Fall Waitlist FAQ
First-Year Waitlist 2025: FAQ
We appreciate the time and effort you put into your application. Virginia Tech received more than 57,600 first-year applications this year for a first-year class of 7,085 students. Because of the strength of your application and supporting documentation, we felt that you deserved to be considered again should space become available.
What does being on the waitlist mean?
Since we have classroom capacity for only a set number of new students, many applicants do not receive offers of admission. An unranked waitlist is kept so that some applicants can be offered admission if spaces become available in the first-year class.
How will I be notified of my final decision regarding the waitlist and when will I be notified?
If you select to remain on the waitlist, you will be notified by email of your final admission status. You will be notified no later than July 1, 2025 but we make every effort to notify applicants on the waitlist of their final decision as soon as we are able.
What are my chances for selection from the waitlist?
We cannot make a final decision until all the responses from applicants offered admission are returned. Therefore, we cannot answer questions about your chances of being selected for admission at this time. This year Virginia Tech received more than 57,600 applications and we expect 7,085 students to accept our offer and enroll. If we have fewer than 7,085 students accept our offer, we will offer admission to some of the students who chose to remain on our waitlist.
Can I do anything to increase my chances of being offered admission from the waitlist?
Please access your Applicant Portal and select to remain on the waitlist through the Response to Waitlist form. Since offering students from the waitlist depends on space by major, letters of recommendation, letters of continued interest, or personal visits will not affect our decision. We will use the information we already have to make a decision if space becomes available.
What should I do now that I am on the waitlist?
We recommend that you elect to remain on the waitlist for Virginia Tech through the Response to Waitlist form in your Applicant Portal. You should also explore other options as many schools have a response deadline of May 1, 2025 in case we are unable to admit you from the waitlist for your chosen major.
What is Virginia Tech’s history of selecting students from the waitlist?
In 2024, we were able to offer 1,517 applicants from the waitlist. In 2023, we were unable to offer any applicants from the waitlist. In 2022, we were able to offer 2,458 applicants from the waitlist. In 2021, we were able to offer 3,286 applicants from the waitlist. In 2020 we were able to offer 3,961 applicants from the waitlist. In 2019 we were unable to make any offers. In 2018 we were able to offer 1,896 applicants from our waitlist. In 2017 we were unable to make any offers. As you can see, the number of students ultimately receiving offers from the waitlist is highly unpredictable and variable each year.
Can I change my major while on the waitlist?
No, you are unable to change your major while on the waitlist. If space becomes available, we will re-review your application for the major that you selected when initially applying for admission.
What are my options if I am not selected from the waitlist and still wish to attend Virginia Tech?
Each year, about 1,300 students transfer to Virginia Tech after beginning their college journey at other colleges and universities. Many students who at one point found themselves on a waitlist will follow this route to admission. The transfer admissions process focuses on your work at the college level. The university provides several resources to help you select coursework and prepare for a successful transfer to your intended program. These are found on our Transfer Admissions Homepage at vt.edu/admissions/transfer. If you have additional questions after reviewing this information, please contact our office.