What To Do After Receiving an Early Deferral

Some early college acceptance letters are cut and dried; some (hopefully) say you made it into the school of your dreams, others say you did not get accepted, and still other letters may say deferred. What is a deferral and what does it mean for you?

Deferred means that the college you have applied to is delaying a decision on your early application and is reviewing it with applications that come in during the regular decision period. Most universities tell their early deferred applicants their final decision in the spring.

First, don’t jump to conclusions. Being deferred may be frustrating, but it is not a denial. It just means the university will consider your application amongst other applicants for that year in the regular decision pool.

Next, make a plan. You will need to decide if you are willing to wait for a final decision from that school or if you want to move on to another school that may have offered you admission in the early round.

If you decide to wait for an answer on your deferral, the next step is to respond positively to the college’s standard question about your interest in remaining an active applicant. Increasingly, I am seeing colleges ask for “optional” additional short essay responses from deferred students. They are not “optional.” The college is trying to assess your level of interest. Then, draft a letter in late January or early February to the college or university to provide more information since you first applied. This letter is an update on your grades, extracurricular activities, and other pertinent information that the admissions counselors should know about from your initial application. Also, be sure to ask your guidance counselor to send your first semester grades to the school.

Consider sending an additional letter of recommendation if you can, and if the school allows it. You can find out if you can submit extra recommendation letters by contacting the admission representative assigned to you or your region. Don’t overwhelm them with letters. One letter (or maybe two) from someone who knows you well is all you need. Additionally, you should also include in your message a statement of why you passionately want to attend that institution and reaffirm your commitment to enroll if admitted.

Don’t forget about other opportunities. While deferment can be disappointing, don’t let it stop you in your path to pursue higher education. Keep in mind other schools that have not yet responded with a decision or look for opportunities at the schools you have not yet applied.

Good luck!

If you have questions, I am happy to talk with you. Click here to schedule a free 20-minute Discovery Call to get started, https://www.creativecollegeconnections.com/preliminary-conversation.

By Hannah Serota

Hannah Serota, M.Ed, is a Certified Educational Planner and three-decade college admissions professional. She is the founder of Creative College Connections, an educational consulting practice providing teens and their families exemplary professional guidance, tools, and strategies that inspire confidence and joy on the path to acceptance at best-fit colleges.