Deferred Doesn't Mean Defeated: Your Next Steps for College Admissions
By Karen Treon, Senior Editor & College Parent
Most colleges in the U.S. send out their Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) announcements in mid-December. Schools often post the exact date on their admissions website page or in social media feeds. Most schools have three outcomes to EA and/or ED - acceptance, denial, or deferral to the Regular Decision (RD) pool.
Before we get to the details, let’s be clear about what deferral means. Deferral means that a student’s application was reviewed and then moved into the RD pool, where it will be considered as an RD application. Deferral is NOT THE SAME as being waitlisted – we will talk more about waitlists in the spring.
When students learn that they have been deferred, their first reaction is usually “what does this mean and what are my chances for acceptance?” There isn’t only one answer, it’s different for every school. It is also usually different for EA and ED. We know that is a frustrating answer. Here’s a quick rundown and tips to help sort it all out:.
Don’t panic or rush into action. Make sure your student takes the time to read all the communications from the school carefully. These communications can be emails or posted in admissions portals. Your student should review all email communications from the school(s) they applied to and make sure they have followed instructions regarding portals.
When an applicant is deferred, schools will often give clear instructions about next steps. For example, schools might indicate that students can submit additional / new information...or they might specifically state that they don’t want additional information at this time. Always follow the instructions sent by the school.
Submit a Letter of Continuing Interest (LOCI). Consider a LOCI if a school doesn’t specifically state that they don’t want additional information. Admissions Mom is a great resource on all things college, and her guidance on deferrals and LOCIs is spot on. Don’t rush this though - LOCIs are best submitted starting in January.
Remember that schools are all over the map on deferrals. This is particularly true if a school has ED (and not EA). Some schools defer ALL applicants who are not accepted in ED, saying that they don’t want to penalize students for ED applications. Other schools defer only a small percentage, saying that they don’t want to create false hope. Some schools are transparent about this, but most are not. Some internet sleuthing might provide more information on a particular school, but managing expectations is the best path.
If your student applied ED and was deferred, it is very important to remember that the BINDING AGREEMENT goes away. The application becomes a regular RD application. This gives students more options - they can focus on other RD applications and even consider applying Early Decision II (EDII). (Related: Early Action, Early Decision, Restrictive Early Action - What Does it All Mean?)
TIP FOR PARENTS
A rejection from an early college application isn't the end of the road. Senior year brings significant personal growth, and students often discover new academic interests. This period between early and regular decision deadlines is perfect for reassessing college lists. Take time to add promising schools that now align with your goals, or remove those that no longer feel right. Rejection can be an opportunity to refine your college application strategy.
Download our College Decision Tracker to track deadlines, financial details, and to do items throughout the spring.
