What happens when you’re waitlisted?

Applying to college is an intensive — and often emotional — undertaking. We understand this decision isn’t the news you hoped to receive. Take heart. UC Davis is a very competitive campus and enrollment space is limited. You stand among a pool of highly qualified applicants whose academic and personal achievements reflect strong preparation and potential. Based on availability, some applicants may receive admission offers after the SIR deadline. 

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

  • What should I do first?
  • Respond by April 15 for first-year students and May 15 for transfer students. Students who still hope to join the Aggie community must opt-in to accept our waitlist offer by the deadline.
  • How do I accept the waitlist offer?
  • Accept our waitlist offer on MyAdmissions. No letters of recommendation, transcripts or other documents are required or considered for waitlisted students.
  • If I accept the waitlist offer, what happens if I’m offered admission elsewhere?
  • Accepting our waitlist offer does not prevent students from accepting admission to another campus. We encourage students to accept an offer of admission elsewhere and keep us “in their back pocket,” to keep options open. 
  • What else should I do in the meantime?
  • Be patient and accept an offer that you currently have available. We cannot predict how many students may receive admission from the waitlist and for this reason, do not rank the waitlist. The number of offers we extend depends on available space and how many admitted students we expect to enroll.
  • What happens if a space at UC Davis opens up?
  • You will be notified by way of email and MyAdmissions if you are admitted from the waitlist. If you receive such an offer, you can cancel your statement of intent to register at another campus and accept our offer of admission. Students have seven days to accept our offer. Students admitted from the waitlist are provided with the same enrollment experience as every other student in their entering class, from their financial aid award and guaranteed housing to orientation and summer advising.