What does 'defer application' mean in the college admission process?

Hey everyone, I've been hearing people talk about 'deferred applications' and I'm a bit confused. Can someone help me understand what it means when someone defers their application to a college? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Deferment in the college admission process typically occurs when an applicant applies through an Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) program, and the college or university holds off on making a final decision on their application. Instead of accepting or rejecting the application during the early admission cycle, the college defers the decision until the regular decision cycle, allowing the applicant more time to improve their application or submit additional information.

Deferred applications are essentially being moved from the early to the regular decision pool. From a college's standpoint, this allows them to compare deferred applicants with a larger group of students and make more informed admissions decisions. Being deferred is not necessarily a good or bad thing – it simply means that a final decision has yet to be made on your application.

If you find yourself with a deferred application, there are some steps you can take to improve your chances in the regular decision round. This may include updating your application with any recent accomplishments, submitting any additional test scores, or sending a letter to the college expressing your continued interest and providing any relevant updates.

Overall, while a deferment may be disappointing as you won't receive an early admission decision, it does leave open the possibility of being accepted during the regular decision round. It's important to stay optimistic and continue focusing on the other aspects of your college application journey.