Deferral meaning in university

Hey everyone, what exactly does it mean when a university offers you a deferral? Does it mean you're on a waitlist or do you still have a chance of getting accepted later? Just trying to understand the process better. Thanks!

A deferral in university admissions is different from being waitlisted. When a university offers you a deferral, it means that they have not made a final decision on your application yet and have decided to postpone it for further consideration in the next admission round or cycle.

Typically, this happens in Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) application plans. If you are deferred from EA or ED, your application will be moved to the Regular Decision (RD) pool and will be reconsidered alongside the RD applicants. You still have a chance to be accepted in the RD round; however, your admission is not guaranteed.

Being waitlisted, on the other hand, means that the university has reviewed your application in the RD pool and placed you on a list from which they might admit more students if spots become available after initially admitting students. This usually occurs when some admitted students decide not to enroll at the university, freeing up space for those on the waitlist.

After being deferred, it's a good idea to keep the university informed of any significant updates, such as improved grades, new awards, or meaningful extracurricular achievements. This may potentially strengthen your application when it's reconsidered in the RD round. Make sure to follow any instructions or deadlines provided by the university in regards to updates or required information.

Keep in mind that different universities have different deferral policies and practices, so it's essential to research the specific schools you are applying to for more accurate information about their deferral process.