a pretty happy moment for her.)

 

[Jinglemuffin]

I'm in a similar situation- 4 waitlists. Feels weird that 4 different schools made the exact same assessment, doesn't it? Anyway, I'd just wait and see. Do you have a top two schools out of those that have waitlisted you? Or do you have some that you actually don't really want to attend, realistically?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here, but you still don't have to pay your deposit until April 15, even if you're called off the waitlist before that, right? So once April 15th passes, if you haven't already been able to find out what spot on the waitlist you are, you can call them and find out what your rank is. That might help you to know what sort of odds you've got. You could also call again at your top schools once you get an offer from another.

I agree, it sucks. I'm hoping you'll get called by your favorite!!!

 

[Minnerbelle]

Is there any way that you could borrow $500 from anyone in the next month? Or as much as it sucks, make that money available by putting some bills/shopping as much as possible on a credit card? Def hold off on paying that deposit until the deadline. But that way you have options to have that cash just in case you need it, and you can pay people/credit card company back as soon as your loan disbursement comes in. It'll be a guaranteed payback ya know?

 

[BlackDog17]

Is it possible to find out where you're ranked on each wait list? That would probably help with your planning.

 

[wldlfstdnt]

It its early, but correct me if wrong. Still on waitlist = no deposit, called off waitlist= make that deposit.

I am on 3, so completely with you. I think my plan is to deposit anyway. I think when you are called off one, you have a limited time to decide. Currently saving as much money as possible.

Sent from Bob

 

[orca2011]

I was on 4 wait lists my first cycle and none of them moved and then was on two my second cycle and both moved within a week or two after April 15th and then I got a call from a school I was rejected from, which is a story on its own. During that process, I lost $500. Do I wish I had that money? Definitely, but it saved me a spot for thehfall, so it was worth it.

Honestly, you just have to decide if you will be okay not going anywhere if you pull off the other waitlists for Illinois and then their list doesn't end up moving. I don't recommend doing it if you feel that you'll regret it when fall rolls around. Also, you have no idea what is going to happen. I'm not trying to scare you, but when I was on 4 lists, I felt like one had to let me in and I was definitely a bit disappointed when it didn't happen.they definitely do move, but I felt better the second cycle when I approached the period of time after April 15th with no expectations.

And like wldlfstnt mentioned, you generally only have short period of time to decide. OK State gave me two days.

 

[cloverbug]

Ok, quite a few to reply to but yes I was referring to paying the deposit if I am called off the list. I have of money in my savings but no matter where I go I'll be moving across the country which will be expensive. If I have to dive into it, I will but if I can avoid it I will. I know that OK State and U of I won't tell me my ranking, but I'm not sure about WSU or KSU. I'll double check those letters and see if I can find that out. My list goes U of I because it has a ton of opportunities for me and job opportunities for my fiance, KSU because it has some of the best exotic vets as professors and decent job opportunities for fiance, WSU because has my track there but less jobs for fiance because it's so small, and OK State mainly because I'm absolutely terrified of tornadoes. I know KSU gets them too but the other factors kind of outweigh my fear. If you're called off the list and you accept, how long can you wait before sending in the deposit? Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[Lissarae06]

Ok, quite a few to reply to but yes I was referring to paying the deposit if I am called off the list. I have of money in my savings but no matter where I go I'll be moving across the country which will be expensive. If I have to dive into it, I will but if I can avoid it I will. I know that OK State and U of I won't tell me my ranking, but I'm not sure about WSU or KSU. I'll double check those letters and see if I can find that out. My list goes U of I because it has a ton of opportunities for me and job opportunities for my fiance, KSU because it has some of the best exotic vets as professors and decent job opportunities for fiance, WSU because has my track there but less jobs for fiance because it's so small, and OK State mainly because I'm absolutely terrified of tornadoes. I know KSU gets them too but the other factors kind of outweigh my fear. If you're called off the list and you accept, how long can you wait before sending in the deposit? Thanks everyone for your responses.

Ok, I have lived in Oklahoma my entire life and have never seen a tornado. You get plenty of warning that storms are expected. The vet school has shelter and you can bring your dogs! The natives play drinking games based on the weather reports and go outside to film storms.

 

[KCgophervet]

Ok, I have lived in Oklahoma my entire life and have never seen a tornado. You get plenty of warning that storms are expected. The vet school has shelter and you can bring your dogs! The natives play drinking games based on the weather reports and go outside to film storms.

Along with this - I know MN wasn't on your list, but it's definitely not known for tornadoes YET my undergrad school was completely devastated by a tornado in 1998. They can strike anywhere!

 

[Nekkid]

Ok, I have lived in Oklahoma my entire life and have never seen a tornado. You get plenty of warning that storms are expected. The vet school has shelter and you can bring your dogs! The natives play drinking games based on the weather reports and go outside to film storms.

Just look up the Gary England drinking game. "Tornado season"is fun here. We get really awesome lightening storms too! What does your man thing do?

 

[macita183]

I'm pretty sure KSU will not tell you where you are on the waitlist. I believe I remember them telling us that in information session.

 

[Abnerrs]

WSU doesn't rank their list. Sorry. 🙁

Edit: And they only give 24 hours for you to decide.

 

[cowgirla]

. The natives play drinking games based on the weather reports and go outside to film storms.

I hide in the basement with the dogs and a sleeping bag and enough food to last a week. tornados = scary.

 

[cloverbug]

Aw, so I won't know my ranking for anyone. I know tornadoes can strike anywhere but still terrified of them. I'm just irrational about my fear I guess.

 

[SoundofMusic]

Hi there, I am so sorry that you have to deal with this suspense right now. What I would say is wait until the absolute last minute to put down your deposit. Around April 13th or so, post back on here and give us an update. Maybe by then you will have been called off a list.

I don't think any school should be able to make you pay a deposit until April 15th. However, if you get a call after the 15, I would take the first opportunity that comes up.

 

[LetItSnow]

Along with this - I know MN wasn't on your list, but it's definitely not known for tornadoes YET my undergrad school was completely devastated by a tornado in 1998. They can strike anywhere!

I'm not disagreeing with you, because obviously Oklahoma gets more tornadoes than MN, but there's a tiny bit of irony here: Lissa has lived there her entire life and never seen one, and I've seen three up close 'n personal here in MN.

We definitely do get them regularly. Just not as extreme or as frequently as down in the middle of tornado alley. Or whatever it's called.

 

[bbeventer]

Ok, quite a few to reply to but yes I was referring to paying the deposit if I am called off the list. I have of money in my savings but no matter where I go I'll be moving across the country which will be expensive. If I have to dive into it, I will but if I can avoid it I will. I know that OK State and U of I won't tell me my ranking, but I'm not sure about WSU or KSU. I'll double check those letters and see if I can find that out. My list goes U of I because it has a ton of opportunities for me and job opportunities for my fiance, KSU because it has some of the best exotic vets as professors and decent job opportunities for fiance, WSU because has my track there but less jobs for fiance because it's so small, and OK State mainly because I'm absolutely terrified of tornadoes. I know KSU gets them too but the other factors kind of outweigh my fear. If you're called off the list and you accept, how long can you wait before sending in the deposit? Thanks everyone for your responses.

Last year Illinois OOS waitlist moved a lot, most people I've talked to got called before June.

 

[cloverbug]

Last year Illinois OOS waitlist moved a lot, most people I've talked to got called before June.

They interviewed more people this year to avoid the same thing happening from last year. They actually went into the instate list to fill spots.