What to Do if You Receive a Deferred Application

You submitted your college application early, hoping to finalize your college search as soon as possible. However, you received a deferred decision, and the process continues. While receiving this notice may surprise you or even feel like a rejection, it’s important to understand what a deferred application means and to decide on your next steps. Our education resource center discusses the definition of a deferred decision plus the steps you can take if this happens to your college application.

What Is a College Deferral in Admissions?

When you apply for college through early decision or early action, you’re submitting your application before general admission starts. There are plenty of reasons to take advantage of this early option. However, one of the most important is that early applications usually have an acceptance rate two to three times higher than the general admission rate. You’ll also receive your decision letter in the mail sooner. However, this allows for the possibility of receiving a deferred decision.

A deferred decision is when a college or university decides to consider your application along with those received during general admission. This may also mean your application won’t receive a decision before general admission.

Is It Bad to Receive a Deferred Decision?

While this may feel like a rejection initially, the Yale Admissions Blog states that there is a positive aspect to a deferred decision. Hannah Mendlowitz, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale University, said, “If you were deferred, it means your application is strong enough to continue to be seriously considered by the admissions committee.”

Why Did I Receive a College Deferral?

Even though it’s not necessarily a bad thing, you may still wonder why you received a deferred decision rather than an acceptance in the first place. This could be the outcome of several possibilities. Here are two potential reasons that may apply to your application:

Admissions Wants to Compare You vs. Other Applicants

It’s possible that the admissions committee received a high volume of qualified applicants. Your application may be strong, but there might be several other applicants they wish to move forward with first. Imagine particular schools where a high volume of qualified applicants apply during both early and general admission. They may wish to wait on making a decision so as to consider as many applicants as possible.

Admissions Needs More Time to Review Your Application

According to the same Yale Admissions Blog post, a deferred decision almost always is the result of needing more time for review. This could be due to varying circumstances. Perhaps the admissions counselors have a specific number of applicants they can accept for early decision and have already reached that number.

What to Do if You Receive a Deferred Decision Letter?

A deferred decision letter is not a rejection. However, it’s always a good idea to have another plan in place. This can help manage your expectations and maintain a positive outcome for your college search.

Consider Your Backup Options

The old adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” applies here. While you might have applied early to your top schools, you likely have a few colleges you’re planning to apply to for general admission as well. This ensures that even if you are placed on a waitlist or rejected, you’ll still have options. When you receive a deferred decision, you may want to begin filing your general admission applications.

Follow the School’s Next Steps

In many cases, a deferred decision letter will also include instructions of what to do next in the process. Following these in a timely manner can help expedite the decision and keep you prioritized in the next wave of applicants. For example, it’s typical that the school will request a followup correspondence from you reconfirming your interest. Check the directions for the specific mailing address and recipient name and ensure that you send a letter if the college is still at the top of your list.

Find the Positives About Other Universities

While not receiving an immediate college acceptance letter can be a letdown, you can use this additional time to find the positive potential in other universities. In fact, some schools may have other benefits that turn out to be more valuable to you. You can start searching other college websites for data on their campus culture, student organizations, and other interesting activities to do near campus. You can also dedicate a few weekends to touring other campuses and getting a feel for what it would be like as a student there.

Talk to Your College Advisor

If you have an established relationship with a college counselor, they’ve already helped you navigate the initial application process. Your counselor can offer expert advice on the next steps and what’s best for you. While many high schools have counselors on staff, many don’t have a personalized plan for each student. If you’re looking for more individualized advice and clear directions, you may want to find an advisor who you connect well with, including the college counselors we have here at our online education institute.