Let’s be real: opening your NYU portal and seeing “deferred” is a gut punch. You put so much energy into that ED application, probably even pictured yourself grabbing coffee in Washington Square Park or studying in Bobst, and now you’re without a firm answer. Not an acceptance, not a rejection – just the waiting room of admissions. It feels anticlimactic and frustrating, and you’re allowed to be upset about it. Take a pause, eat something comforting, or go for a run if that’s your thing. Then, when you’re ready, let’s figure out how to move forward.
A deferral isn’t a statement about your worth or your potential. NYU admits thousands of talented students every year, but their ED pool is enormous and hyper-competitive. The ED admit rate hovers higher than Regular Decision, but it still leaves out plenty of excellent candidates. But, good news, NYU defers only 5% of applicants, which means if you weren’t outright accepted, you would have been outright denied. And that means they still really like you! As for how many deferred applicants eventually get in? NYU doesn’t publish those numbers, but in our experience, you can make it through. The point is, you’re still in the running. So let’s talk about the steps you can take to strengthen your position.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If your strategy started and ended with NYU, now’s the time to expand. A smart list typically includes a variety of schools, including reaches, targets, and safeties, with a total of about 8–12 schools. Look at your GPA, test scores (if submitted), and extracurriculars alongside each school’s admitted student profile to make sure the balance is right.
And think critically about why you chose NYU. Was it the urban energy? Access to internships across industries? The global network of campuses? Use those factors to find other schools that could be a fit. Places like GW, American, USC, BU, or Northeastern share elements of NYU’s vibe. If Tisch drew you in, consider liberal arts schools with strong arts programs like Wesleyan or Vassar, or if you were all in on Gallatin, try schools with open curricula and lots of interdisciplinary options.
Let’s be real: this is not the time to drag your feet. Supplements carry weight, sometimes even more than the personal statement, yet so many students push them off until the very last second. If you need support, we’ve already broken down dozens of prompts on our blog with strategies and examples that can help. Use those resources, plan ahead, and give your supplements the energy they deserve. Future-you will be glad you did.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
With deadlines fast approaching, your Common App essay deserves another close read. Ask yourself, does this essay sound like me? Does it capture something that wouldn’t show up anywhere else in my application? Or is it polished but generic, a piece that lots of other high school students could have written? If you find yourself waffling, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
The most memorable essays aren’t necessarily dramatic. They’re specific, reflective, and unmistakably personal. They don’t summarize achievements, they reveal who you are through a vivid story. If your draft feels stiff or impersonal, consider revising it – or even taking a brand-new direction.
We’ve seen students succeed with every prompt, though Prompt #7 offers the most flexibility and is our personal fave. What matters most is authenticity. Avoid essays that retell your resume, spotlight someone else instead of you, or feel over-edited to the point where your real voice is gone. If your essay needs more warmth, depth, or originality, there’s still time to fix it before RD submissions.
Need to completely revamp your Common App essay? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Step Three: Other Applications
It’s crunch time. If you’re staring down a pile of unfinished applications in late December or early January, you’re in good company (well, not good per se, but not alone). Don’t spiral! Start by locking in your Common App essay, since that gets sent to almost every school. From there, turn to your activities section. It should be sharp, intentional, and ranked in order of importance. And if you’re using the additional information section, remember its purpose: clarifying context (i.e. are there unanswered questions in your application?), not just rehashing and expanding your resume.
Next up are your supplements. Too many applicants treat supplements like an afterthought, and it shows. The rushed, copy-and-paste answers are obvious to admissions officers, and they’re the first to hurt your chances. Don’t fall into that trap. Put real time into tailoring each response so it feels personal, specific, and connected to the opportunities that actually excite you. When they ask “Why here?” or “Why this program?” what they’re really asking is, will you take advantage of what we offer?
And one more thing – don’t flirt with disaster by hitting submit at the last possible second. We’ve seen it all: portals freeze, Wi-Fi drops, computers crash. Save yourself the panic and aim to finish early. Nothing feels better than walking into January knowing your apps are done and dusted.
Only after your Regular Decision applications are safely in should you return to your deferral strategy for NYU.
Step Four: Update
NYU has some guidance on deferrals on their website for applicants, and some other information for school counselors. Here are the highlights:
“Why are applicants deferred?
NYU aims to provide a final decision to students who apply for Early Decision admission, but in some cases, we defer candidates to a later round of admission to determine how such candidates compare in a larger applicant pool. From year to year, depending on the applicant pool, the number of students who will be deferred varies. This year, of the candidates who applied for Early Decision, less than 5% were deferred to a later round of admission. This means that these students will be considered alongside our applicant pool at large - and not just our Early Decision candidates. We only defer students who are viable candidates for admission.
What else can students send to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for consideration?
Deferred applicants can upload a copy of their mid-year grades when they become available and should request that their counselor submits the Common Application Mid-Year Report. If you have any new tests that you would like us to review, you can upload an unofficial copy of your score report to your applicant portal or send official scores directly from the testing agency.
Deferral
We may defer a small number of Early Decision I or II students to a later application round. Students who are deferred from Early Decision I must complete our Deferral Response Form online to confirm that they are still interested in being considered for admission. In their deferral email they will receive a custom link to this form. On the Deferral Response Form students can indicate any additional campuses or programs of interest that they did not indicate on their initial application, as well as provide any updates on any accomplishments or awards they have received. Deferred students should send their mid-year reports to us, but should not send additional letters of recommendation, artistic materials, etc.”
More thorough than most schools! Here’s the TL;DR of what you need to gather/prepare:
Mid-Year Report and Transcript
Your counselor should handle this, but follow up to make sure it’s sent.
Updated Test Scores
Submit only if they’ve improved since your initial application.
The LOCI (Letter of Continued Interest)
The most critical piece!
The Deferral Letter – Letter of Continued Interest
Your LOCI is your chance to re-engage with NYU and show them you’re still serious. Think of it as a focused update, not a repeat of your original application. The goal is simple: confirm NYU is still your top choice, share meaningful new updates, and present yourself with confidence.
Keep it around 300–400 words. Respect their time by being concise, but don’t undersell yourself. This isn’t about pleading, it’s about reaffirming your fit and demonstrating momentum since November.
Format it like a professional letter. You’ll upload it to your NYU portal, but if you’ve already corresponded with your regional rep, it’s fine to let them know you’ve submitted it.
Begin with a clear statement: NYU remains your first choice, and you would enroll if admitted. Spell that out directly. Since you’re now in the Regular Decision pool, they need reassurance that you’d say yes. Yield matters, and they want to feel confident that you’re committed.
Then, highlight 2–3 significant updates. That could be an academic award, a leadership change, a new creative project, a research initiative, or standout work outside the classroom. The point is to show growth. Avoid filling space with small updates or repeating what they already know. If your list of updates is short, connect your current activities with opportunities at NYU, but be specific, not generic.
Close with gratitude and one more reaffirmation of your enthusiasm. Keep the tone professional but warm: confident, appreciative, forward-looking. Remember, NYU already saw potential in you, or they wouldn’t have deferred you. Now it’s about proving you’re still a student they should say yes to.
Step Five: Wait
This is the hardest part, no question about it. Once your LOCI and mid-year grades are in, the ball’s out of your court. Don’t send weekly emails, don’t try to add endless updates, and definitely don’t make an unannounced campus visit. You’ve done what you can.
NYU usually releases RD decisions in late March, so until then, focus on finishing senior year strong, keeping your balance, and trusting that you’ve made the best possible case for yourself. You’re still very much in this.
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.