Can someone explain the concept of deferral in university admissions?

I'm a junior and starting to look into the college application process. I've come across the term 'deferral' when it comes to university admissions, but I'm not entirely sure what it means. Can someone please give me a clear explanation of deferral in the context of university applications? Thank you!

Sure! Deferral is a term used in the context of college admissions, specifically in the Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) application rounds. When you apply to a college through EA or ED, the admissions committee will review your application and make one of the following decisions: accept, deny, or defer.

When your application is deferred, it means the admissions committee has decided not to make a final decision on your application during the EA or ED round. Instead, they will move it to the Regular Decision (RD) round and review it once more, along with the other RD applications. In other words, the school needs more time or additional context—like comparing your application to those in the RD pool—to make a final judgment.

A deferral is not the same thing as rejection—many students who are deferred during EA or ED are ultimately accepted in the RD round. However, it is essential to focus on the rest of your applications and not assume you'll be admitted after being deferred, as the RD round is generally more competitive than the early rounds.

If you're deferred, you'll likely want to follow up with the college by sending them any pertinent updates to your application, such as recent achievements and improved test scores, and by expressing your continued interest in the school and explaining why you'd be a great fit, all in a professional, respectful manner. If you end up getting deferred from any of your schools and are wondering how to go about writing this "letter of continued interest," CollegeVine's blog contains detailed guidance for you: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest.

In summary, receiving a deferral means that the college needs more time or context to make a final decision on your application, and you'll be considered again in the RD round. There's still hope for admission, but it's crucial to focus on other applications and not rely on being accepted after deferral. Best of luck with your college process!