Sooooo.. Early Decision results are out and your college hasn't accepted or rejected you - you've been deferred. This is NOT the end of the world NOR is it the end of your college application journey. But what does deferral mean?
Simply put, deferral occurs when the college requires some more time to review your application before making a decision and has decided to hold off on giving a definitive response. They will, instead, revisit your application during the regular decision period and provide a final response at this time.
There are so many reasons for deferral, some of which include:
I'VE BEEN DEFERRED. IS THERE STILL HOPE?
As we said before... THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!!!
It is not uncommon for students whose applications are deferred in the early to be accepted in the regular round. Georgetown University reports that approximately 15% of applications deferred during early decision are accepted during the regular decision round. So, yes.. There is hope!
If the college didn't think you were a good fit, they would have simply rejected you. They still want you, they just don't know it yet ;).
While you wait for the college's final decision, here are a few steps you can take to ensure that you end up on the winning side of the deferral coin:
I WAS TOLD TO WRITE A DEFERRAL LETTER.
WHAT IS THAT?
It's exactly what it sounds like. This is the prospective student's opportunity to essentially plead their case with the college. By 'plead', we don't mean 'beg' but, rather, 'prove'. So, demonstrate your unwavering interest in attending the institution, providing proof of your suitability for your selected area of study and college on a whole.
Need help writing your deferral letter? Or simply need guidance on how to handle a deferral? Contact the AIM Online Academy today!