What is a courtesy deferral?

Hey there! I recently saw the term 'courtesy deferral' on a college admissions forum. Anyone know what it means and how it might apply to someone's application process?

A courtesy deferral is a term used in some college admissions circles to describe the situation when a college defers an Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) applicant to the Regular Decision (RD) pool, even though the college may already have decided that the applicant is not a strong fit for admission.

The idea behind the courtesy deferral is that it allows the college to avoid outright rejecting the student's application during the early review process. Instead, the application is moved to the RD pool, giving the applicant a chance to receive a decision alongside the majority of other applicants. However, the likelihood of the deferred applicant getting accepted during the RD process is quite low.

Keep in mind that not all deferrals are courtesy deferrals. Many deferred applicants still have a strong chance of being admitted once their applications are reconsidered alongside the RD pool. Students who have been deferred should focus on maintaining strong grades, possibly submitting updated test scores (if relevant and applicable), and sending any new accomplishments earned in their senior year that might strengthen their application before the final decision is made.

It's important for deferred applicants not to be discouraged, but to stay proactive and explore other college options as well. A courtesy deferral can be a disappointing experience, but remember that many students find success and happiness at schools they may not have initially considered.