Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted for college?

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.

Which is better waitlisted or deferred?

If you are waitlisted, you remain in a state of uncertainty without the guarantee of being reconsidered. While deferral status requires you to wait longer for a decision, it gives you an opportunity to strengthen your application before the regular decision round.

How likely is it to get accepted 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.

Is being deferred at a college a good or bad thing?

You might feel like you've been rejected if you receive a deferral, but all it means is that your application will be reviewed again in the Regular Decision round. There is nothing wrong with your application, but you may need to submit more information to the admissions committee.

Is being waitlisted for a college good or bad?

Being waitlisted for college means you have met the requirements for admission, but your application was not strong enough to give you a seat in the first group of admitted applicants. You will be admitted if and when a spot becomes available after other students have responded to their acceptance offers.

Ivy League coach reveals why HARVARD didn't accept me

Do most waitlisted students get accepted?

While many colleges will waitlist hundreds or even thousands of students, not all of those students will accept a spot on the waitlist, making the pool and the chances of getting in slightly better in some cases. According to NACAC, 20% of all students who chose to remain on waitlists were ultimately admitted.

Is a college waitlist a rejection?

Getting on a waitlist is not a rejection — waitlisted students still have a shot at earning admission to the school. College waitlist statistics from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) show that 43% of postsecondary institutions used a waitlist during the 2018-19 school year.

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.

Is it harder to get in 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.

Is a deferral basically a rejection?

What is a Deferred College Admissions Decision? 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.

Do colleges defer overqualified students?

It's important to note that most of the stories and rumors surrounding overqualified students getting rejected are anecdotal. No school has actually admitted to turning down students because they are overqualified.

How do you stand out after being deferred?

How do you increase chances after being deferred?

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

First, a note: I know getting that waitlist decision can be painful. It is, in lots of ways, a soft rejection and that's by far the healthiest way to look at it, but that's also what makes it sting even more. So, be sure to take care of yourself.

Is being waitlisted better than rejected?

Being waitlisted means you still have a chance if they don't see anyone they like better in the regular admissions cycle. It is better than being rejected, but don't count on getting in. This is when you need to expand your college options and consider other schools.

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.

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.

What do you do if you are deferred from a college?

Draft a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) or Deferral Letter. This is the most standard response a deferred student can send a college – and goes a long way for demonstrating interest. If the college is still your top choice, write a letter expressing your continued interest and intent to enroll upon admission.

Why do colleges defer instead of reject?

A student is deferred when they've applied through Early Action or Early Decision and college admissions officers decide that there isn't enough information or context to grant them a full acceptance. Rather than reject the student, the application is essentially put on pause until the regular decision admission cycle.

What percentage of waitlisted students get accepted?

What Are My Chances of Getting Off the Waitlist? According to recent data from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, colleges on average admit 20% of students off the waitlist. At the most selective institutions, that figure was 7%.

Why is deferment a better choice?

A deferment allows you to postpone your monthly dues and interest on subsidized federal loans and Perkins loans without any impact to your credit. Additionally, you won't be responsible for the interest on the subsidized portion of Family Federal Education loans (FFEL) and Direct Consolidation loans during deferment.

What percent of deferred students are accepted to Harvard?

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.

Do grades matter for waitlist?

Deferred and Waitlisted Students

That correspondence will include grades from the second semester of your senior year. Colleges and universities look for consistency or improvement when you're in this position, so don't slack.

Is it bad to be on a waitlist?

Getting waitlisted means the student is a good fit, but unfortunately, the school doesn't currently have enough space to offer enrollment. It's possible that a waitlisted (or wait-pooled) student may receive an enrollment offer after the school gets commitments from new admits and returning students.

How do colleges decide who to take off the waitlist?

If you rank higher, you'll have a greater chance of getting off the waitlist. But some colleges may neither rank waitlisted students nor accept them by priority. Individual colleges may take a more holistic approach. They may make their decision based on factors such as which majors they want represented.