Is a deferral basically a rejection?

Asked by: Devyn Pouros IV  |  Last update: December 7, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (18 votes)

A deferral means the college wants to review your application again with the regular decision pool of applicants. While it might feel like a rejection, a deferral is not a denial, nor does it mean there was something wrong with your application.

Does defer mean reject?

Some college acceptance rates are surprisingly low, meaning many students receive rejections. A rejection means the student was denied admission. However, a deferral means the student's application is still being considered.

Why would someone request a deferral?

7 good reasons to defer university admission
  • Take a gap year. Taking a gap year might be one of the most popular reasons to defer university admission. ...
  • Address personal concerns. ...
  • Improve your health. ...
  • Raise additional funds. ...
  • Complete an internship abroad. ...
  • Build your academic skill set. ...
  • Volunteer abroad.

How do I turn a deferral into an acceptance?

Our counselors have some tips on what you can do if you're deferred.
  1. Revisit Your School List. ...
  2. Find Out What the College Needs From You. ...
  3. Compose a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) or Deferral Letter. ...
  4. Seek Additional Recommendation Letters. ...
  5. Consider Updating Your Application. ...
  6. Visit. ...
  7. Send Additional Grades and Test Scores.

Is deferred worse than waitlisted?

A deferred applicant will be considered again before any reconsideration is provided to a waitlisted applicant. As such, being waitlisted at a school is worse than a deferral because the institution has decided not to admit you unless other applicants decline their admission offer and seats become available.

Admissions Decisions: How to Deal with Deferral or Rejection

37 related questions found

How likely are you to get in after being deferred?

Across all highly selective colleges, about 10% of deferred candidates ultimately earn admission to the school that kicked the can on their candidacies. While this percentage can vary yearly and from school to school, it's a relatively consistent general benchmark.

How do you stand out after being deferred?

What to Do After Getting Deferred By Your First-Choice College
  1. Write a letter. ...
  2. Solicit another letter of recommendation. ...
  3. Take more standardized tests. ...
  4. Add to Your Resume. ...
  5. Demonstrate Interest. ...
  6. Get straight A's.

Is deferral a soft rejection?

A deferral letter is neither a rejection nor an acceptance. Take a look at the glass half full and think of it as a second chance to impress the admissions committee. A student is deferred when there isn't enough information or context to put them through a full acceptance.

What increases chances of admission after deferral?

If appropriate, write a letter of continued interest (LOCI) or deferral letter. Colleges want to admit students who want to attend, so by writing a letter reaffirming their commitment to the college (if appropriate), students can improve their chances of admission.

Why would a college defers you?

Often, applicants are deferred because the school wants the opportunity to see how students will utilize their last year of high school, if they're maintaining (or improving) their grades and accomplishing other milestones through their extracurricular involvement.

Do deferrals usually get accepted?

The deferred acceptance rate and number of students accepted can vary by school. Many colleges don't release acceptance data for deferred students. Some estimates say that most colleges will accept at least 5-10% of deferred students in regular decision pools.

What does granted a deferral mean?

the act of delaying something until a later time, or an occasion when something is delayed until a later time: He did not seek deferment from military service. I was granted a deferment on my education loans. See. defer.

What does it mean to offer a deferral?

to delay something until a later time: My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan.

Is it better to receive or defer?

Unless a team feels they have a better chance of stopping the opposing offense and scoring a field goal to win, it always makes sense to receive the ball if you win the coin toss in overtime.

Does deferred mean waitlisted?

A college deferral is not the same as a college waitlist letter. Colleges defer an application when they don't want to make a decision right away. If you receive a deferral letter, it means the school will review your application again at a later date and decide to accept, decline, or waitlist you at that time.

Can you get rejected Early Action or just deferred?

Applying Early Decision or Early Action can lead to one of three possible results: acceptance, deferral or denial. Early decision is binding. But if it's a deferral or a denial, there's no need to apply to the same school via regular decision.

Is rejection worse than deferral?

If you were denied, you can grieve the loss and focus on applying to other colleges. But if you were deferred, you're somewhere in between -- you're not in, but you are not “not in” either. Some students describe it as admissions “purgatory."

What are the side effects of deferral?

Common side effects of Defer
  • Increased appetite.
  • Weight gain.
  • Frequent urge to urinate.
  • Cushing syndrome.
  • Cough.
  • Upper respiratory tract infection.
  • Abnormal hair growth.
  • Obesity.

Do colleges defer overqualified students?

While there is some anecdotal evidence that overqualified students get rejected, these students aren't usually turned down because of their better-than-average grades or test scores. Most likely, the overqualified student isn't the right fit for a school or they haven't shown enough interest to admission officers.

Is a deferral basically a rejection reddit?

Many people believe that a deferral is essentially a soft rejection, but it's genuinely another opportunity for you to get your application looked at. Send in that strong LOCI letter.

What counts as rejection?

Rejection can be defined as the act of pushing someone or something away. One may experience rejection from one's family of origin, a friend, or a romantic partner, and the resulting emotions can often be painful. Rejection can be experienced on a large scale or in small ways in everyday life.

Can you appeal a deferral?

Can You Appeal a Deferral? In short, the answer is, no. You can only "appeal" a denial.

What do you say when someone gets deferred?

Here are five meaningful things to say in a situation like this:
  1. “I know this feels like the end of the world, but it will all work out.” ...
  2. “If it is meant to be, it will be.” ...
  3. “The college process is unpredictable, try not to take it personally.” ...
  4. “You did all that you could do, and you should not have any regrets.”

Can you get deferred from early decision 2?

A deferral will also release you from your ED I or ED II agreement; although your application will be reconsidered in the regular applicant pool, if admitted after a deferral, you will not be obligated to attend.

How many deferred students get accepted Harvard?

Chances of Getting into Harvard After Being Deferred

Historically, about 10% of students who Harvard defers ultimately earn admission in Regular Decision. While this data point can vary from year to year, it's rarely released by the school.