Hey everyone, I came across the term 'defer application' while researching the college admission process. Can someone please explain what it means when a student's application is deferred? Thanks in advance!
When a student's application is deferred, it means that the college has not made a final decision on whether to accept or reject the applicant during the Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) round. Instead, the college has decided to move the application to the Regular Decision (RD) pool for further consideration. This is typically done when the admissions committee wants more time to evaluate the application, compare it to the larger pool of RD applicants, or possibly see any updated academic or extracurricular achievements.
Being deferred does not mean your chances of admission are over, nor does it mean you're more likely to be rejected. It simply means that you'll need to wait until the RD decision notifications, which usually happen around March or April, depending on the college.
In the meantime, it's a good idea to keep working on other college applications, demonstrate continued interest in the school (if they consider demonstrated interest as a factor), and potentially update the college with any significant achievements or relevant updates to your application. This can include new extracurricular accomplishments, improved grades, or any awards you may have received after submitting your application. Remember to stay positive and maintain a balanced list of other college options, just in case the final decision doesn't go in your favor. Good luck!
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