about the WAITING LIST…
What does it mean to be on the waiting list? As we selected candidates for the Class of 2018, the Board of Admission
identified very talented students we believe would be superb members of the Brown community, but whom we were
unable to admit because of the small size of our entering class. The Board voted to offer each of those students a place on
Brown’s waiting list. If spaces in our entering class are available after the May 1 Common Reply Date, we will be
delighted to make additional admission offers to students on our waiting list.
How do I commit to the waiting list? Beginning on March 28, you will be able to commit to the waiting list through the
same online system you used to check your decision, http://selfservice.brown.edu . Please navigate to your Application
Status page, where you will see the option to either commit or withdraw from the waiting list.
How many students are on the waiting list? We expect 400-500 students to accept our waiting list invitation. Only
students who have affirmed their place on our waiting list will be considered for admission if spaces become available.
How many students will be admitted from the waiting list? The number of students admitted from the waiting list will
depend on how many students accept our initial admission offers by the May 1 Common Reply Date. In recent years, the
number of wait list spaces available in an incoming class has ranged from zero to 75.
Are students “ranked” on the waiting list? We do not rank students on the waiting list. If spaces become available after
May 1 the Board of Admission will review and reconsider every candidate who has opted to remain on our waiting list.
If I am a wait listed candidate is it helpful to the Board of Admission if I send additional information, have
additional letters written on my behalf, or visit campus to speak with an admission officer? Additional materials or
new recommendation letters are not necessary unless you or your recommenders are providing information that was not
available to us during our original deliberations. We regret that we are not able to offer staff interviews or individual
conversations with wait listed students, even if they happen to be visiting campus.
When will I know if Brown is able to offer me admission? If spaces are available, we expect to begin making
admission offers to students on our waiting list by mid-May, and offers may be made over a period of several weeks. We
expect to make any and all wait list offers by mid-June, but certainly no later than the end of June.
Is it appropriate for me to commit to attend another college by the May 1 Common Reply Date if I am hoping to be
admitted to Brown later? It is very important that you make a college choice by May 1, even as you are awaiting a final
decision from Brown about your wait list status. All institutions expect that some students who committed by May 1 will
be admitted from waiting lists at other colleges, and will need to withdraw from their May 1 commitments.
If I am admitted from the waiting list at another college before I hear from Brown, will the Brown admission office
be able to accelerate a decision concerning my candidacy? Unfortunately, we are unable to make wait list decisions on
an ad hoc basis. Many colleges understand that you are waiting for other possible wait list offers, and may be willing to
extend their commitment deadlines.
If I am offered admission from the waiting list, will I still be eligible for financial aid? Yes, if you are a US citizen.
Non-US citizens will be admitted from the waiting list on a need-aware basis, and must have a full aid application on file
with Brown’s Office of Financial Aid in order to be considered as a candidate for financial aid.
May I remain on the waiting list after the process had concluded, just in case a place in the entering class becomes
available late in the summer? Once we have completed the early summer waiting list process, we conclude admission
for the upcoming academic year and the waiting list is permanently dissolved.