How do I write a Harvard deferral letter?

Brief and concise: Keep your letter brief and to the point, ideally no more than one page. Admissions officers have a limited amount of time to review additional materials, so make sure your letter is easy to read and clearly communicates your message.

How do you write a good deferral letter?

How do you defer Harvard admission?

Yes. Students admitted in the Early Action and Regular Decision rounds can choose to defer their admission by selecting the "I defer" option in their admitted student reply form.

Is it hard to get deferred from Harvard?

The number most people forget to look at though, is the 78%. Seventy-eight percent of early applicants were deferred. Only 9.5% were denied. It was harder, in the 2022-2023 application cycle, to be denied from Harvard Early Action than it was to be deferred.

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.

Turning a Deferral into an Acceptance: How to Write a Deferral Letter (by Yale 2020 Grad)

What percent of 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 applicants get deferred?

In 2021, Harvard deferred 80 out of every 100 students who applied early. 80% of students who applied early were deferred. Again, 80%. Only 7.4% of students who applied early were accepted.

How many people got deferred from Harvard this year?

Of the total applications received, approximately 83.06 percent were deferred and 7.70 percent were denied admission.

How many people who get deferred get accepted?

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.

What is the rejection rate of Harvard?

These numbers are reflected in Harvard's extremely low acceptance rates — an overall acceptance rate of 3.4%, and a Regular Decision rate of 2.6%.

What is the difference between deferred and waitlisted at Harvard?

Deferral means a college is delaying their decision until spring. Being deferred from college doesn't mean you've been denied acceptance. Being waitlisted means you are on a list reserve because spots are filled. Very selective colleges defer as many as 70-80% of early applicants.

What is a deferral at Harvard?

However, it is essential to understand that a deferral is not a rejection. It simply means that the admissions committee needs more time to review your application alongside the regular decision applicant pool.

How do I turn a deferral into an acceptance?

What are valid reasons for deferring?

How do you start a deferral letter?

I am writing to request a one-year deferral to the program. [Here is where you insert the reason for your request. Keep this part concise and professional. Focus on succinctly stating the situation, stay solution-focused, and don't try to appeal to sympathy; just state the facts and make your request.]

Do deferral letters help?

Many students who are deferred simply set their sights on other schools, so a deferral letter can help confirm your interest to admissions officers and increase your chances of admission in the next round of admissions.

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.

How can I increase my chances of getting accepted after deferral?

Make references to specific professors, courses, extracurricular activities, and opportunities that show you have done your research on the school. Update the college on all the achievements you have made, both inside and outside of the classroom, since you submitted your Early Action/Decision application.

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 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.

What are the odds of getting in College after being deferred?

Some estimates say that most colleges will accept at least 5-10% of deferred students in regular decision pools. Others estimate that the deferral acceptance rate is often approximately equal to the regular decision acceptance rate. However, these estimates are overarching and don't apply to all schools.

Should I write a letter of continued interest Harvard?

We are unlikely to move forward with your waitlist candidacy if you do not submit a letter of continued interest. For complete instructions on submitting a letter of continued interest, please review our Letter of Continued Interest Guide.

Is waitlisted better than deferred?

A deferred applicant will be considered again before any reconsideration is provided to a waitlisted applicant. As such, being waitlisted at a school is worse than a deferral because the institution has decided not to admit you unless other applicants decline their admission offer and seats become available.

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.