If you applied to one or more colleges under Early Action and/or Early Decision admission plans, you are likely anxiously waiting for a decision. You may learn that your application has neither been accepted nor rejected, but instead it has been deferred. This means that your application has been converted to a regular application and will be reviewed again in a few months along with all the applications in the regular admissions process.
If you have your heart set on a certain college but get deferred, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of being accepted in the regular round:
Sending an email notifying the admissions office that you will attend if you are admitted may increase your chances of being accepted. While it’s important to demonstrate interest in this way, I suggest that you wait until after the New Year and then email, call, or even visit, if you can. Many students who have been deferred contact colleges as soon as they have released the results from their early rounds, and admissions offices are often very hectic at this time. The admissions staff needs a holiday, too.
If you have won any awards or anything substantial that has happened to you since you first sent in your application (such as winning a science or music competition), this is a great time to inform the school. If there is a particular class in which you excelled and that maybe stands out from your typical academic performance, perhaps you would tell the schools about your grades. In the email, you should explain your rationale for applying to that particular school, why you are a good fit, and what makes the school a top choice for you. If possible, inform the college of why attending that institution would help you meet your academic and educational goals, and mention specifically which programs you would participate in if admitted.
Ideally, you should visit the campus again and personally meet with someone in admissions. If you can arrange for an interview, even better. While it’s expensive to travel, if you are really committed to one college and want to spend the next four years there more than anything, showing up and telling the office is a good idea if you are hoping to be accepted in the regular round. Your visit signals to the college that you are serious about attending the institution. That said, if your personal circumstances preclude a campus visit, inform the admissions counselor of this while also trying the other tactics I suggest.
Arranging for an additional letter of recommendation to be sent on your behalf could also help dramatically. You never know if just one teacher’s powerful words can push your application over the edge. Or perhaps someone outside of school who knows you well (like a boss at a job) could be a great extra option for another letter.
While it’s disappointing to be deferred, there are still some ways to improve your chances. Do your best to demonstrate to the college that you will enroll if accepted, as colleges are extremely interested in accepting students who are most likely to enroll. Even if you don’t get into your “dream” school in the regular round, remember that there are a number of colleges -- not just one -- at which you will thrive.