Do deferred students typically get accepted?

Hey guys, I'm a bit stressed because I just got deferred from my EA application. Does anyone know what the general acceptance rate is for deferred students at selective colleges? Is there anything I can do to improve my chances during the regular decision?

Hey! I understand that being deferred can be stressful, but there's still hope for your application in the regular decision round. The acceptance rate for deferred students can vary widely depending on the college, but at more selective institutions, they’re unfortunately generally quite low, as the regular decision round is generally quite a bit more competitive than the early round.

That being said, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances during regular decision:

1. Update your application: If you have any significant accomplishments, updates, or new extracurricular involvements since submitting your application, make sure to inform the admissions office. This can be done through sending a letter, usually referred to as the "Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)." Express your ongoing interest in the college and provide a brief update on your recent achievements and involvements, to showcase your continued growth and dedication to the school since you submitted your initial application. You can read more about how to write a strong LOCI on CollegeVine’s blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest.

2. Maintain strong grades: Keep working hard in your current classes and maintain an impressive academic performance, as colleges give quite a bit of weight to your senior year grades. Make sure to submit any updated grade reports or transcripts.

3. Expand on your recommendation letters: If you've built a strong relationship with a teacher, mentor, or supervisor since your initial submission, ask them to submit a supplementary letter of recommendation on your behalf. The addition of a new perspective can strengthen your overall application, but make sure this person can offer genuinely new insights about you, rather than just rehashing details your original recommenders probably already wrote about.

4. Visit the college and/or attend virtual events: Demonstrating interest in the college by visiting campus, attending virtual sessions or webinars, or even connecting with current students or faculty can be valuable. Some colleges consider demonstrated interest when making admissions decisions, which can help differentiate you from other candidates.

Remember to stay positive and continue giving your best in your remaining applications as well. Being deferred doesn't mean you're out of the running, but it’s also no guarantee of acceptance, and you want to make sure you’ll have good options to choose from in the spring one way or another. Good luck!