Yale is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, and one of the hardest to get into. If you recently received a waitlist decision, you know this personally. If we look at the past three years of historical data for the Yale waitlist, it shows us that the Yale waitlist pool is generally smaller than comparable schools. However, the number of students offered a spot off of the waitlist is also smaller — much smaller.

For the Fall of 2022, Yale offered 1,000 students a spot on the waitlist and 780 accepted that offer. Only 9, or 1.15%, were eventually accepted. The next year, 1,145 students were offered a spot on the waitlist and 899 claimed a spot. Zero, yes 0, were offered a seat in the first-year class. One year later, Yale offered 773 students a spot on the waitlist for the fall of 2024. That year, the outcomes were better for the 565 students on the waitlist. Eventually 4.1%, or 23 students, were offered a spot. Yale has not released the number of students accepted off the waitlist in 2025, but 943 were offered a spot on the waitlist. Based on past trends, it is more likely that the acceptance rate will have been under 4% than over 4%.

This year, Yale admitted 10.9% of single-choice early action applicants, or 779 students, for the Class of 2030. This was a 0.1% increase over 2024. They then deferred 18% of EA applicants. It’s not rare for those deferred students to later become waitlisted students in the regular decision round.

When Yale can’t make up its mind, you have to help them. Whether you were a deferred EA applicant or applied regular decision applicant, once you are on the waitlist you are really in the same boat. Your chances of getting into Yale are miniscule, and it’s not even guaranteed anyone on the waitlist will get in. However, we know from experience that it is possible, it’s just not a passive sport.

In this post, we’ll break down what you need to do to increase your chances of getting into Yale off of the waitlist so that, if a spot opens up in the first year class, it’s your application they jump for first.

Getting into an outstanding school is possible, even off of a waitlist. Contact us for a personal strategy.

Being a waitlist is an active endeavor, even when that activity is patiently waiting. We break your waitlist process down into five steps that are simple, fairly easy, and totally straightforward.

Step One: Join the Waitlist

Remember those statistics we shared from the past few years of Yale waitlists? You’ll note that a few hundred students each year chose not to claim their waitlist spot. That could be because they got into another dream school, they felt frustrated, or they simply forgot. Do not fall into the third group. Whether or not you want to stay in the race for Yale, it should be an active decision with you in the driver’s seat.

Step Two: Commit to a School

Next comes the awkward bit. You aren’t into Yale, and, statistically, it’s unlikely you ever will be. That sounds negative, but it’s also simply the numerical reality. Because you most certainly cannot bet on Yale, you need to give yourself a back-up. Pick your first choice school that you were accepted by and enroll. This does typically require you to submit a nonrefundable deposit, so make sure that everyone in your life who has a say is sold on the idea of losing some money if you do get into — and decide to attend — Yale.

Step Three: Write a Letter of Continued Interest

A letter of continued interest, or a LOCI, is a one-page formal letter that reminds Yale that they remain your first choice school and updates them on anything of note that has happened since you applied. Since this letter needs to be one-page, that means that being succinct and focused is paramount.

Now, Yale Admissions has said on their own podcast that there isn’t much a waitlisted student can or should do. They do not want phone calls, emails, or surprise visits to campus. They are not impressed by lengthy updates or evidence of awards you think they may have overlooked. That said, the odds of getting in are so low that to do nothing and just wait is a little, in our minds, defeatist. Hence the LOCI.

As a Yale applicant, we feel safe assuming that you have accomplished something since you submitted your application. This does not need to be an award, and it doesn’t even need to be finishing a big project or endeavor, but you have done something since applying that you hadn’t done when you pressed submit. That should be the meat of your letter. This is how the rest should go.

Formal opening “Dear Yale Admissions,”
Introduce yourself, state your prospective major, state the intention of this short letter (to update them), and say clearly that you will attend if accepted.
Provide 2-4 updates to your application.
Close the letter by reiterating your interest and commitment to attend.

That’s it, and it needs to be no more than one full page.

Step Four: Line up a Character Recommendation

Yale allows for supplementary recommendations, but they don’t go as far as to invite them or recommend them. If you are waitlisted, though, we highly recommend having a non-academic mentor in your life write a one-page letter in support of your application. This could be a job supervisor, research mentor, coach, religious leader, or anyone else who has known you a while, has worked with you closely, and who can speak to your character.

They know enough about your academics, so that’s not what this recommendation is for. Rather, it’s meant to reinforce that you are the type of student who wouldn’t simply thrive at Yale — you’d contribute meaningfully to the community while doing so. Do not expect the recommender to come up with what is in the letter all on their own. Plan to work with them to create a list of priorities, each of which should underline the activities and characteristics you highlighted in your initial application. The letter can be mailed (yes, in the physical mail) to Yale Admissions at PO Box 208234 New Haven, CT 06520.

Step Five: Wait

Finally, you need to sit and wait. Enjoy your senior spring, celebrate your successes, and continue striving in your passions. You will not be sending Yale another update, so don’t do things just to prove something to the university. Instead, do it for you.

Getting into Yale off the waitlist is extremely unlikely. However, it’s not impossible (most years, at least). To pull it off you need to be patient, to listen carefully to what Yale allows for, and to stay positive.

We help students pull off unlikely admissions outcomes. Email us to learn more.