Getting deferred from Wesleyan after applying ED can feel like a punch to the gut. You crafted your application with care, hit submit with hope, and now you're stuck in limbo. Not accepted. Not denied. Just… in a holding pattern.
If you’re feeling disappointed, frustrated, or confused, that’s completely valid. Give yourself a moment to sit with those emotions. Then, once you’re ready, we’re here to help you move forward with a game plan. A deferral is not a rejection. It means your application is still in the mix, and that’s something you can do something about!
Wesleyan, like many small liberal arts colleges, gets an exceptionally talented ED pool. They don’t release exact stats on how many deferred students are later accepted, but we’ve seen students make it through. It's uncommon, but possible. Let’s focus on the steps that can actually improve your chances from here.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If Wesleyan was your main priority, or your only early app, it’s time to refocus and make sure your Regular Decision list is strong, diverse, and full of schools you’d genuinely be happy to attend.
Do you have a solid mix of reaches, targets, and safeties? Is each one a place where you can actually see yourself thriving? If you leaned heavily into small liberal arts colleges, think about what specifically drew you to Wesleyan. Was it the open curriculum? The artsy-academic culture? The activist energy on campus? Use that as your compass.
You might explore schools like Oberlin, Bard, Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, or Kenyon, or branch out to universities with strong liberal arts communities within larger systems, like the University of Rochester or the honors college at UMass Amherst. The goal isn’t to clone your Wesleyan app and fill your list with carbon-copy schools; it’s to build a list that reflects your values and priorities.
Once the list feels balanced, start working on supplements. These short essays are where you can show real fit, so don’t leave them until the last second. We’ve got plenty of resources on our blog to help you tackle school-specific supplements and general prompts like the Why us? or community essays.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
With a little distance from your original submission, now’s a smart time to re-read your Common App essay with fresh eyes. Does it still feel like the clearest, most compelling version of your story? Is it a story at all? Or are you rehashing your activities section or turning your life into metaphor?
A lot of students write perfectly fine essays – often well-written but boring. Fine and boring don’t stand out. Admissions officers read thousands of essays that cover similar themes: personal growth, overcoming setbacks, winning or losing something big. What cuts through the noise is specificity, voice, and reflection.
Ask yourself: Is this something only you could’ve written? Does it go deeper than what’s already in your activities list? Is there a moment or image that sticks with the reader? Or could this essay have been written by three other people in your senior class?
If something feels off, you’re not too late to make a change. Sometimes a light revision, reworking, or restructuring can be enough. Other times, starting fresh, with a story that really captures how you think, what matters to you, or that gives a glimpse into your personality, makes the biggest difference.
We tend to love Prompt #7 for her open-ended nature, but any prompt can work if you use it to tell a compelling story in your own unique voice. This isn’t about showing off. It’s about letting the reader understand something essential about you – the kind of thing that makes them root for you without even realizing it.
Need to completely revamp your Common App essay? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Step Three: Other Applications
Between now and early January, it’s all about getting those RD applications over the finish line. Start with updates to your Common App: any new awards, leadership roles, or changes since you submitted to Wesleyan? Make sure those are reflected in your activities and honors sections.
Then shift focus to your supplemental essays. These aren’t throwaways – they’re opportunities to show each school why you belong there and how they can help you achieve your goals. Think back to how you tailored your Wesleyan application. Apply the same strategy to each new school. Be specific. Be thoughtful. Be honest.
And once your RD apps are officially in, it’s time to circle back to Wesleyan with an update.
Step Four: Update
Wesleyan doesn’t have much information about getting deferred on their website, but based on our years of working with applicants, here’s what you should prepare:
Mid-Year Transcript
Your school counselor should submit this once fall grades are finalized. Don’t be afraid to follow up to make sure they’ve been sent.
Improved Test Scores (if applicable)
If you’ve retested and your scores jumped, send the update. Otherwise, skip it.
Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
This is your biggest opportunity to re-engage. Let’s walk through how to get it right.
The Deferral Letter - Letter of Continued Interest
Your Letter of Continued Interest is your opportunity to reconnect with the Wesleyan admissions team and bring them up to speed. Think of it not as a recap, but as a snapshot of where you are now and how that continued trajectory aligns with what Wesleyan values.
If you’ve already had direct communication with your regional admissions officer, go ahead and address your letter to them. If not, “Dear Wesleyan Admissions Committee” works perfectly. Open with a clear statement that Wesleyan remains your first choice, and that you would enthusiastically accept an offer of admission. Say it plainly, there’s no need to dance around it. Clarity counts here.
From there, include two or three substantial updates that add value to your application. These might include new academic achievements, recent awards, creative or research milestones, or expanded leadership in your extracurriculars. The key is not to overload the letter with every small development, but to highlight what’s most impactful. If there aren’t any big changes, focus instead on how you’ve deepened a particular interest, skill, or project, and connect that growth to what you hope to pursue at Wesleyan.
Keep your tone confident and polished. You’re not necessarily trying to “sell” yourself again; you’re simply showing that you’ve remained active, and all that activity is in line with what Wesleyan’s all about. There’s no need to sound overly apologetic or anxious. You’re not reapplying, nor are you begging.
Close with a sincere thank you and a reaffirmation of your commitment to Wesleyan. Once your letter is finalized, upload it to your applicant portal. If you’ve had prior contact with your regional rep, it’s totally fine to send them a short message letting them know it’s been submitted.
Step Five: Wait
Once your LOCI is sent and your Regular Decision applications are complete, it’s time to shift into wait mode.
Resist the temptation to keep checking in or sending follow-ups. One thoughtful, well-executed LOCI and your mid-year report are plenty. Additional outreach, especially without major new information, won’t help your case and could come across as over-eager.
Wesleyan will reevaluate your file during the Regular Decision review process this spring. Between now and then, your focus should be on keeping your grades strong and continuing to grow in your activities and interests.
A deferral doesn’t mean the door is closed – it just means the decision has been postponed. You’ve got this!
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.