Early Admission Deferred: 4 Smart Moves While You Wait

By Jacqueline Leppla

You applied Early Decision or Early Action and were neither admitted nor denied. You were deferred, which means your application will be reviewed again in the Regular Decision (RD) round.

This outcome can feel unsettling, but there are four actions you can take during the waiting period to be productive.

1) Practice Cautious Optimism

A deferral means:

• You were competitive

• Your application will be reviewed again with the RD pool

Colleges may want to see:

• Fall semester grades

• How you compare with the full applicant pool

• Continued engagement in your classes and activities

• Any new achievements or awards

You are no worse off than an RD applicant and, in some cases, you are ahead because your file has already been read and will be reviewed again.

2) Follow Instructions and Confirm RD Interest

Each college handles deferrals differently. Some automatically move you to the regular round. Others require you to:

• Click a box in the portal, or

• Complete a form, or

• Submit a brief reply indicating continued interest

Read your deferral notice carefully. Schools give clear directions about what they do and do not want. If you remain interested in attending, do exactly what each school asks by the stated deadline.

3) If Permitted, Submit an Update

Most colleges will accept one meaningful update in January or February. Think substance, not volume.

Consider sending:

• Any new and improved standardized test scores, if submitting results

• Leadership or job/volunteer roles begun since you first applied

• New honors, awards or recognition

• A summary of an important project you completed

• New research, performance, or competition results

As with any other RD candidate, feel free to apply to any school-specific scholarships by the published deadlines.

4) Manage Expectations and Review your College List

Students can be admitted from the deferred pool, waitlisted, or denied. To reduce stress, assume each of those outcomes is possible.

Create a plan now:

• Complete your regular decision applications by their due dates

• Ensure you have a balanced list of safety, target, and reach schools on your remaining list and adjust if necessary

• Keep your grades steady; mid-year reports can be important. Communicate with your school counselor/registrar to ensure those grades are submitted when available

Many students who are deferred in December are admitted somewhere they are excited about in March or April.

Deferred students are sometimes placed on the waitlist before receiving a final decision. Being aware of it as a potential outcome can help you feel prepared if it happens.

Maintain Perspective

A deferral reflects a college’s class-building priorities, not your potential. Stay focused and handle the items you can control; you are still very much in the running.

If you would like a second opinion on your college list or application strategy, schedule a time to meet at HigherEdAdvice.com.

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