What "Deferred" and "Waitlisted" Really Mean (and What to Do Next)
By Karen Treon, Senior Editor & College Parent
For high school seniors and their families, this time of year can bring good news, disappointing news, and confusing news. “Deferred” and “Waitlisted” are terms of art and fall into the confusing news category. In this blog post we will break them down and suggest next steps.
Deferral - Definition and Practical Effects
When a school defers an applicant, it means that they don’t render a decision on the applicant but push the applicant into the next application pool. For example, if a student applies to a school in the fall under an Early Decision or Early Action program, the school can either accept, deny, or defer the applicant. This means that the school will consider the student’s application in the Regular Decision pool with no advantage or disadvantage. It’s pretty much the same as if the student applied Regular Decision. What are the practical effects of this?
Most importantly, deferral means different things at different schools. Some schools defer a large percentage of early applicants, and others defer only a few. Some schools are pretty transparent about these statistics, and others keep it close to the vest. There is no universal answer as to whether deferral helps a student’s admission chances or not. It depends on the school.
If a student applies Early Decision and is deferred, they are released from the Early Decision Agreement. This means that they can apply to other schools and consider different acceptances and financial packages. The binding commitment that came along with the Early Decision Agreement goes away once the school defers that applicant.
Most schools give clear guidance and instructions on what deferred students can and should do. Some will ask that students do nothing. Others will invite students to update applications with recent developments, and still others might invite students to submit a Letter of Continuing Interest (called a LOCI). Our guidance on this is simple – follow each school’s instructions. If they say they don’t want additional information, they really don’t want additional information.
Deferred students should stay on top of their email and their applicant portal – if a school does want additional information or updates, they will reach out.
Deferral can be almost as disappointing as a rejection, and it can also bring false hope. Our best advice is:
Students should follow the deferring school’s instructions (see above).
Students should embrace the opportunity to take a fresh look at options. Revisit other schools they have applied to and take notice of the programs and experiences they offer, and look at schools that might not have previously been on their radar screen.
*Note that the use of the word “deferral” here, in the context of an admission decision, has a completely different meaning than when used to describe a student’s choice to “defer” their start date. Yes, we agree that this is confusing! In the latter situation, an accepted student asks to start later (usually a year later) in order to tend to a personal issue or serve a mission, etc. Most schools have strict rules around this so if your student is considering this they should communicate closely with the Admissions Officer.
Waitlist - Definition and Practical Effects
When a student is waitlisted, the situation is quite different. Most schools will waitlist a student when the student is deemed admissible but the school doesn’t have a spot for them. The school is basically saying “We’d love to have you here but we can’t admit you because we are full right now. We will keep you posted and let you know if a spot opens up for you.” While the meaning is quite different from “deferral,” the result is similar - uncertainty.
Just like “deferral,” “waitlisted” means different things at different schools. Some schools waitlist a larger number of applicants, and others only a few. Some schools publish the number of students who are admitted from the waitlist, and this is helpful information to have. Some schools assign numbers to those on the waitlist and others don’t, and most admissions officers will explain their school’s policies to a waitlisted student. Generally, schools with very low admissions rates tend to pull very few students off the waitlist as most of their admitted students accept their offers. Again, it depends on the school.
Most schools give clear guidance and instructions on what waitlisted students can and should do. Most will invite students to update applications with recent developments, and still others might invite students to submit a Letter of Continuing Interest (called a LOCI). Our guidance on this is simple – follow each school’s instructions.
Waitlisted students should stay on top of their email and their applicant portal – if a school does want additional information or updates beyond the basic instructions, they will reach out. And if a waitlisted student is offered a spot, the response time is often very short. (Waitlisted students should also make sure that they are checking their phone and voicemail regularly, as many schools reach out over the phone regarding waitlist admissions.)
Schools can and do admit students from the waitlist through the summer. If a student decides to go elsewhere, they can remove themselves from a waitlist . . . or they can stay flexible until the end.
Sitting on a waitlist can be very frustrating and stressful. Our advice is similar to the deferral advice we gave above:
Students should follow the waitlisting school’s instructions (see above).
Students should put significant effort into a LOCI if the school asks for one. Admissions Mom has an exceptionally good post on all things waitlist, including how to write a compelling LOCI.
Students should embrace the opportunity to take a fresh look at options. Don’t be afraid to fall in love with another school.
Next Steps
The hardest part about deferrals and waitlists is that students need to forge on. We encourage families and students to stay positive about other opportunities. Check for updates from the deferring or waitlisting school(s), but don’t obsess about it. Look at other options with a fresh perspective, and keep options open. Good luck!
