If you received a notice of deferral from Princeton, you’re probably pretty bummed out — and rightly so! A yes or no is simple. You’re either in or you’re not, but a deferral offers a nebulous possibility of a potential future yes without any of the confidence of a yes nor the finality of a no. You’re fully in your right to take a few moments to wallow in frustration, perhaps aided by ice cream, but it’s important to not stay stuck in that headspace for too long. There’s work to be done, and we’re here to help!
In this post, we’ll dig into what a deferral from Princeton really means, what to do to increase your chances of an acceptance in the regular decision round, and what else you need to be working on to ensure you have a successful college admissions experience. And if you have any lingering questions, we’re here to help!
What a Deferral from Princeton Really Means
There has been a lack of information in recent years on Princeton deferral numbers and process, as the university has become very tightlipped with their admissions numbers. They say that withholding statistics is an effort to reduce stress among students, but that doesn’t really make sense to us. Too little information can amplify anxiety just as much as too much information.
But even without statistics, there are a few things we know. Princeton has long been known for having a staggering deferral rate. They are not unique for this, as many of the top colleges in the US use deferral as a way of beefing up their regular decision pool. This trend has likely continued, with Princeton deferring far more early applicants than they reject.
As far as how many deferred students eventually get in, all we know for sure is that they say, “a small number,” of deferred applicants will be admitted in the regular decision round.
The good news is that you’re still in the running. The bad news is that you are in a big pool of students who are still in the running, and there are only more coming with the regular decision round. So, Princeton didn’t defer you out of pity or for fun, but a deferral also doesn’t mean that they are actually all that interested. With that in mind, there’s work to be done.
If you’re overwhelmed by how to best respond to a deferral decision, drop us a line. We help students get into their dream schools.
What Princeton Wants
First, let’s get clear on what Princeton doesn’t want. They don’t want you to communicate with the admissions office directly — they say that clearly on their website, and will likely have reiterated it in the notice of your deferral decision. They do not want you to email them, and they do not want grand gestures of great admiration for the Princeton community. The flash mob you were considering putting on outside of the Office of Admissions? Cancel it, now.
But there is something that they do want. Princeton invites deferred students to submit an update through the Applicant Portal, but they don’t give you much to go on as to exactly what it is that they are looking for beyond requesting information on “significant changes since you initially applied.”
Some students see this as an opportunity to basically spam them with everything and anything. That is the wrong response, so if you’re thinking of sending six separate documents, certificates, and additional recommendations — stop NOW! Like that flash mob idea, it’s the wrong one. This is what you need to do instead.
Letter of Continued Interest
You need to write one letter (ONE) that is one page, max. This letter is called a Letter of Continued Interest. It should include no more than three updates, but it is more than ok if you have fewer to include. In this letter, less is truly more. Better to be focused than the overload readers when the review your application again the regular decision round.
In addition to sharing your updates, you need to reinforce that Princeton is your first choice (even if it might not be anymore). Speak to specific things about Princeton that you love — and not the landscaping. Reaffirm your interest in a specific academic program, and one or two other experiences you’d take advantage of — and contribute to — as a student. Show that you know Princeton, deeply.
Once you’ve written and edited your Letter of Continued Interest, it’s time to edit, submit, and move on. There’s more work to do.
What Else You Need to Do
After submitting your Letter of Continued Interest, it’s time to get back to the big picture. First, you need to keep your grades up (or even raise them if you can). This is especially important as Princeton will receive another set of grades before making their final decision! But there are three other things we need you to do as well.
1. Take Another Look at Your College List
You may have agonized over your college list before applying early to Princeton, but now that you’ve been deferred it’s worth giving it another look. A balanced college list should include mostly “foundation” or “safety” schools and “target” schools, with one or two reaches. In total, we recommend most students apply to 8-10 colleges. If your list doesn’t meet these parameters, you need to reevaluate. This may be frustrating, but it’s wildly important. A well-designed college list is truly the foundation for a successful college application experience.
If you are looking at your college list and aren’t feeling too confident — we can help. Creating a balanced college list is the first step toward getting into a dream school.
2. Renovate (or even Reconstruct) Your Common App Essay
Like your college list, you probably spent months (if not longer) working on your main Common App essay. It’s been read, re-read, and may even have been passed between teachers, family members, and friends for feedback and edits. We get it, you’re probably sick of it and never want to look at it again — but now is the perfect time to reassess. Often, all those cooks in the kitchen actually dilute, rather than strengthen, a college essay. On the other side of the scale, if you haven’t received much feedback at all you may be missing the mark due to a lack of outside expertise. After all, the premise of the college essay is a bold one. Students are asked to write the best essay of their lives in a format — the personal essay — they likely have very little experience in.
We work with deferred students to rewrite, revamp, or even completely overhaul their common app essay to create a stronger sell that truly represents you as a person. If you aren’t sold yet on digging back in, take a look first at our guide on the 24 do’s and don’ts on how to write an acceptance-winning college essay.
If you are realizing that there’s work to be done on your college essay, check out our essay ‘bootcamp.’ We work with students to do their best work.
3. Get to the Finish Line
Finally, you need to finish. It’s really easy to delay and waste time in the weeks between a deferral and regular decision deadline. The work to be done seems daunting, and the idea of watching Netflix and hanging out with friends is a lot more attractive — but there’s work to be done and the only way to get to the end is to go through the muck. Take it a piece at a time so that you can work methodically, taking care of yourself along the way. Try to block out as little as 20 minutes each day to work on your supplements. It’ll surprise you how much you can accomplish in little sprints rather than a long final slog.
We are really good at helping outstanding students who received disappointing early decisions get into a dream college or university. If you want to play an active role in shaping your future, send us an email.