Getting deferred isn’t fun, especially when it is from Yale’s SCEA. We know you were probably already envisioning yourself there, and this feels like a full-on Yale-fail. We get it, but don’t get discouraged. You aren’t out of the race yet, and your next steps are important. If you do this right, you will maximize your chances of getting into Yale during RD and set yourself up for success with all your other school choices.
Let’s get one thing perfectly clear: you are an impressive candidate. If Yale didn’t see something in your application, they would have rejected you. Being deferred is stressful, but it also means that they are still considering your application. This is actually good news. You still have a chance. In recent years, Yale has deferred only around 17% of applicants. They take around 11% of applicants during SCEA (also remember this population usually includes recruited athletes, legacies, and the like). These numbers mean over 70% of SCEA applicants are outright rejected. Getting deferred is actually very impressive.
Just remember, you still have a shot at Yale. That said, you are now in the RD pool, and last year’s RD acceptance rate was a shocking 2.9%. We are talking about ultra-competitive numbers. We don’t say this to scare you; we just want to make sure you take the next steps as seriously as possible. They are important to ensure that you set yourself up for success.
You don’t need to go it alone. We help students every application cycle put their best foot forward after a deferral. Contact us today to speak with a dedicated counselor.
We know you probably want to jump right into Yale, but there are some important things to settle before you do.
Review Your College List
Be real with us: when is the last time you have looked at your college list? Was it last summer? Often we work with students who are so sure they will get into their EA school that they don’t really think too much about the rest of their list. It is time to make sure your list is strategic.
This step is especially important for schools with SCEA. Cards on the table, we aren’t huge fans of SCEA. Unlike regular ED, SCEA limits where students can apply EA. This usually means that when we work with students deferred or rejected from SCEA, they have limited or no other acceptances at EA schools. This is a more precarious position than our students who used the early round to apply to both an ED school and EA schools.
While you still have a shot at Yale and your other reach schools, you need to double-check that your list is balanced. We work hard to ensure that our students have balanced, dynamic lists filled with schools that they actually like. This means having at least 3 targets and 2-3 foundationals (sometimes also called safeties). You need to make sure these kinds of schools have made their way onto your final list. To do this, you need as much data as possible. Check out Common Data Sets. Ask your school counselor if they have access to tools like Naviance. Speak with professionals like us. Whatever you do, don’t sort schools based on feelings.
While you need targets and fundamentals, don’t apply to schools that you wouldn’t go to or would be miserable at. Sometimes finding the right fit is hard, but if you need us, we can help.
Reassess Your Common App Essay
Before you apply to more schools, you need to take another look at your Common App, especially the personal essay. Likely, your personal essay isn’t bad. If it were, you wouldn’t have been deferred (you would have been rejected). But that doesn’t mean it is as strong as it can be.
If you applied early to Yale, you likely have other elite schools on your list, and at top schools a standout Common App essay can make all the difference. We recommend reading our Official Guide to the Common App Essay 2026-27 and then rereading your essay. Ask yourself: Is this the best essay I could have written?
We specialize in writing eye-catching essays, and this is an essential step we take with every student who comes to us after a deferral or rejection. We have found that almost every deferred student needs to rework or at least edit their essay.
Press Submit
Once you have taken the two steps above, get your apps in. We have found that students sometimes like to drag their feet on their other apps after a deferral, but procrastination doesn’t help here. Plus, once you have your other apps in, you can turn your attention back to Yale.
What Yale Wants
Yale is very mysterious about what they want from deferred students. They don’t have any guidance on their website and are generally pretty hush-hush. Still, there is one thing they 100% need and one thing that you can send.
Mid-Year Grades
So while Yale doesn’t specifically say that they need mid-year grades, they do. This will be part of a Mid-year report submitted by your school’s college counselor. Your job is two-fold. Have exemplary mid-year grades, and double-check with your counselor that they have everything they need to send it. Your counselor should know to do this automatically, but we suggest a quick follow-up.
Letter of Continued Interest
Unlike other schools, Yale doesn’t ask for a formal letter of continued interest. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t update them if you have something to update them about.
Likely, some things have changed since you applied (that was probably October, if not earlier!). It is appropriate to send a short email updating the admissions office about any significant changes, updates, additions, etc. When we say short, we mean it. Your email shouldn’t be over 300 words at the most. This email should be sent to your regional rep if you know who they are or any other admissions rep that you have already spoken to. However, Yale is weirdly secretive about their admissions staff, and there is a good chance you don’t know who that is. If this is the case, you can send it to the general email, which you can find here.
Now, let’s talk about what actually goes into this email. Start with a formal intro. Then it is time to talk about significant updates. What do we mean by “significant?” We are glad you asked! Many things can be a significant update. Some examples from our past students include:
Publishing research or presenting it at a conference
Receiving an award
Meeting an impressive fundraising goal or completing a project for their charity
Starting a new college course or another educational opportunity
Beginning a new internship or job
Taking on a new leadership role, like becoming the president of the debate team when you used to be a member.
See how all of these feel much bigger than something like “getting an A on a test” or “joining a new one-hour-a-week club.” You shouldn’t include every little thing you have done. Yale doesn’t ask for much because they don’t want to sift through information they don’t care about. If you are struggling to come up with a significant update, don’t send them anything.
Close the email with an affirmation that Yale is your first choice and that if accepted, you will attend. Keep this email simple and to the point. Yale already has a lot of information about you, so don’t spam them with a lot of extras. Be confident in what you shared!
We know deferrals are stressful, but you weren’t rejected. You need to make sure you play your cards right. If you don’t know where to start, check out our It’s Going to be Ok package. We help students bounce back from deferrals. You still have a chance to get into a top school, including Yale!
Reach out to talk to a counselor today!