You’ve Been Deferred… Now What??
Many colleges will release their Early Decision and Early Action results by mid-December. It is important to know the different outcomes. In this post, we’d like to delve into deferrals, and what your student can do if they receive one .
What is a deferral?
Basically, a deferral means that the college can’t decide whether to admit or deny your student’s application and wants to consider your student again later in the Regular Decision round. While your student did not gain acceptance in the early round, it is important to note that this is not a rejection. On the contrary, it means the college is still interested, and that they feel your student is a strong enough candidate to consider again.
However, now is not the time to passively wait until the Regular Decision round to find out your fate. Your student should take concrete steps to help them stand out from the crowd and increase their odds of getting off the deferral list.
What can your student do to stand out and get admitted?
Follow the instructions in the deferral letter. Some colleges may ask you to write a letter to confirm your interest, which is another opportunity to express why you are a good fit for the college and provide additional evidence of measurable accomplishments to persuade the college of your excellence.
Reach out to the admissions office. Keep communications positive, upbeat, and hopeful no matter how disappointed you feel. If you are absolutely sure that you would attend the college if accepted in the Regular Decision round, say so.
Send an update on your mid-year accomplishments, such as grades showing an upward swing, awards/prizes, published research, or new leadership positions in activities inside or outside of the classroom.
Arrange for another letter of recommendation.
These are just a few ways to make your student stand out from the crowd. If you receive a deferral and would like to discuss strategies specific to your student, Ivy Link advisors can provide guidance to help increase your child’s odds of getting admitted.
