Deferred Admissions – How does it work?

Hey there, I have a small doubt. I've been hearing a lot about college deferrals and I'm a bit confused as to what it means. What happens if I get deferred from a college I've applied to? Is it a good thing or a bad thing for my chances of getting accepted later?

Hello! When a college defers your application, it means that they've not made a final decision on your application during the early decision or early action review period. Instead, they're moving your application into the regular decision applicant pool for further consideration.

In terms of whether it's a good or bad thing, it falls somewhat in the middle. It's certainly not bad in the sense that you haven't been rejected, and the college is interested in considering your application further within the wider context of the regular decision applicant pool. Deferred students can and often do get accepted in the regular decision round.

However, deferral also doesn't guarantee later acceptance. The regular decision pool might be more competitive, given the larger number of applicants. To give yourself the best shot at acceptance, keep showing passion and commitment in your current activities while keeping your grades up.

Some colleges welcome updates or additional materials from deferred students such as updated grades, additional letters of recommendation, or a letter of continued interest. You should check with the specific admissions office to see if sending additional materials would be beneficial.

Finally, try not to be disheartened, continue to remain hopeful, and also make sure you have applied to a balanced list of schools with reach, match, and likely schools to diversify your options come spring.