Why do applicants get deferred?

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.

Why would an application be deferred?

Take a look at the glass half-full and think of it as a second chance to impress the admissions committee. 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.

Do deferred students usually 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 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.

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.

What to Do if You Get Deferred

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.

Why did I get deferred and not rejected?

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.

How do you increase chances after being deferred?

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.

What do you say to someone who got deferred from college?

How many people get deferred then 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 deferred applicants have an advantage?

Simply put, a deferral is a second chance at admission. This gives colleges the opportunity to make decisions on strong applicants with the whole view of the applicant pool. For many students, this can be an advantage, as the Regular Decision pool is typically not as strong as the early pools.

Why are so many students getting deferred?

Rather, they want to re-evaluate your application in the next round of admissions decisions. Deferrals are only an admissions decision that students will receive if they have applied early – either early action or early decision.

Why are so many kids getting deferred this year?

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 should I do if I get deferred?

Can you get waitlisted after deferral?

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.

Is waitlist basically a rejection?

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.

How many colleges should one apply to?

There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances).

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 does it mean when your acceptance is deferred?

What does it mean to defer admission and why consider it? Deferring admission refers to postponing enrolment at the university for a semester or year. By deferring admission, you can delay your start date and join the institution at a later admission cycle.

Is getting deferred from Brown good?

Brown assesses each application on its own individual merits, but they also have to build a class that is diverse in every sense of the word. If you've been deferred, it's because they like you as an applicant, but they aren't sure they have a spot for you — yet.

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

Example of a Strong Letter of Continued Interest

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.

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.

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 did Harvard defer me?

Getting “deferred” just means that Harvard still thinks you're pretty neat-o and wants to look at your application again during the regular decision pool.