What should I do after being deferred from a college?

I recently found out that I was deferred from my top-choice college. I'm unsure about how to proceed now. Is there anything I can do after being deferred to increase my chances of acceptance during the regular decision round? Thanks!

First, I want to assure you that being deferred isn't an outright rejection, so keep your hopes up! To increase your chances of acceptance in the regular decision round, you can follow these steps:

1. Reflect on your application: Revisit your application materials and evaluate if there's anything new or significant that has happened since you submitted your application. Colleges want to see that you've continued making progress or have had achievements since applying.

2. Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI): Draft a polite and professional letter to the admissions office expressing your continued interest in their college. Briefly mention any updates to your application, highlighting new achievements or extracurricular involvements. Keep the letter concise, and be genuine in expressing why the college is still your top choice.

3. Update the college with new information: If you've received any awards, improved your test scores (if the college accepts them), or have completed noteworthy projects since submitting your application, make sure to update the college. You can usually send these updates through the college's application portal, or by contacting the admissions office directly.

4. Request additional letters of recommendation: If you have a new mentor or teacher who can provide a unique perspective on your growth and abilities since submitting your application, you may want to request an additional letter of recommendation. Be cautious about this, and try to keep the total number of recommendation letters reasonable. Ideally, these new letters should offer insights that your previous recommenders couldn't provide.

5. Maintain strong academic performance: Keep working hard in your classes and maintain a high level of academic performance. Colleges will be interested in your senior year performance, so it's essential to demonstrate that you've continued to challenge yourself academically.

6. Maintain your extracurricular involvement: Continue to be engaged in your extracurricular activities and pursue leadership roles if possible. Demonstrating growth and dedication in your areas of interest will show the college that you're a valuable addition to their community.

Being deferred isn't the end of your journey, and many students get accepted after being deferred. Stay motivated and take the steps above to actively demonstrate your continued interest and potential to the college. Good luck!