University deferral meaning?

Hey, just a junior here trying to understand college admissions better. I've seen the term 'deferral' thrown around in university discussions - what does it mean exactly? Is it different from being waitlisted?

Deferral is a term used in the context of Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) college application processes. When a student applies to a college under ED or EA, the college has three possible responses: admit, deny, or defer. If a student is deferred, it means that the college didn't make a final decision on their application during the early admissions round, and instead will reevaluate the application during the Regular Decision (RD) round.

This decision is different from being waitlisted. When a student is waitlisted, it happens during the RD round, and it means the college has not accepted or denied the applicant yet, but won't necessarily reevaluate their application. The applicant is put on a waiting list, and if spots become available due to more admitted students than expected declining their acceptance offer or other circumstances, then the college may consider accepting some students from the waitlist.

If you do get deferred or waitlisted anywhere, or know anyone who is, the best way to maximize your chances of acceptance is to write a letter of continued interest updating the college on any new achievements and reaffirming your desire to enroll. You can read more about how to write this letter on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/deferred-or-waitlisted-tips-for-writing-a-letter-of-continued-interest. Be aware, though, that there's never a guarantee of acceptance after these outcomes, so make sure you have a range of schools you're excited about on your list.

In summary, a deferral shifts an early application to the regular decision pool, while being waitlisted occurs after the RD decisions and leaves the applicant in consideration for an acceptance only if the enrollment numbers require it. The two outcomes are similar, however, in that they indicate the applicant was competitive, but the admissions office wasn't quite ready to accept them outright. Best of luck with your college process!