Parenting Guide

What do you do when your child is on the waiting list?

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Jul 07, 2014

Being placed into a waiting list is not an experience to look forward to. All that diligent hard work and going through the application process with your child now seems like a waste.

What is even worse is the overwhelming anxiety, not knowing (and in most cases, hoping) if your child might be picked out of limbo for admission into that dream school.

Most schools typically employ a waiting list as a measure when there are overwhelming applications amid limited spaces for admission. In some private and international schools, the waiting list can be as long as a year or two.

Beyond waiting it out, what else could a parent do?

1. DON’T Panic!

It is important to remind yourself not to worry that much. While it is unfortunate that the school has not said “Yes” to your application, they haven’t really said “No” as well.

As waiting lists are usually not static, the prospect of going up the list can be very likely and keeping an optimistic outlook at things would translate to a much easier approach in coping with the whole ordeal.

2. Stay in touch, show interest

In most cases, a waiting list is used by schools to filter out applicants who are genuinely interested and those who are not.

Showing initiative by keeping in touch with the school gives you visibility and signifies the school that you are genuinely interested in sending your child to the school.

3. Always have an alternative

A bitter pill to swallow, but in circumstances where your application is denied or your child can’t afford to wait any longer in the list, it is best to move on with an alternative school of your choice.

A fallback choice may not be the most ideal situation but it helps you to set a realistic goal out of it. With only a limited amount of space in any ideal school, some applications are bound to fail.

With a larger option of schools, both International & Private available, perhaps making that choice for second best is made easier for parents in Malaysia.

4. Don’t buy your way

Not only is it unethical, bribing your way into a school would usually not lead you anywhere. With most schools having a “No Gifts” policy, forcing a gift onto a Principal or Enrollment staff will not achieve anything on your side.

Being put on a waiting list signifies that your child IS a potential candidate that the school would want to have but due to circumstances (no available space or the availability of similar candidates); they can’t admit the child in. A bribe will not change that.

5. Be polite

Whether your child makes it through the waiting list or not, it is important to be civil and courteous of the entire process. Thank the school and the enrollment staff for the opportunity as making a positive impression may go a long way in getting call back for another application.

Causing a fuss out of a failure would not achieve anything beneficial for you or your child (See Number 4.). In most cases, schools would not want to recall or even consider any future applications if the last experience was one that was negative, permanently shutting down any future possibility of your child enrolling into the school.