What does defer mean in university admissions?

I'm a bit confused about what 'defer' means in the context of university admissions. If a student is deferred, does that mean they have a chance of getting admitted later, or is it different from being waitlisted?

Deferment in the context of university admissions typically happens when a student applies for early decision or early action. If an admissions committee decides it needs more time to review an application, it can choose to defer the decision until the regular admissions cycle. This allows the committee to compare the early applicant's credentials with those of the regular decision applicants.

Deferment isn't the same as being waitlisted. When you're deferred, your application will be reviewed again during the regular admission cycle, at which point you can be accepted, rejected, or possibly waitlisted. Being waitlisted usually occurs after applications have been reviewed in the regular admissions cycle. It means that the applicant is qualified and strong but the class is already full. If spots open up due to admitted students declining their offers, the admissions committee will start admitting students from the waitlist.

In general, if you are deferred, it's a good idea to express your continued interest in the school and provide any updates that could strengthen your application, like improved midterm grades or new extracurricular activities.