What is deferred college admission?

I've heard about college deferrals, but I'm not quite sure how it works. Can anyone give me an overview of what deferred college admission means and what happens when you're deferred?

Deferred college admission refers to a situation where an applicant's decision is delayed by the college or university when a student applies under an Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) plan. If an applicant is deferred, their application will be reconsidered during the Regular Decision admissions cycle alongside other Regular Decision applicants.

There are a few reasons why a college might defer an applicant. The most common reason is that the admissions committee believes the applicant is a strong candidate but wants to compare them to the larger pool of Regular Decision applicants before making a decision. In some other cases, the college may want to see additional information, such as updated transcripts or test scores.

When you're deferred, you'll typically receive a notification letter from the college providing relevant information and your new admissions timeline. In most cases, a deferred applicant does not have to do anything extra - their application will automatically be shifted to the Regular Decision pool. However, there are a few steps you can take to boost your chances in the Regular Decision round:

1. Express continued interest: Write a letter to the college expressing your strong interest in their school and reaffirming that it remains one of your top choices. Sending this letter is especially important for schools that consider demonstrated interest in their admissions decisions. You should also update the school on any significant new achievements, awards, or extracurricular activities, and be specific about how these developments strengthen your case for admission. CollegeVine's blog contains more detailed guidance on how to write this letter of continued interest: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest.

2. Stay academically strong: Maintain your grades and course rigor, as admissions committees may request updated transcripts before rendering their final decision.

3. Explore other options: While it's important to take the above steps to improve your chances at the college that deferred you, continue researching and applying to other colleges on your list, as there's no guarantee you'll get in after being deferred. Make sure you have a balanced list of reach, target, and likely schools.

When the Regular Decision decisions are released, you'll receive one of three decisions: acceptance, rejection, or waitlist. Remember that being deferred is not the same as being denied admission, and many deferred students do end up being accepted during the Regular Decision round. Stay positive and proactive, and your efforts may pay off. Good luck!