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A deferral is not a rejection. It means the college wants to read your application again alongside the regular decision pool, usually with your first-semester senior grades in hand. Every year many deferred students are admitted in the spring.
It is still a hard letter to open in December. This guide explains what a deferral means, the few things that can help and how to keep the rest of your applications moving.
What a deferral means
When you are deferred, the college has not said yes or no. Your application moves to the regular decision round and is reviewed again, usually with your mid-year grades. You will hear in March or April with everyone else.
If you applied early decision, read your letter carefully on one point: whether the binding agreement still applies. At many colleges a deferred ED application becomes non-binding in the regular round; at some it stays binding. The letter or the admissions website will say.
Your first week after a deferral
- 1Read the letter twice. Note exactly what the college invites you to send, and anything it asks you not to send.
- 2Fill in any form or portal question the college asks deferred students to complete. Some use a short online form instead of letters.
- 3Make sure your regular decision applications are on track. January 1 to 15 deadlines arrive fast after the holidays.
- 4Decide whether to apply ED II somewhere. If you have another college you love that offers it, it can be a strong move, but it is binding: if admitted, you withdraw elsewhere, including from the college that deferred you.
- 5Tell your school counselor. They can sometimes add context with the mid-year report.
How to write a letter of continued interest
Since applying, I have continued to work hard in my classes and stay involved in my activities, and I remain very passionate about your school.
In December our robotics team placed second at the state qualifier. I rewrote our autonomous code over Thanksgiving after we failed the first round, and it now scores in 14 of 15 trial runs.
If the college accepts updates, a letter of continued interest (often called a LOCI) is the best one you can send. Keep it to a single page, around 250 to 400 words, and send it in January once you have something new to say. Send it through the portal or to your regional admissions officer if the college names one.
- 1Thank them briefly for considering your application.
- 2Give real updates since you applied: new grades, an award, a leadership role, a finished project, a strong result. Specific beats impressive-sounding.
- 3Say what has deepened your interest in the college, with one or two concrete details you did not use in your why-us essay.
- 4If it is truly your first choice and you would attend if admitted, say so plainly. Only say it to one college.
- 5Close in one line. No pleading and no repeating your application.
What helps and what does not
| Helps | Does not help |
|---|---|
| Strong first-semester senior grades | Emailing the admissions office every week |
| One focused letter of continued interest | Sending a whole new essay unless invited |
| Real, specific updates | Extra recommendation letters the college did not ask for |
| Staying on top of your other applications | Parents calling on your behalf |
Keep the rest of your list strong
The most useful thing you can do in December is make your regular decision essays excellent. A deferral is a reason to put more care into your other applications, not to pause them. Revisit your personal essay with fresh eyes before the January deadlines: a month away from it usually shows you what to cut.
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