Hey all, as I've been going through this college application process, I have come across the terms 'waitlisted' and 'deferred'. Can anyone shed some light on which is more desirable in terms of getting into a college? I would really appreciate any insights!
Hey, you're actually asking about two different concepts that take place at different times in the college admissions process.
In an Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) application context, being deferred means that your application will be reevaluated in the Regular Decision (RD) process. It's not an acceptance or a rejection, but an invitation to wait for a final decision that will be made alongside applications under the RD timeline. Here, a deferral can be seen as a second chance at securing an admission spot.
On the other hand, being waitlisted happens during the RD process right off the bat. After the admissions committee finishes their initial review, they might put you on the waitlist if they've already filled their slots but think you're a good fit. Should any accepted students opt not to attend, students on the waitlist could be offered those spots.
If you're asking which situation has a better chance of eventually leading to an acceptance, it's tricky because it depends on individual school policies and the applicant pool in a given year. However, a deferral gives your application another complete review, while being waitlisted generally means you'll only be reconsidered if there's room after accepted students make their decisions. But remember, being deferred or waitlisted isn't an outright rejection, so there's always a chance!
Hope that clarifies things! If you need more information, let me know.
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