We want you to get into every college that you apply to, we really do. We want all students to have that low stress, all success, wonderful fuzzy feeling that only a tiny percentage of students applying to college ever get to feel. But that isn’t how it happens for the vast majority of students, so it’s time to plan for how it normally goes, which includes a pinch of frustration, an ounce of rejection, and — ideally — a mighty helping of perseverance. One of the most confusing possibilities in this process isn’t rejection, though, it’s the “eh, maybe later” of deferral.
When you apply early to a college, there are three potential outcomes: you are accepted, you are denied, or you are deferred. If you are accepted or denied, that’s simple. Either you’re in or you’re not. If you are deferred, it’s a bit more complicated.
What is a College Saying When They Defer You?
When a college defers you, they’re basically saying “We like you, but not that much.” It’s a bit awkward, we know. It’s not rejection, but it’s also far from an enthusiastic response. By deferring you, they’re asking for the opportunity to compare you against a bigger pool of applicants. When the regular application cycle comes, your application will be put in with the rest of them and reassessed among and against that group.
Among — because you’ll be part of the larger pool of the regular application cycle.
Against — because you’re not like the regular application applicants.
The regular application applicants are the fresh new kids in town. You’re not. You’ve been there for a bit. They know you, and they’re likely going to be more immediately critical of you than they are of a student whose application they are seeing for the first time.
You have a bit of an uphill battle, but getting in after a deferral is still possible.
What Does Deferral Mean For You?
If you are deferred, you have an uphill battle ahead of you. But you’re not out of the running yet. Students do get into their dream school after a deferral. It isn’t easy, though.
First and foremost, you need to keep applying to colleges. If you were deferred from a school that you thought was an “easy in” for you, you may also need to look at your college list and assess if you have a good mix of schools. We’ve put together guides on how to make your college list both with and without test scores.
There are also some steps that you can take to make sure you are as attractive an applicant as possible both to the college that deferred you, and to the other schools that you are applying to.
Your Next Steps: The College That Deferred You
Many colleges allow deferred students to submit something to update your application. This may be a Letter of Continued Interest, or an updated resume if you’ve had a major success, such as an award.
If a college says that they don’t want to hear from you after a deferral — respect that, we beg you. The fastest way to sink your chances of eventual acceptance is to disregard the instructions that college gives you.
Your Next Steps: The Rest of Your College List
The best thing you can do to increase your chances both of getting into the school you were deferred from and of getting into other schools that are great fits for you is to keep working hard. You need to keep working hard, maintain your grades, and stay engaged with your activities. You aren’t done, and this race isn’t over. You’ve got this.
If you’re on the receiving end of a deferral decision and still unsure of what to do next, email us. We’re pros at this.