How does college admission deferral work?

Hey! I'm trying to understand the deferral process for college admissions. Can someone explain to me how deferred applications work and under what circumstances it might happen?

Hello! College admissions deferral typically occurs during the Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) application rounds. A deferral is when a college decides to hold off on making a decision about your application during the early round and instead review your application again during the Regular Decision (RD) round. This means that you haven't been accepted, but you also haven't been rejected. The college is essentially giving your application a second chance to be considered among the broader pool of applicants.

There can be several reasons for a deferral, including:

1. The admissions committee wants to see more information, such as your mid-year grades or updated test scores, before making a decision.

2. The early applicant pool is particularly competitive, and the committee wants to compare your application to the RD applicant pool.

3. The committee may want to evaluate how interested you truly are in attending the school. Deferred students who demonstrate strong interest in the college during the deferral period can improve their chances in the RD round.

If you've been deferred, it's important to take action to strengthen your application for the RD round. You can take the following steps:

1. Update your application with any new achievements, awards, or extracurricular involvements since the original submission.

2. If your mid-year grades improve, make sure those are submitted to the college.

3. Consider retaking standardized tests (if applicable) and sending improved scores.

4. Write a letter of continued interest (LOCI) to express your enthusiasm for the college and provide updates on your accomplishments.

Keep in mind that being deferred isn't a guarantee for eventual acceptance or rejection; it means that you still have an opportunity to show the admissions officers why you deserve a spot in the incoming class. Stay positive, be proactive in the steps mentioned above, and continue to apply to other colleges so that you have multiple options when decision time arrives. Good luck!