What Does Deferred Admission Mean?
If your child has received a deferral letter from a college they want to attend, you might be wondering what this means. Often, this can be difficult for students to grasp and can make them feel like they’ve been rejected.
Colleges defer applicants for a variety of reasons, including the need to push back their admissions decisions to give them more time to review their applications. This gives them the opportunity to strengthen their application with updated grades, test scores, and more.
What is a deferral?
A deferral is a decision by a college admissions office to push back a student’s admission into a particular school. The decision to defer an application typically comes from an admissions officer who isn’t ready to make a final decision yet, or who needs more time to review applications.
It’s not uncommon for colleges to have a large number of deferrals. They may have a lot of applicants to consider and aren’t ready to make a decision on these students. Or, they might be expecting a surge of Regular Decision applications and need to keep spots open for more qualified candidates.
Some colleges also use a deferral as a way to ensure they’re building a well-rounded class. In addition to evaluating standardized test scores, GPAs and high school transcripts, colleges consider a variety of other factors as part of the deferral process.
Generally, a deferral is a good thing for applicants because it gives them more time to improve their application. It allows them to submit stronger test scores, a higher GPA, and better letters of recommendation, which can help them distinguish themselves from the crowd when their second consideration comes around.
However, students need to remember that deferrals don’t always turn into acceptances. Even the best-crafted application can’t guarantee an admittance to a top-choice college if it is deferred.
As a result, it’s important for deferred students to re-evaluate their priorities. Do they still want to attend their dream school? If they don’t, they should consider applying to another top choice.
Then, they can focus their efforts on writing a letter of continued interest or deferral letter to the college (if appropriate) to reaffirm their commitment and increase their chances of getting accepted during regular decisions.
It’s important for students to follow the college’s instructions on what they need to send. Some colleges only require an updated grade report, while others will allow students to submit other application materials such as letters of recommendation and/or updates on extracurricular activities.
As long as the student complies with all of the college’s requirements, they should be able to successfully complete their second consideration. If they don’t, they could end up with a rejection that will feel even more devastating than their original deferral.
What is a waitlist?
A waitlist is when a college has your application on file but hasn’t offered you admission yet. The institution will typically send you a letter or ask you to click on the college portal and confirm your interest in being a part of their waitlist.
The reason the college might want to put your application on hold is because they need to round out their incoming class with other students who have been admitted, but who may decide to choose another school. This is especially true at highly selective schools, which have a relatively low percentage of first-year applicants.
Some schools will rank you based on your academic performance, so it’s important to try to improve your odds of getting off the waitlist by raising your grades and retaking standardized tests (like the SAT and ACT). You can also show that you’ve done well in extracurricular activities and that you’re excited about your chosen school.
In the meantime, you should stay in touch with the admissions team at your top choice college and let them know that you’re still interested in attending. This is particularly important if you’ve been waitlisted at more than one college, as it will keep them in the loop of your progress.
It’s not the best feeling to have your college application on hold, but it is a necessary part of the admissions process. Being waitlisted means the college thinks you’re a good fit, but they can’t admit you just yet.
Once you’re on the waitlist, keep in contact with the college and their local admissions representative. They’ll want to see you continue to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment, so it’s a good idea to send them an email on a monthly basis.
If you’re waitlisted at multiple colleges, try to line up backup options for when you aren’t accepted to the first choice. This will help ensure that you get a spot at your preferred college and won’t lose your deposit should you not be accepted from the waitlist at a different university.
Be sure to follow all directions the school gives you in your letter, as this will give you an idea of what you need to do to increase your chances of being offered admission in the future. Make a list of your accomplishments and achievements and send them to the college on a regular basis. If your grades haven’t improved, retake your standardized tests or work with a test prep tutor to boost your score.
What is a regular decision?
A regular decision means your application has been reviewed against the regular pool of applicants. This is typically a smaller group than the early applicant pools and the admission committee wants to compare your application with those in the regular pool before making a final decision.
Colleges defer applications from Early Decision and Early Action to the regular round for several reasons. It may be because they have not yet made a final decision on them or have had a large surge of early applications and want to keep spots open for the best candidates. Or, it could be because they need to review an applicant’s entire application.
Many colleges have a deferral policy that allows students to submit additional materials to the school in order to boost their chances of getting admitted during this round. This can include recent accomplishments and grade improvements, as well as any other changes to their profile that they may have been unable to include during the early round.
The key is to take this opportunity to showcase your strengths and why you feel the school would be a good fit for your unique background and goals. In addition, you should try to keep your communication positive and upbeat throughout the process.
If you do not receive a response to your deferral letter by the deadline, send a follow-up email or letter around late January or early February to the admissions office. This letter should convey your continued interest in the school and encourage them to make an offer of admission to you if a spot opens up.
Another key component of the deferral process is that schools often rank all waitlisted applicants in order of priority, meaning those at the top of the list will be first to get college admission letters. The college will also use this information to inform their decisions for the incoming class.
Regardless of how your deferral is handled, you should remain focused on your dream school and continue to pursue other excellent options. After all, many top schools are still interested in your child, and there is always a chance that a new school will be a better fit.
What is an early decision?
Early decision is an option for students who have identified a college as their first choice. It is a binding decision that commits the applicant to enrolling at the school of their choice, if they are admitted. It is an excellent choice for students who are truly passionate about the college they are applying to and are confident that it is the best fit for them.
Typically, early decision applicants receive their admissions decisions by mid-December of their senior year. Depending on the outcomes, they may be accepted, denied, or deferred to the regular round of admissions and be notified of their final decision later.
While Early Decision applicants are a small percentage of the overall applicant pool, they represent a higher proportion of strong applicants than those who apply during the regular round. This is a result of their motivation, competitiveness, and dedication to the process of application.
There are two types of early decision plans: Early Decision I (EDI) and Early Decision II (EDII). EDI is for students who want to apply to their top-choice college but cannot meet the November deadline. EDI is also a binding plan and applicants must withdraw all other applications once they receive an EDI decision.
EDI is the most common early admissions option, but some colleges offer non-binding early action plans as well. Those plans are typically offered at a smaller number of schools than EDI.
If you are interested in applying to a particular school through Early Decision, be sure to thoroughly research your options. This will give you the confidence that your decision is based on sound academic and personal criteria.
It is always a good idea to seek expert guidance in this important decision. The right expert can help you determine whether Early Decision is the best option for you and your family.
Often students who are interested in applying to a specific college through ED will be able to save time and money by applying earlier in the year. Additionally, if you are admitted through ED, you will be able to receive your financial aid awards much sooner than through the standard admissions cycle. It is also a great way to get your application out of the way in advance of your senior year so that you can focus on enjoying your final year of high school.