Being Deferred: Application Purgatory

Why was I deferred?  There’s generally two reasons an application is deferred (sometimes it is a combination of both):

 

It’s not you, it’s me: This is many times the case at schools with a very selective admission process.  There’s more qualified applicants than spots.  However, a school never wants to be overly dependent on one application cycle to fill its class.  Admission offices like to see how applicants who they believe are good fits, but didn’t receive an offer, measure up against later applicants in the Regular Decision pool.  A silver lining here, highly selective schools generally only defer a small portion of their early applicants, so in some ways you’ve made a cut.  However, it’s important to remember that most highly selective schools will be increasingly selective in RD than in their early rounds because there are more applications to be reviewed.

 

It is you, not me: Some schools want more information from a student to be confident in their final decision.  Some types of information the admission office may want: updated grades, a better understanding about a student’s interest, or clarification concerning a piece of the application.  The good news here is that you (the applicant) usually have control over this future information. 

 

Recommended reaction stages to a deferral are to first be upset, it’s ok to be angry, sad or downtrodden.  If you aren’t it’s a message that you’re not as excited about the school as you thought.  Second stage, reflect upon your priorities.  Through your self-assessment and search what have you learned?  What is most important and why (this will help you in stage six).  Stage three, with an open mind review your school list and do an honest assessment of your current application situation seeking advice and counsel from your support network.  You have the ability to be successful, fulfilled, and happy at more than one school and perhaps that school is already one that you’ve been offered admission to.  The review may result in new or different types of applications.  Some schools will permit you to change an EA application to ED2 or even change your intended major.  You may also decide to add a school to your list or to apply ED2 to another university.  These are all big decisions and shouldn’t be done without proper deliberation.  Stage four, understand directions.  Some schools have very specific instructions for deferred applicants and it’s important to follow them.  Stage five, be patient.  The admission process, your senior year, and life isn’t over.  This is great news (at least two of the three).  Don’t search the web for quick fixes or advice on College Confidential.  Stage six (stay with me) is take action, this is the most prolonged stage and requires persistence and perseverance.  Complete all your RD applications prior to deadlines and with the same amount of care and attention to detail as you did with your ED and EA applications.  Continue to work to the best of your ability in the classroom, semester grades and beyond can impact future decisions and the diligence you put into your studies will pay dividends toward your college studies.  Maintain your dedication to activities and passions, have fun!  The school you’ve been deferred from may welcome a communication (review stage four) permitting you to update them on your interest in the school, activities, accomplishments, and academics.  When crafting this correspondence take a few sentences to articulate beyond the superficial why the school is the best fit for you and what you hope to accomplish on their campus that will benefit their community and beyond (stage 2).  This communication should not be immediately or even soon after the defer decision is received.  Admission offices receive too many impulse emails and phone calls post-decision, not to mention admission offices are closed from the Christmas holidays until after New Year’s.