The Enrollment Numbers Game
Every selective college manages a yield problem: they accept more students than they have seats, knowing not all will enroll. They model this yield carefully, but the model is imperfect. After May 1 (the national enrollment deposit deadline), a college knows exactly how many students enrolled. If they fell short of their target, they go to the waitlist. If they hit their target or exceeded it, the waitlist may move not at all.
Profile-Based Selection
Colleges don't pull students from the waitlist randomly. They pull students who fill specific needs: an underrepresented state or country, a particular major that's underenrolled, an athletic team that needs a specific position, a talent area where the incoming class is thin. If your profile happens to match what they need, your chances improve significantly. If not, even a perfect LOCI may not help.
Demonstrated Interest and the LOCI
Among students who are otherwise similar, demonstrated interest — including your Letter of Continued Interest — can tip the decision. A clear statement that you will enroll if admitted matters because colleges use yield as a metric and don't want to offer a spot to someone who might decline. If this school is your first choice and you would enroll, say so clearly and directly.
Timeline
Most waitlist movement happens in late April and May after the May 1 deadline, though some schools continue to admit from the waitlist into July and August. There is no standard timeline — ask the admissions office directly for what they can share about their waitlist process.