Is being deferred to regular decision bad?

A deferral means the college wants to review your application again with the regular decision pool of applicants. While it might feel like a rejection, a deferral is not a denial, nor does it mean there was something wrong with your application.

Does getting deferred hurt your chances?

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. If you take important steps, you still have a chance for admissions.

Do deferred students usually get accepted?

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.

Do most people who get deferred get rejected?

Again, keep in mind, a deferral is not a rejection! As previously discussed, an average of 10% of these students were admitted during the Regular Decision application cycle.

Is deferred acceptance bad?

Deferred college admission can be a little anxiety-provoking, and understandably so. This response doesn't necessarily mean your application was successful, but it doesn't mean it was rejected, either. It also doesn't mean anything was wrong with your application.

What to Do if You Get Deferred

How likely is it to get accepted after being deferred?

An applicant's overall chances are similar after being deferred or waitlisted. About 10% of deferred applicants and about 10% of waitlisted applicants ultimately get in.

How common is it to get in after being deferred?

There are estimates that colleges will accept between 5-10% of deferred students during regular decision, but it really depends on the school. The more selective the school, the less likely a deferral turns into an acceptance.

Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted?

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 do you increase chances after being deferred?

Do colleges defer overqualified students?

While there is some anecdotal evidence that overqualified students get rejected, these students aren't usually turned down because of their better-than-average grades or test scores. Most likely, the overqualified student isn't the right fit for a school or they haven't shown enough interest to admission officers.

What should I do if I get deferred?

Is it good to be deferred from an Ivy?

A deferral is simply an indication that the admissions committee intends to evaluate your application in the regular decision round—your hopes of attending your dream school may still be realized.

Is it good to be deferred from a college?

Colleges defer students because they are not ready to make a final decision, may have had a large number of early applications or may expect a large number of applications in the Regular Decision round and want to keep spots open for the right candidates. It does not mean an automatic rejection at all.

Why are so many students getting deferred?

There are a number of reasons why a student applying Early Decision or Early Action might have been deferred to the regular round. Many times, it's to encourage students to provide additional materials, like final semester grades, in order to see what else that student has been doing during their senior year.

Is deferred worse than waitlisted?

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.

Is it bad to be deferred by Harvard?

Being deferred by Harvard does not mean that you are not a strong candidate for an elite school. If you were totally unqualified, they would have rejected you, but being in a pool of thousands of deferred students isn't too reassuring either.

Is getting deferred a good thing?

Here are a few highlights to make sure we're all on the same page: A deferral is not a bad thing. It means colleges are going to give your application a thorough second look.

What is an example of a letter after being deferred?

College of My Dreams is still my dream school, and if accepted off the waitlist, I would happily attend. I would like to take this opportunity to display my continued interest in CMD and update the Admissions Committee on some of my accomplishments since applying.

Can you be waitlisted after being deferred?

If you receive a deferral letter, it means the school will review your application again at a later date and decide to accept, decline, or waitlist you at that time.

What are the chances of getting into Harvard after being deferred?

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.

Is being deferred better than being rejected?

First things first: deferred does not mean rejected. It also doesn't mean waitlisted. It means that your application is being moved to the regular decision applicant pool. In other words, the college wants to wait to see who else will apply before they decide whether or not to accept you.

Can you get scholarship after being deferred?

Taking a gap year before college does not affect your ability to apply for financial aid in the future. Merit-based scholarships generally do not change if you defer your enrollment a year. Need-based grants and scholarships tend to only be affected if your family's financial situation changes during your gap year.

How do you write a letter to colleges after being deferred?

​​How to format a letter of continued interest

First, begin with “Dear [the name of the college admissions officer you are writing to].” Then, thank them for their consideration. Explain that you are still interested in attending their school and that this school is your first choice.

Is Early Decision still binding if you get deferred?

There are positive aspects of a deferral—if you were deferred after applying ED, the binding ED contract to enroll if admitted no longer applies. Instead, the same rules that apply to RD applicants apply to you, as you're now considered an RD applicant.

What does it mean when a decision is deferred?

Quite simply, a deferred decision means that the admissions committee is not ready to make a final decision on your application yet. We traditionally receive about a third of our total applications during the Restrictive Early Action cycle.