Like many college applicants over the past few weeks, you might have opened a college decision, heart racing with anticipation, just to see that you were deferred to Regular Decision. Not a yes. Not a no. But maybe? For the thousands of applicants unsure how to navigate the deferral process, Esslo has put together some key actions and tips to maximize your chances of admission for RD.

You are NOT Alone!

Most colleges typically have four types of admission results: accepted, deferred, waitlisted, and rejected. Students often confuse deferrals with waitlists; waitlists happen in the Regular Decision process (stay tuned for a future blog post!) when students are offered admission if others rescind their offers, while deferrals happen after Early Action when decisions are postponed to RD. While it might be anxious to wait even longer for your final decision, we encourage you to remember to know you aren’t alone. Schools like Harvard, Princeton, USC, and Georgetown are notorious for deferring upwards of 85% of Early Action applicants. Or, you could be a part of a selective few that aren’t outright rejected (such as Stanford’s elite 8.5% of Early applicants that are deferred). Either way, while a deferral might be disappointing, don’t be discouraged!

Explore Other Options

While deferrals absolutely do not mean you will be rejected in Regular Decision, this might be a good time to look at other options. If you haven’t thoroughly looked into other match or safety schools, now is the perfect time (especially with RD deadlines approaching in early January). You could also begin considering an alternate college pathway, such as attending community college with plans to transfer eventually. Many students at UCs pursue this route!

Prepare your Letter of Continued Interest

A Letter of Continued Interest, often abbreviated as a LOCI, is the most effective way to communicate with your admissions officer after being deferred. This document, around 300-400 words, should remind the admissions committee who you are, why you’re an excellent fit for their school, and why you’re still deeply interested in attending. It’s an added bonus if you can add a significant update to your life or resume in the letter. Many colleges opt to have an “update form” instead of receiving LOCIs in order to standardize the process. A good LOCI should include the following:

• Name, High School, City, Date, and Application Number/ID if received
• Formal, respectful greeting to your admissions officer or admissions committee
• Meaningful updates to your academics, extracurriculars, or honors/awards
• Brief section on your alignment to the school’s programs, curriculum, clubs, etc.
• Thank you addressed to the admissions committee

Before writing, research the college’s deferral process, including deadlines, required materials, and whether or not they accept LOCIs. If so, email your LOCI directly to your admissions officer within 3-4 weeks of receiving your EA decision (unless your deferral notice says otherwise).

Lock in!

Nearly every college that defers students will request their mid-year transcript/fall-semester grades. This allows admission officers to see how your grades have progressed with additional responsibilities and a harder senior year schedule. With midterms and finals approaching, it’s time to get your grades as high as possible to impress the admissions committee. Furthermore, make sure to continue growing your passion projects and extracurriculars to showcase your commitments. And if you retook the SAT or ACT since submitting your EA applications, submitting a higher score could show continued academic growth.

Take a Deep Breath

While a deferral is often disappointing and demotivating, the admissions officers just want more time to assess your fit within a university's academic and campus culture. Stay calm and collected, and don’t overwhelm admissions officers with overly demanding follow-up communication or an abundance of supplemental materials. No matter what happens with Regular Decision, you are more than enough!