How to Boost Your Chances of Admission After Being Deferred
How to Boost Your Chances of Admission After Being Deferred
While we are pulling hard for each of our students to be admitted to their top choice early, the reality is that deferral is the most common decision reached by admissions offices at this part of the process
We can’t stress this.enough: being deferred does not mean that you've been denied, though we recognize it can sting to get this news, nonetheless. It means that your application will be reevaluated within the context of the regular decision pool.
There are a few things that you can do that may help you boost your chances to be admitted even after you've been deferred. It is crucial to demonstrate to admissions officers that you are continuing to grow as a student and a person. Having new or strengthened evidence showcasing how you have grown since applying can turn a “not yet” into a “yes please!” Below are four strong ideas to consider if you’ve been deferred.
Write a Strong Update Letter
Make sure that admissions officers are aware of what you have been up to since you submitted your application. Writing a strong update letter about your recent accomplishments and academic achievements will give your admissions officer new material to use as they advocate for you within their pool.
Be careful not to take up too much of their time. One or two well-written pages is a great length. This is not a new admissions essay; make sure it reads accordingly. However, providing additional context as well as demonstrating that your efforts did not cease after the application deadline will help you stand out among the more crowded regular decision pool.
You might consider highlighting specific assignments that have challenged or excited you in class. You may elaborate on accomplishments your club or sports team has made since November. Or if your high school has a capstone project for seniors, the update letter is a good place to reflect on the progress you’ve made on this front.
Continue to Pursue Your Intellectual Curiosities
Keep reaching for your goals whether or not you will complete them before a decision is reached on your application. Admissions officers value students who pursue their intellectual curiosity as far as it will take them.
Have you been engaged in a research project? Now that you've collected all the data, where can you display your results? Perhaps you've been working on starting your own business. That's great! How can you extend your outreach or learn a new supplementary skill? Now is the time to ramp up your efforts to create tangible progress.
The process of learning never stops. By demonstrating to admissions officers that you embrace this mindset irrespective of your college process, you are more likely to create advocates for yourself among them.
Search for New Supporters
Perhaps there is someone who you have worked closely with or who has a connection to the school that deferred you who could step in to advocate on your behalf. Is there an internship supervisor, boss, or someone else that you built a professional relationship with that you haven't already solicited a letter of recommendation from?
This kind of support can move the needle on where you stand within the greater admissions pool. It is no guarantee, but admissions officers love to know that you are well supported and that you have been making contributions in myriad ways.
Think about your application as a whole: are there places that you neglected to shore up? One note of caution: some schools have very specific requirements about submitting new information. If they do not wish to receive another letter of recommendation abide by that. Doing otherwise could have the opposite effect of your intention.
Reallocate Your Time
Chances are high that there is considerably more time in your schedule this semester now that applications and standardized testing is behind you. What are you going to do with that time? Are there personal enrichment projects that you had to put off? Are there opportunities for leadership that got pushed to the back burner as you completed your applications? The way that you reallocate your time can help with your admissions decision.
Admissions officers are keen to know that you are making the most of your time and resources. If there are meaningful ways that you can increase your involvement, lean into those opportunities.
Remember, you have a unique opportunity to consider how to build upon the positive first impression you created in the early round. The more substantive your continued growth is, the easier it will be to write persuasively about why you will thrive at your top choice.
For help crafting an update or searching for new points of evidence in your own story to boost your chances of admission after being deferred, consider working with an admissions expert.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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