Anastasiia, 19, Placed 680th on Her Dream Program's Waitlist

When Anastasiia found herself 680th on the waitlist for her dream program, everything felt hopeless. A few years ago, Ali was also waitlisted but eventually got in. Johanna shares tips for students after the first admission results.

On July 10, the first admission results for the fall semester of 2025 were released, and social media quickly filled with mixed reactions.

Anastasiia Koval, 19, from Södertälje had long dreamed of studying at the Swedish Defence University, knowing exactly what she wanted to do after graduation. But when the day came and the admission results were sent out, her dream suddenly felt very distant.

Anastasiia ended up 680th on the waitlist.

"I was shocked and a little sad," says Anastasiia.

She suspects her low placement is due to not having a high enough merit score. The chances of getting into the program currently feel low, Anastasiia admits.

"It's like 679 people would have to drop out," she jokes.

She posted a video on TikTok sharing her news, a clip that currently has over 100,000 views. The reactions have made her feel a little less alone.

"Many who commented are also on the waitlist, even lower than I am."

Anastasiia chose not to wait for the second admission round and immediately accepted her second choice. Therefore, she will study rhetoric this fall, but her dream of the Swedish Defence University remains, and she hopes for better chances in the future.

Ali Was 44th on the Waitlist: "In My Head, It Was Over"

Ali Najm, 24, from Malmö remembers his admission result as an emotional rollercoaster. After high school, he applied to the dentistry program, aware that his chances were "50/50."

"I was lying in bed, refreshing the website over and over. Eventually, I saw I was 44th on the waitlist – and in my head, it was over," says Ali.

Ali watched his friends post positive reactions on social media while he started working at Subway.

"Not quite what I had hoped for," he says.

Ali felt he wanted to do more than just work there, so after a while, he decided to quit. On his last day, just as he was closing the register and heading out, he suddenly received a notification on his phone.

"I immediately thought it was an email saying I hadn't been accepted."

He ignored the notification, put his phone in his pocket, and walked out. But when he closed the door behind him, he decided to read the email. That's when he saw he had been accepted.

"It was very symbolic. One door closes, and another opens," Ali shares.

Today, Ali has been working as a dentist for a year and wants to encourage other young people not to give up on their dreams.

Johanna Studies 200 Percent - and Shares Tips on TikTok

Johanna Lundell, 24, has often answered questions about admission results among her friends. This is because she started studying right after high school and has been studying at 200 percent throughout her academic career. She has studied the psychology program, a bachelor's in theology, and also trained as a personal trainer.

"I know myself how stressful it was to receive many results and not understand everything," says Johanna.

To help others, Johanna started a TikTok account with tips and advice for prospective students. The tips are based on her own experiences and facts she has learned from various admission sites.

"If you end up on the waitlist, many worry about not getting in," says Johanna.

She herself was waitlisted for the psychology program and knows it doesn't have to be over.

"It's nice to be able to reassure others: You can still get in."

What is the most common question you get?

"The most common question is really about being waitlisted and many are worried about not getting in. Many want to know their odds and how many usually decline," Johanna answers.