Early action rejections: Deferred vs rejected?

I'm trying to figure out the difference between getting deferred and rejected in early action applications. What do these outcomes mean for my chances later on, and how common are they?

In the early action admissions process, there are three possible outcomes: acceptance, deferral, and rejection.

If you are accepted, that means your application was strong enough to be selected in the Early Action pool and you have been offered an admission. Congratulations!

Deferral often occurs when the college needs more time to evaluate your application, especially in comparison to the regular decision applicant pool. Essentially, if you're deferred, your application will be reviewed again with the regular decision applications. This doesn't mean you've been rejected; you still have a chance of being accepted.

Being deferred doesn't necessarily lower your chances of acceptance come the regular decision round. It's just that the college couldn't make a decision with the information they had at the time. It's not uncommon at all - many colleges defer a portion of their EA applicants to the regular decision pool.

On the other hand, if you're rejected during Early Action, that's a definitive decision. This means that the college has decided not to offer you a place in their incoming class. This decision is usually final and there is no further consideration in the regular decision pool.

In terms of commonality, acceptance, deferral, and rejection rates can significantly vary depending on the college or university, and they can also change year over year. Some institutions may have a policy of deferring many of their early applicants, while others may make more decisive accept/reject decisions in the early round. That said, many colleges aim to fill a good portion of their class during the early action/early decision period, so those who apply early often have an advantage.