Waiting around for a college admissions letter can be one of high school students’ most anxiety-inducing experiences. The constant checking for a letter or email, the fear that you didn’t nail your admissions process, the worry that you didn’t get into your top-university choice—it can all be a bit too much.
While the fear of a rejection letter is very real, many young students often forget that university admissions isn’t always a simple ‘accepted’ or ‘denied.’ There is another, fairly common decision that students can receive—a deferral.
If you’ve been deferred from your first-choice college or university, don’t panic! Often, students are so disappointed by a deferral that it paralyzes them. A deferral is not a denial. Your admissions decision is still in play.
So, what does it mean to be deferred from a college? Let’s explore college deferrals and what they mean for your admissions journey.
What Does it Mean to be Deferred from a College?
Deferral is a process through which some universities may send an early decision or early action applicant if they did feel the applicant wasn’t quite ready for admission.
The reason for being deferred from college is straightforward: Universities want to give strong, early candidates another chance to be considered. If an applicant shows promise but doesn’t stand out enough among the early pool, they might be deferred to the regular admissions cycle. This allows them to be evaluated alongside the broader pool of applicants who applied regular decision.
Deferral is NOT a rejection—it’s a second chance at admission. When you spend months and months preparing for your university admissions process, it’s hard to not be discouraged by a deferral. It certainly can feel like one when you get the news. However, it’s important to remember that a deferral doesn’t mean that you will not attend this school in the fall. This helps universities maintain a list of strong applicants without being forced to reject some of them in the early stages of admissions.
Why Was I Deferred from College?
Every university has its own individual statistics on deferrals—not all of which are made public. However, some universities, like Georgetown (where every early applicant not accepted in the early rounds is deferred to the later round), do release their deferral information.
Other universities, like Yale, deferred 50% of not-accepted early applicants this year. Again, this is a pretty high deferral rate, but it goes to show that top universities are more than willing to give top-notch students a second chance at admissions.These numbers have actually been increasing year-over-year, due to more and more students applying for early admissions as well as COVID-19 impacting the rate at which students decide to defer their admission.
There are a number of reasons for a deferral. Here are some common explanations for why you might have been deferred from college:
1. Your application is strong but not outstanding in the early pool
In early decision or early action rounds, competition can be fierce. If your application was strong but didn’t stand out enough among other early applicants, the college may defer you to reassess your application alongside the larger regular decision pool.
2. Admissions needs more context
Some schools may want to see additional information before making a final decision. This might include:
- Mid-year grades to get a better idea of your academic potential.
- Updated test scores if you indicated you were planning to take additional exams.
- A Letter of Continued Interest or other materials that could strengthen your application. (Only if requested by the university.)
3. The college is managing enrollment numbers
Deferrals can also be a way for colleges to balance their numbers. Admissions offices often use early decision to secure a portion of their incoming class but defer qualified applicants to avoid overcommitting spots before evaluating the regular decision applicants.
4. Your applications may be stronger in the regular pool
Sometimes, a college defers an applicant because they think the student might have a better chance of admission when considered among the regular applicant pool.
5. The college values you but needs more time
A deferral can also signal that the college sees potential in your application but needs more time to compare it with others or finalize their decisions.
Misconceptions about Being Deferred from College
Deferrals Are Rare
Some assume that deferrals are uncommon and only happen in unusual circumstances. But, actually, deferrals are quite common, especially at highly selective colleges. They are a standard part of the admissions process to manage enrollment and ensure fairness.
Colleges Don’t Actually Revisit Deferred Applications
Students sometimes believe their application is set aside and won’t be seriously reconsidered. But, colleges do revisit deferred applications during the regular decision cycle, often with the same level of scrutiny. Many schools even accept a significant percentage of their deferred students in regular admissions.
A Deferral is the Same as a Waitlist
Deferral means your application will be reviewed again in the regular decision round. Waitlisting happens after regular decisions are made and typically means you’ll only get a spot if others decline their offers.
Deferred from College—Now What?
Once you receive the notice that you have been deferred by your top choice university, you may be anxious. Here are a few things to do while waiting for your next admissions letters to arrive:
Take a Deep Breath
While being deferred may feel like a setback, it’s not the end of the road. Trust that these situations often work out for the best, and your path forward will become clearer with time.
Follow Directions
Carefully review the instructions from the university that deferred you. Deferment practices vary vastly between colleges. For instance, the Office of Admissions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign does not request that deferred students submit any additional letters of recommendation, letters of intent/interest, nor an updated transcript. However, the Office of Admission at the University of Wisconsin will accept updated transcripts or mid-year reports.
Write a Letter of Continued Interest
A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a letter sent to the school reaffirming your commitment to study there. Many students who are deferred simply set their sights on other schools, so a LOCI can help confirm your interest to admissions officers and increase your chances of admission in the next round of admissions. However, it’s not always appropriate to send this letter. If you’re unsure, you can always reach out to ask the college!
Commit to Your Academics
Stay focused on maintaining (or improving!) your grades. If colleges request mid-year transcripts, strong academic performance in your senior year can boost your chances of acceptance during the regular decision round.
Send an Additional Letter of Recommendation
If the school allows it, consider sending an additional letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or mentor who can highlight new aspects of your strengths and achievements. Again, make sure to confirm with admissions that they accept supplemental recommendations.
Send Updates About New Awards or Honors
If you’ve received any new awards, honors, or achievements since submitting your application, you should share these updates with the admissions office. Send an email to the admissions office (to your specific admissions rep, if you have one) highlighting your success.
Recheck Your College List
A well-rounded college list contains reach, target, and likely schools. If you were deferred from an Ivy or other reach school (Ivies are a reach for everyone), double check your college list to make sure you’ve applied to a healthy mix of schools. If it doesn’t, consider applying to some colleges with rolling admissions or later admissions deadlines if you haven’t already.
Final Thoughts
College deferrals can feel like a setback, especially for those who have their heart set on a specific school. But it’s important to remember that a deferral can actually be used to your advantage. It gives you time to better prepare and allows you to go into a less competitive admissions round against other regular decision applications.
We make it our mission to provide young students with the information necessary to make college admissions a breeze. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation, or read any of our other blog posts to learn more about how navigating every part of the college application process.
