MBA Waitlist Movements
MBA waitlist movement is the change in offers after admitted candidates accept, decline, or upgrade their seats. A waitlist movement tracker is useful only when each number is tied to a verified source, category, programme, year, and result date.
Waitlist tracker fields to verify
| School group | Examples to track | What each verified source should include |
|---|---|---|
| Old IIMs | IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore | result date, category, programme, offer list number, waitlist rank language |
| New and CAP IIMs | IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Kashipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Jammu, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Bodh Gaya | first list offers, waitlist movement, category movement, fee deadline overlap |
| Non-IIM MBA colleges | FMS Delhi, IIFT, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur | result date, merit list number, programme-specific movement, admission portal updates |
This page explains how to evaluate waitlist movements. It does not publish unverified official movement numbers and is not affiliated with IIM, CAT, or any institute.
Definitions
Waitlist tracker template
| Field | Record this | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Admission year | 2026, 2025, or another cycle. | Movement can change sharply by year. |
| Institute and programme | Example: IIM Ahmedabad PGP, IIM Mumbai MBA, FMS Delhi MBA. | Do not merge different programmes into one number. |
| Category and pool | General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, PwD, or other published category. | Category movement is not interchangeable. |
| Number type | Waitlist rank, merit list number, offer list number, or last converted rank. | Misreading the number type is the most common tracker error. |
| Result date and source | Portal screenshot, official notice, official email, RTI-backed data, or clearly marked community report. | A verified source should make the date and meaning clear. |
How to use last year movement
Use previous-year movement only as a stress-test. A large movement in one year does not guarantee the same outcome next year because overlap, seats, fee deadlines, result timing, and category behavior can change.
Source quality checklist
Prefer official admission portal notices, official emails, RTI-backed data, or clearly archived community data. Label any community-reported number as unverified until a verified source confirms the year, category, programme, result date, and meaning of the number.
Frequently asked questions
What does waitlist movement mean in MBA admissions?
Waitlist movement means additional offers made after the first admission list because some candidates do not accept an offer, move to another school, or fail document/payment steps.
Can last year waitlist movement predict this year?
Only partially. It can help with planning, but actual movement depends on seats, overlap with other schools, fee deadlines, category, programme, and candidate behavior in that cycle.
What should I verify before trusting a waitlist table?
Check the year, category, programme name, whether the number means waitlist rank or merit list number, result date, and whether the source is official, RTI-based, or community-reported.