Getting deferred from your top-choice school is tough. You put your heart into your Wellesley ED application, hit submit, and crossed your fingers. And now you’re sitting in the awkward in-between – not denied, but not admitted. The “maybe” zone can be one of the hardest places to be. But before you start spiraling, let’s regroup. A deferral means Wellesley wants more time. You’re still very much in the game.
We know how discouraging it can feel, but don’t let this shake your confidence. You’re still a strong candidate with a lot to offer. Wellesley’s ED process is extremely competitive, and so is their Regular Decision round. They don’t share much publicly about deferral stats, but every year, deferred students do get in – and we want to help increase your odds.
There’s a reason you were drawn to Wellesley. Maybe it was the tight-knit campus, the deeply intellectual community, or the empowerment of learning at a women’s college. That hasn’t changed, and your app is still active. So once you’ve taken a beat (and maybe had a good snack), it’s time to get moving.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If Wellesley was your main focus this fall and you haven’t made much headway elsewhere, now’s your moment to reset. Regular Decision deadlines are coming up fast, and you’ll want to move efficiently and strategically.
Start by revisiting your college list. Do you have a healthy, smart balance of reaches, targets, and safeties? If not, expand thoughtfully. Aim for a list of 8–12 schools, and be honest with yourself about where you stand on academic metrics and extracurricular depth. Admitted student profiles can help, but don’t treat them as guarantees.
Think about why Wellesley resonated with you, and look for other schools that offer a similar combination of depth and environment. Consider places like Smith, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Vassar, or even smaller honors programs within larger universities. Urban or suburban liberal arts colleges may also be a good fit.
Once you’ve solidified your list, it’s time to focus on crafting standout applications. That means revisiting your essays and giving every supplement the attention it deserves. RD apps are where specificity shines, and you’ll want to make every word count. We have guides on how to write tons of school-specific supplements on our blog, as well as guides to the commonly used prompts, like the Why Us and Community questions.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
With a little time and distance between you and your ED application, now’s the perfect chance to return to your Common App essay with a fresh perspective. Read it again, closely and critically. Does it sound like you? Is it unique and attention-grabbing? Are you telling a compelling story? If not, you need to rework, or even rewrite.
Admissions officers see thousands of essays each year, and most come from students with stellar academics and resumes. What helps an essay stand out isn’t always a dramatic story, and often the smaller you go, the better. The strongest essays reveal something real, and they don’t need to impress with grand experiences.
We remain Prompt #7 stans, because she really lets you get creative, but any prompt can work if you use it as a vehicle to tell a story and reveal something about your personality. If your essay rehashes your resume, focuses too much on someone else, or tries to teach a big life lesson without anchoring it in your voice, you need to brainstorm a new essay. Common issues we see in early drafts: too much generalization, too little personality, or essays that don’t add anything new to the rest of the app.
Be honest with yourself – if the essay doesn’t feel fresh or like your best storytelling, it may be time to revise or even pivot entirely. You still have time, and we’ve worked with plenty of students who reshaped or completely restarted their Common App essays in just a few weeks and saw excellent outcomes.
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 late December or early January, it’s officially crunch time. The window for Regular Decision is closing fast, and now’s the time to get everything in order.
Start by polishing your Common App activities section and updating anything that’s changed since you submitted to Wellesley – new roles, awards, or projects should be added if relevant. Then turn your attention to supplements. These essays matter more than most people realize. This is where you demonstrate real fit: why you belong on that campus, and what you’ll bring to it.
Please don’t leave it to the last minute. More time = better writing. And better writing = better outcomes!
Once those apps are done, it’s time to circle back to Wellesley.
Step Four: Update
Wellesley has some limited info on deferrals on their website:
“Should I send additional materials if I am deferred from an Early Decision plan?
If you are deferred, sending certain additional materials may be helpful to the College during the next round of the decision-making process. You may want to send us your most up-to-date grades, a list of any recent special honors or awards you have received, or any helpful information you may not have provided with your initial application. An additional recommendation may also be helpful. If you have been deferred and you are not sure exactly what to send, just contact us and we’ll help you decide.”
More helpful than most liberal arts schools, tbh! Here’s what you should compile/prepare:
Mid-Year Report and Transcript
Your counselor will typically submit this in January. Follow up with them just to be sure.
Updated Test Scores (optional)
If your scores have improved significantly, go ahead and submit them. If not, it’s fine to leave them as-is. We also don’t recommend rushing to take a new test if you’re not confident.
Additional Recommendation Letters (optional)
Only include an extra letter if it adds something new – for example, a teacher or mentor who can speak to recent growth or a side of you not covered elsewhere.
Your Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
This is the most important part. See below for how to write it.
The Deferral Letter – Letter of Continued Interest
Now that your Regular Decision apps are in motion, it’s time to circle back to Wellesley with your final, proactive step: the Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). This letter is one of the few remaining tools you have to shape your application’s outcome, so it needs to be strong.
Your aim here is simple: reaffirm your enthusiasm for Wellesley, make it clear that it's still your top choice, and highlight how your candidacy has strengthened since you first submitted. There’s no need to rehash your original application or summarize your resume again. Instead, focus on recent accomplishments or developments that reinforce why you’re an even stronger applicant now. Keep it tight, around 300 words, unless you’ve had a truly major, major update that warrants a bit more space. Like, Nobel Prize-level major.
Start with a respectful, professional greeting. If you know who your regional rep is and have spoken with them before, address them by name. Otherwise, “Dear Wellesley Admissions Committee” is great. You’ll want to state clearly that Wellesley remains your first choice, and that if offered admission, you’d enthusiastically accept. You need to say this explicitly. This is not the place to be vague – Wellesley, like all colleges, cares about their yield rate, and you want to contribute positively to that stat.
From there, focus the body of your letter on two or three new developments that add real value. Maybe you’ve taken on a new leadership role, earned an academic distinction, started a new project, or have another creative or intellectual pursuit to discuss. Choose updates that feel meaningful and relevant, not just a laundry list of small wins. You can also connect these updates back to Wellesley, too.
Close with a final, direct reaffirmation of your interest, a warm thank-you for their continued consideration, and a confident sign-off. You’re not trying to redo your whole application, here – you’re reminding Wellesley of your potential and your excitement to contribute to their community.
Wellesley typically asks you to upload this letter via your applicant portal. If you’ve been in direct contact with your regional admissions officer, it’s fine to send them a short note letting them know you’ve added your LOCI, but that’s optional. Uploading through the portal alone is perfectly acceptable.
Step Five: Wait
You’ve done what you can, and now it’s time to focus on finishing strong. Don’t over-email Wellesley or send in every tiny update. One thoughtful LOCI and your mid-year transcript are enough. If you have questions, it's okay to email them; just don’t go overboard.
Wellesley will revisit deferred applications in the Regular Decision review cycle, typically in March. Until then, avoid senioritis. Keep your grades up, stay involved, and stay grounded.
A deferral isn’t a no. You’re still very much in the running – and we’re here if you need help navigating your next steps. You’ve got this.
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.