What is the difference between deferred and waitlisted college admissions?

Waitlisted vs Deferred: The Differences While waitlisted students remain in limbo, deferred students become part of the regular applicant pool. Waitlisted applicants might face a longer wait for a final decision. Additionally, deferred applicants still have a chance at admission, which differs from outright rejection.

Is it better to get waitlisted or deferred?

According to U.S. News, the 91 ranked colleges that reported data on waitlisted students accepted anywhere from zero to 100 percent of those on the waitlist. The average, however, was about 1 in 5, or 20 percent. In general, you can assume that your odds are better if you've been deferred rather than waitlisted.

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 being waitlisted for a college good or bad?

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.

What does it mean if your college application is deferred?

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.

deferred to accepted from cornell | my letter of continued interest

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 it good to be deferred from a college?

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 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.

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.

Is 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.

How hard is it to get into a college after being deferred?

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.

Do deferred students usually get in?

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 you increase chances after being deferred?

What happens if you are waitlisted for a college?

Being waitlisted is a gray area; you're not rejected, but it will be much later in the spring before you learn if you have been accepted. It's necessary to take into account that the chances of being admitted off the waitlist at a highly selective college are pretty slim. That being said, it's not impossible.

Is getting waitlisted impressive?

Being waitlisted isn't terrible if you can be patient and have a backup plan. Alternatively, you can choose to back out and move on. If you were waitlisted by one of your reach schools, you might have already been planning for the alternatives. So usually, being waitlisted isn't bad.

Can you get deferred then accepted?

Yes, deferred applicants are likely to get accepted. Once admissions officers review the applications from Regular Decision, they will go back to the list of students who had been deferred and make their decision.

What not to do when waitlisted?

Waitlisted students can accept or reject the offer presented by the college. However, don't take up a spot on the list if you're not planning on attending the school anymore. You'd be taking the spot away from another student who may be more interested.

Why do colleges waitlist so many students?

Schools use waitlists to ensure that they can remain selective while still knowing that they will be able to fill their freshman class, even if yield drops a bit. If fewer students enroll than were anticipated, the school can turn to the waitlist to fill the gaps.

What to do if you are waitlisted for college class?

Why did I get waitlisted instead of accepted?

Colleges often waitlist perfectly admissible students whom they know should be admitted. This is sometimes done when a less competitive student from the same high school is admitted because of athletics, fundraising potential, political connections or for another institutional priority.

How long does it take for a college to accept or reject you?

It's not unusual for a college's application process to take four to six weeks. Colleges that have an application portal allow students to go online to check the status of their applications at any time.

What is the difference between deferred and 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.

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.

Why are so many colleges deferring students?

Deferring the application to the regular decision candidate pool gives admissions officers more time to thoroughly review it. Sometimes, a deferral means admissions officers want to wait and see how the student's academic performance shapes up in their senior year of high school.

What are valid reasons for deferring?