What does defer application mean in the college admissions process?

Hey everyone, I've been hearing about people getting their applications deferred and I'm a little confused. Can someone explain the meaning of defer application and how it affects college admissions? Thanks in advance!

Hello! When your application is deferred in the college admissions process, it means that your application hasn't been accepted or denied in the Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) round. Instead, the admissions committee has decided they need more time to review your application, so they'll reevaluate your application during the Regular Decision (RD) application period.

Being deferred is not a negative result; it simply means you haven't been accepted at the early stage but are still being considered for admission. In some cases, the college may want to see how you perform during the rest of your senior year or may want to compare your application against the broader pool of RD applicants before making a final decision.

If you get deferred, it's a good idea to update the college with any new achievements, such as your most recent grades, awards, or extracurricular accomplishments. This could potentially strengthen your application when the college reevaluates it in the RD round. The decision notification date for RD applicants varies by school, but typically falls between late-March and early-April.

Keep in mind that deferral rates and eventual acceptance rates can differ between colleges, so it's essential to stay patient and remain proactive in expressing your continued interest in the school. Good luck!