Emory Waitlist Acceptance Rate: Stats and Tips

Emory University is one of the most selective schools in the nation, and like many top universities, it uses a waitlist to manage enrollment. For the Class of 2028, Emory offered 6,098 applicants a spot on the waitlist. Of those, 3,355 chose to remain, but in the end, just 109 students were admitted. That puts Emory’s waitlist acceptance rate at only 3.2%.

While the odds may seem slim, getting off the waitlist at Emory isn’t impossible. In this blog, you’ll learn what these numbers mean for your chances, how Emory approaches its waitlist, and the steps you can take to strengthen your position if you’re hoping for that call of acceptance.

• What Is Emory’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?
• Emory Waitlist Acceptance Rate vs Ivy League Schools
• Is It Worth Staying on Emory’s Waitlist?
• What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by Emory
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is Emory’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?

Getting off the waitlist at Emory isn’t easy, but it does happen. To understand your odds better, let’s take a look at the previous years’ data:

For the Class of 2028, Emory waitlisted 6,098 applicants, with 3,355 choosing to stay on the list. Out of those, only 109 were admitted—a waitlist acceptance rate of 3.2%. But when you step back and look across multiple years, Emory’s waitlist story is anything but consistent.

On average, Emory waitlists about 5,980 students per year, with roughly 3,400 confirming their spot. Out of those, an average of just 143 students are admitted, which comes out to an acceptance rate of around 4.6%.

The highs and lows are striking:

• Highest rate. The Class of 2024 saw a massive jump, with 477 admits—an impressive 16.5% acceptance rate, by far the best in recent years.
• Lowest rate. The Class of 2022 was a complete shutout, with 0 students admitted off the waitlist.
• Other tough years. The Class of 2025 admitted only 21 students, a tiny 0.5% rate, and Classes of 2026 and 2028 hovered around just 3.2%.

Clearly, Emory’s waitlist acceptance rate is unpredictable. Some years, hundreds of students are pulled in; other years, almost nobody makes it through.

So, if you land on Emory’s waitlist, your odds are slim, but not impossible. And as the Class of 2024 showed, once in a while the waitlist really does open up. But be realistic: the waitlist is uncertain, so always secure a strong backup college while you wait.

Emory University yield rate

Another key factor to consider is Emory’s yield rate—the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll. For the Class of 2028, Emory admitted 3,562 students, and 1,438 chose to attend, resulting in a yield rate of about 40%.

Why does this matter for the waitlist? Because the yield rate helps explain how much room is left to admit students later. With a moderate yield like Emory’s, there is usually some movement off the waitlist, but not a huge amount.

Essentially, while Emory is a top choice for many, it competes with other elite universities, so not every admitted student accepts the offer. That leaves a limited—but real—opportunity for waitlisted students.

So, if Emory is your dream school, staying on the waitlist is absolutely worth it. Just remember: movement is unpredictable, and the safest plan is to keep a strong backup option while you wait.

Emory Waitlist Acceptance Rate vs Ivy League Schools

There’s no question: getting off the waitlist at selective universities is difficult. Some admit a handful of students, while others take almost none. Let’s see how Emory University, as a New Ivy, stacks up against the Ivy League:

Cornell leads the group with a 6.3% waitlist acceptance rate, followed by Yale at 4.1%. Penn and Princeton both admitted 2.9% of students who remained on the list, while Dartmouth was the most selective at just 1.3%.

For comparison, Emory had a waitlist acceptance rate of 3.2%. This places Emory directly in line with the Ivies: more selective than Penn, Princeton, and Dartmouth, but slightly below Cornell and Yale. It’s another reason why Emory earns its place among the New Ivies, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the traditional Ivy League in terms of competitiveness and prestige.

Is It Worth Staying on Emory’s Waitlist?

Over the past several years, Emory’s waitlist acceptance rate has averaged about 4.5%. On average, roughly 129 students per year were admitted from the waitlist.

But the numbers vary widely. For example, the Class of 2024 admitted 477 students (16.5%), while the Class of 2022 admitted none at all. The Class of 2025 was also a near shut-out, with only 21 students (0.5%) admitted.

In most other years, just a few dozen students were able to secure a spot. So, is it worth staying on the list? The honest answer is yes—if Emory is truly your top choice. 

While the odds are slim, being on the waitlist keeps the door open, and in rare years like 2024, it can pay off in a big way. Still, the smart move is to commit to another school while you wait.

What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by Emory

If you’ve been waitlisted by Emory University, you’re not alone, and the journey isn’t over. Once you’re waitlisted, here are the things that you have to do:

1. Understand what being waitlisted means.

Being waitlisted at Emory University means that your application was strong, but the school has already filled its available spots for the entering class. Emory may offer admission to students on the waitlist if spaces open up due to others declining their offers or requesting gap years.

