How to Respond to a College Deferral Letter

A common outcome for many early-decision applicants, a college deferral letter means you haven’t been accepted by your first-choice college yet. On the bright side, a college deferral letter also means you have not been rejected either! At this point, your application has simply been pushed to the regular admission pool. This is good because the admissions committee still deems your qualifications worthy of reconsideration.

The reasons for a college deferral letter can vary from candidate to candidate. In some cases, they may have received an overwhelming amount of strong applications and can only consider so many within the early decision pool. On the other hand, they may want to take some time until they receive additional information or test scores from you.

A college deferral letter simply translates into the fact that deferral is different from getting waitlisted. The latter indicates that the student could be admitted, only on the condition that some of its accepted students decide not to enroll. A student on the wait-list may want to start considering other options, but if you’ve been at the receiving end of a college deferral letter there is still a lot that can be done to secure a spot in your dream college.

Boost Your Academic Record

Since your grades are submitted by your school halfway through the senior year, a college deferral letter should no way discourage you. The period post-college deferral letter is your chance to strengthen your academic profile. If you didn’t perform as well as you would’ve liked in the previous semesters, show the admissions council a better academic performance by working twice as hard. Challenge yourself with online courses pertaining to the course you have applied for, reassuring the committee of your interest and ambition towards the field.

Retake Exams

If your college deferral letter indicates that standardized test scores were the drawback in your application, you may consider retaking the test to get better your marks. The advantage of a second attempt is that you are already familiar with the curriculum and can identify the areas that require improvement. Getting tutored by informed and experienced instructors can help you approached these topics in a structured manner and score a higher grade.

Get an Additional Letter of Recommendation

Speaking of college deferral letters, submitting another kind of letter will help. An additional recommendation letter will add more value to your application at the time of reconsideration. Subject teachers who can attest to your most recent academic achievements, as well as other individuals who may have supervised your work during an internship or volunteer activity, can send in a word that can appropriately supplement the information submitted in your initial application.

Weigh Your Options

Most importantly, it is advisable to remain calm and rational during the aftermath of receiving a college deferral letter. The college admission process can be stressful given that the competition is strong as many students with brilliant qualifications apply for few spots. After completing the arduous process of building up a resume, drafting your college essays, and dedicating long hours to prepare for your tests, a college deferral letter can be quite disheartening. Despite that, it should not be taken as an assessment of your personal caliber. As you wait for a decision on the deferred status of your application, do keep an open mind about your other choices and stay positive.

Write a Follow-Up Letter

So, you are faced with a college deferral letter. Now what? As the time for your application to be considered again draws close, you can also send an appeal letter to the institution, reiterating your interest as well as the qualities that make you a worthy candidate for the course. Additionally, make a note of any new accomplishments or areas of marked improvement. Post this period of getting a college deferral letter, the admissions office is at its busiest and as such, it is best to write only once and include information strictly relevant to your application. Don’t be afraid to add a personal touch but also be sure to keep the overall tone of your letter humble and professional.