Do colleges typically defer applicants to Early Decision 2?

I'm curious if it's common for colleges to defer applicants from the Early Decision 1 pool to Early Decision 2. How does this impact an applicant’s chances of eventual acceptance?

Deferring applicants from the Early Decision 1 (ED1) pool to the Early Decision 2 (ED2) cycle is not typically a practice adopted by colleges. Instead, colleges usually defer ED1 applicants to the Regular Decision (RD) pool if they need more time to evaluate the applicant's credentials. This is mainly due to the difference in the enforcement of commitment between ED2 and RD.

Deferring applicants to ED2 would imply the continued commitment of the student to attend the college if admitted, which is not a guarantee colleges can assume after an initial deferment. Deferring to RD allows for more flexibility in the decision-making process both for the college and the student.

However, if an applicant is deferred from ED1 to RD, it does not significantly impact the applicant's chances of eventual acceptance. Remember, a deferral is not a denial. It just means that the admissions office wants to review the application again in the larger context of the RD applicant pool. Still, it's important to note that acceptance rates in RD are generally lower than in ED.

If you're deferred, it's a good idea to express continued interest in the college by sending an update to your application—if there have been significant new achievements since you submitted it—and reiterate your enthusiasm for the school. It might also be the right time to evaluate your list of colleges and ensure you've a good balance between reach, match, and safety schools.