Getting deferred from MIT stings – no way around it. You aimed for the stars, spent weeks (maybe months) putting your application together, hit submit… and now you’re in limbo. It’s disappointing. It’s confusing. And yes, it’s deeply frustrating. But a deferral doesn’t mean it’s over. MIT didn’t close the door, and you still have a few things in your control. So take a breath. Eat a snack. Let yourself feel bummed for a minute. And then, remember this: you’re still in the game.

Getting deferred from Yale hurts, there’s no sugarcoating it. You put in the effort, told your story, hit submit, and hoped for the best. And now? You’re stuck in the “maybe” zone. It’s confusing. It’s frustrating. And it’s okay to be disappointed. But remember! Yale didn’t shut the door. You’re still in the running, and that matters.

It’s not the decision you were hoping for. You poured time and energy into your Princeton ED application, clicked submit, and crossed your fingers. Now, instead of a yes or no, you’re stuck in the middle: deferred. It’s a frustrating place to be, but it’s not a dead end. A deferral means they’re not finished considering you. You’re still in the running.

Georgetown is a highly-respected — and highly selective — private university in Washington D.C. It is the oldest Jesuit university in the U.S., and is particularly known for producing future movers and shakers on the global stage, especially in politics, human rights, law, and the foreign service. Students who attend Georgetown tend to want to make a difference. We don’t mean in a philanthropic sense, necessarily, although that’s certainly true for many. Rather, the shared theme is a drive to make an impact. The acceptance rate is 12%.

Smith is a highly-respected all-women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. Students flock to Smith from 67 countries, and 17% are first-generation. The college is especially well-known for having an open curriculum. This means that you can take what you want when you want, aside from major requirements and a few first-year courses. Students who have a vision for their future and want to focus on what they love adore the open curriculum, as they can dive fully into the subject they would like to be an expert in. The acceptance rate is about 22%.

Pomona is a leading small liberal arts college in Claremont, California. They are known for attracting students who are intellectually curious and quite adventurous. Originally opened as an ‘east coast’ school in California, Pomona encapsulates what many students love in a liberal arts school: exploration, opportunity, and a nurturing ethos. There are about 1,730 students, a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the average class size is 13. Over half of students pursue research with faculty, and students are fairly evenly distributed across the humanities, natural science, and social sciences. The acceptance rate is 7%.  

Santa Clara University is a well-respected mid-sized Catholic university in the heart of Silicon Valley. They attract students driven to build things, from launching businesses to designing products to developing new ways of seeing the world. Half of recently admitted students are from California, but admitted students also represent 50 states and over 65 countries. Undergraduates can attend the College of Arts & Sciences, the Leavey School of Business, or the School of Engineering. The overall first-year acceptance rate is 47%.

Being deferred from Penn is a gut punch. You spent months building an application that showcased your academic strengths, your personal growth, and why you saw yourself thriving on their campus. You hit submit with hope, and now you're left in limbo. It’s disappointing. But a deferral isn’t the end, it’s a pause. Penn hasn’t closed the door. In fact, they’re still considering you!

Pitzer is a small liberal arts school full of people who are passionate about improving the world. The community is packed with students who want to make an impact, and Pitzer has cultivated a program that empowers them towards a meaningful future. Students benefit from small class sizes and a close-knit student body, while also having access to thousands of additional course options through The Claremont Colleges. The acceptance rate is about 27%.

Getting deferred from Harvard hurts. You aimed high, put your heart into the application, and now you’re in a holding pattern. It’s frustrating, confusing, and yeah, it stings. But take a breath. A deferral isn’t a no! it’s a “not yet.” And that means the door is still open and there are things you can control in this process.