What does a university deferral mean?

Hi everyone, I'm kind of confused about the term 'deferral' in a university context. Can someone help me understand what it means when your application is deferred by a university?

Hi there! A deferral in the context of university admissions occurs when an applicant who has applied under Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) programs has their application moved to the Regular Decision (RD) applicant pool for further consideration.

When an application is deferred, it means the admissions committee found the applicant's profile promising, but wants to review the application alongside the entire RD applicant pool before making a final decision. It is neither an outright acceptance nor rejection.

Once an applicant's application is deferred, they will receive a final decision in the university's RD admissions notification timeline, which is typically in the spring (around March or April). Deferred students should continue to show their interest in the university, provide updates on any significant accomplishments or new information, and consider adjusting their college list as needed based on their desired outcomes.

Keep in mind that deferral rates and acceptance rates for deferred applicants vary from one university to another. It is essential to remain optimistic but also be realistic and prepared for various outcomes.