Deferred vs waitlisted: which is better?

Stressed out junior here. I've heard a lot about students getting deferred or waitlisted. Could someone explain which one is 'better' in terms of increasing chances of getting accepted? I know neither is as good as an outright acceptance, but just trying to understand what each would mean in case it happens to me.

Firstly, it's really great that you are planning ahead and seeking to understand all possible outcomes during your application process. To clarify the meanings:

- Being 'deferred' often applies to students who have applied Early Action or Early Decision. When you are deferred, the college has decided to review your application again in the Regular Decision pool. It's a way for colleges to postpone making a decision about your application until they have a fuller picture of the applicant pool.

- 'Waitlisted', on the other hand, applies after regular decision notifications have been sent. If you are waitlisted, you're essentially put in a 'maybe' pile. If not enough accepted students choose to attend, the school may start admitting students from the waitlist.

To compare these scenarios:

As a deferred applicant, you'll hear back from the school again in the spring when regular decisions are announced. In certain cases, deferred students might be asked to submit additional application materials, such as senior year grades or updated test scores. The decision at this point could be acceptance, waitlist, or outright rejection.

Meanwhile, if you're on the waitlist, the uncertainties stretch out a bit longer, usually until late spring or even into the summer. And while it's possible you might still be accepted, the odds are generally lower than they were at the point of deferral.

Considering everything, if you're asking which is 'better', it might be somewhat better to be deferred since you will be considered along with the entire pool of applicants in the Regular Decision cycle. This gives you an opportunity to provide additional materials to improve your standing. However, don't lose hope if you're waitlisted. Many students do eventually get accepted off the waitlist.

Finally, if you are either deferred or waitlisted, it could be beneficial to express your continued interest in the school (unless they explicitly instruct not to), as this can sometimes sway the admissions committee. However, you should also have backup plans and consider other colleges where you might be accepted outright.