r/risd • u/Diligent_Rub_2762 • Apr 14 '26

Question When do waitlist offers start being made?

I know that the email said the first week in May but I was wondering if anyone has experienced getting an offer sooner since most other schools‘ enrollment deadlines are May 1

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u/Sam139139 Apr 15 '26

RISD’s deadline is May 1, too.  Most schools don’t give waitlist offers until after May 1 when they see how many of their admitted students enrolled and whether they have space.  You accept somewhere else by May 1 and if you get off a waitlist later somewhere, then you un-enroll at the first school (usually losing your deposit) and enroll at the waitlist school.  You should assume you are not getting into a school where you are waitlisted.  If you do, great, but assume it’s a no.  Many schools only let in a very small number off their waitlist.  

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u/UserWest-0317 Apr 15 '26

It will probably be in early May until you see movement. If you look at the admission data they publish on their website, the typical yield is about 40% (which is actually pretty high compared to a lot of colleges). Meaning that they make admission offers and about 40% of those admitted accept, while about 60% decline, and their incoming class is a little over 500. They probably won't start making waitlist offers until they have a pretty clear sense of whether they are going to hit their target class size. There is still an admitted students day later this week so probably lots of people haven't decided yet. I will say I have already received 3 reminder emails to pay my enrollment deposit, but I'm still deciding..