How does deferring a college decision work?

I got a defer letter from one of my top choice schools, and I'm trying to figure out what it means for my application. Does this mean I'm likely to get accepted later, or is it more like a waitlist?

When a college defers your decision, it means that they've decided to hold off on making a final decision about your application until a later date, usually the regular decision pool. It's not quite the same as a waitlist - when you're waitlisted, you've essentially been accepted, but only if there's space available after all the other accepted students have made their decisions.

Getting deferred doesn't necessarily mean that you're likely to be accepted later; it just means they want to consider your application further. It could be because they have a particularly competitive applicant pool and want to compare your application alongside a broader pool of students. That being said, it's definitely not a rejection and you still have a chance of being admitted during the regular decision timeline.

Now, what can you do to improve your chances? You might consider updating the college with any significant achievements since your original application, such as new grades, test scores, or extracurricular triumphs. It can also be beneficial to write a letter to the college expressing your continued interest in attending (if it is indeed one of your top choices).

Remember to also plan for other outcomes. Keep your options open by continuing to apply to other schools and exploring different opportunities. Good luck!