Clarification on being deferred to regular decision?

If someone is deferred to regular decision, what exactly does that mean? I applied early action and I'm trying to understand the impact if I get deferred. Does it mean my chances are lower?

Being deferred from early action to regular decision essentially means that the admissions committee wants more time to consider your application. They believe your application is competitive, but they would like to evaluate it in the context of the larger regular decision pool. It does not inherently imply that your chances of admission are lower.

When an application is deferred, it will undergo another full review during the regular decision round, and it will be considered alongside all other regular decision applications. It's important to note, however, that this allows you an opportunity to strengthen your application if possible: submit updated transcripts showing new grades, achievements, or additional letters of recommendation, if the college allows it.

Don't be disheartened by a deferral. While it's not the outright acceptance you might have hoped for, it's not a denial either. Take it as an opportunity for the college to get to know you even better and to demonstrate why you would be a great fit for their community. As always, it's beneficial to have a few backup options in mind, just in case your regular decision process doesn't go as expected.