In the Early Decision/Early Action round of college admissions, students' applications will result in one of three admission decisions: accepted, deferred, or denied.
A deferral means that the application will be transferred to the Regular Decision round (or sometimes Early Decision 2) for additional consideration.
Most colleges provide specific instructions for next steps after a deferral. These steps will vary among colleges and can change from year to year, so the following is an overview of what I suggest to students:
Read your deferral letter very carefully to understand next steps
Some deferral letters ask students to indicate interest in remaining in the admissions pool as a first step (for example, a check box in the college portal). In such cases, do so as soon as possible.
Some deferral instructions recommend that students submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) relatively quickly, and others want students to wait until they have fall grades and additional activities/awards to add to their application.
Some colleges don't want a LOCI... just activity/award additions. Often these are submitted through the student's college portal.
Some colleges don't mention a LOCI at all. In such cases, I generally recommend sending one either through the portal or via email to the student's admissions representative.
Some schools specifically ask students to do nothing at all. Though it can be tempting to submit additional information anyway, be sure to follow the school's instructions.
In many cases, colleges will want an updated transcript with semester grades. Typically this is provided by the high school, but it may be wise to verify.
When sending a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI), consider the following guidelines:
Be brief and succinct. Admissions committee members are often very busy at this point in the season, so letters that get right to the point are appreciated.
Remain positive and thank the admissions committee for continuing to consider your application.
State your intention to accept an offer if provided, or reiterate that the college is a top choice.
Briefly state one or two specific ways in which you and the college are a good match.
Include any significant updates since you applied.
Mention that you look forward to the opportunity to join and contribute to the college and community.
Maintain perspective and focus on what you can control
College application deferrals are understandably disappointing, so I recommend that students do the following:
Take time to acknowledge and talk about the disappointment. It's perfectly normal.
Turn that disappointment into positive action by following the appropriate steps after a deferral.
Once that's done, try to relax about the situation (I know this part isn't easy). You've done everything you can to maximize your application.
Spend some time focusing on schools that did provide an acceptance. Learn more about the social and academic environment at these schools, consider special programs like honors and living-learning communities, and evaluate financial packages. These colleges have welcomed you into their community, and it can be wise to "love the school that loves you back."
If you are facing more deferred and denied applications than you expected, spend some time considering Rolling Admission and Regular Decision applications.
At Growing2College, we provide coaching on Letters of Continued Interest and guidance on Rolling Admission and Regular Decision applications. Request a free 20-min consultation to learn more about how we can be helpful.
Kate Pedigo, M.Ed. NCC is an Independent Educational Consultant and founder of Growing2College. Join us on social media for college planning updates, tips, and resources: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
