Having your early action or early decision application deferred is not what anyone hopes for. However, it doesn’t mean you are out of the running. Being deferred means that the college needs more time, or more information, to make a decision on your application, and typically, you’ll receive the final answer with the release of regular decision results in mid-to-late March. There are several reasons why your application might have been deferred. The admissions office could be waiting to see the makeup of their regular decision applicant pool before deciding on your application. Or perhaps there are some other institutional reasons driving the outcome.
Whatever the reason, there are a few things you should consider doing now. First, you should ask your high school to send your first semester or first trimester grades, if they haven’t already. As academic institutions, colleges will be most concerned about your senior year performance in the classroom. Second, you should consider sending a letter of continued interest.
Why send a letter of continued interest
Sending a letter of continued interest can help your application in two ways:
- It gives you a space to provide updates. If your application was submitted in mid-October, you’ve had almost three months of senior year not reported on. This letter is a chance to give any updates to your colleges. Have your grades improved or held steady? Have there been any assignments from classes that you’ve really enjoyed? Do you have a new leadership role, maybe in a winter sport? These things are updates that your colleges should know.
- This is also your chance to demonstrate your continued interest in the university. You’ve already demonstrated your interest by applying in the early application round, but this is a good time to remind them how highly you think of the school and your continued commitment to enroll if admitted.
When and how to send the letter
Try to send your letter of continued interest in mid-January, but depending on when your semester ends, you might hold off until the end of the month or even the first week of February. Always pay attention to deadlines and instructions coming directly from the school.
You should email your letter to your regional admissions officer. Many colleges have contact information listed on their website, and if not, you can check with your high school counselor to see if they have the information. Please note that some schools give specific instructions for mid-year update communications, often requesting that these be sent through applicant portals rather than emailed to admissions reps. In these cases, always follow the instructions provided by the college.
What to Include
- Make it short and to the point. A good target length is two or three paragraphs.
- Keep in mind that the email should accomplish three goals: 1) highlighting any updates from the fall (strong grades, exciting research papers, awards, leadership experience, etc.); 2) if applicable, reiterating that the school is your top choice, and that you would attend if admitted; and 3) offering more specific information about why the school is an ideal fit for you.
- Don’t repeat information that can already be found within your application.
- If you’ve toured campus or interviewed recently, incorporate those experiences into the letter.
- End the letter by reiterating that you “very much hope” to join X’s freshman class and consider concluding with something along the lines of: Please let me know if you would like any additional information. I greatly appreciate the time and consideration you are giving my application.
- Sign off with an appropriate closing (Sincerely or Best Regards) and include your full name, name of your high school, and applicant identification number.
Remember...
These updates should be brief and packed with detail. Make the most of your space by linking together your updates from the fall with your excitement about specific opportunities at the school in question. Has a research project you’ve worked on this year gotten you even more excited about certain courses or research opportunities? Has a service project you’ve participated in made you even more focused on great service opportunities at this specific college? Highlighting connections like these can help you very briefly inform your application reader about what you’ve been up to since you first applied and help reiterate why this college is a great fit for you!
Have more questions about your deferral or applications? We have experienced college counselors available to help guide you throughout your college admissions process. Learn more about our services, our team or contact us for a FREE consultation!