Does Harvard allow deferrals?

The admissions committee encourages admitted students to defer enrollment for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or spend time in another meaningful way - provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college.

Does Harvard accept deferred students?

Harvard also wants you to consider other options (which we'll get into next). Students do get in after a deferral, so your chances aren't zero, but given the regular decision acceptance rate — 3.45% overall — the probability isn't good. If they loved your application before, they would have offered you a spot.

What is the deferral policy for Harvard?

In most cases, deferrals are limited to one or two years, although we have the ability to grant longer deferrals or extensions for military service, serious illness, and/or extenuating personal circumstances.

Do deferrals usually get accepted?

Generally, your chances of getting in after getting deferred are on the lower end, especially if you've applied to one of the nation's top colleges. Early decision applicants typically produce strong applications, so at least you know you've given it your best shot.

What is the difference between deferred and waitlisted at Harvard?

The main difference between the two is that a deferral means that your application has been put on hold, while a waitlist means your application has been neither accepted nor rejected.

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How many Harvard deferrals get accepted?

Historically, about 10% of students who Harvard defers ultimately earn admission in Regular Decision. While this data point can vary from year to year, it's rarely released by the school. But, over the years, Ivy Coach's sources in Harvard's admissions office have confirmed that 10% is the general rule of thumb.

What percent of Harvard students get deferred?

According to reporting from The Crimson, Harvard's early admissions candidates have around a 13% acceptance rate, and about 80% of early action applications are deferred.

Why does Harvard defer so many applicants?

Given that more than 60,000 candidates apply from around the world, and the relatively modest size of each entering class (about 1,650 students), the Admissions Committee must act with great care in making Restrictive Early Action Decisions.

Is getting deferred from an Ivy good?

While it is disappointing not to have an acceptance in hand, a deferral does not mean that you're out of the admissions race! In fact, a deferral should be considered a second chance to highlight your strengths and what you have accomplished during your senior year.

Is getting deferred from an Ivy League good?

Ivy League deferral statistics

Generally, college counselors, such as those at Ivy Coach, believe that deferred Ivy League applicants have about a 10% chance of acceptance. Of course, this varies from school to school, but it is nice to have a general idea of where you stand in terms of admissions.

How do I write a Harvard deferral Letter?

Your statement of continued interest in enrolling should take no more than one or two sentences. Don't mention other schools you've been accepted to, even if they are Ivy League institutions, and don't wax poetic about how disappointed you were not to be admitted outright.

How many people get waitlisted from Harvard?

Unfortunately, how many people are on the Harvard waitlist is not public knowledge. Due to the competitive nature of Harvard, and the published numbers from similar schools, Harvard's waitlist is roughly 1000 to 2000 people. For the 2026 class, we know that Harvard accepted 36 students from the waitlist.

What happens if you can't afford Harvard?

Most importantly, your financial situation will not affect your chances of admission to Harvard College. We know that each student's financial circumstances are unique. Your financial aid officer will work with you all four years to understand your needs and take the stress out of affording Harvard.

What are the odds of getting in after being deferred?

What Percentage of Deferred Students Get Accepted? Across all highly selective colleges, about 10% of deferred candidates ultimately earn admission to the school that kicked the can on their candidacies. While this percentage can vary yearly and from school to school, it's a relatively consistent general benchmark.

Can you go to Harvard in your 30s?

Yes, Harvard will accept a 30 year old into its undergraduate college.

Does Yale accept deferred students?

The admissions committee reconsiders all deferred applications along with the Regular Decision applicants. Deferred applicants will receive a final decision by April 1. Applicants denied admission under Single-Choice Early Action are not eligible for further consideration for admission during that application cycle.

Is a deferral basically a rejection?

A rejection means the student was denied admission. However, a deferral means the student's application is still being considered. Being waitlisted, on the other hand, means the student will be admitted if space becomes available. Many perfectly qualified students are rejected, deferred, and waitlisted.

Is a deferral a soft rejection?

Deferral is the purgatory of college admissions; it's not quite a rejection, but it's not an acceptance, either. You're still in the running for admission, but you haven't secured a guaranteed spot.

Is it better to be waitlisted or deferred?

In general, you can assume that your odds are better if you've been deferred rather than waitlisted. Deferred students are reconsidered during the regular decision round and should have about the same chance as other regular decision applicants.

How many people who get deferred get accepted?

Unfortunately, schools ultimately don't accept many of the students they defer. As a rule of thumb, most schools accept only 5-10 percent of deferred students.

Is it easier to get into Harvard Early Action?

Harvard does not offer an advantage to students who apply early. While admit rates tend to be higher in Restrictive Early Action, this reflects the remarkable strength of the applicant pool rather than a benefit of application timing.

What is the Early Action rejection rate for Harvard?

Harvard College announced this evening that 692 of 7,921 early-action applicants were admitted to the class of 2028. This 8.7 percent acceptance rate compares to 7.5 percent in 2022 and 7.9 percent in 2021.

Why did Harvard defer me?

Getting “deferred” just means that Harvard still thinks you're pretty neat-o and wants to look at your application again during the regular decision pool.

What is the defer rate for Yale?

Among all early action applicants, 20% were deferred for reconsideration in the spring, 70% were denied admission, and 1% were withdrawn or incomplete.

What is Cornell's deferral rate?

Cornell Deferral FAQ

While the school hasn't released its Early Decision acceptance rate since the Class of 2026, it's surely below 20%. And since, in recent years, between 21.7% to 24.3% of applicants have been deferred, the overwhelming majority have been denied admission outright.