Difference between Waitlist and Held? Forum

[waketiger]

Is there a difference between the two? Held at one school and waitlisted at another, just curious if they're essentially the same thing.

[WhatSarahSaid]

For every school I've applied to and heard about, being held means that you'll receive a decision in the future, which can be an acceptance, denial, or waitlist.

A waitlist means that you just sit on a list and potentially never hear anything.

A hold is [almost certainly] better than a WL, but different schools use their waitlists in different ways.

[rockylo88]

If you're held, it means you don't have to send a LOCI yet.

[mr_toad]

If you're held, it means you don't have to send a LOCI yet.

You might not have to, but Northwestern at least specifically states that they will accept one from people on 'hold'.

[almightypush]

If you're held, it means you don't have to send a LOCI yet.

i would imagine it's actually best to send a LOCI when you're held, as you're still realistically in the running for a spot. once you hit the WL, there's really not much you can do to move the process along in your favor.

[mr_toad]

If you're held, it means you don't have to send a LOCI yet.

i would imagine it's actually best to send a LOCI when you're held, as you're still realistically in the running for a spot. once you hit the WL, there's really not much you can do to move the process along in your favor.

+1

[bk1]

As said above, being held means they have not given you a decision yet.

That being said, from what I've seen, the vast of majority of people who get held end up eventually waitlisted so you can basically look at being held kind of like a soft waitlist.

[FAR262]

Is put on reserve the same thing as held?

[mr_toad]

Depends on the school. At Columbia, held is 'better' than reserved, supposedly.