What to do after Getting Deferred on College Application: A Practical Guide with Letter of Continued Interest template

Disappointed, deflated, dejected – – all common and valid feelings upon learning the deferral status on your Early Decision application to your top choice school. But what to do after getting deferred?

Of course, your first reaction may be to seek out a little sympathy from family and friends, perhaps even commiserate with a classmate who received similar news. That’s ok. Go ahead and soak up some TLC. Then get on with these practical steps for what to do after getting deferred.

What does “deferral” mean? One thing it does not mean is “rejected”. While getting deferred undoubtedly represents a roadblock to achieving your college admissions goal, it should not be treated as official failure in reaching that target. Strictly speaking, a deferral indicates that the college has postponed their decision on your ED application, and they will consider it during Regular Decision admissions period. From their perspective, you’ve demonstrated enough to pique interest in your candidacy, just not quite strongly enough to push into definitive acceptance territory.

The Letter of Continued Interest

• Unless the school’s instructions specifically state “do not send anything,” drafting a Letter of Continued Interest is the first item on your list of what to do after getting deferred. At the bottom of this post a LOCI template is provided for you to create your own final version. This is your opportunity to bolster your profile with the Admissions Officers. Provide further assurance that you’re a strong, worthy candidate for admission.
• Express your gratitude for the initial review of your application and the opportunity for its further consideration in the Regular Decision pool.
• Reconfirm your commitment to attend this school if accepted
• List any new achievements or accomplishments that strengthen your submission. These include: Senior mid-year grades (if they’re strong), new honors or awards, new leadership roles or accomplishments in extracurriculars or sports.
• Substantiate how you’re the perfect fit at this school by mentioning a specific professor, class or club that connects with you.

Additional Checklist

• Consider enlisting dedicated support with your LOCI and other deferral materials submissions.
• Maintain high grades throughout Senior year for submitting strong mid-year reports
• Keep up-to-date on all safety school applications. It’s only wise to maintain an open mind and keep the door open to pursue alternative options.
• Consider obtaining additional recommendations from a Senior year teacher or coach, if the deferring school accepts these additional materials.
• Deferral Doesn’t Mean Defeat

What are the Odds?

Depending on the school, your chance of ultimately gaining admission after deferral can range anywhere from an average 5% for Ivy Leagues, average 10% for Top 20 schools, and as high as 25% for Top 50 schools. While those odds aren’t necessarily fully in students’ favor, they do mean that a finely tuned post-deferral strategy is key. They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. But a deferral does in fact offer the opportunity to positively reinforce and build upon that first impression. So go ahead and embrace your deferral journey.

The “Excel Academy” Letter of Continued Interest Template is provided just below our 3 Pro-Tips 

1. Always save the letter as a PDF so the formatting doesn’t break. Name the file clearly: Firstname_Lastname_LOCI.pdf.
2. Check the college’s applicant portal first. If there is an “Upload Material” button, put the letter there. If not, email it directly to the regional rep.
3. Admissions officers are busy. Keep this letter to one page, focusing only on new information, not re-hashing your essay.

LOCI TEMPLATE

Subject Line: Update for [Student Name] – Application ID: [12345678] – [Early Action/Early Decision] Deferral

Dear [Name of Regional Admissions Officer],

Thank you for reviewing my application to [University Name] and for offering me the opportunity to be considered in the Regular Decision pool. While I was disappointed not to be admitted early, I want to reiterate that [University Name] remains my top choice. If admitted, I would be thrilled to attend.

Since submitting my application in November, I have remained focused on maintaining a strong academic record. I am proud to share that I finished my first semester with a GPA of [GPA], including high marks in [Hardest Class 1] and [Hardest Class 2]. (Optional: Briefly mention a major project or research paper you completed recently.)

Outside of the classroom, I have continued to grow as a leader and community member. Recently, I [mention a specific new achievement, e.g., was elected team captain, organized a charity drive, or won a regional award]. This experience taught me [briefly explain the skill you learned, e.g., how to manage a budget or motivate a team].

My interest in [University Name] has only grown as I have learned more about [Specific Program/Professor/Club]. I was particularly excited to read about [mention a recent news article, professor’s research, or specific course], as it aligns perfectly with my goal to [mention your academic goal]. I can see myself contributing to this community by [mention how you will get involved].

Thank you once again for your time and continued consideration. I am hopeful for the chance to join the Class of [Year] and contribute to the vibrant community at [University Name].

Sincerely,