You Applied Early and Your Decision Was Deferred: What Now?

While not every student applies early, those who do receive their responses on or around December 15. It is the first feedback you receive from colleges after a streeful application process and it may not go according to plan. If you were accepted to the school to which you applied early, typically your first choice school, congratulations! If you received a rejection, while a setback, it is not the end of the road. The regular decision deadline is looming and you will have, undoubtedly, started working on those applications and have them ready for submittal. However, what if your decision was deferred? What does it mean? Is there anything you can do?

While it is understandable to feel a bit hard done by your top school when you receive the deferral, we at EdSults want you to stop dwelling and get going! The first thing you should realize is that it is by no means a rejection. Your application is still active and the school still considers you a possible candidate under the regular action admissions process. However, though you may have turned in a complete application in your estimation, the school does not think they have a complete picture of you as a student so as to offer you an acceptance. Here are a few steps you can take to turn that deferral into an acceptance:

1. Get All of The Information

The deferral letter can come as a bit of shock, but after that wears off, read it carefully. Schools do not tend to send vague deferrals. While every school is different, they will likely include information regarding further contact, request additional materials, and provide information as to how to update your application. Make sure you stick to the structure they provide. Many admissions departments will state explicitly whether or not you should contact them. Though unlikely, if they make an admissions representative available for questions, make sure you frame the conversation so as to show your continued interest and ask questions about additional materials rather than asking for a reason for the deferral or showing displeasure at their decision. Remember, you are still trying to impress them!

2. Update Them on Your Academic Progress

The deferral letter will detail what additional materials you should or are allowed to submit. Most schools will ask for updated grades from your fall semester and recent standardized test scores (if applicable). If schools have doubts about your academic record, they may wait for you to get a glimpse of your senior year grades before they make their decision. Do not think that submitting an early application means your senior year grades is any less important. Besides, college counselors and advisors will often stress the importance of fall semester grades for regular decision applications. Likewise, schools that are unconvinced by your test scores will wait for those to finalize their decisions. If your scores are on the lower end of the ranges for your desired schools, plan to take exams in November and/or December with the hopes of showing improvement.

3. Get Any Additional Materials Ready for Resubmission

Schools may also ask for or allow you to submit an updated personal statement or deferral statement and additional recommendations. This is the perfect opportunity to show schools an evolving side of you. The statement should not only reaffirm your desire to attend the school, it should also provide updates to extracurriculars, volunteer projects, internships, awards, honors, etc. Should they ask for an additional recommendation, make sure you seek out someone who can provide a different opinion of you than the three recommenders you already included in your initial application. A teacher from your senior year or a coach or supervisor who you may have left off initially would be an ideal recommender for this purpose. There is no need to overwhelm them with recommendations, especially if they mention you should only submit one additional letter. Lastly, for those schools that interview their applicants, it may be possible to interview again or for the first time if you did not have an opportunity initially. You are complementing your initial application, so make sure to focus on aspects of yourself that may have been lacking in development the first time around.

Although a deferral requires more work, it does mean the school does not want you so do not get disheartened! If you applied early to a school, it was likely at the top of your list. Take a deep breath and put in the time to give them the necessary reasons to accept you without further hesitation.