What does it mean when a college defers your application?

Hey guys! I just heard the term 'defer' being used in the context of college admissions. What is the meaning of a deferred application, and how does it affect your chances of getting accepted?

A deferred application means that during the early decision (ED) or early action (EA) application round, the college did not make a final decision on your application and has instead decided to review your application along with the regular decision (RD) applicants. This typically occurs when the admissions committee believes that they need more time or additional context (such as seeing applications from the RD pool) to make a decision about your application.

Being deferred does not mean that you have been rejected by the college; it simply means that your application will now be considered in the RD round. Your chances of acceptance may change after being deferred, as the RD pool is often larger and more competitive than the ED or EA pool. However, it's important to keep in mind that each college handles deferred applications differently, and how they view deferred applicants can vary.

To improve your chances of being accepted in the RD round, make sure to keep up your academic and extracurricular performance. You may also want to update the college with any significant achievements or accomplishments that occurred since submitting your application, as this can help to strengthen your case. Additionally, continue to research and apply to other colleges as part of your RD list, as it's good to have a plan in case you are not accepted at the school where your application was deferred.