UChicago Deferred: How to improve my chances?

I just got deferred from UChicago EA 😔. What can I do to improve my chances for Regular Decision? Has anyone ever been in this situation and can shed some light on how to handle it?

I'm sorry to hear about your deferral from UChicago, but don't worry, there's still hope for the regular decision round. Here are a few steps to help improve your chances:

1. Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI): This letter should express your strong interest in attending UChicago and provide any updates on recent academic or extracurricular accomplishments. Keep it concise and focus on meaningful updates. Make sure to reiterate what you would contribute to the university, and why it's a good fit for you. You can read more about how to write a strong LOCI on CollegeVine’s blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest.

2. Improve your grades: If you get stellar grades during your senior year, it may help sway the admissions committee in your favor. While there's not much time left, try to finish the semester with strong grades to show a consistent upward trend.

3. Strengthen your extracurriculars: If you have a substantial accomplishment or can showcase significant involvement in an extracurricular activity since you submitted your application, make sure to highlight it in your LOCI.

4. Keep an eye on regular decision deadlines: Even if UChicago is still your top choice, make sure to consider some backup schools, and keep track of their regular decision applications, to increase your chances of having good alternatives. While there’s no harm in staying optimistic, unfortunately there’s no guarantee of acceptance after deferral.

5. Seek additional recommendations: If you have a teacher, coach, or mentor who knows you well and can provide new insight or context about your abilities and accomplishments, ask them for an additional recommendation. However, only do this if the letter will genuinely add value to your application – don't ask for an additional recommendation just for the sake of it, as admissions officers are busy people and won’t appreciate having to re-read information that can already be found in your other letters.

6. Review your application: Take a critical look at your application and assess if there's any area that might need improvement. If you think of something significant, consider addressing it in your LOCI.

Remember, a deferral is not a rejection. Many students have gone on to gain acceptance in the regular decision round after being deferred. Be proactive, maintain a positive attitude, and keep working hard to enhance your application. Good luck!