Hearing “deferred” from Northwestern is tough. You put everything into that application, hit submit, and imagined yourself walking through the Arch in the fall. Instead of the clean “yes” you were hoping for, you got “not yet.” And while it can feel like a rejection in disguise, it isn’t. Northwestern didn’t close the door on you; they’re keeping you in play. It’s not over!
Remember, this isn’t a judgment of your talent or character. Northwestern’s ED pool is filled with incredibly strong applicants, and their acceptance rate in this round usually sits in the low 20% range. Regular Decision drops much lower, around 7%. What percentage of deferred students make it through isn’t published, but it happens every year, and it can absolutely happen for you. You still have a chance to make your case, and that’s what matters.
You applied early because you saw yourself thriving at Northwestern. That dream is still alive. If they didn’t like you, you would have been outright rejected. Now it’s time to refocus, plan carefully, and give yourself the best shot possible.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If you poured everything into Northwestern and left your other applications out in the cold, it’s time to expand. Don’t panic, but do act fast. Between now and early January, your priority is to make sure you’ve built a balanced set of reaches, targets, and safeties. Aim for 8–12 schools, and make sure each one is a place you could genuinely see yourself attending.
Think about what drew you to Northwestern. Was it the freedom of the quarter system, the integration between disciplines, the Chicago-area location, or access to research? Use those qualities as a framework to build your list. If flexibility is what you love, consider places like Brown, WashU, or Tufts. If you’re looking for urban access, consider NYU, BU, or Emory. If it’s strong pre-professional pathways combined with robust academics, consider Vanderbilt or Michigan. Prestige alone won’t keep you happy – you need to picture yourself thriving day to day.
Once your list is set, get serious about supplements. This is where most students slip up. Schools can tell when you’ve done your homework versus when you’ve recycled generic lines. Don’t be that applicant. Be specific, be thoughtful, and start writing early. And don’t worry if you’re stuck, we have guides on how to write tons of school-specific supplements and even the more generic questions you’ll encounter on our blog.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
Now that you’ve had some time away from it, reread your Common App essay with fresh eyes. Pretend you’re an admissions officer skimming your hundredth essay of the day. Does it grab attention? Does it sound like you? Or could it belong to any other high-achieving student at your school?
A decent essay isn’t enough in Regular Decision – it needs to stand out. And sure, plenty of kids get into good schools with mediocre essays, but now that you’re in the RD pile, you need to make your application have a little more zest. Strong essays are detailed, reflective, and unmistakably personal. They avoid resume-speak, they don’t spend half the word count on someone else’s story, they don’t attempt to connect your life to some grand metaphor, and they don’t just describe events without digging into why those moments matter.
Prompt #7 remains our all-time-fave because of her flexibility, but any prompt can work if you’re using your authentic voice. Some of the biggest pitfalls we see this time of year is over-polishing that strips away personality, or “safe” (read: cliched) topics that never move beyond the surface. If your essay feels flat, this is your signal to rework it. Sometimes that means a deep revision, other times it means starting over – and both are okay and you do have time to make it happen. A powerful rewrite right now could change how your application lands.
Need to completely revamp your Common App essay? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Step Three: Other Applications
If you’re reading this in the stretch between mid-December and early January, you’re in the crunch period. Every day matters. Start by tightening up your Common App essay, then move quickly to the rest of your application.
Review your activities list – is everything clear, well-ordered, and impactful? Update anything that’s changed since November. The additional info section, if you use it, should clarify meaningful context, not just add in a bunch of stuff you couldn’t fit elsewhere.
From there, dive into supplements. These short essays aren’t busywork; they’re designed to see if you’re truly a fit. Schools want to know if you understand their culture and can see yourself contributing. Treat them seriously, write early, and do not risk submitting at the last minute. Too many students lose essays to tech glitches or bad Wi-Fi. Don’t let that be you!
Once all your Regular Decision apps are in, then, and only then, you can circle back to Northwestern with a strategic update.
Step Four: Update
Northwestern has no information on their website about deferrals, but we did find this letter that has some information after doing a bunch of searches.
“Early Decision candidates whose applications were deferred for further consideration should ensure we receive a midyear transcript as soon as it is available, and no later than mid-February. You may upload those on Slate.org or via the Common Application or Coalition with Scoir platforms, or send directly to ug-admission@northwestern.edu. We anticipate admitting a small number of deferred candidates through our Regular Decision round. While we neither require nor expect deferred candidates to submit additional information or letters of support, students who wish to send updates may submit those via their applicant portal.”
Hey, Northwestern, you have a FAQ page. Use it! Anyways, here’s what you need to compile/gather/prepare:
Mid-Year Report/Mid-Year Transcript
Your counselor should send this once grades are finalized – confirm it happens.
Updated Test Scores
Submit only if you’ve improved meaningfully.
Additional letters of rec (optional!)
Only if they add brand-new insight, and we mean brand new. This is truly optional and we don’t expect you to do this.
Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
The most important piece; more on this below.
The Deferral Letter - Letter of Continued Interest
Your LOCI is your opportunity to reintroduce yourself to Northwestern and show them you’re still serious. This isn’t a copy-paste of your original application, nor is it a place to pour out desperation. Instead, it’s a sharp, confident update that makes three things clear:
Northwestern is still your first choice.
You will enroll if admitted.
You’ve continued to grow since submitting your application.
Keep your letter focused and professional. Around 350 words is ideal; concise enough to respect their time, but long enough to show substance. You do not need to go longer, unless you have done something so impressive that you simply need more space, by which we mean curing cancer or winning a Nobel Prize.
Start with a formal greeting. If you know, and have communicated with, your regional officer, you can use their name. If not, “Dear Northwestern Admissions Committee” works perfectly. In the opening lines, state clearly that Northwestern remains your top choice and that you would enroll without hesitation if admitted. Say it explicitly. Now that your binding ED status has shifted into the Regular Decision pool, this is no time to dance around the subject.
The body of the letter should highlight two or three significant academic or extracurricular updates since you applied. Maybe you earned a major academic honor, launched a new initiative, took on a leadership role, advanced in research or the arts, or achieved something huge that adds to your application. Don’t list everything (improved grades don’t need to be mentioned, they’ll see your transcript), just pick the updates with the most impact and frame them as proof you’re continuing to grow and contribute.
If you don’t have big new achievements, that’s okay. You can also use this space to connect your ongoing work to Northwestern’s offerings. For example, if you’re deepening a research project in economics, tie that to opportunities at Kellogg. If you’re developing a creative portfolio, point to student arts groups in Evanston where you’d contribute. Show continuity between who you are now and what you’d do on their campus.
Close with gratitude for their time and a final, confident reaffirmation of your interest. Then upload it to your applicant portal. If you’ve already been in touch with your regional officer, you can send them a polite note letting them know you’ve submitted. That’s it – no need to overdo it with extra emails or follow-ups.
Step Five: Wait
This is the hardest part, the waiting. Once your apps are in and your LOCI is submitted, you’ve done everything you can. Don’t send more updates. Don’t email every few weeks. Don’t show up in Evanston uninvited. Know that you’ve done everything you can do at this point and have faith in your hard work.
Regular Decision decisions typically come out in late March or early April. Until then, stay focused on finishing senior year strong, taking care of yourself, and stay positive. You’ve made your case, and that’s all you can do.
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.