What To Do After Getting Deferred From College Early Decision Or Early Action

If you were deferred from your Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) school, you might be feeling disappointed, worried, or confused. You put in the effort to submit an application you were proud of, and you may be left wondering why you were not admitted and—most importantly—what to do next.

First and foremost, being deferred from a school that you applied to EA or ED is not an indication that your application was subpar or that your dreams of attending the college are over. A deferral simply means that the admissions committee needs more time to evaluate your application before making a final decision.

In most cases, the early application pool tends to be more competitive than the regular round. Students who apply ED to a school are set on attending the school if accepted, so their application essays tend to be of a high caliber. Additionally, the ED and EA application rounds attract more legacy students, who have a privileged status in the admissions process already. So even though EA and ED acceptance rates are consistently higher than Regular Decision (RD) acceptance rates, the pool of applicants is generally more competitive, which can result in admissions rates that look less competitive than they actually are. This makes it more challenging for even the most talented students to get accepted.

There are positive aspects of a deferral—if you were deferred after applying ED, the binding ED contract to enroll if admitted no longer applies. Instead, the same rules that apply to RD applicants apply to you, as you’re now considered an RD applicant. This means that you have more freedom to weigh your options and reconsider schools that you may have bumped down on your list as you anticipated an ED acceptance. In other words, you get another chance to re-evaluate your college list and revisit the unique strengths of all the schools you are considering!

But what if you are still set on attending your EA/ED school?

One of the best ways to boost your chances of acceptance is writing a letter of continued interest.

A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a brief note to the admissions office expressing your intention to attend the university if accepted and providing meaningful updates about your accomplishments in the weeks since you initially applied. The letter should be polite, professional, and perhaps most importantly—concise. You want to give the admissions committee an overview of the most important information while still respecting their busy schedules.

After receiving the news of your deferral, be prompt and take the initiative to write your letter. As you begin the writing process, here are 5 tips to help your LOCI catch the attention of the admissions committee:

1. Address your letter to your regional admissions officer.

Your LOCI should be personal—it is not to the university or to the admissions office, but to the admissions officer for your region who can convey the information to the rest of the committee. If you are unsure of who your regional admissions officer is, check the admissions website or email the admissions office and ask.

2. Keep it positive.

While you may be feeling disappointed after failing to gain admittance in the EA/ED round, do not let that disappointment shine through in your letter. A LOCI is not the place to relitigate your deferral or demand reasons for why you were not accepted. Before you begin to write, consider all of the unique reasons that you want to attend the school—what excited you as you envisioned yourself on campus? Allow that hopefulness and genuine desire to attend the university inform the tone and content of your letter. Be sure to begin your letter with an expression of thanks to the admissions committee for taking the time to read your application materials and let them know that you appreciate the consideration they put toward your application.

3. Provide specific reasons that motivate you to attend the school and why you would be a good fit.

Your letter should compellingly convey that your desire to attend the university has not dwindled in light of your deferral. In order to demonstrate this sustained interest, revisit your application materials before writing the LOCI and further emphasize the unique qualities of the school that motivate you to attend, whether a program, faculty member, research opportunity, or on-campus opportunities. You can also consider doing more research into the school’s specific programs or distinctives—if you discover something new in the process, this can be valuable information to include in the letter to show that you have continued to do your due diligence since submitting your application.

4. Provide focused and intentional updates on your successes.

Briefly update the school regarding any changes to your profile as an applicant. This includes updates on positive changes to your GPA, awards or honors you have received (whether academic or extracurricular), or a change in your standardized test scores. Additionally, offer to provide them with more information if they would like. They may want to clarify some piece of your essay or application in the future, and it can be useful to keep that door open. You should also be sure to mention the unique qualities that make you a good fit for the school—demonstrate not only what makes it a good school for you, but what makes you a good student for them.

5. Only write one letter.

Although waiting for a decision can feel grueling, after sending a letter of continued interest, you have done all that you can do. Now you only have to wait for the admissions committee to notify you of their decision. In the meantime, do not continue to send the admissions office letters and emails amending your application with updates about every change in your GPA or award you receive. As Yale’s admissions blog notes, the admissions committee will pay closest attention to the materials you have already submitted—your letters of recommendation, essays, and activities list. After reminding them of your sustained desire to attend the school and providing one update on your continued success in your LOCI, trust that the admissions committee will thoughtfully consider your application.