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.

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 likely is it to get 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 waitlisted at Harvard good?

Getting waitlisted by a prestigious university such as Harvard can be considered an accomplishment. Harvard is already a very selective school and has limited waitlist slots as opposed to being rejected outright. This proves you have what it takes to surpass the competitive screening and interview process.

How likely is it to get accepted 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.

Is it better to be waitlisted or deferred?

Is getting deferred from Harvard good?

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 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 Harvard waitlist impressive?

Harvard's waitlist isn't ranked, so each waitlisted student has an equal chance of getting accepted. Generally, students are admitted off of the waitlist to fill institutional needs and ensure that the upcoming class year has a diverse array of interests, ambitions, and backgrounds.

How hard is it to get off the waitlist at Harvard?

Some years, Harvard accepts zero people off of their waitlist. They say that in other years they've accepted hundreds, but we think that is pretty misleading. Most years, only a few people are chosen from the hundreds asking to be reconsidered for a spot.

Do people get off Harvard waitlist?

While Harvard has been waitlisting broadly over the past three years, it has accepted very few students off that waitlist. For most schools, the waitlist is just like the waiting room at the doctor's office. You can get in.

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.

What happens when you are deferred from Harvard?

Past students whose applications were deferred have been admitted at various rates, often approximating the rate for Regular Decision candidates. Over the next few months, your application will be reviewed again, supplying another opportunity for eventual admission.

Is it harder to get in 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 waitlist basically a rejection?

If your college application is waitlisted, it's basically the same as receiving a "maybe" from that school. If your application is deferred, you will not receive an early admission decision. If waitlisted, agree to enroll in a backup school, but consider writing a letter of continued interest.

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

As decisions keep rolling out, I know you might have some questions. 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.

How likely is it to get accepted after being waitlisted?

How likely is it to get accepted from the waitlist? Colleges admit about 20% of students who choose to remain on waitlists, according to a 2019 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Keep in mind that these numbers will vary based on the college waitlisting you.

How big is the Harvard waitlist?

Harvard's class of 2023 had a 3.3% waitlist admit rate. For the class of 2025, Harvard waitlisted 5,327 students. The waitlist for the class of 2022 had 6,316 students. In 2018, the average SAT score for accepted waitlist applicants was 1520.

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%.

How can I increase my chances of getting off the waitlist?

How does waitlist at Harvard work?

Our wait list includes the applicants whom the Committee might still wish to consider for admission if spots in the entering class open later. The wait list is not ranked. In some years, we have admitted no one from the wait list; in others, we have admitted more than 200 candidates.

Is getting waitlisted at an Ivy good?

Be realistic: While it's important to stay positive, it's also important to be realistic about your chances of getting off the waitlist. Ivy League waitlists are incredibly competitive, and the odds of being admitted off the waitlist are low. Extremely low when we are talking about the most competitive schools.

What is Z listed at Harvard?

The Z-List is a special category of admission that allows Harvard to accept students who are the children of mega-donors or other highly influential people. Harvard University has a secret way of admitting students who have influential connections but low academic scores: the Z-List.

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 it bad if your application is deferred?

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.

Is being deferred good or bad?

A deferral is not a bad thing. It means colleges are going to give your application a thorough second look. This is an opportunity to add NEW information to your application like first semester senior year grades. Stick with the college's follow-up procedure.