April 1st through 15th marked the traditional time period where the majority of college bound students discovered their admittance status. Unlike the class of 2008 that was hit with the largest number of students ever applying to college or the class of 2009 that applied during the worst recession in 40 years, the class of 2010 finds itself branded as the class that had the most students placed on a waiting list.
Locally, Duke University has made national news for having placed a record number of students, 3,382, onto a wait-list. This number is almost twice the size of their expected incoming class and almost the same as the 4,000 that received acceptance letters. Other schools, such as Dartmouth and Yale have waiting lists over 1000, while MIT doubled the size of their waiting list.
So what does this mean for students? In past years, students took comfort in the belief that being placed on a wait-list meant they had made the cut, but the school didn't have room at this time. Wait-lists weren't as large as they are today and students had a small chance of getting in. Being wait listed was much easier on the ego than a flat out denial.
In Duke's case, they admit that they were so inundated with applications that they didn't have time to scrutinize those on the wait list. Essentially, instead of rejection, they chose to hand out hope. They estimate that no more than 60 of those students will get off the wait list and offered a slot for the fall class.
College bound students have until May 1st to inform colleges of their enrollment decision and place deposits. However, if a student makes it off a wait-list, they will likely forfeit any fees paid to another institution. In the case of Duke, the chance of getting off the wait-list is even greater than the original chance of getting in.
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