2. Monitor your email and accept your spot quickly.

Emory notifies waitlisted applicants directly by email if a spot becomes available. It is essential to keep contact information up to date and regularly check emails. Once an offer is made, responding promptly is necessary, as Emory often provides a short window to make a decision.

3. Stay updated with admissions communications.

Emory provides periodic updates related to waitlist activity around mid- May. For example, in the 2025 cycle, Emory alerted students that a first round of waitlist offers would be made around May 12, with additional smaller rounds following as space permits.

The university might hold on to the waitlist through June to accommodate unexpected changes like gap year requests.

4. Consider submitting a letter of continued interest (LOCI).

If you’ve been waitlisted at Emory, a letter of continued interest can strengthen your case. In the letter, reaffirm your enthusiasm for Emory, highlight any new academic or extracurricular achievements, and explain why the university remains your top choice. Keep it professional, specific, and genuine.

Here is a sample LOCI for your reference:

Dear Emory Admissions Committee,

Thank you for keeping me in consideration on Emory’s waitlist. Emory University remains my top choice, and I would immediately accept an offer of admission if extended. Since submitting my application, I’ve continued to pursue academic and personal growth, and I’d like to share recent updates that reflect my sincere enthusiasm for Emory.

This semester, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA in my AP courses, including AP Calculus BC and AP Chemistry, and was recently recognized as a National Merit Finalist. 

I also presented my independent research on renewable energy optimization at our regional science symposium, where my project won first place in the engineering category. 

Beyond academics, I lead my school’s Science Olympiad team as captain, helping us qualify for our first state championship in five years. Additionally, I launched a STEM mentorship initiative connecting high school students with local engineers, which has expanded to reach over 150 students at three schools. This project deepened my motivation to harness engineering for societal problem-solving—one of the aspects that originally attracted me to Emory.

Emory’s distinctive blend of rigorous STEM education within a supportive liberal arts environment perfectly fits my goals. I am especially interested in the Engineering and the Liberal Arts dual degree program and engagement opportunities through the Office of Undergraduate Research. The focus on independent research, including the senior thesis, embodies the kind of academic depth I am seeking.

I fully recognize the selectivity and uncertainty of the waitlist process. However, I want to reassure you that Emory remains my absolute first choice, and I would enthusiastically join and contribute to Emory’s vibrant, collaborative community if offered admission.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Emory Application ID]

[Your Email Address]

[Your High School]

4. Know the waitlist realities.

Emory’s waitlist acceptance rates fluctuate annually, ranging from less than 1% to about 16% in recent years, with most years around. The process is highly competitive and uncertain. Moreover, Emory states that once the space is filled, students will not be admitted from the waitlist.

5. Secure your place at another college.

Never count solely on the waitlist. Deposit, submit paperwork, and commit to another school where you’ve been accepted by the May 1 deadline. This guarantees you’ll have a college experience next year, regardless of what Emory’s final decision may be.

Remember: stay grounded, but keep hope alive. Countless students flourish at schools that were not their initial first choice, discovering opportunities, friendships, and experiences beyond expectations.

Stay flexible, maintain perspective, and trust that your journey will unfold in valuable ways. No matter where you start, the path ahead can lead to growth, success, and meaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How competitive is Emory’s waitlist acceptance rate compared to other Ivies?

Emory’s waitlist acceptance rate is highly competitive. For the Class of 2028, only 3.2% of waitlisted students were admitted. This aligns closely with Ivy League trends: slightly lower than Yale (4.1%) and Cornell (6.3%), about the same as Princeton and Penn (2.9%), and higher than Dartmouth (1.3%).

2. Does Emory University rank its waitlist?

No. Emory does not maintain a ranked waitlist. All confirmed waitlisted students are placed into a single pool, and the admissions office selects candidates based on institutional priorities and enrollment needs for that particular year.

3. How many people does Emory waitlist?

Emory typically places between 4,600 and 6,500 students on the waitlist each year. Out of these, about 2,600 to 3,800 students confirm their spot. The number of students eventually admitted changes drastically: from 0 in some years (Class of 2022) to as high as 477 in others (Class of 2024).

Takeaways

• Emory’s waitlist acceptance rate is unpredictable. Over the last several years, it has ranged from 0% (Class of 2022) to as high as 16.5% (Class of 2024), with most years around 3–4%.
• For the Class of 2028, only 3.2% of waitlisted students were admitted. That means out of 3,355 students who chose to remain on the waitlist, just 109 ultimately received offers.
• Yield rate plays a major role. With about 40% of admitted students enrolling in 2028, there was limited room for waitlist movement. The higher Emory’s yield, the fewer seats open up for waitlisted applicants.
• You can share a letter of continued interest (LOCI) to strengthen your application, but it is equally important to commit to another school by May 1 to ensure you have a guaranteed path forward.
• Need help with Emory’s waitlist? Expert college admission guidance can boost your chances. AdmissionSight can help you craft a strong LOCI, update your application, and stay competitive.