Five Things To Do When You’ve Been Deferred

You get the email: A change has been posted to your portal.  You log in, hoping for the confetti.  Instead, the news is not so great.  It’s not bad, though:  DEFERRED.  You’ll have to wait a little longer to get your decision.  But fear not!  A deferral is not a denial!  Some colleges defer a large chunk of their early applicants to the regular pool.

Your best response should be a combination of “continue to show them your best” – maybe by sending them an additional teacher recommendation, or an essay showing them specifically why you are a great match for them – if they give you the opportunity to share what’s changed since you applied.

But there are no guarantees, and you’d be really wise to begin the process of emotionally moving on and falling in love with someone else.

This student has just the right balance (with a hint of outrage and defensiveness) that the deferred student should have.

Here are five things to do if you’ve been deferred:

• What’s new?  Think about what you’ve done and accomplished between when you submitted and now.  It’s at least a few weeks and possibly a few months ago!  Did your Mock Trial team win the county championship?  Did you finally take your black belt test?  Make sure they know!
• Read the rules!  They’ll tell you what they want from you.  Some colleges request an updated transcript, an additional letter of recommendation, possibly an additional short essay from you.  Send them what they want – BUT NOT MORE.
• Express your continued interest in the college.  Reach out to your admission counselor by e-mail to thank them for reconsidering you with the rest of the pool, and let them know not only that you are still interested, but that you think you will make a strong contribution to their community.
• Apply to a few more colleges whose mid-range GPA is just a tiny bit lower than yours – that is, where your GPA is ABOVE their average.  You’ll find people just as smart as you – I promise!  And colleges where your GPA is on the high side is more likely to offer you scholarship money!
• Keep a level head.  Know that it’s all going to work out in the end.  The place you end up will be the place you’ll make lifelong friends and begin to shape where and how you’ll make your mark on the world.  That’s more important than which bumper sticker on your parents’ car.

Hope this helps.  Deferred is not denied!  You still have a shot at it.  Just make sure you have other options!