What separated Emory accepted vs. rejected applicants this cycle? A higher GPA, and, unusually, the waitlist: nearly a third of Emory admits in our sample got in off it. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants by its official rate.
We compared 66 Emory applicants from self-reported 2026 r/collegeresults posts: 26 admitted, 24 rejected and 16 still waitlisted. This is part of a larger comparison of accepted vs. rejected applicants at top colleges, which explains how the data was collected.
People who post results skew strong, so 39% of this sample got in, far above Emory's real rate. Compare the two groups with each other, not with your own odds. With 26 admits and 40 non-admits, a gap of a few people can be noise.
Emory's waitlist actually moved
23 applicants were waitlisted at some point, and 7 of them were later admitted, about 30%. That's one of the best waitlist outcomes in our data, alongside UC Santa Barbara (6 of 18); at most schools, almost nobody came off. It means 7 of Emory's 26 admits in this sample came through the waitlist.
That's a small group, and waitlist movement changes a lot from year to year. Still, if you're waitlisted at Emory, this sample suggests it's worth staying on. Our waitlist strategy guide covers what to do while you wait.
Emory admitted student GPA and SAT
| Admitted | Rejected or waitlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| Median unweighted GPA | 3.98 (22 stated) | 3.875 (30 stated) |
| Median weighted GPA | 4.59 (16 stated) | 4.30 (25 stated) |
| Median SAT (scores sent) | 1540 (17 people) | 1540 (26 people) |
| Median ACT (scores sent) | 35 (10 people) | 35 (16 people) |
| Median AP/IB courses | 10 | 10 |
| National-level award | 69% | 75% |
Admits were ahead by about 0.1 on unweighted GPA and 0.3 on weighted GPA, with identical test scores and course load. A 4.0 itself wasn't the dividing line: about a third of each group had one (7 of 22 admits, 8 of 30 non-admits). The difference was among applicants in the high 3s.
Which activities Emory admits listed more often
- A science fair award: 19% of admits versus 3% of everyone else.
- Clubs and honor societies: 58% versus 45%.
- A competition placement award: 73% versus 60%.
- A varsity sport (not recruited): 42% versus 30%.
- Tutoring or teaching: 46% versus 35%.
And some showed up more often among applicants who weren't admitted:
- Founding a club or organization: 19% of admits versus 43%, the biggest gap at Emory.
- Research: 42% versus 58%.
- Student government: 12% versus 25%.
- A service or leadership award: 23% versus 35%.
The founding result matches Rice, where founding an organization was also more common among non-admits. It doesn't mean founding something hurts; it suggests that at these schools it's common enough not to stand out.
Many Emory applicants were aiming at biology or health, as you'd expect at a school known for pre-med: 28 listed it, and half were admitted (14). Our look at top pre-med schools covers what that path involves.
Early decision
Emory offers two rounds of binding Early Decision. In this sample, 3 of 9 Early Decision applicants were admitted, versus 15 of 32 who named regular decision. That's too few early applicants to compare the rounds.
What Emory applicants can take from this
- Grades in the high 3s mattered. Admits were ahead by about a tenth on unweighted GPA, with identical SATs.
- If you're waitlisted, stay on. Emory's waitlist moved more than almost any other school's in our data.
- Founding a club didn't set anyone apart. It was more common among non-admits.
Emory's College Intel page carries the same applicant-profile comparison, updated as new posts are logged.
Sources
- College Intel's tally of self-reported r/collegeresults posts, 2026 admissions cycle (445 posts logged as of Oct 17, 2026; 66 with an Emory decision). Recruited athletes and transfer applicants excluded. Aggregates only; no individual post is reproduced, and no figure rests on fewer than 3 people.
- College Scorecard -- U.S. Department of Education (Emory's official admission rate)