Why did my application get deferred?

If you've been deferred, usually it's because the college wants to see how your application compares with applications submitted by students applying regular decision. After considering your application in the regular decision round, you can be accepted, rejected or waitlisted.

Do deferred applicants get accepted?

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?

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.

Is getting deferred a good 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.

Does deferred mean I still have a chance?

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.

What to Do if You Get Deferred

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.

How do you increase chances after being deferred?

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.

Is it better to get 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.

Do deferred applicants have an advantage?

For many students, this can be an advantage, as the Regular Decision pool is typically not as strong as the early pools. A deferral also provides students the opportunity to show an improvement in grades, especially if they're taking a challenging senior year course load.

What is the risk of deferral?

Project deferral risk is the potential for a project to be delayed or postponed due to external factors. This type of risk can arise from a variety of sources, including changes in customer requirements, delays in obtaining necessary resources, or unexpected events that require additional time and effort to address.

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.

How do you respond to a deferral letter?

Don't overwhelm them with letters. One letter (or maybe two) from someone who knows you well is all you need. Additionally, you should also include in your message a statement of why you are so interested in attending that institution and reaffirm your commitment to enroll if admitted.

What happens 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.

Do deferred applicants have a higher chance?

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 it harder to get accepted after being deferred?

SILVER LINING. Unfortunately, schools ultimately don't accept many of the students they defer. As a rule of thumb, most schools accept only 5-10 percent of deferred students. And though early round admission rates are much better than regular they are still extremely competitive.

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.

Is getting deferred from an Ivy good?

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 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.

Why did I get deferred and not rejected?

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.

Does deferred mean waitlisted?

A college deferral is not the same as a college waitlist letter. Colleges defer an application when they don't want to make a decision right away. 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 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.

Why do universities defer students?

A deferral decision, just like a waitlist decision in the regular round, can feel confusing to applicants. However what both of these decisions mean is pretty simple – that the university wasn't ready to make a decision about your application, yet.

Can you change your application after being deferred?

You've already submitted your application; you can't go back and change it now. If you were deferred, it just means they're pushing back your admissions decision to a later date, not that they're tossing your application out so you can start over with the Regular Decision group.

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.